Alcohol Abuse
Alcohol is probably used and abused drug in the world. In most countries it may be purchased legally and is socially accepted. Alcoholic beverages include wines, beers and spirits (including whisky, rum, brandy, liqueurs, and vodka). Alcohol is widely used as a solvent in the manufacture of organic compounds, including varnishes, dyes and lacquers; substances used in “glue-sniffing”. (Glue sniffing or solvent abuse is a growing problem among young children. They inhale volatile substances which produce a sensation of temporary euphoria but could lead to death by respiratory failure.)
Psychological effects:
Alcohol does not need to be digested and is readily absorbed from the stomach inot the blood stream which distributes it throughout the body. Its effects are very rapidly felt because of this. It is a depressant which slows transmission of impulses throughout the nervous system. In small quantities it causes a relaxed feeling and increased confidence as inhibitions disappear. However as intake increases, the drinker may become overconfident, aggressive and physically uncoordinated.
Frequent heavy drinking of alcohol damages several body organs. It damages the lining of the mouth, oesophagus and the stomach. It destroys the cells of the liver leading to cirrhosis and hepatitis. Cell of the pancreas are destroyed resulting in reduced insulin production. Alcohol consumption reduces appetite and leads to nutritional diseases. Alcohol consumption may lead to hypertension and heart disease.
Alcohol is a very addictive drug. It is difficult for alcoholics to function without the drug as it causes changes at certain synapses so that impulses will not cross them effectively. This also affects a part of the brain which controls emotions. In the absence of alcohol depression sets in.
Alcohol causes irreversible damage to nerve cells resulting in loss of sensation and muscle weakness. Its effects on the CNS are many. The cerebrum is first affected. Vision is affected, there is slurring of speech and misjudgment in thinking; as centres for the control of balance become affected. Movement becomes increasingly uncoordinated, staggering and falling occurs; reaction time is reduced. If excessive amounts are consumed the medulla becomes affected. This may lead to death as the centres for breathing and control of the heart rate are depressed. Emotional changes range from boisterousness, verbal and physical aggression to quiet withdrawal and even tearfulness.
Even small quantities damage the unborn child. It reduces growth and retards mental development and produces physical defects. Babies born to alcoholic mothers never develop properly.
Social Problems: there is no doubt that alcohol abuse creates social problems. These include:
- Break down of family relations: Alcohol causes behavioral changes which often lead to verbal and physical aggression. Violent behavior may be exhibited resulting in wife beating and physical, verbal or even sexual abuse of children. The abused wife may attempt to kill her husband or commit suicide.
The family may have financial problems as more and more of their income is spent on drinking. The alcoholic parent may also be fired adding to the strain on the family. Besides being abused the children of the alcoholics suffer severe embarrassment and may become withdrawn. Their performance in school also suffers because of the emotional stress and the frequent disruptions at home. There is a high incidence of alcoholism among children of alcoholic parent(s) as children turn to alcohol (or other drugs) to relieve their distress.
Finally, the family may break up all together. Divorce or separation is sometimes the only way out for the spouse who has tried unsuccessfully to solve money problems or deal with the shame and disgrace brought to the family. The breakup of the family may lead to delinquency among the children. As the single parent struggles to cope the children may be neglected and go astray.
Accidents: Alcohol affects the CNS. It reduces the reaction time and interferes with muscular control. There is misjudgment in thinking and focusing and the ability of the eye to follow objects is impaired. These, together with the increased aggression, contribute to vehicular and industrial accidents. The user fails to recognize his or her impairments and instead, due to increased confidence, take more risks. In all countries the greatest cause of vehicular accidents is drinking.
Crime: Behavioral changes are associated with alcoholic consumption may lead to minor wounding and or more serious crimes including sexual assault on children and rape or even murder. To support the addictive habit, petty larceny or fraud may also occur.
Economic Problems: as dependence on alcohol increases, an increasing proportion of income is spent on purchasing drinks. This reduces the amount of money spent on other things. When alcoholic consumption leads to job loss, hence losses of income, then numerous problems arise. Default on loan payments may occur and repossession of home and property may occur. The family of an alcoholic may become dependents of the state.
At the level of the country, alcoholics are more absent from their jobs and are usually less productive than their associates. Health and welfare services, provided to alcoholics and their dependents, are costly. A very high percentage of hospital services and space is used to treat alcoholics, their abused dependents or their alcohol victims. Widespread alcoholism places a heavy burden on the economic resources of a country.
