S. Sivakumar*
Drug abuse, also called substance abuse or chemical abuse, is a disorder
that is characterized by a destructive pattern of using a substance that leads
to significant problems or distress. Teens are increasingly engaging in
prescription drug abuse, particularly narcotics (which are prescribed to
relieve severe pain), and stimulant medications, which treat conditions like
attention deficit disorder and narcolepsy.
Long ago…
Initially, drug users were look down
upon as those lacking in moral values that accounted for this strange
consumption (of the drug) and it was more often held that a person was not
"man enough" to get away from addiction. It was first recognized to
be a disease like any other, by Alcoholics Anonymous, who did pioneering work
in this field as an organization, delving deep into the reasons why a person
fell into and subsequently in short time lost control of himself on such usage.
Dr.Jellinek's path-breaking studies helped change the
very orientation one hitherto
had about these alcohol/drug users (abusers). Further with the advancement of neuro-physiological
science, more importantly after 1956, one came to the conclusion that drug abuse
is a chronic disease, could trouble a person for his entire life and was
ultimately, curable by proper treatment. The disease of addiction was thus much
better understood than in the past. What was needed therefore, more than the
sympathy towards such affected persons, a due recognition and systematic
treatment appropriate for such cases. These could be akin to treating patients
with other health problems like sugar-control or hyper-tension, to name a few.
Types of Drugs
Drugs drastically put to wrong use are
brown sugar (its inferior version is heroin) cannabis (ganja, bangh and other such categories) and even alcohol which
qualifies to fall under the drug category, for the reason that it is merely a
chemical in liquid form that is used to give a "high". Even thinners
usable with paints and other such common material could be called drugs. There
could also be a case of drug abuse, where a medically prescribed item is
consumed frequently, in increased quantity and violates the prescribed amount.
Persons recognize that this produces a sensation that "puts them up"
and they therefore start using these constantly, not when it is actually needed
as a medicine.
WHO Reports
The yearly report released by
bodies like WHO normally indicates an increase/decrease in pattern of drug in
use, wherein sometimes what could be more prevalent would be smoking heroin; at
other times it could be
injecting cannabis. All these are to be seen more as fluctuations in
drug abuse, than anything else. There are many criteria to determine whether a
person is addicted or not. These could range from physical warning signs,
emotional signs to an abrupt or gradual change in the family dynamics that lead
to marked changes in social behaviour. The person
exhibits red and glazed eyes with poor eating and sleeping habits and may also
show general lack of interest and become a victim of sudden mood changes. He
may develop a strange secretiveness that keeps him away from the family. On the
social side he would try to become a truant with an altogether negative
attitude. But as a thumb rule it would be better if one stuck to repeated
usages as a symptom, where the user is fully aware of the consequences and but
is prevented by a strange inability to restrict or stop the consumption of the
drug in terms of quantity, frequency and be inclined towards an insurmountable
urge towards drug usage.
Vulnerability
Instead of looking at the causes for drug addiction per
se', it is better to understand it as a vulnerability to addiction. That would
a better term. Genetic make-up plays a vital part in forming this habit, the
family and friends around a person may serve as a deterrent or cause further
usage of the drug(s) thereby increasing the positive expectancy that is to be
derived out of it. If there is tacit approval by those around him, then it is
held as a normal habit. It is no more drug abuse ; it
is only rightful "use". It is "taken" in its stride.
Psycho-social factors, lack of coping skills, the mechanism of a backup of
friends during immense emotional pain - any or all these may be the causes for
the above-mentioned vulnerability.
Withdrawal Symptoms
Withdrawal symptoms create an
uncomfortable feeling and will depend more on the drug which is consumed. The
body and mind become restless, become more and more irritable, all parts of the
body could be affected and there is pronounced sleep disturbance. It is similar
to a pair of physical balances where one scale is at its extreme and what is
strictly happening is a process of re-adjustment. If the patient goes back wanting to consume only a small quantity then the
brain recalls the experiences it has had in the past and forces him to consume
more and more till it provides complete satisfaction. This is a state that has
to be completely avoided. It would be a reminder here that substitution of one
drug by another is neither the solution nor the cure.
Treatment
Drug abuse, then is the disease
of the body, the mind and the soul. Though treatment may begin medically but
that alone is not enough and the patient would need an enormous amount of
psychological help. If,
a person gets cornered and conquered by an intake for three
valium tablets, for instance, he should be taught and educated how to pass his
time without these three. It requires long-term treatment, a change in
lifestyle and the involvement of the family becomes cardinal in these kinds of
treatments. Care should be taken to see that the patients
dignity is preserved and he should always be respected.
Prevention
Prevention is a community
process and not a one-time affair or a single day affair, of taking vows and
the like. Instilling mere knowledge that drugs are bad alone may not also work.
Developing of coping skills, learning to say a firm "no" to drugs
even when repeatedly persuaded, a good support system, echoing the message
against drug addiction repeatedly at different points of time, involving all
sectors of the society are some of the preventive measures to be taken, all in
a truly holistic manner, if results are to be seen.
Government Initiatives
The Union Ministry of Social Justice
& Empowerment, as the focal point for drug demand reduction programmes in
the country, has been implementing the Scheme for Prohibition and Drug Abuse
Prevention since the year 1985-86. As implementation of programmes for
de-addiction and rehabilitation of drug addicts require sustained and
committed/involved effort with a great degree of flexibility and innovation, a
State-community (voluntary) partnership appears to be particularly strong
mechanism for service delivery. Accordingly, under the Scheme, while major
portion of the cost of services is borne by the Government, the voluntary organisations provide actual services through the Counselling and Awareness Centres;
Deaddiction cum Rehabilitation Centres,
Deaddiction Camps, and Awareness Programmes. The
Ministry is assisting 361 voluntary organisations for
maintaining 376 De-addiction-cum-Rehabilitation Centres
and 68 Counselling and
Awareness Centres all over the country. The basic
objective in creating facilities for treatment, at Centres
run through voluntary organisations, is to ensure
that the support of the family and the community is mobilized to the maximum.
To facilitate the medical treatment of hard-core addicts who require intensive
long-term medical attention, 100 De-addiction Centres
are being run in Government hospitals/Primary Health Centres,
etc. The initiatives from the Government include maintaining of Quality
Assurance and Minimum Standards ensured by developing a Manual of Minimum
Standards of Services, Professional Manpower Development where National Centre
for Drug Abuse Prevention (NCDAP) as an apex institution has the necessary
mandate for training, research and development in the drug sector and Focused
Interventions for Vulnerable Targets where The Workplace Prevention Programme (WPP), a collaborative effort of the Government,
ILO, NGOs and corporate sector has come up as a result. This collaboration has
led to the formation of an effective group of various stakeholders, known as
ARMADA, the Association of Resource Managers against Alcohol and Drug Abuse.
(PIB Features.)
****
June 26th is International Day against Drug Abuse.
*The author
is a Freelance Journalist, With inputs from
Dr. Anita Rao, Director of Medical Services, TTK Hospital,
Adayar, Chennai.
Disclaimer: The
views expressed by the author in this article are his own and do not
necessarily reflect the views of PIB.
SS-116/SF-116/25-06-2012
PKM/HSN