Observance of "International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking" on 26th June, 2010

Joint Secretary, IMA, Manipur State Branch *

Every year June 26 is celebrated as International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking by world community to sensitize the people in general and the youth in particular, to the menace of drugs. Health is the theme of this year's world drug campaign, to be launched on International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (26 June).

The UNODC global campaign "Think health - not drugs" aims to inform the public, particularly young people, about the harmful effects that drug under international control can have on their health. Drugs under international control include amphetamine-type stimulants, cannabis, coca/cocaine, hallucinogens, opiates and hypnotic sedatives, all of which have immediate physical effects. Drugs can also severely hinder psychological and emotional development, particularly in young people.

Drug addiction is a growing problem in India. Children and adolescents in India commonly abuse substances like tobacco and alcohol but use of illicit and stronger drugs like cannabis, opium, or even intravenous use of drugs such as heroin have also been reported. Five most common substance of abuse amongst the children of India are the Heroin, Opium, Alcohol, Cannabis and Propoxyphene. The Commonly abused drugs in the North Eastern States are alcohol, tobacco, cough syrup containing codeine, cap spasmo-proxyvon (SP) , volatile solvents etc.

Causes of drug abuse or dependence:

The exact cause of drug abuse and dependence is not known. However, a person's genes, the action of the drug, peer pressure, emotional distress, anxiety, depression, and environmental stress all can be factors.

Peer pressure can lead to drug use or abuse, but at least half of those who become addicted have mental problems like depression, attention deficit disorder, post traumatic stress disorder or another mental health problem. Children who grow up in an environment of illicit drug use may first see their parents using drugs. This may put them at a higher risk for developing an addiction later in life for both environmental and genetic reasons.

Why children and adolescents initiate drug taking behavior:

Children start on drugs for a number of reasons, from curiosity, recreation to the need to cope with stress but drug abuse and addiction lead to a complex set of social, medical and economic problems with serious implications.

Some substances present in easily available products like cough syrups, pain relief ointments, glue, paint, gasoline and cleaning fluids are directly toxic and often abused by children.

Even a single session of repeated inhalant abuse can disrupt heart rhythms and cause death from cardiac arrest or lower oxygen levels, enough to cause suffocation. Regular abuse of inhalants can result in serious damages to vital organs including brain, heart, kidney and liver as well as in mental complications.

When to call the doctor

The earlier one seeks help for their child or teen's substance abuse or dependence problems, the better. Regarding the matter of determining if a teen is experimenting or moving more deeply into the drug culture, parents must be careful observers, particularly of the little details that make up a teen's life.

Dramatic change in appearance, friends, or physical health may be signs of trouble. If parents believe their child may be drinking or using drugs, they should seek help through a substance abuse recovery program, family physician, or mental health professional.

Diagnosis of substance abuse

The most difficult aspect of diagnosis involves overcoming the patient's denial. Denial is a psychological trait that prevents a person from acknowledging the reality a situation. Denial may cause a person to be completely unaware of the seriousness of the substance use or may cause the person to greatly underestimate the degree of the problem and its effects on his or her life.

A physical examination may reveal signs of substance abuse in the form of needle marks, tracks, trauma to the inside of the nostrils from snorting drugs, unusually large or small pupils.

With the person's permission, substance use can also be detected by examining in a laboratory an individual's blood, urine, or hair. This drug testing is limited by sensitivity, specificity, and the time elapsed since the person last used the drug.

Treatment of substance abuse or dependence

Treatment has several goals, which include helping a person deal with the uncomfortable and possibly life-threatening symptoms associated with withdrawal from an addictive substance (called detoxification), helping a person deal with the social effects which substance abuse has had on his or her life, and efforts to prevent relapse (resumed use of the substance). Individual or group psychotherapy is sometimes helpful.

Some important terms in relation to substance abuse or dependence:

Substance abuse:

Substance abuse is any pattern of substance use that results in repeated adverse social consequences related to drug-taking—for example, interpersonal conflicts, failure to meet work, family, or school obligations, or legal problems.

Substance dependence:

A destructive pattern of substance use leading to clinically significant (social, occupational, medical) impairment or distress.

Symptoms of Substance Dependence:

• Need for significant increased amounts of the substance to achieve intoxication, or significant diminished effect with continued use of the same amount of the substance.
• The individual suffers withdrawal symptoms within several hours to a few days after a reduction in the amount of the substance taken over a prolonged period of time.
• The substance is often taken in larger amounts or over a longer period of time than was intended.
• The individual tries to cut down or quit taking the substance, but can't.
• A great deal of time is spent in activities necessary to obtain the substance and/or to recover from its effects.
• Important social, occupational, or recreational activities are given up or reduced because of substance use.
• The individual continues to take the substance despite knowing that it's having a significant or worsening impact on their psychological/physical condition. (e.g., drinking, knowing that their ulcer condition is being worsened)"