Drug Addiction

A drug is any substance that causes a change in an organisms physiology when consumed addicts is recognised as a brain disease because drugs literally cause changes to the brain. Drug addiction also called substance use disordered is a disease that affects a person’s brain and behaviour and leads to an inability to control the use of a legal or illegal drug or medication substances such as alcohol, marijuana & nicotine also are considered drugs. When person addicted he may continue using the drug despite the harm it causes.

Symptoms of drugs addicts :-

  • Feeling of Euphoria-or high-by stimulating brain cells to release the chemical dopamine
  • At the height of visual – auditory survey and taste perception
  • hyperthsim & tachycardia
  • Temporary memory loss
  • Lack of co-ordination
  • Altered perception of time
  • Change on mood
  • Difficulties thinking or problems solving & focusing
  • Red eyes
  • Dry mouth
  • Anxiety & infatuation thinking
  • Exaggerated cravings for certain foods during extraordinary times

Problems of drug ingestion :-

Physical health problem

  • Lack of energy and motivation
  • Wait loss or gain and red eyes
  • A neglected look
  • Lack of interest clothing grooming or appearance

Behaviour changes

  • Exaggerated attempts to prevent family members from entering his or
  • her room or keeping secrete about where he/she goes with friends drastic changes in behaviour and relationship with family members and friends

Financial Problems

Sudden requests for money without reasonable explanation or false claim that money is missing or stolen etc.

Getting the epidemic diseases

People who are drugged are more likely to get HIV infection through unsafe sex or sharing needles.

Other health problem

Substance abuse can lead to short term & long term mental & physical health problem there depend on which drug they take.

Accident

People with substance abuse are more likely to drive or perform other dangerous activities while under the influence of drugs.

Suicide

Drug addicts die of suicide more after than non-addicted people

Work place issues

Drug use can cause performance decline at workplace absenteeism & eventually job loss.

Problems in school

Drug use hampers academic achievement & better achievement in school.

Solution

Medical treatment, cognitive behaviour therapy, family therapy & psycho therapy will be offered at the Shri Maitri de-addiction Centre.


Alcohol Addiction

What is alcoholism or alcohol used disorder?

A chronic disease characterised by uncontrolled drinking and preoccupation with alcohol. Or Inability to control drinking due to both a physical and emotional dependence on alcohol.

Short term & Long term physical effects associated alcohol

Long term effects of alcohol :-

Slurred speech, Drowsiness, Vomiting, Diarrhea, Upset stomach, Headaches, Breathing difficulties, distorted vision and hearing, impaired judgement, decreased perception, Co-ordination, Un-conscious , Anaemia Coma, blackouts, ( memory losses where the drinker cannot remember events that occurred while under the influence )

Long term effects of alcohol:-

  • Alcohol poisoning
  • High blood pressure, smoke, & other. Heart related disease ( Cardio Vascular disease)
  • Liver disease, Never disease
  • Permanent Damage to the brain
  • Stenosis , fibrosis, curacies, & hipotocellular carcinoma & other liver
  • disorder
  • Sexual problems
  • Vitamin B, deficiency, which can lead to a disorder characterized by
  • amnesia, apathy & disorientation called ( wernicke-korsa koff Syndrome)
  • Ulcers, Gastric, malnutrition, pancreatitis.
  • Conur of mouth & throat etc.

Family & social problems associated with alcohol:-

  • Cognitive problems
  • Failure to meet work, school or family responsibilities
  • Giving up on activities that they enjoyed because of drinking
  • Family violence
  • Un-employment
  • Homelessness
  • financial Problems

Alcohol poisoning (FAS – Fatal alcohol effects )

A disturbance in behaviour or metal function during or after alcohol consumption or consequence of drinking large amounts of alcohol in a short period of time. Drinking too much too quickly affect – breathing, heart rate, body temperature & Potentially lead to coma & death.

Symptoms :

  • Confusion
  • Vomiting
  • Seizures
  • Slow breathing ( less than 8 breaths a minutes )
  • Irregular breathing ( gap of more than 10 sees between breaths )
  • Blue tinged skin or pale skin
  • Low body temperature ( hypothermia )
  • Passing out ( unconsciousness ) & can’t be awakened

Smoking Addiction

Smoking, the act of inhaling and exhaling the fumes of burning plant material. A variety of plant materials are smoked, including marijuana and hashish, but the act is most commonly associated with tobacco as smoked in a cigarette, cigar, or pipe. Tobacco contains nicotine, an alkaloid that is addictive and can have both stimulating and tranquilizing psychoactive effects. Smoking soon spread to other areas and today is widely practiced around the world despite medical, social, and religious arguments against it.

