Drug Abuse

It implies the illicit use or misuse of drugs - people who use drugs not recommended for them or use in quantities greater than what is recommended for purposes other than medicinal.
The whole drug business of the world is worth $400 billion! An official estimate of drug users ropes in 185 million people. According to a U.N. estimate, India itself is home to about 1 million heroin users. A recent estimate shows that female drug addicts are on a rise compared to their male counterparts!

Cannabies is the most common substance in drug abuse. In fact, 'Bhang', one of the few legally available preparations in India comes from the dried leaves or flowering shoots of the hemp plant, the source of charas and marijuana as well.

Drug abuse substances can be divided into two categories:
1. Legal drugs: medicainal use. Ex: Alcohol, tobacco, psycho-stimulants
2. Illegal drugs: banned. Ex: Heroin, cocaine, Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD or LSD-25)

3 levels of dependencies:
1. Psychological
2. Physiological
3. Peer groups
Causes of drug abuse in India:
1. India's geographical location with respect to the golden crescent (Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan) and the golden triangle (Myanmar, Laos, Thailand) - the two major hubs of drugs!
2. Decline in moral values/ethics
3. Glamourisation of drugs - in movies etc.
4. False sense of modernity
5. Low self-esteem
6. Emotional distress
7. Poverty - Cannabies are taken to fight hunger! Such pathetic is the situation..
8. Gateway drug factor - substance transition where an user starts off with a small variant and gradually begins to explore the more powerful drugs out of curiosity!
9. Social winking - many a time the society lets off as in marriages or festivals like Shivratri, it's turning out to be a ritual sort of!
10. Exposure
11. Medical causes
12. For better performance

Impact of drugs:
1. Domestic violence
2. Money laundering
3. Juvenile deliquency
4. Suicide bombers
5. Terrorism

Some common substances with their effects:
1. Alcohol: It has the effect of releasing tension, resulting in delayed reaction time and impaired judgement
2. Sedatives: Has a depressing effect on the CNS (Central Nervous System); acts as a tranquilizer and affects immediate reaction, memory etc. Ex: Goofballs
3. Stimulants: Activates the CNS and quite often used to treat mild depressions. Ex: coffee-caffeine
4. Narcotics: Acts on the CNs and has same effect as that of sedatives. Ex: heroin, morphine
5. Hallucinogens: Psychedelic substances; work on the CNS & produce hallucinations - false images
6. Nicotine: Fights boredom, affect bodyaches
7. Analgesics: An imporatant group but often ignored; relieve body pain, anxiety but has serious impacts.

*Fact: 50% of crimes in the U.K. is under the effect of drugs! So stay away while you still can....