DRUG

  ||Drugs||

We all are familiar with two faces of coin i.e. heads and tails similarly , the world is developing from the one face and getting devastated on another. drugs in something which place a very lead role in this mishap. drug is that substance or medicine which easily gets mix with the blood of consumer and excess in take oh the same effects the functioning of the human body such that the physical and mental health is deeply harmed. Drinking or intake of liquor / alcohol is very serious problem of the society. The easiest pastime is to drink and forget worries, frustrations , even tough temporarily . its addiction creates serious consequences .even with meagre earnings, drunkards buy liquor keeping the family needs at stake . if they cannot afford the standard variety , which is expensive they go for the cheap variety , at times they drink even poisonous things . after drinking they loose their senses .sometimes it results in death or permanent disability. most of the time , they ill-treat theirends in substance use and related disorder .

The abuse of drugs and alcohol is a major problem worldwide, costing 250 billion dollars annually due to premature deaths, healthcare expenditures, reduction of productivity, lost earnings and drug-related crime in the United States alone (estimated by U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse and National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism). Drug addiction is considered to be a chronic, relapsing disorder characterized by compulsive drug-seeking, by continued use despite serious negative socioeconomic and health consequences, and by loss of control over drug use. The World Health Organization and the American Psychiatric Association use the term “substance dependence” rather than “drug addiction”. Both terms are used interchangeably in the literature, but the latter term is less likely to be confused with physical dependence and emphasizes the behavioral component of the process. According to the DSM-IV , three or more of the following must be present in order to diagnose substance dependence: a) symptoms of tolerance, b) symptoms of withdrawal, c) large amounts of drug taken, d) unsuccessful attempts or desire to control use, e) considerable time spent obtaining the substance, f) reduction of social and occupational activities due to abuse, g) continued use of a substance despite physical or psychological problems.

Repeated drug use arises from the drug's neurochemical actions that produce positive reinforcing effects, progressively leading to neurobiological changes in the brain reward circuits and behaviors characteristic of addiction: tolerance, sensitization, dependence, withdrawal and craving . The transition from casual drug use to drug addiction might also involve an additional source of reinforcement, such as the reduction of a negative emotional state during acute abstinence . The combination of positive (e.g., euphoria) and negative (e.g., alleviation of dysphoria or withdrawal symptoms) reinforcement may provide a powerful motivational force for compulsive drug taking. Associated neurobiological changes and behavioral abnormalities and deficits in cognitive function may persist for months or years after discontinuation of drug use.

 principles of effective drug addiction treatment

These 13 principles of effective drug addiction treatment were developed based on three decades of scientific research. Research shows that treatment can help drug-addicted individuals stop drug use, avoid relapse and successfully recover their lives.

1. Addiction is a complex, but treatable, disease that affects brain function and behavior.
2. No single treatment is appropriate for everyone.
3. Treatment needs to be readily available.
4. Effective treatment attends to multiple needs of the individual, not just his or her drug abuse.
5. Remaining in treatment for an adequate period of time is critical.
6. Counseling— individual and/or group —and other behavioral therapies are the most commonly used forms of drug abuse treatment.
7. Medications are an important element of treatment for many patients, especially when combined with counseling and other behavioral therapies.
8. An individual’s treatment and services plan must be assessed continually and modified as necessary to ensure it meets his or her changing needs.
9. Many drug-addicted individuals also have other mental disorders.
10. Medically assisted detoxification is only the first stage of addiction treatment and by itself does little to change long-term drug abuse.
11. Treatment does not need to be voluntary to be effective.
12. Drug use during treatment must be monitored continuously, as lapses during treatment do occur.
13. Treatment programs should assess patients for the presence of HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B and C, tuberculosis and other infectious diseases, as well as provide targeted risk-reduction counseling to help patients modify or change behaviors that place them at risk of contracting or spreading infectious diseases.

    

    Addiction vs. Abuse and Tolerance

    Addiction is when you can’t stop. Not when it puts your health in danger. Not when it causes financial, emotional, and other problems for you or your loved ones. That urge to get and use drugs can fill up every minute of the day, even if you want to quit.

    Addiction also is different from physical dependence or tolerance. In cases of physical dependence, withdrawal symptoms happen when you suddenly stop a substance. Tolerance happens when a dose of a substance becomes less effective over time.

    When you use opioids for pain for a long time, for example, you may develop tolerance and even physical dependence. This doesn’t mean you’re addicted. In general, when narcotics are used under proper medical supervision, addiction happens in only a small percentage of people. Drug abuse is when you use legal or illegal substances in ways you shouldn’t. You might take more than the regular dose of pills or use someone else’s prescription. You may abuse drugs to feel good, ease stress, or avoid reality. But usually, you’re able to change your unhealthy habits or stop using altogether.

                                                                              -MONIKA DHULL