The Dangers Of Drug Abuse

By Janine Tassi
Drug use is a huge problem; we are a drug culture, and literally thousands of substances are used extensively.  Western medicine is likewise a drug-orientated system.  We consume billions of pills yearly and spend billions of rands on then.  These figures do not even include the everyday use of caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine.
Drug problems are common, and there are really no stereotypical drug addicts; they can be the affluent businessman, the housewife, the down-and-out “street’ person, or anyone under pressure or with unmet psychological needs.  Drug and substance abuse are an individual, family, and worldwide problem that can affect young and old, men and women.
Any of the thousands of prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs currently available and in common use can be toxic, especially when too much is used or when they are used for too long.  OTC products are more easily abused than pharmaceuticals because they can be readily obtained, and are usually less toxic. Many of these drugs can create physical dependency, especially when there is a chronic problem or when there are withdrawal or rebound symptoms, as there are in allergy conditions, sinus congestion, and constipation. Using sleeping pills, tranquillisers, and antidepressants is another way to deal with life’s frustrations and challenges.  Valium has been a very popular drug, the most popular for a few years, but new drugs keep entering the race.Aspirin and caffeine are two big OTC drug problems. Aspirin, a valuable drug, has been in common use for many decades, though it’s use is now decreasing because of its association with stomach irritation, allergies, its effect on blood clotting, and the availability of other anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen, which has many possible side effects. Even stronger prescription narcotics, such as codeine, hydrocodone (Percodan), propoxyphene or even Demerol or morphine may be prescribed. All of these narcotic drugs are much more addictive, and thus more difficult to stop using.
A large concern is that caffeine often occurs along with other substance abuses, nicotine and sugar most commonly.  Caffeine, like sugar, over-stimulates the adrenals and then weakens them with persistent or chronic use.  Caffeine can be a lifetime drug for many, with many adults using caffeine daily. This is slowly changing with education and experience revealing the long-range problems resulting from caffeine abuse.
Physiologically, caffeine is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant. For many users, it specifically improves muscular-coordinated work activity, such as typing.  It generally speeds up the body, increasing the basal metabolic rate (BMR), which can help burn more calories.  Caffeine is also a diuretic and a mild laxative, an effect that many coffee drinkers appreciate.  The amount needed to produce the wake-up and stimulation effect increases with regular use, as is typical of addictive drugs.  Eventually, we need the drug to function; without it, fatigue and drowsiness occur.  So caffeine is a natural stimulant with both physical and psychological addiction potential and with withdrawal symptoms similar to the symptoms of its abuse.
Street or ‘recreational’ narcotics are also a big problem.  Instant gratification, a little peace, a wonderful trip, or a feeling of massive power, are all things that are promised when people are offered drugs of one kind or another.  Remember, however, what they don’t tell you:

• You cannot control your response to any drug
• You can never know exactly what is in a drug
• The more you like it, the more you are going to want and then need it
• The more you need it, the more you will do unthinkable things to get it
• What goes up, must come down – when adding chemicals to your brain, your body overreacts and later crashes, leaving you feeling depressed and even suicidal
• The effects are short-term and when the drug wears off, reality is still there with all the problems you tried to escape from
• Uppers could make you need downers and the combination could kill you
• Drugs take over and make you lose control – and that makes you vulnerable (to your own loss of capability, such as driving; and to sexual or physical assault

