TUG ON DRUGS

HORTENCIA G. ARCADIO

There’s no Hope in Dope! When someone has been hooked to drugs he has no future at all. Nowadays, we are aware about the headline news regarding drug addiction because drugs are everywhere and very rampant in our society. There are different kinds of drugs that destroy lives of people like Marijuana, Party Drugs, Cocaine, Heroin etc.

What is drug addiction? Addiction is a chronic disease characterized by drug seeking and use that is compulsive or difficult to control, despite harmful consequences. Drug addiction is considered a “relapsing disease”. When people are in recovery from but still returning to drug use even after years of not taking the drug.

There are causes that lead people to drugs. Some of the psychological causes of drug addiction appear to stem from trauma, often when the drug addict is young. Sexual or physical abuse, neglect, or chaos in the home can all lead to psychological stress, which people attempt to “self-medicate” (decrease the stress’s pain through drug use). Other psychological causes of drug addiction includes: mental illness such as Depression, Lack of Friends, poor performance at work or school, poor stress coping skills. Drug addiction is more common in environments where drugs abuse is seen. Children who grow up in homes with drug addicts often become drug addicts themselves because most drug use starts in adolescence. Those with in attentive, abusive or neglectful parents are more prone to drug abuse. Other environmental factors that can be causes of drug abuse include the followings: participation in a sport where performance enhancing drugs are encouraged, a peer group thatuses or promotes drug use, people of lower socio economic status are of greater risk of drug addiction and also gender issues.

There are health problems arising from using drugs such as: Weakening the immune system, infections, heart attack, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. It can also damage the liver. It can cause seizures, stroke, and brain damage. There are also some behavioral problems in using dangerous drugs such as Paranoia, Aggressiveness, Hallucinations, Impulsiveness, Loss of Self-Control and Impaired Judgement. Using illicit drugs such as Marijuana, Cocaine, Ecstasy and other Amphetamines and heroin may cause birth defects that leads risk during pregnancy, poor nutrition and develop sexually transmitted disease. A combination of genetic, environmental and developmental factors influences risk for addiction. The more risk factors a person has, the greater the chance that taking drugs can lead to addiction. But drug addiction is treatable and can be managed. That’s why, teachers, parents and health care providers have crucial roles in educating people and preventing drug use and addiction.

Let us be aware of our surroundings, just say “NO TO DRUGS” in order to have a peaceful and a happy life.

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The author is Teacher III at Valdez Elementary School, Floridablanca East District