Marijuana
This is a drug found in the dried leaves stem and flowers of the Indian hemp plant, Cannabis. This plant grows wild in many parts of the world but is also cultivated illegally. Marijuana goes by several other names including ‘pot’, ‘ganja’, ‘weed’ and ‘grass’.
The leaves of the plant are dried, crushed and then rolled into thin home-made cigarettes, called ‘joints’, ‘reefers’ or ‘sticks’. It is also smoked in ordinary pipes or special pipes called chalices. It is occasionally ingested in drinks, cakes and other foods.
Physiological effects: Marijuana is the most common abused illicit drug. Its specific effects vary from user to user according to the amount used and the expectations of the user, however, it is classified as a hallucinogen. It affects the user’s mood and thinking. In low doses, it produces a feeling of well being and relaxation. There is a feeling of inner joy. The user feels “high”. Perceptions of time and distance may be distorted. Hallucinations and delusions may also occur.
When smoked, it quickly enters the blood stream and acts on the nervous system. It slows reflexes and interferes with the skills needed for safe driving. Balance and stability may be impaired, so too is memory, thinking and speech. Dizziness, light-headedness, and blurred vision are common.
It increases heart beat, pulse rate and blood pressure. It increases the amount of carbon monoxide in the blood which decreases the amount of oxygen delivered to the heart. This becomes a serious problem with persons suffering from hypertension and cardiovascular diseases.
Marijuana irritates the trachea and bronchi causing sore throats and bronchitis. Prolonged heavy smoking leads to cancer of the upper respiratory tract.
Marijuana use may result in lower productions of sex hormones in men and women. Women may also experience irregular menstrual cycles. Both men and women may suffer temporary infertility. Marijuana use during pregnancy may result in premature babies and low weight.
Regular marijuana use by a young person can interfere with learning and emotional development. The user is unable to concentrate; there is decreased attention span, distortion in perception, lack of motivation, poor control of impulses and loss of interest in social activities.
Continual use results in blood shot eyes and dry mouth and throat.
Social and economic effects: marijuana use has less severe effects than alcohol abuse at the individual level. However, it is thought that its use contributes to the use of harder drugs. Many troubled young people use marijuana, to the extent that they become less productive or non-contributing members of society.
As the drug is illegal, it is associated with criminal activities because it becomes a lucrative crop to grow and sell at home and abroad. A large percentage of the time and financial resources of Caribbean police and military services is spent seeking out and destroying ganja fields, apprehending drug smugglers, and ensuring that ships and planes leaving the islands are not carrying marijuana. In some islands travelers are taxed to pay for their searches.
Prescription Drugs
Drugs are taken to cure illness, to reduce pain and relieve stress. Billions of pills and capsules are legally manufactured every year by the pharmaceutical industry. Antibiotics are legal. Weight control or diet pills are readily available. Doctors regularly prescribe sedatives and tranquilizers. In addition sleeping aids are widely available without prescription. There is growing concern about the numbers of these drugs being used and the ease with which they can be purchased.
Diet Pills: Some diet pills work by increasing the metabolic rate and cause the body to burn more calories. These drugs are stimulants belonging to a group which include amphetamines. After using these pills for a long time a person can become addicted to them. This happens to many teenagers who become obsessed with weight loss and use diet pills to control their weight. These drug users show all the signs common to drug users. Young people lie, steal from parents and friends to get money for the drugs. They may suffer from depression, their school work deteriorates and they become loners as their friends find it difficult to deal with them.
Antibiotics: An antibiotic is an antibacterial drug. The prolonged, indiscriminate and inexact use of antibiotics has contributed to an increase in the number of resistant strains of bacteria. It has become more and more difficult to find antibiotics which are effective against diseases such as tuberculosis. The concern is that. In the near future, there will be serious outbreaks of infectious diseases which cannot be controlled.
Steroids: These chemicals are used to treat rheumatism and other inflammatory ailments. They may also be administered to post-operative patients to promote muscle growth and tissue regeneration. Recently, a growing number of amateur and professional athletes are using steroids to accelerate muscle development and to improve strength. Medical research has revealed that anabolic steroids can have harmful effects, especially in young people who are still developing physically. Continued and prolonged use may lead to heart disease, liver damage and abnormalities of the sex organs.
Tranquilizers: These are drugs used to reduce hyperactivity, anxiety and tension. They may even induce sleep. Tranquilizers are widely prescribed, widely available and also widely abused. Overuse leads to addiction, toxicity and other undesirable effects. Some well known brand names are Valium, Phenobarbitone, and Seconal. Addiction is more common among women.