Nicotine is the addictive drug in tobacco smoke that causes people who smoke to continue to smoke.

Along with nicotine, people who smoke inhale about 7,000 other chemicals in cigarette smoke. Many of these chemicals come from burning tobacco leaf. Some of these compounds are chemically active and trigger profound and damaging changes in the body.

Tobacco smoke contains over 70 known cancer-causing chemicals. Smoking harms nearly every organ in the body, causing many diseases and reducing health in general.


Dangerous chemicals in tobacco smoke
Highly damaging components of tobacco smoke include:

Effects of smoking tobacco on the body
Inhaling tobacco smoke causes damage to many of the body’s organs and systems.

Effects of smoking on the respiratory system
The effects of tobacco smoke on the respiratory system include:
• irritation of the trachea (windpipe) and larynx (voice box)
• reduced lung function and breathlessness due to swelling and narrowing of the lung airways and excess mucus in the lung passages
• impairment of the lungs’ clearance system, leading to the build-up of poisonous substances, which results in lung irritation and damage
• increased risk of lung infection and symptoms such as coughing and wheezing
• permanent damage to the air sacs of the lungs.


Effects of smoking on the circulatory system
The effects of tobacco smoke on the circulatory system include:
• raised blood pressure and heart rate
• constriction (tightening) of blood vessels in the skin, resulting in a drop in skin temperature
• less oxygen carried by the blood during exercise
• ‘stickier’ blood, which is more prone to clotting
• damage to the lining of the arteries, which is thought to be a contributing factor to atherosclerosis (the build-up of fatty deposits on the artery walls)
• reduced blood flow to extremities (fingers and toes)
• increased risk of stroke and heart attack due to blockages of the blood supply.

Effects of smoking on the immune system
The effects of tobacco smoke on the immune system include:
• greater susceptibility to infections such as pneumonia and influenza
• more severe and longer-lasting illnesses
• lower levels of protective antioxidants (such as vitamin C), in the blood.

Effects of smoking on the musculoskeletal system
The effects of tobacco smoke on the musculoskeletal system include:
• tightening of certain muscles
• reduced bone density.

Effects of smoking on the sexual organs
The effects of tobacco smoke on the male body include an increased risk for:
• lower sperm count
• higher percentage of deformed sperm
• genetic damage to sperm
• impotence, which may be due to the effects of smoking on blood flow and damage to the blood vessels of the penis.
The effects of tobacco smoke on the female body include:
• reduced fertility, menstrual cycle irregularities, or absence of menstruation
• menopause reached one or two years earlier
• increased risk of cancer of the cervix
• greatly increased risk of stroke and heart attack if the person who smokes is aged over 35 years and taking the oral contraceptive pill.

Other effects of smoking on the body
Other effects of tobacco smoke on the body include:
• irritation and inflammation of the stomach and intestines
• increased risk of painful ulcers along the digestive tract
• reduced ability to smell and taste
• premature wrinkling of the skin
• higher risk of blindness
• gum disease (periodontitis).

Effects of smoking on babies
The effects of maternal smoking on an unborn baby include:
• increased risk of miscarriage, stillbirth and premature birth
• weaker lungs
• low birth weight, which may have a lasting effect of the growth and development of children. Low birth weight is associated with an increased risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes in adulthood
• increased risk of cleft palate and cleft lip
• increased risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Passive smoking (exposure of the non-smoking mother to second-hand smoke) can also harm the fetus.
If a parent continues to smoke during their baby’s first year of life, the child has an increased risk of ear infections, respiratory illnesses such as pneumonia and bronchitis, sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI) and meningococcal disease.

Diseases caused by long-term smoking
A person who smokes throughout their life is at high risk of developing a range of potentially lethal diseases, including:
• cancer of the lung, mouth, nose, larynx, tongue, nasal sinus, oesophagus, throat, pancreas, bone marrow (myeloid leukaemia), kidney, cervix, ovary, ureter, liver, bladder, bowel and stomach
• lung diseases such as chronic bronchitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which includes obstructive bronchiolitis and emphysema
• heart disease and stroke
• ulcers of the digestive system
• osteoporosis and hip fracture
• poor blood circulation in feet and hands, which can lead to pain and, in severe cases, gangrene and amputation
• type 2 diabetes
• rheumatoid arthritis.

