DRUG EDUCATION

Introduction
You may have had friends and relations who when they visited your house rejected such offers of
beer and hot drink with the excuse that they do not take alcohol, yet they accept kola-nut and
table wine. Drivers of luxury buses stop over at some points, take beer, hot drinks, and still get
back into their buses and continued the journey. All these manifest the use and misuse of drugs.
The increasing incidence of drug usage among youth has been of growing concern to the
Nigerian society, and indeed the global community. This tendency to resort to drugs has slowly,
but undoubtedly, gained grounds especially right from the end of the Nigerian civil war. In recent
times the words cocaine, LSD, Hashish, Heroin and Marijuana have become very common in
the society.

Meaning of drug
When Panadol or Ibrofane is presented to us, we easily classify it as drug, but when such items as
beer, tobacco, coffee, tea, kola-nut, and so on are presented to us, we hardly ever classify them as
drugs. Inevitably, all these items are drugs since a drug is any psychoactive (behavior
altering) substance other than food and water, which its chemical and physical nature and
capable of changing the structure and/or function of the physiological equilibrium in an
individual. Psychoactive drugs when classified according to use have two brand categories:
illegal and legal. The legal psychoactive drugs have four classes: the prescription drugs, that is
over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, social drugs, and non-drug purpose drugs. Prescription drugs
are those drugs that are prescribed by a physician for people to purchase legally. Over-the-
counter drugs are those drugs that are not prescribed by the physicians which are purchased
by people as temporary medication for minor illnesses, social drugs are classified as mood-and
consciousness - altering chemicals legally acquired. The second category of drugs, illegal
psychoactive drugs include such ones as marijuana, heroin and cocaine.
Drug may also be defined as any substance, organic or inorganic used for medical
purposes and which has the capacity to alter the state or functions of cells or organs.
A drug therefore is a kind of chemical which produces some extra ordinary effect
beyond the life-sustaining functions associated with food. Illicit drugs are those ones whose
manufacture and distribution are prohibited except for approved research purposes, e.g.
marijuana. While legitimate or permissive drugs are those ones essential to practice of
medicines but whose manufacture and distribution are confined to ethical drug channel, e.g.
cocaine. Over the counter drugs or patent medicines are those drugs for which doctor's
prescription may not ordinarily be needed and can be obtained on the counter. Examples are
multivite tablets and paracetamol. Alcohol and tobacco are chemical substances which alter or
modify body functions but are not usually classified as drugs but are psychoactive in nature.

Drug addiction
This can be defined as a state of the mind where an over- powering desire constantly demand for
the presence in the body of the chronic intoxicating effect produced by the consumption of a drug,
characterized by a continue taking of the drug and obtaining supplies regardless of the cost.

Drug dependence
This is defined as a state arising from the repeated administration of a drug on a periodic or
continual basis. The characteristics of drug dependence vary with the agent involved.
Dependence may be physical or psychological. Physical dependence means that the body and

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not just the mind desire the drug while psychological dependence means that the mind (or the
brain) not necessarily the body requires the drug for normal functioning.

Drug tolerance
Tolerance is the natural or developed ability to take in drugs, without suffering harmful effects,
and the tendency to require increase in dosage to be able to get a usual effect.

Drug abuse
Drug abuse can be defined as repeated misuse of drugs or a chronic desire for the effects of a
particular drug created in an individual. Chronic use of drugs can lead to social deviant
behaviour, psychological or physiological dependence. Drug abuse includes taking drugs
without professional or doctor's prescription (self-medication) and even wrong use of
prescribed drugs (drug misuse).

Drug habituation
This means that taking of drug has become a way of life. It can be defined as a condition resulting
from the repeated consumption of a drug.

Behaviour
The way in which organism acts or functions with respect to its efficiency. When applied to drug
use, it refers to the usual action an individual takes with respect to drug use.

Action of drugs
The action of drugs varies from one drug to another, from person to person and from one location
to another.
The various ways or principles for describing drug actions are as follows:

Location of action
Local or topical, that is, whether it is local or topical, meaning that the drug is applied
externally.
Systemic, which means that the drug is absorbed into the body or blood system.

Effects upon body's activity

A drug may produce any of the following effects:
Stimulation, that is, increased in the functional activity of the cells.
Depression, which means a reduction in the functional activity of the cells e.g.
drowsiness.
Irritation, that causing excessive or undue cell activity. This usually causes mild
and temporary cell damage, for example, itching.
Demulcent or emollient, which means it coats, soothes and protects the tissues, for
example, jellucin given to ulcer patients while emollient are palm oil, cold drink taken
in cases of burns.
Salt action - salt and alkaline are used to alter the osmotic pressure in body fluid.

Condition of the patient

Physiologic action that is, the action of a drug on normal healthy tissues e.g. drugs
given to patients about to undergo surgical operation.

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Therapeutic, that is, action on tissues that are already diseased or damaged to bring
about healing or repair.
There are various terms used to describe the action of drugs. A brief description of the terms are
presented below:
Side effect
This is the action of the drug other than the expected or desired effect. Side-effect can be
beneficial, harmful and can be neither. For example, piriton given to stop allergic effect can
make one feel sleepy as well as cause dryness of the nostrils.

Toxic effect
A toxic effect is a poisonous effect of either a regular dose or an over dose.

Cumulative effect
A drug that is excreted slowly from the system tends to accumulate in the system and may give
rise to toxic or poisonous symptoms if a subsequent dose is given before the effect of the first
dose disappears.

Antagonistic action
When one drug counteracts the effect of the other, this is usually referred to as "ups and downs".
This is common with people who take stimulants and depressants.

Idiosynergitic action
This refers to unexpected effect of a drug on a particular individual.

Synergistic action
That is, when the taking of two drugs at the same time increases the potency of the drugs at the
same time, for example, alcohol and sleeping pills as both are depressants.

Sources of Drugs
Drugs can be obtained from any sources including plants, animals, vitamin, inorganic and synthetic
sources.
Plants
Many parts of plants can be used as drugs. Chemical substance which can serve as drug can be
isolated from stem, wood, bark, roots, leaves, bulb, beads, flowers and fruits of plants. Fungi are
also sources of drugs.

Animal
Drugs from animal sources are usually derived from the animal's body, fluid or glands. Active
principles of animal drugs include protein, oils and fats and serum. Vaccines are suspensions of
killed, modified or attenuated micro-organisms.

Vitamin
Vitamins obtained from plants or animals are also good sources of drugs.

Inorganic sources
Drugs from these sources may come from metals, acids, alkaline and salt.
Synthetic sources

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Drugs from these sources may either be organize, inorganic or a combination of both. They may
also be derivative of other drugs.

General Purposes of Drugs

Drugs could serve many functions as outlined below:
Prophylactic or preventive: These types of drug are used to prevent the occurrence of
a disease or to lessen its severity if it does occur e.g. daraprim, paludrine or measles
vaccine.
Diagnostic: Some drugs are used to aid the physician in diagnosing what is causing
certain symptoms e.g. atropine eye drops to dilate or widen the pupils of the eye.

Therapeutic
These drugs are used in treating diseases or ailments. Therapeutic drugs can be further divided into
the Following classes:

Curative: This type of drug removes the symptoms of the disease and may destroy the causative
agent.

Palliative or symptomatic drug gives relief but does not cure the symptoms
although it may lessen the severity.

Supportive Drugs: sustain the patient until other measures can be taken or
until the body is able to or not able to recover from disease or ailment. For
example, in a case of cancer patient, if it can no longer be treated the patient
can be given supportive drug and oxygen.
Substitutive Drugs are used to replace substances normally found in the body,
for example, hormones like thyroxin, testosterone usually given to people with
chronic disease problems, insulin given to diabetic patients etc.

Drug misuse
Drugs are said to be misuses when they are accidentally, intentionally or inappropriately
consumed or are administered in inappropriate amounts. Below are some examples of drug
misuse:
i. the prescribing of an inappropriate drug by a physician;
ii. writing the incorrect dosage by a doctor;
iii. taking drugs in excess of recommended dosages;
iv. taking drugs without doctor's prescription;
v. offering one's own medicine to others especially among mothers who give the
remaining portion of a prescribed drug to their children who report symptoms that resemble theirs;
vi. consuming alcohol concurrently with any other drug, and driving an automobile while under
drug influence.
Sometimes a drug which was prescribed and dispensed by qualified medical personnel is not used
according to prescription. When a drug is over used or under used or given .to another person, we
say that it is misused. A drug that is over used will tend to produce effects other than that which it
was meant for when it was prescribed. Similarly, under use of a drug may produce no effects on the
body. Hence, drug misuse ensues when a drug is either over used or under used so that it does not
serve the purpose or purposes for which it was originally meant or when the drug was not
originally. Drug abuse is taking drugs without doctor prescription i.e. self medication.

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Drug use:
When one uses a drug we can simply refer to it as drug use. Sometimes, when one has genuine
reasons for using them, particularly when qualified medical personnel prescribe them, we still refer
to it as drug use. The use of drugs by people under the prescription and dispensation of qualified
medical personnel is referred to as drug use. This is so because this type of usage is provided for by
law as it is prescribed and dispensed by appropriate health personnel.

Why people take drugs

People take drugs for various reasons. Some take drugs because they have one or more health
problems. For this reason, they may resort to drug use believing that their problem will be solved.
Others take drugs on experimental basis while some others take them for pleasure, demand or for
psychological reasons.

