Drugs and Drugs Abuse – SS2 Civic Education Lesson Note (Second Term)

A drug is a substance or mixture used for the prevention or cure of an ailment.

Behavioural objectives

1. Define a drug and drug abuse.
2. Name common drugs that can be abused.
3. State ways in which drugs can be abused.
4. List causes of drug abuse.
5. Identify signs and symptoms of drug abuse.
6. State the effects of drug abuse and ways of preventing it.

What is drug abuse?

Drug abuse is the non-medical use of drugs that alter mood or perception, so that the user wants to continue despite harm.

• Harm to health: the body suffers damage from the drug.
• Harm to social life: relationships with family, friends and others suffer.
• Harm to the body’s normal working: the user’s physical and mental ability is impaired.

What are the key terms?

• Drug: a substance or mixture used to prevent or cure an ailment.
• Drug abuse: non-medical use of drugs that alter mood or perception.
• Prescription: a doctor’s written instruction on which drug to take, how much and for how long.
• Dosage: the amount of a drug a person should take at one time.
• Addiction: a strong need to keep using a drug despite its harm.
• Self-medication: treating oneself with drugs without seeing a doctor.

How are drugs used properly?

Drugs are used properly when they are taken for medical reasons, in the right amount and as a qualified person directs.

• Cure: antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections.
• Relief of pain: painkillers such as paracetamol ease pain and fever.
• Control of illness: insulin is used to manage diabetes.
• Prevention: antimalarial drugs help prevent malaria.

Which drugs are commonly abused?

The commonly abused drugs are tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, caffeine products and misused prescription drugs.

• Tobacco: found in cigarettes and snuff.
• Alcohol: found in beer, wine and spirits, including local gin.
• Marijuana (Indian hemp): a prohibited drug made from the cannabis plant. Marijuana and Indian hemp are two names for the same drug.
• Cocaine: a prohibited drug that acts on the brain and nerves.
• Coffee and kola nuts: contain caffeine and are often overused to stay awake.
• Prescription drugs: medicines such as painkillers and cough syrups taken without a doctor’s advice.

What are the groups of abused drugs?

Abused drugs fall into four groups: stimulants, depressants, narcotics and hallucinogens.

How can drugs be abused?

A drug is abused when it is used without medical need or in a way that is not medically approved.

1. No prescription: continuous intake of drugs without a doctor’s or medical prescription.
2. Overdose: taking drugs more than the prescribed dosage.
3. Unacceptable use: using drugs in ways that are medically and culturally unacceptable.
4. Ignoring side effects: continuous use of drugs despite their adverse effects on the user.
5. Mood change: using drugs to the extent that they change the user’s mood and perception.
6. Long use: taking drugs beyond the recommended period.
7. Self-medication: treating oneself without seeing a doctor.
8. Prohibited substances: taking drugs such as cocaine and marijuana.
9. Heavy tobacco use: heavy consumption of cigarettes and snuff.
10. Heavy caffeine use: heavy consumption of coffee and kola nuts, mostly to stay awake.

What are the causes of drug abuse?

Drug abuse is caused by social, family, economic and personal factors.

• Easy access to drugs: drugs sold freely in markets and shops are easy to obtain.
• Keeping bad company: friends who use drugs lead others to copy them.
• Family background: children copy parents or relatives who use drugs, or suffer neglect at home.
• Poverty: some people use drugs to escape hardship and hopelessness.
• Need to keep awake: some students and workers take stimulants to stay up late.
• Peer pressure: fear of being laughed at pushes young people to join their group.
• Desire to enhance performance: some take drugs to study longer or do better in sports.
• Ignorance: people who do not know the dangers of drugs use them carelessly.

What are the signs and symptoms of drug abuse?

The signs of drug abuse are emotional, physical and behavioural.

Emotional signs

• Constant anxiety, depression and frustration: the person is often worried, sad or restless.
• Mood swings: sudden changes from happy to angry for no clear reason.
• Nervousness: the person is tense and easily frightened.
• Proneness to thoughts of suicide: the person may think of ending his or her life.

Physical signs

• Bloodshot eyes: the eyes look red.
• Weight loss: the person becomes thin quickly.
• Slow, disjointed speech: words come out unclear and out of order.
• Shabby appearance: the person stops caring about dress and hygiene.

Behavioural signs

• Forgetfulness: the person forgets things easily.
• Disorderly behaviour: the person acts wildly or without control.
• Proneness to crime and violence: the person may steal, fight or break the law.

What are the effects of drug abuse?

Drug abuse harms the user’s health, education, family, the economy and public order.

How can drug abuse be prevented?

Drug abuse is prevented through education, correct use of medicines, good upbringing, law enforcement and help for addicts.

1. Teach young people the dangers of drugs at home, in school and in the media.
2. Take drugs only as prescribed by a qualified doctor or pharmacist.
3. Choose friends carefully and learn to say no to peer pressure.
4. Give children love, guidance and good examples at home.
5. Enforce laws against the sale and use of prohibited drugs. In Nigeria, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) does this.
6. Offer counselling and rehabilitation to people who are addicted.

Evaluation

1. Define a drug and drug abuse.
2. List five ways in which drugs can be abused.
3. State four causes of drug abuse.
4. Mention five signs and symptoms of drug abuse.
5. State three ways of preventing drug abuse.

Assignment

Name four drugs that are commonly abused, then explain any three causes of drug abuse.