GENERAL INFORMATION:

  1. Definitions:
    Drug Abuse
    Drug Addiction
    Drug Dependence
    Drug Habit
    Drug Tolerance
    Drug Syndicate

  1. Signs of Drug Abuse

  2. Signs of Abuse of
    Specific Drugs

  3. Hazards and
    Effects

  1. Types:
    Depressants/Sedatives
    Narcotics
    Opium
    heroin
    Morphine
    Barbiturates
    Tranquillizers

    Stimulants
    Amphetamines
    Cocaine

    Hallucinogens
    Mescalene
    Marijuana
    LSD

  1. Ecstacy

  2. Other substances of
    Abuse

  3. Teenagers and Drugs

  4. Street Drugs

  5. Drugs in the Elderly

  6. Drugs in Sports

  7. Abuse and Misuse of
    legal Drugs

  8. Dependence on
    Analgesics

  9. How to Recognize drug abuse
    and addiction
Drug Abuse :: Drug Addiction :: Drug Dependence :: Drug Habit :: Drug Tolerance ::
Drug Syndicate

Drug abuse
  • Drug abuse is medically defined as the use or consumption, without medical authorization, of medically useful drugs, which alter mood and behavior.
  • It also refers to misusing a medically useful mood-altering drug.
  • Any use of mind changing drugs and substances with no legitimate medical application.

Drug addiction
chronic or periodic abuse of a drug(s) for intoxication.
It is marked by:
  1. An overpowering compulsion or need to take the drug and obtain it by any means
  2. A tendency to increase the drugs dosage
  3. A psychic (physiological, mental) and generally physical dependence on the drugs effects, despite knowledge.

A drug addict's world is drug-centered. That is, he thinks of nothing but how to keep up his drug habit from the time he wakes up to the time he sleeps. When he doesn't get his drug, the addict suffers insufferable pains. He will do anything, therefore, to get his drug: sell his last possessions, beg without shame, steal from family and friends, and even resort to armed robbery or violence.

Drug dependence
  • a state of dependence on a drug to feel physically "normal" or "well" arising from repeated use of the drug. Its characteristics vary with the drug of abuse.
  • When he is not able to get his drug, the abuser begins to feel "sick". He suffers what is called "withdrawal sickness" or "withdrawal syndrome". This gets to be actually painful as the drug's effects "withdraw" from the abuser's boy system.

Drug Habit

Is a psychological or mental condition resulting from repeated use of a drug, marked by:

  1. A desire or want (but not a compulsion or need) to continue taking the drug for the sense of well-being it gives
  2. Little or no tendency to increase the drug's dose (unlike physical dependence where the abuser tends to take more and more of the drug to get the same effect because of body "tolerance"
  3. Some degree of psychic or mental dependence on the drug but not absence of syndrome
  4. A determinable effect, if any, on the abuser, but not on society.

Drug Tolerance

Tolerance is increasing the dosage of his drug(s) to maintain the same effects. Develops with: amphetamines, barbiturates, opiates, solvents. Some addicts go uo to 20 - 200 times more than the medicinal dose. This can be fatal.

Drug Syndicate
A drug syndicate is a network of evil. It is operated and manned by willful criminals who knowingly traffic in human lives for the money. They can make in their illegal and nefarious trade. The net results of their commerce are: physical and mental cripples, ruined lives, and even agonizing deaths.

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