Steps to Manage Quit Day
You’ve decided to quit smoking. Congratulations! Your first day without cigarettes can be difficult. Here are five steps you can take to handle your quit day and gain confidence about staying quit.

Stick to Your Plan
Revisiting your quit plan can make your quit day easier—it will help you stay focused, confident, and motivated to quit and stay quit. If you haven’t made a quit plan yet, it’s not too late. Build a personalized quit plan now.
Remember: There is no single quit smoking plan that will work for everyone. Be honest about your needs. If using nicotine replacement therapy is right for you and part of your plan, be sure to start using it first thing in the morning.

2. Get Support
You don’t need to rely on willpower alone to be smoke free. There are things you can do that will help you get through your quit day.
• Lean on positive people. Tell your family and friends about your quit day. Ask them for support, especially on your first few days and weeks of being smoke free. They can help you get through the rough spots.
• Visit Smoke free on social media. Grow your support network and stay connected.

3. Stay Busy
Keeping busy is a great way to stay smoke free on your quit day. Being busy will help you keep your mind off smoking and distract you from cravings. Think about trying some of these activities:
• Exercise.
• Get out of the house for a walk.
• Chew gum or hard candy.
• Keep your hands busy with a pen or toothpick, or play a game in the Quit Guide app.
• Drink lots of water.
• Relax with deep breathing.
• Go to a movie.
• Spend time with non-smoking friends and family.
• Go to dinner at your favorite smoke free restaurant.

4. Avoid Smoking Triggers
Triggers are the people, places, things, and situations that set off your urge to smoke. On your quit day, try to avoid your smoking triggers. Here are some tips to help you outsmart some common smoking triggers:
• Throw away your cigarettes, lighters, and ashtrays if you haven’t already.
• Avoid caffeine, which can make you feel jittery. Try drinking water instead.
• Spend time with non-smokers.
• Go to places where smoking isn’t allowed.
• Get plenty of rest and eat healthy. Being tired can trigger you to smoke.
• Change your routine to avoid the things you might associate with smoking.

5. Stay Positive
Quitting smoking is difficult. It happens one minute…one hour…one day at a time. Try not to think of quitting as forever. Pay attention to today and the time will add up. It helps to stay positive. Your quit day might not be perfect, but all that matters is that you don’t smoke—not even one puff. Reward yourself for being smoke free for 24 hours. You deserve it. And if you’re not feeling ready to quit today, set a quit date that makes sense for you. It’s OK if you need a few more days to prepare to quit smoking.

Diagnosis
Your doctor may ask you questions or have you fill out a questionnaire to see how dependent you are on nicotine. Knowing your degree of dependence will help your doctor determine the right treatment plan for you. The more cigarettes you smoke each day and the sooner you smoke after awakening, the more dependent you are.

Treatment
Like most smokers, you've probably made at least one serious attempt to stop. But it's rare to stop smoking on your first attempt — especially if you try to do it without help. You're much more likely to be able to stop smoking if you use medications and counseling, which have both been proved effective, especially in combination.

Medications
Some quit-smoking products are known as nicotine replacement therapy because they contain varying amounts of nicotine. Some of these nicotine replacement therapies require a prescription, but others don't. There are two approved quit-smoking medications that don't contain nicotine, and both are available only by prescription.

Any of these products can help reduce nicotine cravings and withdrawal symptoms — making it more likely that you'll stop smoking for good. Using more than one may help you get better results.

Although you can buy some quit-smoking products without a prescription, it's a good idea to talk to your doctor first. Together you can explore which products might be right for you, when to start taking them and possible side effects.

Counseling

Medications help you cope by reducing withdrawal symptoms and cravings, while behavioral treatments help you develop the skills you need to give up tobacco for good. The more time you spend with a counselor, the better your treatment results will be.

During individual or group counseling, you learn techniques you can use to help you stop smoking. Many hospitals, health care plans, health care providers and employers offer treatment programs. Some medical centers provide residential treatment programs — the most intensive treatment available.

All tobacco control measures require political commitment. Because the tobacco industry is far better funded and more politically powerful than those who advocate to protect children and non-smokers from tobacco and to help tobacco users quit, much more needs to be done by every country to reverse the tobacco epidemic. By taking action to implement the MPOWER policies, governments and civil society can create the enabling environment necessary to help people quit tobacco use. WHO, with the help of its global partners, stands ready to support Member States as they face the challenges ahead.