By Dr Hardeep Singh, Senior Consultant, Fortis Hospital, Mohali
United Nations observes June 26 every year as International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. From medical point of view, this is an apt occasion to take a look at its causes and possible solutions to rid the youth of this menace to secure a brighter future for them.
In Punjab almost every 3rd young person is into drugs even though there are stringent laws to prevent the same. Apart from some prescription drugs commonly abused drugs in the region include Heroin, Opium, Poppy Husk, Alcohol and Marijuana. Many youngsters believe these to be recreational. They justify their use for such drugs by stating that these have been “legalized” in advanced countries. There is little realization that drugs are only legalized when all government efforts fail to stop bootlegging.
The use of drugs appears to be increasing in the cities and sub-urban and rural areas alike. The changing family structure, societal values and peer pressure are some of the reasons behind drug abuse. Besides damaging health, the drug menace has several side effects such as economic loss, anti-social behaviour like stealing, violence and crime, social stigma and an overall downfall of the society.”
In order to recognize early symptoms of drug addiction, it is important that near and dear ones keep a close eye on certain behavioral changes. For this one may look for any behavioral changes like if the potential addict is spending too much time away from home, shows general indifference, asking for too much allowances without justification, becoming unduly irritable or showing sudden decline in academic performance
To acknowledge drug addiction as a problem is the first step towards treatment. The next step is to get help. It is always best to consult a Psychiatrist who may advise certain investigations to look for damage caused to body organs and also prescribe medicines to help overcome withdrawals due to drugs / alcohol. This may be very painful at times, depending upon type of drug being abused. Some people may require hospitalization for 3-4 weeks while the majority can be treated on outpatient basis. The treatment involves an initial phase of drug detoxification, wherein drug is driven out of the body. This takes about 2 weeks followed by a de-addiction process which usually takes up to about 2 years.
If the patient’s family gets involved, there are better chances of positive outcomes. Nowadays, with advancement of science and better understanding of neurobiology of Addiction, there are several medicines available which help reduce cravings for drug significantly. Self-help groups provide support to sufferers and help them fight social stigma and shame.”
Addiction is a disease wherein our brain sends misleading signals to our body, often associating pleasure with drug intake. This awareness has to begin from schools where we need to foster better ties with children, spending more quality time with them and helping them talk about their problems with us. Cultivation of a healthy life style through a balanced nutrition, exercise, proper rest & recreation, cultivation of creative hobbies, positive thinking and engagement in community activities go a long way in preventing bad habits such as smoking, alcohol and drug addiction. It should also be borne in mind that our law enforcement agencies need to encourage youngsters to come forward for treatment of this disease and not to scare them by initiating action against them.
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Dr Hardeep Singh, Senior Consultant
hardeep.singh@fortishealthcare.com
Phone No. : 0172-4692222
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