Drugs abuse and its effects - Alcohol, Hard and Soft Drugs

A drug is any substance which when taken may alter or cause changes in the normal functioning of the body.

• Drug abuse means improper use of drugs; either using a drug for another purpose than what it is intended for
  
• Drug use means proper use of drugs
  

Drugs are taken in various forms namely:-

1. Liquids
   
2. Lotions
   
3. Ointment
   
4. Powder
   
5. Cake form

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• Drugs are classified as legal and illegal
  
• Ways of administering drugs
  

Drugs are taken /administered in various ways

• infecting
  
• inhaling
  
• smoking
  
• Chewing
  
• Swallowing
  
• Drinking
  
• Sniffing/snuffing
  

Categories of drugs

• Medicinal
  
• Soft drugs
• Hard / narcotic drugs
  

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Types of drugs

Preventive drugs

• These are drugs used for medical preventive reasons e.g. drugs to prevent polio, cholera, yellow fever

Curative drugs

• these are drugs that cure diseases
  

Sedatives, palliatives

• drugs that alleviate pain, put patients to sleep e.g. drugs for diabetes, heart diseases, asthma, painkillers
  

Tranquilizers

• drugs that relieve tension induce sleep e.g. piriton, valium
  

Stimulants

• drugs used to increase physiological activity of a particular organ. They arouse the activity of the central nervous system / senses
  

Volatile drugs

• these drugs intoxicate the user, they are derived from petroleum products paint thinners dry cleaning fluids glue etc. stimulants and volatile drugs classified as soft drugs
  

Hard drugs or narcotic drugs

• These are highly addictive drugs. The body forms dependence on these drugs. These drugs affect the mind causing drowsiness; sleep, stupor and they are the most commonly abused drugs. Examples are Cocaine - From coca leaves - Its highly addictive

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Cocaine from coca leaves

• Its highly addictive
  
• Causes mental problems
  
• Can lead to death on overdose
  
• A very expensive drug
  
• Other side effects are confusion, Convulsions, circulatory collapse and rapid heart beat
  

Bhang / Marijuana

• A plant of Indian hemp also called marijuana, Hashish, Cannabis, Sativa depending on which part of the plant is taken i.e. leaves, stem, or roots
  
• Users become aggressive excited or high
  
• Bhang changes perception of space, time and reality
• It causes drowsiness and irresponsible behaviour
  
• Its side effects causes people to be engaged in criminal activities e.g. robbery with violence as it gives changes in perception
  

Morphine

• It is used to suppress pain clinically
  
• It's addictive
  
• It's derived from cocaine
• Used as local aesthetic
  

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Heroine

• Its pain relieving
• Highly addictive
• Powder heated in foil paper, vapour forms hence smoked referred to as” chasing the dragon”
• Also called brown sugar
• It's injected and inhaled
• An overdose can lead to death
• It's expensive
• It causes respiratory problems
• Its depressive
• Withdrawal symptoms when heroine is not available are nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and severe anxiety

Soft drugs

• Cigarette
  
• Alcohol
  
• Miraa / khat

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Cigarettes

• Made from tobacco
• Cigarettes contain

1. Nicotine — a highly addictive substance
2. Carbon monoxide, which damages arteries heart and lungs
3. Tar — black substance which promotes cancer of the throat, heart and lungs

Cigarettes are legal drugs in Kenya

• Pregnant women may miscarry or terminate the pregnancy if they smoke
• Leads to chest respiratory diseases poor blood circulation
• Leads to destructive fires due to carelessness

​Miraa/khat

1. Plants / legally in Kenyan, and other parts of the world
2. They are chewed
3. Causes temporary excitement
4. Makes one lose appetite for food and sex
5. The juice in miraa causes temporary excitement in the user when ingested
6. Miraa makes the user to be irritable

Alcohol

• Alcohol is a drug made through fermentation
• It’s a drink used in social ceremonial occasions
• It’s in form of beer wines, traditional brew (e.g. busaa, muratina, mnazi) and spirits e.g. whisks, brandy, gin, chang’aa
• Alcohol is prepared by fermentation or distillation
• Heating to a certain degree

In African traditional society, alcohol was fermented and used for, medicinal value, Entertainment, Marriage celebrations

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• Beer parties given to visitors
  
• Excessive drinking was discouraged
  
• Drunk people were scorned or scolded
  
• Young people were not allowed to drink alcohol
  
• When alcohol is taken excessively it is abused Alcohol abuse
  
• Alcohol can lead to body dependence or addiction
  
• Consequences of abusing alcohol are such as:
  

1. Squandering family resource
   
2. Squandering family resources
   
3. Health deterioration
   
4. Lack of concentration leading to poor quality of work
   
5. Family break-ups due to frustrations A man experiences a desire for sex but lacks the ability to perform leading to breakups
   
6. Deformed foetus if a mother abuses alcohol when pregnant
   
7. Alcohol destroys brain cells
   
8. It leads to unruly behaviour such as fights, violence
   
9. One is vulnerable to risky behaviour - a drunk person is unable to make proper decisions hence vulnerable to sexual infections such as HIV / AIDS
   
10. Can make a person cause accidents if driving under the influence of alcohol or staggering on the road.

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