Drug Abuse

Drug abuse or substance abuse is the use of certain chemicals or use of illegal drugs in excessive quantities in order to have pleasurable effects on the brain.

Commonly abused drugs are opioids, cannabinoids, and coca alkaloids.

Name of the Drug	Sources	Taken By	Action on the body
Opioids	Latex of poppy plant (Paper somniferum)	Injection or snorting	It acts as a depressant
Cannabinoids	Inflorescence of Cannabis sativa plant	Inhalation/orally	It shows effects on the cardiovascular system
Coca Alkaloids/cocaine	Coca plant (Erythroxylum coca)	Snoring	It disturbs neurotransmitters and CNS, also causes hallucination

Smoking

Smoking is a practice in which a substance is burned and the smoke is breathed in which is absorbed into the bloodstream. Smoking causes cancer, heart disease, stroke, lung diseases, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Smoking also enhances the risk for tuberculosis, eye disorders, and problems related to the immune system, e.g., rheumatoid arthritis.

Adolescence and Drug/Alcohol abuse

The period of adolescence starts when an individual reaches reproductive maturity, which is different in both girls and boys. During this period, the persons undergo certain changes resulting in emotional and behavioral growth. Adolescents lead towards drug abuse because of the following reasons:

Curiosity
Need for adventure
Experimentation
Perceived benefits of alcohol and drug use
Stress and academic pressure
Peer pressure
Unstable family structure

Also Read: Adolescence and Drug/Alcohol Abuse Prevention

Addiction and Dependence

Addiction and Dependence consists of the temporary feeling of well-being which makes people have drug or alcohol when there is no need even. Dependence is the ability of the body to unpleasant syndrome if the regular dose of drug/alcohol is discontinued for some time.

Effects of Drug/Alcohol Abuse

Reckless behavior.
Vandalism and violence.
The use of excessive doses of drugs may lead to coma and death due to respiratory failure, heart failure, or cerebral hemorrhage.
Injecting drugs could lead to increased susceptibility to diseases like AIDS, Hepatitis, etc.
Damage to the nervous system and Liver cirrhosis.
Adverse effects on the fetus due to consumption during pregnancy.

Side Effects of Performance-Enhancing Drugs for Sports

A feeling of a fast heartbeat
A heartbeat that is a too fast, too slow or irregular rhythm
Excessive weight loss
High blood pressure
Hallucination
Stroke

Common Warning Signs of Drug and Alcohol Abuse

Personality changes
Changes in the friend circle
School performance becomes down
Social withdrawal
Pills or medication bottles become lost
Taking overdosage of the medication
Abrupt changes in the finance/money loss
Mood swings
Disturbed sleep or appetite

Prevention and Control

Avoid undue peer pressure
Counseling sessions
Seeking help from parents and professionals

NCERT Notes on Class 12 Biology Chapter 7 – Human Health and Disease

NCERT Chapter 7 of Class 12 Notes on Human Health and Disease: According to the World Health Organisation, health can be defined as a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity. Good health has many benefits like it helps to keep us happy. Our skin, teeth, and eyes remain healthy, support muscles, enhance immunity, strengthen bones, and lower the risk of heart ailments, diabetes, and some cancers. It also supports healthy pregnancies and breastfeeding among women.

NCERT Notes on Chapter 7 Human Health and Disease: On the other hand, disease is any undesirable change in our body that may keep us disturbed whether it is physical, mental, or social. Our body can undergo a number of changes like any of the organs can stop functioning in a proper way which can also be associated with some other signs and symptoms. In plants and animals, the disease can also be occurred by pathogens, i.e. disease-causing organisms such as fungi, bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and certain types of invertebrates like tapeworms, wuchereria. Unhygienic surroundings, nutritional deficiencies, and unhealthy lifestyles also cause diseases.