Experimental reasons
Many people develop the drug habit through sheer imitation. They may imitate
their parents, friends, teachers and others. Some people drink and smoke to be in line with what
obtains in their sub-group or family they belong to, for majority of drug users, the initial
motivation is curiosity. Those who try drugs once or twice were probably curious. They stopped
probably because they did not enjoy the experience or perhaps they gained nothing from the
experience. Unfortunately, curiosity may expose vulnerable individuals to effects that may serve
other needs. Hence they continue to take the drugs.

Psychological Reasons
Lack of Identity
There are certain basic needs that every human being requires such as food, clothing and shelter.
Apart from these, we need security, love, feeling of acceptance, self image and self identity .In
other words, every human being requires psychological and emotional fulfillment.
All these are necessary for one to gain self esteem and to be competent in social, intellectual and
physical skills. It is also necessary for one to have a level of achievement and control over one's
destiny. There are some people who are deficient in these qualities, hence they lack self identity.
This could be due in part to their upbringing. Whenever human needs are not met a substitute is
supplied. In this case, some people use drugs at abusive levels. It could be gambling or other risk
taking behaviors that make them to use these drugs.

Apathy / Failure:
Apathy is a sense of defeat or failure which usually results in frustration. It could be as a result of
lack of acceptance or discrimination. Apathy and lack of identity are serious psychological
factors in the use of drugs. Failure in life may cause anxieties. If an individual has no place to turn to
for assurance, he may turn to drugs in order to, reduce his or her anxieties or as a means of escape
from problems.

Social reasons
People resort to drugs for various social reasons. The following are some of the reasons;

Social alienation
Social alienation is a common social problem many youth face. This refers to the isolation of an

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individual or group of individuals from the dominant society subgroup. A lot of young people are
dissatisfied or disillusioned with the prevailing system. Since they are a population minority,
they become socially alienated. Members of the group influence others and are in turn influenced
until the general actions and attitudes are uniform and there is compliance among the group. It is in
this situation that peer pressure is clearly observed. A person who is easily subjected to peer
pressure may also have a deeper problem - one of self identity. If there is no solution to his
problem he resorts to drug taking. Poverty, bribery and corruption, prostitution, severe physical and
mental disability and frustration as a result of failure are social ills which are capable of causing or
leading to social alienation.
People with these social tendencies are usually unable to have a sense of belonging since these
tendencies are not regarded as normal behaviours in the society.

Inadequate Parental Guidance and Control

Besides the above reasons discussed, many people today turn to drugs because of the fast
decreasing primary social controls like inadequate parental guidance and control, fast
disintegrating extended family system, broken homes; decrease in secondary social controls,
especially the weakening of the school - community relations, laws, customs, traditions and also
through the rapid socio-cultural changes, rural/urban migrations and mounting waves of
unemployment. Drugs are sometimes used to enable the user to rebel against the authority.

Pleasure
The use of drugs for pleasure motivation can be classified into two, namely: drugs for pleasure and
drugs as pleasure.
Drug use for pleasure is the use of drugs at social gatherings. In this situation, the objective is a
successful social affair. Examples of drugs used to achieve this end are wine, kola nuts, cigarettes,
champagne, whisky, palm-wine, burukutu and assorted types of beer. On the other hand, drugs
may be used as pleasure. When drugs are taken just for the effects, that is, the pleasure they
produce in an individual. For example, little Master Woods going to meet an elderly man for an
advice and the man turned to sniff his snuff before giving him the advice. There is a time limit to
the effect of any drug. When one takes a drug for pleasure or excitement, when the effect is over,
he returns to the former level such that it becomes necessary to repeat the drug in order to maintain
the needed sense of excitement. When the need becomes compulsive, it stops being social or
recreational.
Affluence allows time and money to support drug excesses.

Social Pressure and Demand

There are certain social expectations which youths and adults alike are expected to fulfill. Persons
who are of age are expected to marry and raise children. Certain civic responsibilities and service
such as paying taxes and contributing to the provision of social amenities are some other social
expectations. The society also requires youths and adults to exhibit a high sense of honesty, loyalty
and obedience to the society.
Where these expectations are not met youths and adults may resort to drugs.
Some people, especially youths, believe that taking drugs could produce extra energy or exertion
to undertake within a short time a job that ought to be done in a longer time, and without really
feeling the adverse effect of the job. They believe that the physiological functions of the system
will be enhanced by taking drugs. People mistakenly believe their brains will absorb and retain
more under the influence of these drugs. Instead of planning their day with the help of a balanced
time-table of hard work, exercise and relaxation they believe that they can cheat nature by keeping

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awake at night when their mates are sleeping.

Economic reasons
Another element that has added new dimension to youth taking drugs is the fact that drug
trafficking has become a very lucrative trade. So lucrative that even the stiff penalties imposed by
the Federal Government have particularly failed to stem the tide or reduce the rate of abuse among
adolescents. Some drug dealers, including women, even go to the extent of putting the stuff in their
stomach or genitals in an attempt to deceive vigilant security and custom officials.

The effects of the mass media

Today's mass media such as the newspapers, magazines, the radio and the television are used for
various purposes. Many types of drugs are advertised. Television programmes are used to promote
and advocate the use of certain drugs. You must have come across many such advertising
programmes like "Guiness is Good For You"; "You're By Far Brighter on a Star"; Golden Guinea
Puts New Life in You"; and so many others.
When youths come across such programmes, they are encouraged to believe that they are socially
acceptable. This may form another important reason why people take drugs.

Religious reasons
Another motivating force for drug use is self-transcendence, that is, the search for the meaning
of life and reason for one's existence. Certain people and religious orders tend to use mind-
affecting drugs to probe the question of life, man's role in the universe and the power that controls
the universe. In addition, some churches use wines to serve communions. Traditional religion also
calls for the use of certain drugs during rituals. Both the priests and the adherents are usually
exposed to the use of certain drugs for or during the communion or mass or rituals. Although they
are used occasionally and in small quantities, repeated use may compel people to take to drugs.

Drug abuse
At times, many people, including youths and secondary school students, continue to use drugs
repeatedly in order to produce a desired effect on body systems. Drugs used in this way are usually
unauthorized, and with no regard to the harm they can cause. The repeated doses lead to abuse of
the drugs. Drug abuse, therefore may be defined as repeated misuse of drugs or chronic desire for
the effects of a particular drug created in an individual. Chronic abuse of drugs can lead to socially
deviant behaviour, psychological or physiological dependence.

Types of Drug Abuse

Drug abuse may take different forms, namely, drug habituation, drug addiction and self
medication.

Drug habituation
Drug habituation means that taking of the drug has become a habit, something which is done on a
regular basis, the circumstance and the place notwithstanding. Just think of a young person you
know who has formed the habit of snuffing at regular intervals regardless of where he stays and
what he does, except when he is eating or sleeping. Drug habituation, therefore, can be defined as a
condition resulting from the repeated consumption of drug.

Habitual drug user

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A drug habitual user has a desire or compulsion to continue taking the drug for a particular reason.
Generally, people habitually abuse pain killers, sleeping drugs, pep-pills etc.

Drug addiction
Drug addiction is a state of dependence resulting from habitual use of some drug or medicine. It is
chronic intoxication produced by repeated consumption of a narcotic characterized by an
overpowering desire to continue taking the drug and to obtain supplies regardless of the cost.
Everybody agrees that drug addiction brings about certain changes in the individual which are
detrimental to his own health and also to the society at large

Observable characteristics of drug addicts

1. An overpowering desire to continue using the drug and to obtain it by any means even if, it
means committing crime to get the money to buy them.
2. A tendency to develop tolerance or decrease in the effect of the drug which may lead to the need
to increase the dosage.
3. A psychological and physical dependence on the effects of the drug.

Summarily, there are detrimental or harmful effects on both the individual and the society.

Drug dependence
Addiction to a drug does not only create a psychological dependence but also a physical
dependence. Physical dependence means that the body and not just the mind craves or desires for
the drug. Physical dependence can be observed when the drug is unavailable to the user or when
the user stops using the drug. Under this condition, the individual develops physical withdrawal
symptoms which may include irritability, vomiting, convulsion, etc. These withdrawal
symptoms are usually known as abstinence syndrome. Addiction may create a derangement of
cellular metabolism. The altered state of the body tissues results in cellular demands for more of
the specific drug. Withdrawal symptoms associated with physical dependence include:
1. Fever
2. Perspiration Nausea
3. Muscle cramps
4. Tremors
5. Irritability
In addicts, the individual is rather anxious/restless and insecure,

Self medication
Apart from the type of drug abuse just described above, there is another form of drug abuse. This
is self medication, that is, the individual literally prescribes for himself. Almost everyone is
guilty of self medication in Nigeria.
Drugs are normally classified as prescription or non-prescription drugs. Prescription drugs are
obtainable on a doctor's prescription only. The non-prescription or over-the-counter drugs can be
sold unrestricted or without prescription. Over the counter drugs include vitamins, tonics analgesics,
cough medicines cold remedies, anti-histarnins (piriton, antisan, antiseptics and topical lotions,
some salts such as Andrew liver salt,). People generally make the mistake of diagnosing their own
symptoms afterwards buy what they consider appropriate drug for the condition. It is not only over
the counter drugs that are misused. Prescription drugs are also misused if:
The user fails to use the drug as prescribed, that is, alters the dose and the frequency
of use, Takes it to somebody else to use simply because he or she has similar symptoms.

