What is Drug Abuse?
Drug Abuse is a psychiatric, psychological and social problem affecting the youth of the all over the world. It ruins the individual and the society in manifold ways-socially, physically, culturally, emotionally, and economically. Acting on the brain, the drug spawns a wide range of disorders like fear, anxiety and a sense of insecurity in the human mind.
There are certain drug like nicotine, cocaine and caffeine that stimulate the brain and the nervous system resulting increased alertness and response. Addiction to such drugs causes a severe loss of appetite and weight, constipation, increased anxiety and withdrawal of hypnotic drugs might lead to epileptic seizures and delirium.
Drugs can reduce cognitive operations, making it difficult for the youth of develop a functional set of values and ideals. Reduced cognitive efficiency leads to poor academic performance and a decline in self – esteem, contributing to disturbance in personality growth.
When an addict starts drug addiction, their hunger for whatever substances becomes insatiable. In the first phase of drug addiction their brain cells become irritated and their faculties of rationality, i.e,. Judgement, observation and attention get blunted and they becomes the victim of sub-clinical stage. In the second phase, the addict feels as if they are not aware of their own self and such and psychic trauma leads them to the drug abuse condition of “stimulation”. In the third phase, as the victim increases the dosage and frequency, they loses their physical balance and muscular coordination. The addict is now a prisoner of confusion and is fast digging their own grave.
Drug addiction distorts family ties and causes family disorganization, creating marital discord, divorced and the failure of socialization of children. It also shatters the codes of normal values which create value shock. In due course, the addict gets alienated from their family, neighbourhood and society.
Currently, many counselling /de-addiction centres/aftercare centres are running. These centres have come to rescue of several thousand addict and their rehabilitation and aftercare is a vital link in the crusade against drug abuse and these types of organization is taking leading role for well-being of drug addicts.
