Life of the drug addicts
Drug addiction drains the body both physically and emotionally. Drug addicts feel that drugs help them, to reduce stress but actually they go through harrowing times. The drugs are expensive and are sold illegally. The whole energy of an addict is diverted to obtain the drugs by hook or crook. He becomes useless for himself and for the society. He is forced to steal, to pay the hefty price for the drugs from illegal narcotic traffic. Once addicted, a number of them take to crime to satisfy the drugs craving. The body of an addict develops tolerance and he needs larger and larger do
ses. As the person develops physical and psychological dependence on drugs, he craves more for the drugs and the vicious circle begins. He gets withdrawal from his family and friends and prefers the company of other addicts. Today there are thousands of addicts and a large number of them are teenagers. They get involved in the illegal activities, drug – trafficking and crime. The drug addicts are unable to work at jobs. They are always in look out for an easy way to get money which they have to get the drugs. They often suffer from malnutrition and deliberately take overdoses to forget their problems. Drug addicts not only ruin their life but their families and society also pay a heavy price for them. Drug addicts also suffer the danger of infection. Since drugs are always procured illegally, they are not prepared in sterile conditions. Also they are diluted or mixed with substances which are not sterile. Further the syringes used are dirty, hence infection is common. It could be blood infection, jaundice, hepatitis or AIDS. The moment a person chooses a path of drugs, he is on a shortest and a surest way to disaster.
Factors Leading to Drug Addiction
There are a number of factors which lead to drug addiction. Some of these are mentioned below:-
(i) Biochemical changes caused by the drugs
Large group addictive drugs even when taken in small amounts and within a short time of their use, produce noticeable biological and chemical changes in the body. These changes called as feeling of high are then desired by the person either to escape from disturbing life problems or to get relief from stress. The person then starts desiring these small short – lived high moments and starts taking more and more drugs.
(ii) Peer group and personality influence
So many youngsters take to drugs just out of curiosity and adventure to have a new sensation or a new thrill. Sometimes they fear that if they resist, their friends may reject them. Also the people who are emotionally unstable, immature or impulsive fall easily for drugs.
(iii) Environmental, social and cultural influence
There are a number of multifarious social factors that lead the people to take drugs. All sections of society, from lower to upper class can fall prey to drug addiction. It could be due to broken homes, unhealthy parental attitudes, loneliness, lack of affection, negative attitude of people around, easy access to money, living near crime dominated spots, behavioral problems at home and work place, stressful life, etc. The addicts use drugs as an escape from the problem and in the process get addicted.
Some precautionary measures to avoid drug addiction
Drug addiction is directly related to stress. Once addicted, it is a long process before one comes back to normal life. So to avoid addiction, one should try to overcome the stress by other means like:
(i) Talk to oneself and understand and accept oneself as one is.
(ii) Try to face the problem, rather than avoid or forget it by taking drugs.
(iii) Talk to the family members, friends or teachers and other adults in the community. It is always possible to avoid drugs and sort out the problems and look for ways to overcome the stress.
Deaddiction and Rehabilitation
The road to recovery of drug addicts is long and often discouragingly slow. Family members, friends and society on the whole have a very important role to play. The drug abuse is generally not found in happy, well adjusted families. It is more among people who feel insecure and stressed. Once addicted, they need proper medical care and a sympathetic attitude. Management of deaddiction is a complicated and difficult task. It cannot be done single – handedly by a psychiatrist, psychologist or a social worker. It needs an integrated approach, and a concerted effort of a group of specialists. The treatment for deaddiction occurs in phases.
Deaddiction:
The first phase of treatment is detoxification. Here, gradually the drugs are stopped and the addict is helped to overcome the withdrawal symptoms. The addict undergoes severe physical and emotional disturbances. These are taken care by giving specific medicines. Then begins the next stage of psychotherapy and counseling in which the clinical psychologist uses his/her special ways to understand and help the addict overcome his drug addiction. The individual and group counseling is given by psychologists and counselors. The treatment includes an effort to reduce the addict's stress. An addict is taught new ways to solve everyday problems. It also needs strict supervision that an addict gets adequate diet, rest and is able to relax. They pay home visits for motivating the addicts and their family members to continue the treatment. So many times if family cooperation is not there the addicts when left on their own start taking the drugs again. The family counseling is done by efficient social workers in order to change the attitude of rejection and hostility of the neighbours and other family members towards the addict. An addict needs to be accepted by the family and society.
Rehabilitation:
Once an addict has undergoes deaddiction and is accepted by the family and society, begins the next step of rehabilitation. They are given proper vocational training so that they can lead a healthy and meaningful life. The attempts are made to help them become
useful members of the society. Deaddiction and rehabilitation of addicts is a long drawn process. There are a number of volunteer and government organizations that work towards this cause. In last two decades, drug addiction has spread to societies all over the world though initially it was confined to a few developing countries. Now it has become a global problem. To signify the magnitude of problem, United Nations Organization observed 26th June 1989, as the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Alcoholism.