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Self-medication is bad and should not be encouraged for the following reasons:
The drug may be a potentially dangerous preparation which may also create damage
to the user.
There is always the possibility of an allergy to the drug which may be fatal. This is
why doctors usually advise patients to report any side-effects of the drugs they
prescribe.
There may be a toxic reaction to the drug as a result of over dose or improper
administration or as a result of expiration of the drug.
The drug may relieve the symptoms for which it is taken but cover up or mask the
symptoms of a more serious condition. Finally, the drug may be contra-indicated for the symptoms.

Classification of Drug Abusers

Drug abusers may be classified into three groups as follows:

1. Emotionally well-adjusted people

These are well adjusted people who take addicting drugs which are medically prescribed for pain
or insomnia (sleeplessness) or other medical problems. After using them for a while, they may
find out that they cannot get on without them. An example is an individual who has problems
sleeping due to a painful injury for which he has to take sleeping pills regularly. He may find that he
is unable to sleep without the pills even after the sickness. This is drug addiction.
Usually adolescents and some youths try drugs to keep up with their peers or groups. They take
drugs sometimes on experimental or curiosity basis. This group of abusers varies depending on
availability of drugs.
Emotionally well adjusted people are called accidental addicts, while neurotics and
psychopaths are addiction prone individuals They constitute the greatest percentage of all addicts.
They are generally difficult to cure.

2. Neurotics
These are those who take drugs in order to overcome their psychological problems e.g. feeling of
fear or inadequacy. Drug taking makes them feel better physically or mentally or both. These
groups of abusers constitute the largest percentage of drug abusers.

3. Psychotics
They are dangerous persons who take joy in hurting other persons. They often use drugs no matter
whatever feelings they may have before, during or later then engage in criminal activities.

Categories of drugs:
There are different classes of drugs. These include:
Analgesics: drugs for reducing or killing pains
Sedatives: to calm the nerves / sleep
Stimulants: to increase body or mental ability
Depressants: drugs that make somebody week
Psychoactive drug: mind builders
Pep pills: like cough medicine

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Commonly abused drugs are:
1. Stimulants:
 Drugs like amphetamines e.g. pro-plus tablets, pep pills, dizzy or speed is used by
indolent students to seek some short cut to their studies.
 Marijuana (Pot, wee-wee, grass, etc)
 Opium, cocaine and heroin, morphine
 Barbiturates, methamphetamines
 Antibiotics
 Laxatives
 Aspirins
 Codeines
 Traditional medicine
 Worm expeller
 Blood tonics
 Vitamins

Stimulants
Medically, stimulants such as amphetamines and cocaine (in small doses) are used to combat
appetite, to relieve mild depression and for other purposes. Truck drivers and sometimes students
in post primary school of high institutions take them to stay awake on long haul or stay up late
studying for examinations respectively.
Although such drugs may be valuable to the user if medically prescribed, often they are used
outside medical or doctor’s prescription. When indeed this happens, as is usually the case, the user
or abuser may face dangerous outcomes.

Meaning of stimulants
A stimulant is something or substance or drug which temporarily increases the activity of an organ
or some vital process. They are groups of drugs that increase activity of the cortex of the central
nervous system, and produce a feeling of increased alteraess and "pep" caffeine is the most widely
used stimulant. It is present in coffee, tea cocoa and cola drinks. Other stimulants include cocaine,
the amphetamines (benzedine, methedrine, "speed") and nicotine. All are potentially addictive.

Heavy or long term use of amphetamines, sometimes produce tenseness, agitation, confusion and
delusions and a feeling of persecution. Paradoxically, amphetamines are sometimes used to calm
children who are hyper-active, that is, who have extreme difficulty in staying still or concentrating
on one thing for more than a few moments. In large amounts, amphetamines can produce
hallucinations and delusions or psychoses, especially if the drug is injected.
Methamphetamine, or speed, is one drug which abusers have been injecting and the kick is so
dangerous.

Nicotine (tobacco) users usually report that the drug calms them down when they are anxious or
excited, and peps them up when they are tired or depressed. Nicotine is highly addictive. It is
however associated more with organ damage (emphysema) cancer, heart disease) than the other
drugs.

When abused, stimulants (such as amphetamines) produce certain symptoms, which include

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anxiety euphoria, and hallucinations, while the dangers include psychological dependence, tolerance
and psychoses from overdose. Other drugs in this group produce certain symptoms and effects.
Stimulants will be examined under the following subheads: amphetamines, cocaine and mild
stimulants such as nicotine and caffeine (which is the active component of kola nut).

Non – mild stimulant:

These are not mild in nature. They include cocaine, amphetamines and methamphetamines.

Mild stimulants:
These types are mild in nature and they include caffeine, nicotine, cola and APC (Aspirin
Compound). These types will be briefly discussed.

(a) Caffeine
Caffeine is a nitrogenous organic compound or a substance that has marked physiological
properties. It is found in coffee, tea, cocoa, chocolate and kola nuts. It may be made artificially.
Caffeine is a stimulant. Contain products capable of inducing wakefulness, and increasing heart
beat and the rate of respiration and metabolism. Caffeine also constricts certain blood vessels
and increases the production of urine. Excess consumption can cause insomnia, diarrhea, heart
palpitations, headache, stomach cramps and heart burn.

(b) Nicotine
This is a thick oily liquid upon exposure to air; it turns brown and has the odour of tobacco.
Nicotine in cigarette tends to stain the fingers and teeth. Treated or cured tobacco contains 1 - 4
percent of nicotine. The strength of nicotine depends on the content of nicotine, the more the
nicotine the stronger the cigarette. Nicotine is the addictive element in tobacco. In the human body
it stimulates the adrenal glands to secrete epinephrine hormone that increases blood pressure
and heart rate. In combination with carbon monoxide, another compound, nicotine is suspected to
contributing to the development of heart disease. In purified form nicotine is used in the
production of nitric acid amide an important B vitamin. It is also used as an element in
insecticide. Nicotine can be produced synthetically although there is little need for the synthetic
forms because natural nicotine is inexpensive and abundant. Nicotine is extremely toxic causing
nerve paralysis.

(c). APC (Aspirin, Phenocetin and Caffeine)

Aspirin compound (APC) belongs to the stimulant group which is usually taken in tablet forms.
Its presence in the body causes wakefulness and a feeling of increased activity. Overdose is
dangerous.

(d) Cola
Cola is an evergreen tree native to western tropical Africa. It is cultivated for its seeds called cola
nut or (kola nut) which contains caffeine and kalanin. The nuts are chewed by Africans for their
stimulating effects. They are imported into United States. Cola can induce wakefulness, a
feeling of increased activity. Excess consumption can lead to insomnia, nervousness and
anxiety. Abusers may develop physical and psychological dependence, lethargy, irritability etc.

Narcotics

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Narcotics, this is a term that originally applied to all compounds that produce insensibility to
external stimuli through depression of the central nervous system, but now applied primarily to
the drugs known as opiates—compounds extracted from the opium poppy and their chemical
derivatives. Also classed as narcotics are the opioids, chemical compounds that are wholly
synthesized, but which resemble the opiates in their actions.

The most important attribute of narcotics is their capacity to decrease pain, not only by
decreasing the perception of pain, but also by altering the reaction to it. Although they do have
sedative properties when used in large doses, they are not used primarily for sedation.

The major constituent of opium and the prototype of all narcotic analgesics is morphine, which
was isolated and chemically analyzed by the German apothecary F. W. A. Setürner between
1805 and 1817. Other narcotics used in the U.S. are meperidine (trade name Demerol), codeine,
and propoxyphene (trade name Darvon). Heroin, synthesized from morphine, is a potent
analgesic, but its use is forbidden in the U.S. Some of the newer synthetic compounds are 1000
to 10,000 times more potent than morphine.

In addition to their painkilling properties, the narcotic analgesics cause a profound feeling of
well-being (euphoria). It is this feeling that is in part responsible for the psychological drive of
certain persons to obtain and self-administer these drugs. When taken chronically in large doses,
the narcotics have the capacity to induce tolerance (whereby a larger and larger dose is required
by the body to achieve the same effect), and ultimately psychological and physical dependence,
or addiction. In this respect they are similar to the barbiturates and to alcohol. These properties
make the medical use of narcotics extremely difficult and have led to strict regulation of the
prescription and dispensing of this class of drugs. Even so, they are widely abused.

The mode of action of the narcotic analgesics is still not fully understood. Recent research has
determined that specific regions of the brain and spinal cord have an affinity for binding opiates,
and the binding sites in the brain are in the same general areas where pain centers are believed to
be. This research has also succeeded in isolating compounds, called enkephalins that are
produced in the body to reduce pain; the compounds consist of five amino acids. Apparently they
can depress neurons throughout the central nervous system. They belong to a group of larger
compounds called endorphins, consisting of many amino acids, that have also been isolated in
the body and that are produced by the pituitary gland. Administration of endorphins, including
the enkephalins, results in effects similar to those produced by opiates.

The discovery of a class of compounds that are specific antagonists to the action of the opiates
has made it possible to treat opiate over dosage quickly and efficiently. The standard drug for
this use is naloxone. Some of the antagonists also have opiatelike properties, and this has led to
the introduction of a new class of analgesics, the mixed agonists-antagonists. It is hoped that
these drugs will produce analgesia without euphoria, reducing their potential for abuse. The three
drugs of this class approved so far in the U.S.—pentazocine, butorphanol, and nalbuphine—are
as analgesic as morphine for many uses and induce little or no euphoria. All appear to have a
lower abuse potential than morphine or propoxyphene.

