Drug Abuse and Harmful Substances – JSS2 Social Studies Lesson Note (Second Term)

Drug abuse is the abnormal intake of drugs or other substances. It includes the illegal or wrong use of drugs, such as taking drugs a doctor did not prescribe, taking an overdose, or taking hard drugs like marijuana, heroin and cocaine. It can lead to mental disorder, broken homes, loss of jobs and death.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

• explain the meaning of drug abuse;
• list forms of drug abuse;
• state causes of drug abuse;
• mention effects and consequences of drug abuse.

What is drug abuse?

Drug abuse is the abnormal intake of drugs or any other substances.

It can also be described as the illegal or wrong use of drugs and other substances.

What are the forms of drug abuse?

1. Usage of drugs not prescribed by doctors
2. Using an overdose of prescribed drugs
3. Intake of hard drugs like marijuana, heroin, cocaine and many others
4. Frequent intake of alcohol, kola-nut, coffee, analgesic tablets, etc.
5. Habitual intake of drugs even when it is unnecessary
6. Dependence on sleep-inducing drugs

What are the causes of drug abuse?

1. Bad company: Close contact with those who take Indian hemp or cocaine may influence someone negatively to start the bad habit.
2. Need to escape psychological problems: Some feel the best way to forget their sorrow, anxiety, frustration and sadness is to drink heavily, smoke cigarettes or take any hard drug.
3. Need to feel bold enough to face people: Some people believe that drug intake helps them to be bold enough to face difficult people and situations.
4. Easy access to drugs: Those who have access to cigarettes, Indian hemp and other hard drugs are susceptible to drug abuse.
5. Need to keep awake: Some people go into drug abuse because of the need to keep awake during the day or night. Students preparing for examinations are fond of taking kola-nut excessively to read all through the night.
6. Poverty: Those who are not financially alright prefer self-medicating to visiting a hospital to consult a medical doctor.

What are the effects and consequences of drug abuse?

1. Mental disorder
2. Death
3. Broken home
4. Loss of jobs
5. Abnormal behaviour

Evaluation

1. What is drug abuse?
2. List four forms of drug abuse.
3. State three causes of drug abuse.
4. Mention three consequences of drug abuse.

Assignment

1. Explain how bad company and easy access to drugs can lead to drug abuse.
2. List five effects of drug abuse.