Substance abuse refers to the repetitive, heavy use of drugs for which you are dependent. This type of medication is not related to medical and disease needs, and is a non-medical purpose. Substance abuse is not only an individual health issue, but also has a social dimension. Drug addiction due to substance abuse is a global concern.
Note that drug dependence is divided into physical dependence and mental dependence. The main goal of drug therapy is to treat the diseases of the body, that is, manifestations of physical dependence, physiological dependence is not equal to addiction. Mental dependence on drugs is the manifestation of drug addiction, and mental dependence equals addiction.
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Why drug addiction occurs
Drug addiction is a phenomenon in which mental or physical dependence on a drug (substance) is caused by long-term or repeated use, and a continuous or periodic desire to use the drug repeatedly.
Drug addiction has the following characteristics.
Human dependence and addiction: Dopamine in the brain is a key neurotransmitter for drug addiction, and long-term non-standard use of drugs, such as the sedative-hypnotic drug zopiclone tablets, may lead to structural and functional damage to the brain, making people dependent and addictive.
Physical and chemical properties of drugs: fat-soluble drugs are easy to pass through the blood-brain barrier, and volatile drugs are easily absorbed by the human body, which provides convenient conditions for multiple uses. For example, diazepam is a fat-soluble, fast-acting, and potent drug that is more likely to lead to addiction.
Personal factors of drug users: personal qualities and mental state disorders are subjective conditional factors of drug addiction. Adventurous, inquisitive people are more likely to try addictive drugs. Drug addicts tend to use multiple drugs at the same time.
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What are the addictive drugs
Most of the prescription drugs such as anxiolytics, sedatives, and analgesics commonly used in clinical practice are addictive drugs. These drugs can treat the disease when used in clinical justification, but if used in excess or continuously, they can cause severe psychological dependence. Common addictive drugs are as follows.
●Sedatives and hypnotics
1. Benzendichloroazems. Benzodichloropyrene, an anxiolytic, sedative-hypnotic, anticonvulsant, antitremor, and central muscle relaxant effect. Representative drugs include triazolam, flurazepam, lorazepam, etc.
People with benzodiazepine addiction can experience mental impairment, including aggressive behavior, criminal behavior, euphoria and increased speech, anxiety, depression, uncontrollable crying and laughing, and even suicide. These drugs can also cause memory impairment, including long-term memory impairment and anterograde amnesia. People who take the drug for a long time and stop it abruptly may experience withdrawal symptoms and even withdrawal-related psychiatric disorders.
2. Barbiturates. Such drugs are derivatives of barbituric acid (malonylurea) and have a non-specific effect. Small doses can have a sedative effect and relieve anxiety and irritability; Medium-dose medications can have a hypnotic effect, shorten the time to fall asleep, reduce the number of awakenings, and prolong sleep. Because this class of drugs is easy to produce tolerance and dependence, and there are many adverse reactions, they are rarely used for sedation and hypnosis.
●Analgesics
Opioid analgesics act primarily on the central nervous system, producing analgesic effects and improving unpleasant emotions caused by pain, but they are also addictive and can lead to substance abuse and withdrawal syndrome. Common opioid analgesics are morphine, meperidine, oxycodone, etc.
●Central nervous system stimulants
Central nervous system stimulants refer to a class of drugs that can selectively excite the central nervous system, thereby improving its function. These drugs can be used when the central nervous system is depressed or when it is underfunctioning or disordered.
Long-term use of such drugs can produce adverse effects such as loss of appetite and insomnia, which can cause or aggravate some psychiatric symptoms, such as depression, suicidal thoughts, hostile behavior, mental abnormalities and mania. This type of drug mainly includes awakening drugs, psychostimulants, brain rehabilitation drugs, etc. Representative drugs include amphetamine, methylphenidate, etc.
●Central antitussives
Central antitussives produce antitussive effects by directly inhibiting the cough center of the brain. Among them, morphine alkaloids and their derivatives, such as codeine, forcodine, hydroxytibacol, etc., are also known as dependent or addictive cough medicines because of their addictive properties, and long-term use will also produce tolerance and addiction.
Text: Ma Manling, chief pharmacist of the Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University
Finishing: Health News special reporter Yi Xiaofeng
Editor: Liu Yang Guan Zhongyao
Proofreading: Ma Yang
Review: Qin Mingrui, Xu Bingnan
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