Drug Abuse

On 7 December 1987, the General Assembly decided June 26 will celebrate as International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking every year. The main purpose behind this is to achieve the goal of an international society free of drug abuse. Drug abuse also known as Substance (drug) abuse the user consumes the drug without approved method and under the supervision of medical professionals or doctors of that field.

Once substance abuse turns into addiction, they will become habitual taking more drugs and will try different methods and different types. Finally they lose the ability to stop taking drugs. Medical and psychological treatment is necessary, if the users or their family members hope to quit their drug abuse permanently.

Some people are able to use drugs without ever experiencing negative consequences or addiction. Despite tough anti-drug laws in USA, U.S. has the highest level of illegal drug users in the world. Researchers surveyed more than 54,000 adults in the Americas, Europe (Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain and Ukraine), Middle East and Africa.

The World Health Organization's survey of legal and illegal drug use in 17 countries, including the Netherlands and other countries with less stringent drug laws, shows Americans report the highest level of cocaine and marijuana use. Alcohol had been used by most of those surveyed in the Americas, Europe, Japan, and New Zealand compared with much smaller proportions in the Middle East, Africa, and China.

Tobacco use was also most common in the U.S., Lebanon and Mexico. Smoking kills more than 8, 00,000 people every year in India. The factor likes consumer education, Awareness about drugs, regulation and societal pressure can lower the death due to smoking in developed country like India. But what we can say country like USA. With great power US still stays at first but Smoking is obvious in young generation in US. We know they are giving importance to meditation and yoga also and we can hope it may help US to lower the smoking rates.

Most of the cancer related deaths are related to smoking. WHO has started a global effort to reduce cancer deaths worldwide and targeting to prevent 8 million cancer deaths in upcoming years. Their primary focus is to lower tobacco use in developing countries like India.

If you’re worried about your friend and family member’s drug use, it’s important to know that help is available. Research from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) shows that drug abuse and addiction are treatable problems.

Steps for Effective Treatment

Based on research by some institute and treatment center, there are few steps which are important to understand.

1. There is no single universal treatment for the drug abuse.

b.    It is treatable disease that affects brain function and behavior.

c.    Drug abuse treatment may last minimum 6 months and maximum depend on recovery of patients

d.    Short term drug abuse treatment program include residential therapy (3 to 6 weeks) and medication therapy. Longer term drug abuse treatment program include methadone maintenance program for opiate addicts (various sedative narcotics containing opium or others) and residential therapeutic community program (6 to 12 months).

e.    Most of the drug abuse have common problem like psychological, unawareness, mental and social problems

f.     Counseling in individual and group are the most commonly used forms of drug abuse treatment.

g.    Medication also important steps for many patients. You can combine this step with counseling.

h.    Many addicted person may have mental problem. The treatment like recovery plan under the medical professional like detoxification from drugs (who suffers from chemical dependency) and exercise may help to improve the same.

i.      An individual's treatment and services plan must be assessed continually and modified as