Abuse of Drugs and Narcotics
Ritu Pandey, 6 October, 2020, 10:55 PM IST
“DRUGS TAKE YOU TO HELL, DISGUISED AS HEAVEN”
INTRODUCTION- Abuse of Drugs
Drugs are becoming the most apparent new trends in the world. Where knowledge and life values should be something that is inculcated in every mind, drugs are taking their place and making life itself void. It is nothing but a certain substance that makes you addicted to them and changes your lifestyle. It is known to alter reality in such a way that you forgot your roots and become prone to succumbing to your bad habits. The main change comes into your mental and physical well-being. Drugs change the brain and lead to addiction, so preventing it at an early stage is a way to reduce the risk.
People from all walks of life can experience problems with their drug use, regardless of age, race, background or the reason they started using it in the first place. Some people experiment it out of curiosity, to have a good time, because friends are doing it or to ease their problem such as stress, depression or anxiety. Risk of drug use increases greatly during time of transition. For adults may be loss, divorce, unemployment, family issues, and for teens may be stress, depression or loneliness. Teens are still developing important life skills, their identity, likes and dislikes but if they are experimenting with drugs to fit in or gain friends, they can unknowingly set themselves up for the life-threatening habit to which prevention is critical.
HOW ABUSE OF DRUGS DEVELOPS ADDICTION-
While it is clear that many people who use opioids for pain management or to feel better handle their consumption well, others develop addictive patterns of use characterized by rapid tolerance, physical dependence, and, most importantly, craving. There is a fine line between regular drug use and drug abuse and addiction. Very few drug addicts are able to recognize when they have crossed the line. If the drug fulfils a valuable need, you may find yourself increasingly relying on it. You may take illegal drugs to calm or energize yourself or make you more confident. When you’re addicted, you may continue using the drug despite the harm it causes.
Some drugs, such as opioid painkillers, have a higher risk and cause addiction more quickly than others. As time passes, you may need larger doses of the drug to get high. Soon you may need the drug just to feel good. As your drug use increases, you may find that it’s increasingly difficult to go without the drug. Attempts to stop drug use may cause intense cravings and make you feel physically ill. Some symptoms of addiction such as having intense urge of using drugs, taking larger amounts of the drug over a longer period of time than you intended, overtime need of drug for the same effect, continuing it even though it is causing you a great harm. Sometimes it’s difficult to distinguish normal teenage moodiness from signs of drug use. Possible indications that your teenager or other family member is using drugs include – physical health issue, neglected appearance, change in behaviour, problems at work/school/ college or in family.
* Forms of Drugs –
There are many drugs which are categorized on the basis of how it impacts the body after use, some may slow down the body and some may speed up bodily functions. Drugs come in various forms, and can be taken numerous ways.
1- MARIJUANA, HASHISH AND OTHER CANNABIS- CONTAINING SUBSTANCE: Each of these forms of marijuana is made from one of three cannabis species: Cannabis Sativa, Cannabis Indica or Cannabis Ruderalis. Traditional marijuana comes in the form of dried flowers of the cannabis plant and smokes this form in bongs, cigar wraps, and hand-rolled cigarettes. Hashish is made from the cannabis resin. Symptoms can be dry mouth, red-eye, and feeling of ‘high’, slowed reaction time.
2- COCAINE, METH AND SIMULANTS- These drugs speed up the body’s nervous system and create a feeling of energy. When the effects of stimulants wear off, the users typically left with a feeling of sickness and loss of energy, it includes various other drugs such as as- Amphetamines, Ritalin, Cylert.
3- DEPRESSANT- These slow down the activity in the nervous system of the body. Depressants are available as prescription drugs to relieve stress and anger, the “relaxation” felt from these drugs is not a healthy feeling for the body. These drugs include- Benzodiazepines, Tranquillisers, and Alcohol.
4- OPIOIDS AND HALLUCINOGENS– Opioids can cause drowsiness, confusion, respiratory complications and relieve pain. It includes Heroin, Opium, and Codeine. Hallucinogens switch emotions frequently. These drugs change the mind and cause the appearance of things that are not really there. It affects the body’s self-control and includes LSD, Magic Mushroom.