TIK-TIK
Crystal meth, or methamphetamine, is a highly addictive stimulant, which can be snorted, injected or swallowed but is most commonly smoked.  Locally it is sold in drinking straws, which are placed in an ordinary light bulb, referred to as a “lollipop”.  This is heated and smoked.
Street names
Speed, chrystal – meth, straw, ice, bio – tik, tweaking, and most commonly known in the western cape as “tik” or choeff.
Short-term effects
When smoked, the drug’s effect on the brain is instantaneous, causing increased activity, loss of appetite, decreased fatigue and a ravenous sexual appetite.
Long-term effects
They include heart attacks, stroke, lung infections, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, decreased resistance to disease, weight loss, and organ damage.
Dangers
Any dose level can be extremely dangerous or even fatal due to the unpredictable nature of the drug
COCAINE
A powerful ‘upper’, or stimulant and in large doses, a hallucinogen.  One of the most highly addictive substances, which is also known as coke, blow or snow.
Physical symptoms
Loss of appetite and weight, insomnia, anxiety, runny nose, frequent sniffing and nose bleeds, and loss of concentration.
Effects of the drug
20 – 30 minute euphoria, a feeling of well-being and overconfidence, increase energy, hyperactivity, rapid pulse and dehydration.  In larger doses it can lead to hallucinations, hyper-excitability, convulsions or heart failure.
Dangers
Cocaine rules the user’s life. Dangers include suicide from lows, dependence, criminal behaviour, impurities and other drugs ‘cut’ into cocaine, psychosis, voices and obnoxious smells, damage to nasal tissue, heart attack and cardiac failure, convulsions and fits, respiratory failure.
Withdrawal
Lethargy, increased cravings, depression and irritability, nausea and vomiting, fits, insomnia, and muscle pain and weakness.
HEROIN
It is a highly dangerous and addictive drug, also known as H, horse, smack or slag.  Thai white is now most popular and is purer than brown street heroin. It is most often heated on tinfoil with the smoke inhaled.  Tolerance and addiction develop quickly.
Physical symptoms
Constricted pupils, constipation, loss of appetite and weight, sleepiness, decreased sex drive, slurred speech, impaired reflexes and co-ordination.
Short-term effects
Warmth and contentment – not unlike an orgasm.  The ‘high’ wears off quickly.  Other symptoms include impaired breathing, clouded mental functioning, nausea and vomiting, suppression of pain, spontaneous abortion, mood swings, and personality changes.
Long-term effects
Severe addiction, exposure to infectious diseases such as HIV / AIDS and hepatitis B and C, collapsed veins, bacterial infections, abscesses, infection of heart lining and valves, arthritis and other rheumatic problems.
Withdrawal
Withdrawal sets in quickly.  Symptoms include sweating, nausea and vomiting, trembling, hyperventilation, convulsions, stomach cramps, diarrhoea, hallucinations, feelings of terror, and a possibility of heart collapse.  The skin is often cold, sweaty and covered in gooseflesh – “going cold turkey”.
DAGGA
Also known as marijuana, cannabis, pot, hashish, weed, gangster, Mary Jane, chronic, ganja, and grass.  Usually sold in a ‘stop’ (one gram rolled in a piece of newspaper, or a plastic bank packet (bankies).  It is often smoked with tobacco or mandrax as a ‘white pipe’, and it can be eaten or drunk.  It is known as the getaway drug.
Physical symptoms
Bloodshot eyes, sleepiness, mood change, lack of motivation, increased appetite, dry mouth, nausea and persistent cough.
Effects of the drug
It causes, intoxication and light-headedness, euphoria and relaxation, talkativeness, heightened awareness, feelings of detachment or unreality, impaired concentration, short-term memory loss and depression.
Dangers
It is harmful to the lungs, causing emphysema and cancer.  Brain malfunction – especially memory and behaviour, anxiety and panic attacks, loss of fertility, possible psychological dependence, an increased risk of lung cancer, decreased sex drive, foetal abnormality, decreased resistance to infection, and impaired brain development with prolonged use by young people.
Withdrawal
Symptoms include restlessness, anxiety, insomnia, irritability, craving, and aggression.
ECSTACY
A stimulant and hallucinogen, it is called E, or the love drug.
Physical symptoms
Decrease in co-ordination, decreased appetite, dilated pupils, sweating, dry mouth, thirst, dehydration, increased body temperature, and blurred vision.
Effects of the drug
Joy, exhilaration, sensual and mystic feelings, increased physical and emotional energy, decreased inhibitions, increase in blood pressure and heart rate.
Dangers
Dangers include dehydration, heat stroke, respiratory failure, liver damage, brain damage, paralysis, psychological disorders, delirium and coma.
Withdrawal
Psychologically addictive, depression, paranoia, anxiety, tolerance develops.
MANDRAX
It depresses the central nervous system.  Physical and psychological dependence develops.  It is sold as a white tablet and is knows as Titanic, buttons, mandrakes, Mandies, MZ, whites, MX, white pipe and Cremora.  Usually crushed, mixed with dagga and smoked in a pipe or bottleneck.

Physical symptoms
Constant headaches, stomach pains, decreased alertness and concentration, decreased co-ordination, excessive weight loss, a sallow face, red eyes, and emotional instability are all symptoms.
Effects of the drug
The immediate high experienced can last up to 10 hours, together with feelings of calm and hapiness.  Nausea and vomiting, exhaustion, falling over and passing out, as well as loss of weight are also effects.
Dangers
Often cut with harmful substances, rapid tolerance develops, convulsions, personality changes, respiratory and circulatory failure, leading to coma and death, as well as an impaired immune system.
Withdrawal
Headaches, stomach cramps and haemorrhage, cough, hallucinations, insomnia, convulsions, irritability and aggression.
LSD
A hallucinogen, causing psychological dependence.  Sold as a white powder or crystals, then swallowed, smoked or injected.  Known as acid, sugar, candy, smarties, microdots, Supermans or Batmans.
Physical symptoms
Dizziness, nausea and vomiting, dilated pupils, hyperventilation, numbness, chills and shakiness, strong emotions – laughing and crying.
Effects of the drug
The trip lasts 1 – 16 hours, with vivid hallucinations and delusions, a sense of euphoria or anxiety, desperation or anger, feelings of being outside the body, sensory crossover (smelling colours, or seeing sounds, for example), increased blood pressure, heart rate and temperature.
Dangers
Dangers include cross-tolerance with other drugs, distortion of perception, accidents, depression and anxiety, foetal abnormalities, suicidal tendencies, brain damage, and bad trips, which include panic and perceptions of persecution.
Withdrawal
LSD has few withdrawal symptoms although users may experience scary flashbacks several years after quitting.
SIGNS OF POSSIBLE DRUG DEPENDENCY
Physical signs

• Weight loss, excessive perspiration
• Pale face, circles under eyes or red eyes, frequent use of eye drops
• Unexplained skin rashes, injection marks, bruising, scabs, sores on arms
• Yellow stains on hands
• Persistent cough, frequent colds, constant sniffing
• Changes in sleeping or eating patterns
• Deterioration of personal hygiene, or an odour of alcohol
• Indistinct speech, delayed reflex action and lack of co-ordination
• Dizziness, trembling of hands
• Regular nose bleeds

Behavioural signs

• Increased need and use of money
• Theft or missing valuables, alcohol or medication
• New friends, lying or secretiveness, mysterious phone calls.
• Getting fired from jobs, problems attending work or school, a drop in performance.
• Quitting hobbies or activities, lack of motivation
• Mood swings (hostile behaviour, depression, outbursts)
• Verbal or physical abuse of family
• Spending more time alone

Items to look out for

• Alcohol or drugs in their possession, including seeds from dagga plants
• Mouthwash, breath sprays or eye drops
• Thinners, Tippex or other solvents
• Bank bags, rolling papers (Rizla), broken glass bottle tops, pipes, tinfoil, mirrors, razor blades, small screens or burnt spoons
• Burns or stains on hands and clothing. 

Resource Link: http://www.vital.co.za/cms/article/the-dangers-of-drug-abuse/