Adolescence: drug and alcohol abuse
Opioids, cannabinoids and coca alkaloids act on the nervous system; tobacco and alcohol harm the body too. Repeated use builds addiction and dependence; prevention starts in adolescence.
Commonly abused drugs
| Group | Source | Examples and how taken | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opioids | Latex of the poppy Papaver somniferum | Heroin (smack), a white, odourless, bitter crystalline compound; snorted or injected | Bind to opioid receptors in the CNS and gut; heroin is a depressant that slows body functions |
| Cannabinoids | Inflorescences, leaves and resin of Cannabis sativa | Marijuana, hashish, charas, ganja; inhaled or eaten | Act on cannabinoid receptors in the brain; affect the cardiovascular system |
| Coca alkaloid | Coca plant Erythroxylum coca (South America) | Cocaine (coke, crack); usually snorted | Interferes with transport of dopamine; strong CNS stimulant, euphoria; high doses cause hallucinations |
| Hallucinogenic plants | Atropa belladonna (spelt 'belladona' in your textbook), Datura | Plant parts | Cause hallucinations |
| Medicines often misused | Prescription drugs | Barbiturates, amphetamines, benzodiazepines | Used to treat depression and insomnia; abused without prescription. Morphine is a valuable painkiller after surgery |
Tobacco
- Tobacco is smoked, chewed or used as snuff; it contains nicotine, an alkaloid.
- Nicotine makes the adrenal gland release adrenaline and noradrenaline, which raise blood pressure and heart rate.
- Smoking raises cancers of the lung, urinary bladder and throat, and causes bronchitis, emphysema, coronary heart disease and gastric ulcer.
- Chewing tobacco raises the risk of oral cancer.
- Smoking increases carbon monoxide in blood and lowers haem-bound oxygen, causing oxygen deficiency. Smoking also paves the way to hard drugs.
Why some adolescents start
Curiosity, the need for adventure and excitement, and experimentation are common reasons. Some use drugs or alcohol to escape stress or the pressure to do well in exams. Some think it is 'cool' or modern, an idea pushed by films, TV and the internet. Peer pressure and an unstable or unsupportive family add to the risk.
Addiction vs dependence
Effects and warning signs
- Immediate effects: reckless behaviour, vandalism and violence. Overdose, or mixing drugs with alcohol, can cause coma and death from respiratory failure, heart failure or brain haemorrhage.
- Intravenous drug users risk AIDS and hepatitis B. Chronic use damages the nervous system and the liver (cirrhosis). Use in pregnancy harms the foetus.
- Anabolic steroids misused in sports can cause masculinisation, abnormal menstrual cycles and deep voice in females; small testes, low sperm count and breast enlargement in males; acne and stunted growth in adolescents.
- Warning signs: falling marks, unexplained absence from school, poor personal hygiene, withdrawal and isolation, depression, aggression, loss of interest in hobbies, changes in sleep, appetite and weight.
Prevention and control
- Avoid undue peer pressure; every child has their own choices and personality.
- Education and counselling: learn to handle problems, stress and failure; channel energy into sports, music, reading and yoga.
- Seek help from parents, teachers and trusted friends early.
- Look for danger signs and act on them.
- Seek professional and medical help: psychologists, psychiatrists, and de-addiction and rehabilitation programmes.
Many Indian schools and colleges run anti-tobacco and anti-drug clubs, and the law bans selling tobacco near schools. Talking to a parent, teacher or counsellor early is the best help for a friend who seems to be in trouble.
2 marks: “How is heroin obtained? What is its effect on the body?” Heroin (diacetylmorphine) is made by acetylation of morphine, which comes from the latex of the poppy Papaver somniferum. It is a depressant and slows down body functions.
3 marks: “Distinguish between addiction and dependence. List four warning signs of drug abuse in a teenager.” Addiction: psychological attachment to euphoria; tolerance rises. Dependence: withdrawal syndrome (anxiety, shakiness, nausea, sweating) when stopped. Signs: falling marks, absence from school, isolation, change in sleep and appetite.
3 marks: “Why do adolescents take to drugs and alcohol? Suggest measures to prevent it.” Curiosity, adventure, experimentation, stress, 'cool' image, peer pressure, unsupportive family. Prevention: avoid peer pressure, education and counselling, seek help from parents and peers, watch for danger signs, professional help.
P-C-E: Poppy gives heroin, Cannabis gives charas and ganja, Erythroxylum gives cocaine.