Drug addiction drains the body both physically and emotionally. Drug addicts feel that drugs help them, to reduce stress but actually they go through harrowing times. The drugs are expensive and are sold illegally. The whole energy of an addict is diverted to obtain the drugs by hook or crook. He becomes useless for himself and for the society. He is forced to steal, to pay the hefty price for the drugs from illegal narcotic traffic. Once addicted, a number of them take to crime to satisfy the drugs craving. The body of an addict develops tolerance and he needs larger and larger do
ses. As the person develops physical and psychological dependence on drugs, he craves more for the drugs and the vicious circle begins. He gets withdrawal from his family and friends and prefers the company of other addicts. Today there are thousands of addicts and a large number of them are teenagers. They get involved in the illegal activities, drug – trafficking and crime. The drug addicts are unable to work at jobs. They are always in look out for an easy way to get money which they have to get the drugs. They often suffer from malnutrition and deliberately take overdoses to forget their problems. Drug addicts not only ruin their life but their families and society also pay a heavy price for them. Drug addicts also suffer the danger of infection. Since drugs are always procured illegally, they are not prepared in sterile conditions. Also they are diluted or mixed with substances which are not sterile. Further the syringes used are dirty, hence infection is common. It could be blood infection, jaundice, hepatitis or AIDS. The moment a person chooses a path of drugs, he is on a shortest and a surest way to disaster.Factors Leading to Drug Addiction
There are a number of factors which lead to drug addiction. Some of these are mentioned below:-
(i) Biochemical changes caused by the drugs
Large group addictive drugs even when taken in small amounts and within a short time of their use, produce noticeable biological and chemical changes in the body. These changes called as feeling of high are then desired by the person either to escape from disturbing life problems or to get relief from stress. The person then starts desiring these small short – lived high moments and starts taking more and more drugs.
(ii) Peer group and personality influence
So many youngsters take to drugs just out of curiosity and adventure to have a new sensation or a new thrill. Sometimes they fear that if they resist, their friends may reject them. Also the people who are emotionally unstable, immature or impulsive fall easily for drugs.
(iii) Environmental, social and cultural influence
There are a number of multifarious social factors that lead the people to take drugs. All sections of society, from lower to upper class can fall prey to drug addiction. It could be due to broken homes, unhealthy parental attitudes, loneliness, lack of affection, negative attitude of people around, easy access to money, living near crime dominated spots, behavioral problems at home and work place, stressful life, etc. The addicts use drugs as an escape from the problem and in the process get addicted.
Some precautionary measures to avoid drug addiction
Drug addiction is directly related to stress. Once addicted, it is a long process before one comes back to normal life. So to avoid addiction, one should try to overcome the stress by other means like:
(i) Talk to oneself and understand and accept oneself as one is.
(ii) Try to face the problem, rather than avoid or forget it by taking drugs.
(iii) Talk to the family members, friends or teachers and other adults in the community. It is always possible to avoid drugs and sort out the problems and look for ways to overcome the stress.
Deaddiction and Rehabilitation
The road to recovery of drug addicts is long and often discouragingly slow. Family members, friends and society on the whole have a very important role to play. The drug abuse is generally not found in happy, well adjusted families. It is more among people who feel insecure and stressed. Once addicted, they need proper medical care and a sympathetic attitude. Management of deaddiction is a complicated and difficult task. It cannot be done single – handedly by a psychiatrist, psychologist or a social worker. It needs an integrated approach, and a concerted effort of a group of specialists. The treatment for deaddiction occurs in phases.
Deaddiction:
The first phase of treatment is detoxification. Here, gradually the drugs are stopped and the addict is helped to overcome the withdrawal symptoms. The addict undergoes severe physical and emotional disturbances. These are taken care by giving specific medicines. Then begins the next stage of psychotherapy and counseling in which the clinical psychologist uses his/her special ways to understand and help the addict overcome his drug addiction. The individual and group counseling is given by psychologists and counselors. The treatment includes an effort to reduce the addict's stress. An addict is taught new ways to solve everyday problems. It also needs strict supervision that an addict gets adequate diet, rest and is able to relax. They pay home visits for motivating the addicts and their family members to continue the treatment. So many times if family cooperation is not there the addicts when left on their own start taking the drugs again. The family counseling is done by efficient social workers in order to change the attitude of rejection and hostility of the neighbours and other family members towards the addict. An addict needs to be accepted by the family and society.
Rehabilitation:
Once an addict has undergoes deaddiction and is accepted by the family and society, begins the next step of rehabilitation. They are given proper vocational training so that they can lead a healthy and meaningful life. The attempts are made to help them become
useful members of the society. Deaddiction and rehabilitation of addicts is a long drawn process. There are a number of volunteer and government organizations that work towards this cause. In last two decades, drug addiction has spread to societies all over the world though initially it was confined to a few developing countries. Now it has become a global problem. To signify the magnitude of problem, United Nations Organization observed 26th June 1989, as the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Alcoholism. 
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