HOW NARCOTICS WORK-
Narcotics are like opiates such as morphine and codeine, but are not made from opium. They bind to opioid receptors in the central nervous system and are now called opioids. Illegal narcotics are those that have no approved medical use and high abuse potential. However, other narcotics can be illegal. Use of prescribed narcotics by someone other than the person they were prescribed for is illegal, even though the drugs are legal.
Medical narcotics list drugs consist mainly of cough suppressants, such as Robitussin AC and Ezogabine. While only mildly addictive, these drugs do still contain specified amounts of codeine. If your pain is more severe, your doctor might recommend something stronger, a prescription opioid, they can have serious side effects if you don’t use them correctly. For people who have an opioid addiction, their problem often started with a prescription.
Narcotics opioids are medications prescribed to treat moderate to severe pain. Examples, Codeine, Hydrocodone, Methadone, Morphine, Hydromorphone and Fentora . Side effects of narcotics include dry mouth, itching, addiction, headache, dizziness, constipation, and nausea. They are used to treat moderate to severe pain that may not respond well to other pain medications and it will increase risk of respiratory depression, low blood pressure, sedation, and in severe cases, coma and death.
LAWS IN INDIA OF ABUSE OF DRUGS
India passed the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substance Act, 1985 which was amended in 1989, 2001 and recently 2014. India’s driving against anti-drug law endorsee firm punishment for drug traffickers and users. The NDPS Act appeared strict punishments to expand implementation of powers, implement international convention that India is associated with. The 2014 amendment held that decision to grant capital punishment lies at the discretion of the court.
The Prevention of Illicit Trafficking in Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substance Act contains provisions relating to the preventive detention of any and each person who is associated with or accused of drug trafficking. Article 47 of the constitution which endorses the restriction on the utilization of drugs and directs the state to endeavour to decrease and abolish the utilization of drugs, with exception of when it is used for scientific purpose. This covers three classes of substance such as Psychotropic Substance (LSD, MDMA) , Narcotic Drug (CANNABIS, OPIUM) and controlled substances (UTILIZED FOR THE PRODUCTION OF ANY NARCOTIC DRUG).
Drug Abuse Law Enforcement Agencies in India- (i) Narcotics Control Division (ii) Central Bureau of Narcotics (iii) The Narcotics Control Bureau. Legislative Policies in India- (i) The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substance Act, 1985 (ii) Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substance Act, 1988 (iii) Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.
Around 2.6 crore people in India have used or use opioids and approximately 1.18 crore people use sedatives and inhalants. Over 8.5 lakh people inject drugs into themselves and are addicted and about 14.6% of the total population of India. Drug Possession, overdose, and abuse have become the most common of all crimes. The most recent case of Kannada actress Ragini Dwivedi and Sanjjanna Galrani and four others in the Bengaluru drug racket case. In the continued state-wide crackdown on drug peddlers and have seized 27.5 kg of Cannabis.
*SUGGESTION–
Our legislative need to evaluate changes in the drug policy, these measures have not yet been put into utilization. Reinforcing the connection between Government divisions and reaching common society representation for example- medical experts.
A glaring gap, the range of drug abuse and its consequence on one’s health and overall well-being remains unchartered territory. Conducting research and accumulating information on drug dependence, substance use and repercussions of individuals who inject drugs can help to stand for war against drugs. The transformation of the NDPS Act itself is the principle walk to be taken if the government genuinely tries to reaffirm its dedication towards wiping out India’s drug crisis. So, our challenge is not that we are powerless against the problem of substance abuse but the challenge is that our laws are not effective and strong for drug abuse.
CONCLUSION- Abuse of Drugs
The abuse of drugs has resulted in significant mortality among adolescents worldwide. Many of these youth will lose their lives to drugs and significant numbers are likely to grow up to become drugs users. Therefore, we emphasize the strategy of targeting modifiable risk and a generalized framework for healthcare.
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