Speaking of drugs
Many people think of opium, heroin, methamphetamine, but you know what?
Drugs have put on a "mask" and mixed into our lives
Even common medicines can be involved in drug risks if used incorrectly
Recently
Criminals sell and abuse narcotic drugs as substitutes for traditional drugs, and the health problems and social harms caused by the abuse of narcotic drugs by teenagers have aroused widespread concern in the society
What is Substance Abuse?
Drug abuse refers to the repeated and massive use of drugs (or substances) with dependence characteristics for non-medical purposes, to which the user becomes mentally and physically dependent, and leads to psychological and behavioral abnormalities, compulsive and endless pursuit of the special psychoactive effects of drugs, resulting in serious personal health and public health and social problems.
Mental dependence: Mental dependence, refers to a feeling of pleasant contentment or euphoria that the user produces that drives the user to repeatedly take medication in order to seek this feeling, manifesting a state of so-called craving.
Somatic dependence: Somatic dependence is a pathological adaptation caused by repeated drug use, mainly manifested by tolerance and withdrawal symptoms.
What drugs are susceptible to drug addiction?
Many drugs are used to treat diseases and can lead to drug addiction when abused. Common addictive drugs include the following:
01 analgesics
Morphine, demerol, fentanyl, etc. are often used as anesthetic and analgesic drugs in clinical practice. However, its addiction can be produced quickly, and generally after 1~2 weeks of continuous use, it can produce an abnormally strong mental and physical dependence.
02 Sedative-hypnotic drugs
Phenobarbital, chloral hydrate, etc. These drugs can be used as hypnotic narcotic drugs. It is easy to produce mental dependence, and if not prescribed for long-term use, physical dependence can occur when used in large doses for a long time.
03 Psychostimulants
Ritalin, cocaine, etc. These ingredients have the effect of reducing sleep and eliminating fatigue. Therefore, criminals package it as a "smart drug" and "stimulant" to lure people to abuse it. These drugs are highly addictive and can generally become addictive in small doses.
04 cough suppressants
Codeine, opioid tincture, ephedrine, etc., can be added to compound cold medicine in small amounts due to their certain cough suppressant and sedative effects. Long-term use of these drugs in large quantities can lead to psychological dependence, and withdrawal symptoms can even be comparable to heroin.
Does drug abuse equal drug use?
According to Article 357 of the Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China in mainland China, drugs refer to opium, heroin, methamphetamine (ice), morphine, marijuana, cocaine and other narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances that can cause addiction under the control of the state. It can be said that the abuse of narcotic drugs is drug abuse!
Note: Narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances are not illegal in themselves and can be used as drugs within their legitimate use, but illegal abuse becomes drugs.
Long-term drug abuse in adolescents can permanently affect the brain
From a psychological perspective, drug abuse has a great destructive effect on the mental health of adolescents, and long-term drug abuse can lead to psychological problems such as emotional out-of-control, anxiety, and depression. And the adolescent brain is not yet fully developed, and substance abuse can permanently alter brain structure and function, leading to cognitive decline, learning difficulties, and behavioral abnormalities.
Secondly, in terms of physical harm, many NPS will bring harm to the health of adolescents. For example, using stimulants such as methamphetamine can cause serious damage to the heart and nervous system; Long-term use of marijuana can affect lung function and cause respiratory diseases; Long-term inhalation of laughing gas can lead to vitamin B12 deficiency, which can lead to serious neurological problems. In addition, drug use through injections and other means may also increase the risk of contracting infectious diseases such as AIDS and hepatitis.
What should we do?
01
Drugs can be purchased from regular medical institutions or pharmacies, and prescription drugs and anesthetic drugs must be purchased with a special prescription from a licensed physician.
02
Strictly follow the doctor's instructions, including dosage, course of use, etc. Do not increase the dose or duration of your medication on your own. For example, in general, diazepam sedative-hypnotic drugs should only be used for short-term relief of sleep disturbances, while patients with chronic insomnia who have been taking these drugs for a long time should have a clinical evaluation at least every 4 weeks and use intermittent or on-demand therapy under the guidance of a physician. Drugs containing cough suppressants such as codeine should not be used for a long time, and under normal circumstances, if the symptoms are not relieved after 5~7 days of medication, you should seek medical attention in time.
03
If there are symptoms unrelated to the purpose of medication in the process of medication, feedback should be given to the doctor in time, and the dosage of the drug should be adjusted under the guidance of the doctor, or the drug should be stopped or changed.
How can adolescents prevent substance abuse?
The prevention of drug abuse among adolescents can only achieve good results through the joint efforts of individuals, parents and schools.
student
- Strengthen the learning of drug abuse prevention;
- Be vigilant about substance abuse;
- Be cautious in making friends, and seek help from parents and teachers in a timely manner when encountering difficulties or psychological pressure;
- Take the medicine according to the doctor's instructions and use it according to the instructions of the drug.
Parents
- Maintain good communication and exchanges with children, and conduct psychological counseling in a timely manner;
- Understand the knowledge related to the prevention of drug abuse and use drugs rationally;
- Teach children to make friends correctly and not to accept items from strangers;
- If you find that your child's personality and behavior are abnormal, you should be vigilant and pay attention to them.
school
- Strengthen education on drug abuse prevention and raise awareness of the dangers of drug abuse;
- guide students to relieve stress and pay attention to students' mental health;
- If a student's behavior is abnormal, they should have a heart-to-heart conversation in time to understand the situation;
- Work with parents to focus on the growth of students.
Source: Beijing Anti-Narcotics
Editor: Li Yinxiang