Unlike stimulants which produce wakefulness, narcotics are drugs which produce sleep (sleeping
pills e.g. indocide). They are illegitimate (not legally permitted drugs) which are only essential to
the regulated practice of medicine. Its manufacture and distribution are confined to ethical drug

12
channels. Although its manufacture and distribution are confined, yet these drugs are usually found
outside medical practice. This has resulted in the drug being abused. In Nigeria, narcotic drugs have
been found outside medical practice as we continue to read from newspapers cases of Nigerians
caught in drug trafficking. Narcotics produce special effects which are dangerous as especially
most users usually develop dependence.

Sedatives
Stimulants when used increase wakefulness, mobilize energy and increase activity level. Sedatives
on the other hand act in the opposite direction. Sedatives, medically, are drugs used to lower
activity, tension and anxiety. They produce depression of the central nervous system, loss of
consciousness and, an over dose by intentional and unintentional users may result in death.
Hence, sedatives are potentially dangerous especially when they are combined with other drugs such
as narcotics or alcohol. About 30 types of sedatives are in use today, performing valuable medical
services and at the same time being abused. Sedatives are drugs which when used lower human
activity, reduce tension and anxiety without lowering too much of mental alertness. Depressants
are sedative drugs and are mainly barbiturates, examples of barbiturates include:
 phenobarbitones
 Amytal
 Membutal
 Miltown
 Seconal
Barbiturates are sedatives, prescribed to induce sleep or, in smaller doses, to provide a calming
effect. All are legally restricted to prescription use only. They produce both physical and
psychological dependence with varying degree of tolerance. Signs of dependence appear only
when the dosage is more than recommended. Barbiturates are known by many nicknames such as
"football" "barbs," "candy," "yellow, jackets," "nimbies", "red birds," "seccy", "rainbow" "double
trouble" "blue devils" or "blue heaven". These acronyms are derived from the colours or shapes of
the pills or the trade names.

How sedatives are taken

Sedatives are taken orally as tablets or capsules. Sometimes, they are taken by intravenous
injection by abusers.

Effects of barbiturates
Small amounts of barbiturates make the user relaxed, sociable, and good-humoured. Heavy doses
make the user sluggish, gloomy, and sometimes quarrelsome. He is slow in speech and may stagger.
Sedation and in coordination are progressive with increasing dosage. If barbiturate is combined
with alcohol or other sedatives and tranquilizers, there is great reduction in tension, anxiety and
alertness. All barbiturates are capable of inducing sleep when given in sufficient amounts. They do
not affect the perception of pains as do analgesics, but they do alter the individual's response to
pain (e.g. decreasing his anxiety) and are useful in this regard. Occasionally or infrequently,
barbituates induce undesirable reactions such as nervousness, anxiety and diarrhoea as well as
mental confusion, euphoria and convulsion

Signs/symptoms of sedatives
Sedative or users or abusers may exhibit the following signs
Drunkeness with no odour of alcohol if the dose is heavy.
Calm

13
Simple nervousness
Anxiety
Nausea
Diarrhoea
Mental Confusion
Slurred speech
Talkativeness

Dangers to sedative users

Prolonged use of barbiturates can lead to impaired judgment and intellectual
performance and self - neglect.
Sedation, coma and death from respiratory failure may result.
Inattentiveness may cause unintentional repetitious administration to toxic level
Death occurs with intentional and unintentional overdose.
The drug is addictive, causing physical as well as psychological dependence
Blackouts, irritationality, slurred speech, poor motor coordination, emotional
deterioration, mood swings and psychosis
Prolonged use may also cause drug habituation and psychic dependence.

Psychedelics / hallucinogens
Unlike other habit forming or mind-affecting drugs psychedelics or hallucinogens have no proven
value in medical therapy. However, they are rapidly increasing in use. Truly, hallucinogens exist
either in pure or synthesized forms, chiefly lysergidiethylamide, commonly known as LSD.
Cannabis (Indian hemp plant) is neither narcotic nor other hallucinogens, but there is no particular
justification for its exclusion. There is evidence that high dose of the active ingredient in indian
hemp, tetrahydrocannabinol, produce reactions similar to LSD. In this unit, we will study about
psychedelics / Hallucinogens..

Meaning and history of psychedelics / hallucinogens

Psychedelics or hallucinogens used interchangeable are the LSD - type of drugs that produce
marked aberrations of behaviour. They produce a condition of great heightened sensory perception.
The most important are:
lysergic acid diethy lamide, commonly known as LSD, which was originally derived
from ergot (claviceps parpures), a fungi on rye and wheat;
mescaline, the active ingredient of peuote cactus (Lophophora williamsit), which
grows in the south western United States and Mexico.
psilocybin and psilocin, which comes from Mexican mushrooms (notably psilocybe
mexican and stoopheria cabenis);
bufotonine, originally isolated from the skin of toads, is the alleged hallucinogenic
agent contained in banana peels it has now been isolated in the plant piptadenia
peregrina, the mushroom muscaria, and is thought to be the active ingrediant of the
hallucinogenic snuff called eohoba and yopo and used by Indians of Trinidad.
harmine is an alkaloid found in the seed coat of plant (peganum hermala) of the
Mediterranean region and the Near East and also south American vine (Banislerio psis
caapi)
amides of lysergic acid contained in the seeds of morning glory (Rivea Corymbosa),
Synthetic compounds such as DMT (dimethy try plamine and STP (dimethoxyphentyamine)

14
History
Native societies of Western hemispheres have for 2,000 years utilized various naturally occurring
materials such as "scared" mushrooms of Mexico and the peyote cactus of the southwestern United
States. Mescaline was isolated as the active principle of peyote in 1896, and its structural
resemblance to the adrenal hormone epinephrine was recognized in 1919. LSD was synthesized in
Switzerland in 1938 by Dr. Albert Hoffman but its true mind-affecting powers were not discovered
until 1943 when a Swiss chemist accidentally ingested a synthetic preparation of lysergic acid
diethylamide and experienced its psychedelic effect. An American mycologist called attention to
the powers of the mexican mushroom in 1953,
and the active principle was quickly found to be psilocybin. These drugs affect the central nervous
system.

Effects of psychedelics hallucinogens

LSD: Abusers may undergo complete personality changes. Most abusers report seeing brilliant
colours, starbursts, and distortions of geometric objects (such as triangles). Senses may blend so
that colours appear to be tasted; they "see smells", "hear colours". Sensitivity to sound increases
and something quite familiar, such as tea cups, can appear to be objects of great beauty and wonder.
The mind may seem totally separated from the body. They may be bursting with emotions, or none
at all. Time may be slow, then race ahead,, or even seem to go backward. Users may feel cut off,
alone, anxious and panicky. Abusers may try to fly or brush imaginary insects from their bodies.
The behaviours are irrational with marked depersonalization. Physiological effects include
psychosis and neurosis.
Other physiological effects include
Lower temperature
Diaphoresis
Dilated pupils
Incoherent speech
Increase heart rate
Feeling of numbness
Dangerous psychological effects include
Hallucination and disillusion.
Swings of mood time and space distortion.
Hallucinations lasting for days or repetitive psyhotoxic episodes, which may occur
months after injection.
Permanence of mental derangement becomes obvious.
Damage to chromosomes, and hence potentially to offspring.
Tolerance to the drug comes quickly, the dose must be increased to achieve the same effect, but
tolerance also disappears two to three days after non-use.
Mescaline is and hallucinogic chemical found in buttons of small plant-peyote or
mescaline, which is supplied illegally as powder or liquid. Its effects, milder than those of LSD,
last 10 to 12 hours. Bitter in taste, it is often mixed with some beverage to make it more palatable.
Peyote itself, from cactus is a less concentrated form of mescaline and therefore milder. It
is sometimes called the button, or cactus or P. It is still being used as sacrament by the Native
American Indian Church.
Psilocybin mind-influencing effects lasts for two to six hours and are similar to those from

15
mescaline.
DMT (dimethyltryptamine) produces effects like those of LSD when taken in large doses. It
acts more quickly with effects lasting an hour or two. It could be sniffed as powder.
STD is fairly new on the scene a synthentic chemical related to mescaline and amphetamines. It is
extremely mind-distorting but not as powerful as LSD.
Morning Glory seeds of a few varieties contain an active ingredients closely related to LSD, but
far less potent. Seeds are chewed or brewed as tea. 8.68: Like banana peel, 68 or sex juice,
produces wilder and shorter strips than LSD.

Marijuana
Cannabis, or marijuana, as it is commonly known, is the term applied internationally to the Indian
hemp plant, cannabis sativa when the plant is used for pleasure giving effects.
Marijuana is a mild drug that produces fantasies. It is known by several common names such as:
 Joints,
 Sticks,
 Reefers,
 Weed,
 Grass,
 Pot,
 Muggles,
 Leaf and
 Many others.
The leaves, flowers and the fruiting tips are usually dried and mixed with tobacco and rolled into a
cigarette for smoking.
For full effects, the smoke is usually held in the lungs as long as possible Marijuana can also be
sniffed or eaten.

