Drug Abuse – JSS3 Civic Education Lesson Note (Second Term)

Drugs are Natural or synthetic substance that (when taken into a living body) affects its functioning or structure, and are used in the diagnosis, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of a disease or relief of discomfort.

Meaning of Drug Abuse

The habitual use of drugs that are not needed for therapeutic purposes, solely to alter one’s mood, affect, or state of consciousness, or to affect a body function unnecessarily (as in laxative abuse). The use of a drug for a nontherapeutic effect. Some of the most commonly abused drugs are alcohol; nicotine; marijuana; amphetamines; barbiturates; cocaine; methaqualone; opium alkaloids; synthetic opioids; benzodiazepines, COCAINE, HEROIN, and MARIJUANA.

Habitual use of drugs not needed for therapeutic purposes (e.g., such as solely to alter one’s mood, affect, or state of consciousness) or to affect a body function unnecessarily (e.g., laxative abuse); nonmedical use of drugs.

Effects of drug abuse on society

•  Bad behaviour
• Poor performance in school
• Violence
• Truancy
• Prostitution
• Robbery
• Murder
• Financial problems
• Sexually Transmitted Infection/Diseases.