The damage done by Drug Abuse

 

The UN General Assembly commemorated the first International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on June 26, 1987. Since then, this day has come to symbolise the seamless and organised global effort to create a drug-free society. Three international conventions have so far been hosted by the UN, in 1961, 1971, and 1988. The first one aimed to stop the illegal manufacturing and non-medical usage of cocaine, marijuana, and painkillers. The 1971 meeting expanded the discussion to include synthetic or psychotropic drugs. The third convention against illicit trafficking aimed to suppress the black market on a global scale and expanded the prohibition to include precursor chemicals.

The United Nations also held two special sessions in 1998 and 2016 to discuss the global drug crises throughout the previous five decades. By 2008, the UN had set a goal to lower the supply and demand of illegal drugs and synthetic drugs. The World Drug Reports, on the other hand, depicted a rise in the usage of illegal drugs3,4. A stark gap in the availability of narcotic medications, particularly opioid analgesics for pain conditions, among different countries around the world has emerged5. The UN called for the second extraordinary session in 2016, noting the failure on both fronts of preventing misuse and ensuring access for medical and research purposes.

The drug addiction epidemic is rapidly spreading among Indian youngsters. Unfortunately, drug traffickers enjoy operating in India. This is the case because it lies in the middle of the 'golden triangle' and the 'golden crescent. Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos make up the first region, whereas Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran make up the second.

Addiction to a certain drug, especially narcotic drugs, is referred to as drug addiction. These are mostly illicit substances that alter a person's mood and behaviour. In India, drug addiction is a social ill. The tragedy of our time is that millions of young people, who will eventually become citizens of India, succumb to the drug habit.

Adolescent substance abuse is on the rise in India at a startling rate, and this is a direct result of shifting cultural norms, intense competition in the fields of education and employment, mounting financial stress on families, and deteriorating supportive ties for teenagers during this formative stage. Adolescents are affected because they see their first experiences with a variety of drugs, especially those that are widely accessible like glue, tobacco, cannabis, and alcohol. Teenagers who have a family history of drug abuse as well as other emotional and behavioural difficulties at home are among the most at-risk groups among adolescents, along with street children, child laborers, and teens.

Adolescents are most affected psychologically by substance abuse, which increases their risk of developing a substance use disorder and causes significant behavioural changes, such as mood disorders, depression, anxiety, and thought disorders like schizophrenia, as well as personality disorders like antisocial personality traits. Because nicotine alters the way synapses form, harming the regions of the brain that regulate attention and learning, tobacco use in adolescence and young adulthood carries a special risk for long-term and long-lasting effects on developing brains. The brain continues to grow until about the age of 25, but during adolescence, this growth is not complete, making the brain more vulnerable to the harmful effects of tobacco smoke.

Conflicts with friends, family, or relatives are another consequence of substance addiction, along with accidents and serious health issues. Some people even lose their jobs or drop out of school owing to poor performance. According to one study, 3% of adolescents who took drugs also engaged in criminal activity, such as petty theft, burglary, and destruction of both public and private property.

Many people do not comprehend the reasons behind drug and related substance addiction. They incorrectly see drug misuse as a social issue and stigmatise addicts as being weak. Though the precise mechanism by which drugs affect the brain is unknown to science, it is possible to successfully treat drug addiction to assist users in quitting using drugs. People can counteract the negative consequences of drug addiction with a variety of treatments, regaining full control over their lives. If you or a loved one has used drugs or alcohol, you don't need to wait until you are certain that an addiction is present before getting help or quitting.