Physiological and psychological effects

When smoked, physiological manifestations appear within three to five hours. They include:
dizziness, lightheadedness, disturbances in coordination and movement, a heavy sensation in the
arms and legs dryness of mouth and throat, redness and irritation of the eyes blurred vision,
quickened heart beat, lightness around the chest and the sense of hearing such as ringing,
buzzing, a feeling of pressure in the ears, or sounds.
Occasionally, drug use is accompanied by nausea and an urge to urinate or defecate. There is also
a feeling of hunger that may be associated with craving for sweets. Toxic manifestations are
rare and include motor restlessness, tremor, ataxia, and congestion of the conjunctivae of the
eye, abnormal dilation of the pupil, visual hallucinations and unpleasant delusions.
Psychological manifestations are more variable in response to cannabis. Alterations in mood may
include giggling, hilarity and euphoria.
Perceptual distortions may also occur, involving space, time, sense of distance, and sense of
organization of one’s' own body image. Thought processes may also become disorganized, with
fragmentation, disturbance of memory and frequent shift of attention to disrupt the orderly
flow of ideas.
On the positive side, there may be an enhancement in the sense of the person's worth and an
increased sociability.

16
Alcohol
Alcohol is a colourless, intoxicating and inflammable chemical compound which is obtained
commercially by distilling wine or other fermented liquours. People do not usually drink pure
alcohol but a solution or beverage containing alcohol, specifically called ethyl alcohol. The
amounts of ethyl alcohol in the different drinks vary, and this counts for why, some drinks are
more intoxicating than others.
There is also methyl alcohol which is the predominant alcohol found in the crude or locally
brewed gin called "ogogoro" or kia- kia. Alcohol is harmful to the body, so the body does, not
tolerate it well it could lead to blindness or liver damage.
In this unit we will be dealing with beverages that contain alcohol. This is because the main
ingredient that characterises alcoholic beverages and the main contributor of the effect sought by
people who drink them is alcohol.

Types of alcoholic beverages

As stated earlier, what people drink is alcoholic beverages rather than pure alcohol. There are three
major types of alcoholic beverages that are normally consumed by our people.

(a) Wines
There are different types of wines sold in the market and provision stores in Nigeria. Wines are
usually made by fermenting the sugars in fruits or berries like grapes, from various plants or their
saps, from honey and even milk. Some are also produced from chemicals in specialized
laboratories.

(b) Beer
You are familiar with the various beer sold around. Beer is made from the fermentation of grains
like rice, corn, millet, etc.
The starch in these grains is first converted to Sugar and then fermented into beer,

(c) Hard Liquors

These are normally distilled from wines or beer and they include whisky, gin, schnapps,
vodka, rum and brandy. Rum is normally distilled from sugar cane, while brandy is distilled from
fruit wines.

Local alcoholic beverages in nigeria

The following are some local alcoholic beverages that are consumed in Nigeria.
Ogoro or Oguro got from the raffia palm.
Palm wine got from the oil - palm tree. It is also called "Upwine" or "emu".
Burukutu from guinea corn.
Local gin, also called ogogoro kin-kin, akparin etc is got by distilling palmwine. It
thus has the highest percentage of alcohol among the locally brewed alcoholic
beverages.
Alcohol strengths
Earlier on you were told that alcoholic beverages vary in terms of their alcoholic strength or ability
to intoxicate. For example in beer the alcoholic content varies from 2% - 8%. The alcoholic
contents in hard liquors vary from 40% - 50%, while wines usually contains between 8% and
17
12% alcohol.

Uses of alcohol
Alcohol has a variety of use and this include
Social ceremonies such as marriages, naming ceremonies, funeral, initiations,
graduation, freedom etc.
Medicinal - alcohol is used sometimes as a pain killer and or sedative.
Worship - some churches use wine for part of their worship also used for many
traditional religion.
Hospitality - Alcohol is used by many people to entertain guests who pay them visits.
Scientific - Alcohol is used in the laboratory for carrying out experiments relating to
science.
Magic - Alcohol is also used by magicians in furthering their magical activities and
prowess.
War making - Alcohol is used by soldiers or others engaged in war, as a way of
building up courage and inducing confidence.
Peacemaking - when rivalry ends and a peace meeting is held, alcohol is used to end
a dispute or rivalry and further peace.
Alcohol has been used and is still being used on many occasions. People drink alcohol for specific
reasons which vary from persons to persons.

Reasons for taking alcohol

There are many reasons why people drink alcohol and these include the following:
 To celebrate
 To induce sleep
 To quench thirst
 For religious or social rituals.
 To reduce anxiety and tension.
 To relax
 To calm anger.
 To build up courage and self control.
 To increase appetite
 To reduce pain or counteract fatigue
 To remove boredom.
 Out of curiosity.
 Pressure from peers.
 To warm up the body.

Metabolism of alcohol
When an alcoholic beverage is swallowed, it may first undergo some dilution in the mouth. It then
goes to the stomach where it is diluted by the stomach juices. The alcohol is absorbed fairly rapidly
from the stomach and the upper part of the small intestine. Alcohol does not require digestion
before its absorption into the blood stream. This is why the effects are quickly felt in the body. The
rate of absorption of alcohol will depend on the type of drinks taken and the state of the stomach.
An empty stomach absorbs alcohol much - five percent of alcohol ingested is metabolished, mainly
in the liver yielding about 7 calories per gram. The remaining five percent is lost in urine, sweat
and expired air, because the body begins to dispose of alcohol immediately after it is absorbed.
The rate of absorption, distribution and dilution of alcohol is important because of the level of
18
concentration in various organs particularly the brain. After a rapid intake of a large amount of
alcohol that is quickly absorbed, it acts mostly on the brain. Its main action on the brain is to depress
the activity of the brain cells. So at first the person feels "high" or datted and later becomes docile
or quiet because of the depressing effects.

Factors that influence absorption of alcohol into the body

The major factors' that influence the absorption of alcohol into the body include:-
The Individuals body weight: e.g. heavier people have more body fluids which can
easily dilute the alcohol,
Mood like anger stress or fear may make a person to consume alcohol as a means of
overcoming the situation. The amount of alcohol taken under that situation will
determine the absorption rate.
Drinking history - people who are already used to taking a lot of alcohol, will require
more to get intoxicated.
Concentration of alcohol - the rate of absorption of highly concentrated alcoholic
beverages is higher than those not highly concentrated.
Rate of drinking - More alcohol will be absorbed when the drink is rushed than when
it is sipped,
Presence of food - A Ml stomach will have a smaller room for alcohol. Consequently
the less quantity of alcohol taken the less the absorption that will take place.
Quantity of Alcohol taken - the larger the quantity of alcohol, the longer the period of
absorption into the body.

Drinking practices
Drinking practices vary and can be considered from two broad categories, namely, non-problem
drinkers and the problem drinkers.

Non-problem drinkers
This includes persons who take a drink to help them relax after the tensions of the day's work.
It also includes social drinkers who take a drink or two at social gatherings. These people generally
do not misuse alcohol.

Problem drinkers
The problem drinkers include the following:
The weekend drinker who starts on Friday evening until Saturday or Sunday. They are
usually steady party goers who enjoy themselves every weekend.
The aggressive drinker who drinks heavily whenever he chooses to drink.
The dipsomaniac (a person with a morbid craving for alcohol) who embarks on a long
drinking spree periodically. During this period he drinks extensively and eats very
little. In between the drinking Sprees, the dipsomaniac does not touch any alcoholic
beverages.
The alcoholic - this is a person that is addicted to alcohol.
It is generally assumed that the more a person drinks the more the probability of becoming an
alcoholic. Though this is true to some extent, there are however, individuals who drink moderately
and become alcoholic. And there are those who are constant heavy drinkers who never become
alcoholics. But what exactly is alcoholism, from which the word alcoholic is derived?

19
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is an acquired chronic progressive disease which is characterizsed by a
compulsive intake of excessive alcohol. This results in harm to the drinker, which may be physical,
mental, social or economic.

Phases of alcoholism
The road to alcoholism generally starts with controlled social drinking, which progresses to other
stages. There are five steps in drinking that lead to alcoholism.

Phase I
In this first step there is controlled or occasional social drinking and this is moderate.

Phase II
The drinking becomes heavy at this stage with an increase in alcohol tolerance. This stage marks
the onset of memory blackouts, where the person forget easily,

Phase III
At this stage, drinking has now become a problem to the person. He is unable to stop drinking. He
is also unable to discuss his problems. The person begins to exhibit an aggressive behaviour.

Phase IV
At this stage, drinking has now become a problem to the person. He is unable to stop
drinking. He is also unable to discuss his problems. The person begins to exhibit an
aggressive behaviour.

Phase V
This is the stage of alcoholism. The person experiences physical and mental deterioration and
complete loss to the society.

Causes of alcoholism
The causal factors of alcoholism can be physiological, psychological, sociological or economic.

Physiological factors
Defects of heredity resulting in metabolic disturbances that causes the desire for
alcohol.
Defective functioning of the hypothalamus which results in an uncontrolled thirst for
alcohol.
Disorders of the endocrine function which can lead to repetitive intake of alcohol.

Psychological factors
The uncontrolled intake of alcohol is caused by the wish of a person to use alcohol to alleviate
feelings of:-
Inferiority - Many male youngsters take alcohol in order to boost their confidence in
wooing girls of their choice. Some people also take alcohol before facing a crowd.
These are inferiority complexes.
Depression - When most people lose their dear ones to death, or they are in serious

20
troubles, they take alcohol in order to placate themselves. Most people believe that alcohol helps to
relieve depressed minds.
Anxiety - Alcohol is also used by most people to ward off anxiety. For example a
person that is expecting a delivery of some items that he has paid for, may take
alcohol to stop him from thinking too much about the goods.
Guilt - many people who have committed one crime or the other or those with guilty consciences
take alcohol believing that it will make them forget their guilt. They also feel that alcohol will
douse their guilt.
Insecurity - When most people feel insecured for one reason or the other, they tend to take to
alcohol as their companion. Insecurity can come through loss of job, spouse, family etc.
A person with these problems may find exceptionally temporary excitement and reward in alcohol.
He consequently learns to rely on intoxication as a means for coping with the problems.

Sociological factors
1. In some societies children are introduced to alcohol at an early age, while other societies
2. restrict the drinking to those above twenty one years of age. Thus early indulgence in alcohol
may lead to alcoholism.
Some communities forbid women to take alcohol, but most communities openly approve it for
men. This perhaps accounts for why most alcoholics are men.
Alcohol is accepted for certain social uses like marriages, birthdays, funeral
ceremonies, engagements etc. It is also used for religious and traditional ceremonies like
chieftaincy celebrations, naming etc. This could be the start of morbid interest in
alcohol.
In some social gathering, a great pressure may be exerted on an individual to drink in
excess of what he wants or wish. The host/hostess who is urging his/her guest to have
one drink more may be pressuring an abstainer, a reluctant drinker or someone who is
already intoxicated. The individual may even be a rehabilitated alcoholic.
Alcoholism can also be caused by the pressure from ones social or peer group. In
order to be accepted the individual has to conform with their various pastimes, and
habits.
Economic factors
Economic misery - an individual who is very poor and is economically embarrassed may resort to
drinking as a means of forgetting his misery. However such individuals mostly drink alcoholic
beverages like ogogoro', palm- wine, ‘burukutu’ and sometimes beer. Their aim is to drown their
misery in alcohol.
Economic Affluence - an individual that is rich enough to buy various alcoholic
beverages may become a heavy drinker. Since he has a lot to choose from, he may want to sample
all available drinks to his own detriment.

Effects of alcohol
The effects of the intake of alcohol can be broadly classified into physical, social and mental
effects.

PHYSICAL EFFECTS
Alcohol can cause a hardening of the liver, which is referred to medically as cirrhosis of the liver.
It can cause an inflammation of the stomach lining which is called gastritis
It can lead to a temporary increase in heartbeat and blood pressure.
It can lead to under-nourishment because the person generally eats, little and relies
21
heavily on alcohol for his nutrients.
It can inhibit a man's sexual prowess because it reduces the libido.
It can also lead to increased urine production.
Alcoholism lowers resistance to diseases.
It can lead to fatique and weight loss.
It can deteriorate the body systems.
It may affect an unborn child especially if the mother is an alcoholic. The child may
be born with low weight and other defects.

Social effects
Alcoholism not only affects the individual socially but it also has negative impact on his family,
friends and the community. Most times the individual becomes a nuisance to the society. Specific
social effects of alcoholism are:-
Disclosure of secrets.
Divorce due to economic misery.
Suicide resulting from social embarrassment.
Accidents from drunken behaviour or driving, which could lead to loss of living
Loss of job due to irregular working periods.
Economic Insecurity on the part of the family.
Carelessness and forgetfulness.
Children and family experience life - long psychological distress because of the
stigma.
Creates a physical hazard at work and on the street. Uncommon good humor that is not consistent.

Mental effects
Alcohol has a depressing effect on the brain.
It reduces the clearness of vision.
It can affect the speech of an individual
Alcohol can reduce a person's ability to smell and hear.
It can cause giddiness and unsteady movements.
It generally reduces the mental efficiency of an individual.
It can lead to decreased co-ordination of voluntary muscular movements.
It can lead to a loss of memory.
The ability to make good judgement is reduced due to the effect of alcohol on the
cerebral cortex.
It can lead to alcohol coma. This is a severe respiratory depression that could lead to death.

Withdrawal syndromes associated with alcoholism

Withdrawal Syndromes occur only when blood alcohol level is falling after sustained heavy intake
of alcohol. There are four types of Syndromes that can be manifested depending upon the amount
of alcohol ingested. It will also depend upon the duration of intake and the abruptess of
ceasation. The withdrawal Syndromes are alcoholic tremulousness, convulsive seizures, alcoholic
hallucinosis and delirium tremens.

Alcoholic tremulousness
The common symptoms of this syndrome include the following.

22
Insomia - inability to sleep.
Anorexia - feeling of vomiting (nausea).
Craving for alcohol.
Mild depression.
Muscular weakness.
Anxiety
Restlessness.
Generalised tremours - shaking of the body and especially the limbs.

The alcoholic convulsive seizures

The Symptoms include:-
Restlessness.
Sweating.
Sleep disturbances.
Epilepticfonn Seizures - this is like the epleptic fit which arises from epilepsy.
Abnormal changes in the body, especially that of fluid balances.
Could lead to delirium.

Alcoholic hallucinosis
The Symptoms include:-
Restlessness.
Insomia.
Reduced muscular coordination.
Night mares or day-dreaming.'
Visual (eye) tactile (touch) and Auditory (Ear) hallucination. This is when a person loses contact
with reality e.g. hearing voices when nobody is around.

Delirium tremens
This Syndrome is characterized by the following Symptoms:-
Trembling of the whole body with seizures sometimes.
Mental clouding - one not being sure of exactly what he is doing.
Visual and auditory hallucinations.
Disorientation.
Severe restlessness.
Insomia.
Fever - rise in temperature.
Profuse - Sweating.
Tachycardia - excessive rate of heart beat
There could be death from vascular collapse, excessive body temperature or infection if the
situation is not controlled.

Prevention and control of alcoholism

The following control measures have proved helpful in curbing alcoholism.

Good family upbringing. This will ensure that children are not introduced into drinking
alcohol at an early age. With good discipline and upbringing, a child may grow up to become a
non- problem drinker. He may not even drink alcoholic beverages at all.
Government control on sale of alcoholic beverages and the time of operation of drinking
23
houses is necessary. In some societies, alcoholic beverages are not sold to those under 21 years
due to government order. Also if there is a governmental control on the time of operation of
drinking houses, it will curb the attitude of those who spend all the day drinking.
Control by non-governmental agencies is necessary. Religious movements such as Islam and
some Christian denominations and sects can help control alcohol problems by ensuring and
confirming that their followers are total abstainers from alcohol.
Improvement of Social conditions will make people more happy and responsible.
Consequently they will not be driven into alcohol because of tension, depression or
other related problems.
Control by government health agencies through adverts on the dangers and effects of alcoholism
will be very helpful.
Health Education - The teacher has a role to play in the prevention of alcoholism by teaching
the pupils about the dangers of continued intake of alcohol. Health education is therefore essential
for the prevention and control of alcoholism.

Treatment of alcoholism
The various treatments of alcoholism may be classified as physiological, psychological and
sociological.

Physiological
Many physiological treatments are given as adjunct or addition to psychological method. But
sometimes they are used on their own merit without resort to psychological methods. The
physiological treatments include the following.
Drugs that prevent drinking - a drug called disulfiram can be used to treat alcoholism.
The technique is to administer half a gram of the drug daily to the person for a few days.
Then under careful medical supervision, the person is given a little alcoholic beverage to
drink. The presence of disulfiram in the drinker’s body causes a reaction of hot flushing, nausea,
vomiting, sudden drop in blood pressure pounding of the heart and even a feeling of impending
death. This dramatic show of the dangers of drinking while under disulfiram medication helps to
change the alcoholic.
Aversion - This is a method of creating a conditioned reflex of aversion to alcohol by continually
giving the person an emetic takes an alcoholic beverage. This causes nausea and vomiting
before the alcohol is absorbed. The consequent association of vomiting with drinking
causes aversion (dislike) to the taste, smell, and sometimes even the sight of alcoholic beverages.
Nutrition - This is a theory of disease which holds that alcoholism is caused by a genetically
determined need for extraordinary amounts of one or more vitamins. Consequently, alcoholics can
be treated with massive doses of vitamins.
Hormones - There is yet another theory which holds that alcoholism is caused by some
defect of the endocrine system, especially the adrenal-hypophyseal axis. Consequently
alcoholics can be treated by injections of adrenal steriods and hormones.

Psychological
The psychological factors involved make it necessary for psychiatric treatment which is aimed at
helping the alcoholic find a new way of life. The treatment modalities will include.
Counselling.
Psychotherapy - this is a type of treatment that is aimed at effecting a shift in the
alcoholics emotional state, so that he can function properly at least temporarily
without drinking.

24
Medications such as tranquilizers.
The only psychological technique developed specifically for alcoholism consists of gaining the
patient's recognition and acceptance of his actual condition. But alcoholics often resist this technique
because they hardly accept their condition's as precarious.

Sociological
Sociological treatment is also required and this has to do with the awareness of the social and
environmental elements in alcoholism. This can even lead to the treatment of the whole family
rather than the alcoholic alone. This is in recognition that the "patient1 is not just the alcoholic but
the family unit. For the alcoholic to be properly rehabilitated, it must be a family affair. Thus the
following are some sociological avenues for treating the alcoholics.
In developed countries, there are social organisations that help the alcoholic. They
assist them to achieve a new self-concept, e.g. in the United states there is an
organisation called Alcoholics Anonymous that enables its members to share common
experiences.
In some places, industrial and labour unions also have rehabilitation programmes for
the alcoholics.
Some communities set up centres like mental health unit or centres where sociological
treatment is given. This is in the form of giving emotional support so as to boost the
alcoholic’s sense of functional adequacy.
Rehabilitation
People owe it as a duty to help the recovered alcoholic live happily and comfortably within the
family and community. The alcoholic must be offered sympathy, understanding, acceptance
and encouragement. This will help improve his condition tremendously, because of the feeling of
belonging, which will consequently aid a smooth rehabilitation.

Tobacco and smoking

Tobacco plant belongs to the nightshade family, which also includes the tomato, the Irish potato,
among others from which many important medicines are extracted. It belongs to the genus
NICOTINIANA and is thought to have been named after the French Ambassador to Portugal,
Jean Nicot, who sent tobacco seeds as a gift to his queen, Catherine de Medici, in the sixteenth
century. The origin of tobacco can be traced back to America though it is tropical in origin;
it is cultivated throughout the world.
The values and faults attributed to tobacco have been many and varied. The plant was at first
believed to possess such miraculous healing powers that it was commonly called "herba
santa" "herba panacea" and by Edmund Spenser "divine tobacco".
In 1659 Dr. Everard in London recommended the use of tobacco leaves, extracts, powders,
ointments and lotions to cure an almost endless list of human ills, which included headache,
deafness, toothache, coughs, stomach pain, burns, wombs, worms, and mad-dog bites.

Tobacco
Tobacco as used here refers to dried or cured leaves got from plant (Nicotiana tabacum)
This contains chemicals believed to have medicinal properties. Tobacco is the manufactured
or synthesized products o f Nicatiano tabacum leaves.
Today tobacco is grown extensively in Nigeria. The Nigeria Tobacco company (NTC) is
Charged with the production of various brands of cigarettes in Nigeria. The products manufactured
from tobacco include the following:-
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i. Refined pipe tobacco
ii. Refined and unrefined snuff. Dried tobacco leaves are processed locally with the
addition of other substances and sold locally in our markets.
iii. Cigar
iv. Cigarettes .
Various brands of cigarettes are produced in Nigeria and they go by different names such as:
i. Benson and Hedges
ii. Rothmans
ii. St. Morris
iv. High Society
v. Galleon
vi. Sweet Menthol (S.M.)
vii. Flight
viii. Target

Smoking
Smoking is the inhalation of smoke and other substances through the mouth and nose into the
body. Smoking is habit forming. It is a social problem as it has influenced the rural and urban
settings, the schools and children. Many people smoke because they see others do the same. The
adolescents, whose parents smoke will automatically acquire the smoking habit. It is
common to see people smoke cigarettes, pipe tobacco, cigar and indian hemp.
There are two types of smoking habits in people which is identified here:
People who smoke 'occasionally'. This type of smoker may smoke one stick of cigarette every
week or smoke only when they go to parties.
The "habitual" smokers. These are people who make smoking a part of their lives, they take it as
food and cannot do without it. These smokers can smoke as much as four sticks of cigarette in one
hour.
Tobacco smoke is made up of over 400 chemical compounds, several .of which are agents
of cancer. Common among tobacco smoke constituents are:
1. Nicotine
2. Tars
3. Carbon
4. Carbon monoxide
5. Carbon dioxide

Reasons for smoking among children and youths

:
To seek acceptance
Attempt to imitate adult
To seek satisfaction
To keep hands busy
To defy authority instructions and orders
To act sophisticated
Influence of advertisement on radio, television, daily papers and magazines, e.g.
smoking makes me feel good.
To cover up shyness or timidity.
Reasons for smoking among adults
There are several reasons why adults smoke. The following are some of such reasons.
They feel relaxed when smoking.

26
They smoke because they feel it keep them awake and alert, this may be due to the
effect of nicotine upon the heart.
Some adults say that it gives them appetite for food.
Some believe it makes them important (a sign of "bigmanity")
Some say that they smoke to overcome loneliness. See figure 3:8:1 on reasons why
people smoke.

Problems related to smoking

Smoking causes two major health problems in the society which are both physiological and social
in nature. Smoking generally has some immediate and long term effects on the health of smokers.
This could be either social or physiological problems.
In this discussion, the physiological health problems and social problems will be highlighted. (See
figure 3:8:2 on effect of smoking on organs of the body)
-
Physiological effects of smoking on Health
In general, death rates are much higher among smokers. Young men who smoke over two packs a
day will have their life expectancy reduced by eight years on the average. Cigarette smoking
affects primarily, the respiratory and circulatory system, and 80 percent of deaths caused by
smoking are associated with three diseases:

Lung cancer
Coronary heart disease
Respiratory diseases (chronic bronchities) and pulmonary emphysema).
Lung Cancer:
Lung cancer is one of the health problems caused by cigarette smoking. About 90 percent of all
cases of lung cancer originate in people who smoke cigarettes, cigars, and pipes. The bronchial
tubes, which carry air into the lungs, are protected by millions of tiny hairlike structure called cilia
which work constantly. This cilia guards the delicate tissue of the tube and lungs. Cigarettes smoke
when come in contact with this cilia eventually paralyses the cilia which ceases to function. Since
the delicate tissue of the lungs is no-longer protected, cancer - causing and cancer promoting
substance get in contact with the lungs to cause
cancer.

Cigarettes, cigars, and pipe smoking is also the major cause of the followings
Cancer of lung
Cancer of esophagues and
Oral area (mouth, pharynx and cheek)
Pipe smokers are particularly highly prone to cancer of the lip. Recent research studies have
also linked smoking with cancer of the urinary bladder, the pancreas, and the kidney. Heart and
circulatory system diseases, it is believed that male smokers have 70 percent higher rate of death
from coronary heart disease than non-smokers. Nicotine and carbon monoxide, both present in
cigarette smoke are believed to be the major causative factor of coronary heart disease. Nicotine
increases the requirement of the heart for oxygen while carbon monoxide inhibits the ability of the
blood to supply the oxygen that is needed. These two factors working in opposition exert much
strain on the heart and thereby causing coronary heart disease.
When the heart is also under strain from high blood pressure, it could cause coronary health
problem and smoking can accelerate an already existing coronary condition. Smoking increases
the risk of death from cerebrovascular disease ("stroke") aortic aneurism (an enlargement of the

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wall of the aorta which blocks the flow of blood), and peripheral vascular disease (which affects the
circulation of blood to arms, hands, feet and legs).

Respiratory Diseases
Cigarettes smoking are the major cause of pulmonary emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
"Emphysema1 occurs when the walls of the air cells of the lungs are destroyed and large air sacs
are formed by collections of damaged cells. The lungs lose their elasticity, and exhaling becomes
extremely difficult.
Chronic bronchitis is caused when the mucous membranes of the bronchial tubes become
Inflamed.
Peptic Ulcers
There is a strong link between smoking and peptic ulcers, particularly gastric ulcer. There is a
correlation in existence that among male smokers, the number of peptic ulcer cases is 100 percent
higher for smokers than non smokers. Non-cancerous oral disease.
This is very common among cigarette smokers. Toothlose, inflarnmed gum, jawbone
deterioration and loss, infection of the gum which weakens the support of the teeth and slow
healing after tooth extractions: Finally, smoking reduces the life span of an individual.

Social Effects of Smoking

Smoking could have immediate or long-term effects on the smokers and the society. These effects
could be regarded as social in nature and they include the followings:
Smokers have bad odour from their mouth when they talk or breathe out.
Their clothing usually smells smoke of cigarette wherever they are. This makes non-
smokers keep some distance from them.
There is possibility of fire- accidents because fire from the burning or glowing stick of cigarette
could drop on smoker's cloths or the clothes of anyone close to him or any inflammable
substance like dry leaves or petrol. Bush burning could result.
It makes the eyes red and increases heart beats.
Waste of money by smokers. A lot of money is spent on buying cigarettes daily.
Cigarette butts are nuisance and require human labour to clean them up.
It causes air pollution and inconveniences to other people standing or sitting by.
Non-smokers are forced to inhale the smoke from cigarettes being smoked by another smoker,
thereby exposing him to dangers of ill-health.
There could be instant coughing and irritation of the throat resulting in respiratory problems.
In a gathering of people, "Tobacco apartheid" of non-smokers section is usually evidenced.
Smoking presents bad example to children because they may want to imitate.

Control Measures on Smoking

It is possible to control smoking, and eventually stop it because it is injurious to health and general
appearance. Some steps could be adopted to help reduce smoking habit and eventually stop it.
Such steps include:
i. Decide on certain time to smoke i.e. reduce smoking to one stick a day and
gradually to one stick a week,
ii. Whenever you feel the urge to smoke find something to occupy your time.
iii. Avoid being in the company of smokers and try not to be tempted.
iv. Parents and teachers should show good examples by not smoking in the presence of their
children.

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v. Take regular exercise to work off tension.
vi. The children should be educated on the dangers of smoking.
vii. Put pressure on your smoking friends and relations to stop. However, do not be rude to
smokers; politely and firmly ask him to put the cigarette off.
Every one of us has a duty to perform to stop smokers from smoking further by demonstrating
good behaviour of not smoking.

Suggested ways to help prevent smoking

Although no law forbidding smoking has been passed in Nigeria as in the United State of America
and Great Britain, efforts have been made by the Government to reduce smoking habits
among Nigerians. Some previous efforts made include:
1. No one should smoke in public places such as:
a Market places
b. Offices
c. Along the streets
d. Public vehicles
e Petrol Stations and
f. Prohibiting smoking while driving.
These rules however have not been strictly obeyed. The Government should therefore give the
following suggestions a trial by first stressing the need for school health education to enlighten the
youths on the evils of smoking.
In schools, health education should be a part of the curriculum. The health education programme
should stress the organization of clinics or workshops where pupils will be in attendance. The
effects of smoking should be highlighted and everything should be done to discourage smoking.
There should be a nationwide campaign highlighting the bad effects of smoking. The entire public
should be educated.
Laws should be made to require cigarettes manufacturers to warn the public of the possible risks of
smoking.
Cigarette advertising on radio, television sets etc should be banned.
There should be handbills, posters displayed in all public places and jingles in radio stressing and
warning the public that smoking is injurious to health.
Cigarette packages should carry warning signs (Danger) e.g. smoking is dangerous to your health,
cigarette shortens your life.

Control measures and rehabilitation

There are many reasons why young people find the mind drugs appealing. For this reason, it is
essential for parents and teachers to be aware of some of them, and to know what users of these
drugs claim they get from them before attempting to find measures to control subsequent
use and abuse. Think of some of these claims many young people feel that good options in this
life are not open to them. Drugs then represent a kind of withdrawal from society, which is too
impersonal to them. Many drug users reject middle class values and the society in general. A
majority of marijuana users say that they find it satisfying, relaxing or that the experiences with
it is interesting and illuminating. The appeal of LSD, say various users, is that, it brings a
much more heightened, if not distorted perceptions, one that promises deep insights into the
inner world of feelings and some consciousness that is instant paradise. The appeal of
amphetamines and barbiturates is simpler and more direct, to become stimulated or, to become
calmed down or to swing from extremes by using both kinds of drugs or sometimes to
experience a dream world. While most people who take drug make these and other claims,

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others occasionally say drugs can damage. One young woman said she would have "the
horrors" for several hours after wards, fearful that something evil was going to happen to her. A
young man, 21, said he could not think after taking more than his usual dose of pot and for several
weeks afterwards he had interment hallucinations and anxiety approaching panic. These positions
(satisfaction and discontentment with drugs) are conflicting and a source of worry, not only to
parents but also to the school, society and government. Positive measures are therefore necessary to
combat the even increasing drug
problems of the would be drug users, the already torn youths, the concerned parents as well as the
sick or diseased society. This unit will, therefore, examine the control measures that can be applied
to prevent drug problems and highlight rehabilitation services for drug abusers.

Need for control measures and rehabilitation

The first thing to remember when one considers the effect of drugs is that the already poor image
of this country abroad has further been dented in recent years as a result of the activities of drug
users and peddlers we have among us. For instance, Nigerians travelling abroad are subjected to
very rigorous and shameful checking by custom and security officials since Nigeria has been
regarded as transit camp for drug peddlers. A regular drug user is a threat to himself and to the
society in which he belongs. The reasons for this are not difficult to find.
Chronic drug usage can lead to habituation or psychological dependence, abuse, i.e.
wrong use and addiction. Marijuana, for example has been one drug that is common
in Nigeria since the end of the civil war. Its substance has been linked with acute
psycho-toxic reactions, withdrawal symptoms like anxiety, restlessness, loss of appetite and in
some cases heightened appetite, sleeplessness, sweating and hyper
activity.
The high incidence of armed robbery and other forms of violent crimes since the last
civil war has been traced in great part to the influence of drugs on the youths, prior to
the civil war, armed robbery, if it occurred must, have been extremely rare and not
worthy of note. The influx of these drugs brought the sort of crimes Nigerians had
never witnessed before. Alcoholism is increasing in magnitude in the country. This
disease requires attention.
Daring acts such as assassinations, shameful and naked body displays etc., are more
often the result of drug abuse. Drug usage, especially cannabis and LSD, was
responsible for seventeen percent of young people admitted into Kaduna psychiatric
unit in 1970. A conservative estimate has put the premature deaths roll resulting from
drug usage and drug related problems at over twenty percent of all the deaths that are
occurring in the country.
It is an established truth that the use of drugs by youths has resulted in brain drain.
Many more people who would have been useful to themselves and the society as a
whole have either dropped out of school or out of jobs. Some are even found in the
streets haggard, useless constituting nuisance to the public.
Many drug abusers have suffered physically, social, psychologically, emotionally and
mentally, some of them have psychiatric problems.
They are alienated; lack self respect and self identity may have lost contact with reality. They can
no longer be useful to themselves and the society. For same they need guidance and counseling,
others may need financial assistance, while some still need to be rehabilitated to their families.
From the above it becomes a great task for more efforts to be directed on this group of people to
bring them to their normal conditions or conditions as near to normal as possible.

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What parents can do
Parents are always in close and continuous contact with their children and other youths. They form
the primary agent of socialization. Hence their role in controlling drug use and abuse is a task that
can be achieved through showing their children love, acceptance and security. In offering specific,
constructive advice and tips to parents concerned about drug use and abuse specialists in a variety of
fields-education, psychology, medicine, guidance and counseling, sociology - stress five principal
approaches, namely;
1. Keep cool.
2 Listen to what children or young people are really saying.
Get the facts about drugs, and share them with youngsters.
In discipline, be firm and fair.
Set good parental examples.
Finally, if children are actually becoming dependent on drugs seek outside help. Let us briefly
discuss what parents can do to control drug use and abuse.

Avoid panic and scare techniques

Too many parents have become more disturbed about drugs than they need to be. A few parents
have even had their own children arrested for having used marijuana once or a few times. You
probably is a victim. Some parents are convinced that one experiment with marijuana or another
drug is a sure step into deep trouble. This idea is simply not true, some worried parents are
monitoring or spying on their children. Children will hate their parents if they discover this trick.
Numerous parents are convinced the best way of steering children away from drug is "to scare the
hell out of them." Scare techniques are often detrimental to conveying needed accurate information
about the dangers of drugs. With the present incidence of drug use for example marijuana, many
children and youths have experienced or observed first - hand effect of this drug. The scare
approach tells one side of the story, and youths object to being given bias information, or half -
truths. Avoid threatening them; love them, accept them and discuss issues concerning drugs with
them. Your success with this approach is better.

The importance of listening

Listening to what youths have to say and discussing matters with them, builds strong ties of
understanding and respect between children and parents. Youths have reasons for what they think,
and what they feel, and their reasons are not always wrong. They are frequently valid. Parents must
set standards and control over children but should not be busy setting standards and defining limits
that they never hear what their children are saying. Firm, and well - understood, rules are needed,
but they should be modified through discussion and mutual agreement. We must rear children in an
atmosphere of love-and understanding, talk with them communicate with them, listen to and
encourage them. In the listening and discussing do not focus upon drugs as the big issue with
children and youths. Children and young people are quick to recognize when parents are over-
anxious. If we approach the solution to the problem with single determination to eliminate drugs or
prevent their use by young people we run the risk of adding to our difficulties rather than
minimizing them. Drugs should be viewed as one factor among other social factors or
forms of acting out-of behaviour - disrespect for property, acting on impulse, accident
proneness delinquency, and just not a central problem.

Using full, factual information

The more complete, factual information parents have concerning "mind" drugs, the more
effective they can be in dealing with temptations, problems, and controversies. Children and

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youths also need to know more than one side of the table story since most of the information
has come from enthusiasts favouring drugs. Examples of some of the efforts that schools,
communities, parents, government agencies and organizations are taking or can take to provide
factual knowledge and to dispel myths are prevented later in this unit. Young and older people
need full information particularly because drug users are the very ones who induce or try to
induce others to try the same drugs. People who like alcoholic drinks, and the alcoholics
especially, are far less inclined to push alcohol on friends or acquaintances. With mind-affecting
drugs, the pushers in the beginning at least, are drug users who proselytize others, usually in a
social setting or at a party. They may wish to share what they find attractive in one or another
drug.
Education should start young, we should teach children respect for drugs of all kinds, even aspirin
(which causes deaths by overdose), We should teach them to take drugs only as needed, and to
follow direction when they do. We cannot wait until when children reach an age of decision
about drugs. We must tell them about drugs, facts about all kinds of drugs when they are in their
predecesion, pre-commitment years, when children listen. We should not only tell them that if
they take drugs they get into trouble, we should also let them find out the truth. Let them read
about it. They are going to make decisions. We should give our children good informed,
intelligent information. We should always stress the positive; remind them of the penalties
under law. Also, remind them that anything drugs can do for them, they can achieve in other
ways. Parents should respond with factual information if they suspect or know their children,
or friends are using or being tempted to use dangerous drugs.

Firm and fair discipline

We have dealt with children for sometimes now. We know that a child like everyone else is
individualistic. Some respond to a strong approach, but generally, they all want to be treated as
human beings. Some parents really fear their children will run away if they impose strict
standards and discipline. Others advocate strict discipline and no arguments. Youths want
authority, and not tyranny. Parents should be concerned about their children and set
standards, you should say 'No' clearly, firmly and with the assurance about reasons for saying
"No" Children want parents to be fair and hear from them before pronouncing judgments. No
harm is done by being a friend as well as a parent. Many children want to have a father who is
strict and fair. The following are some tips for firm but fair discipline:

Respect the confidence of youths, and respect their right to some privacy, as In keeping diaries
and in their conversation with their peers. Invasion of basic rights of rivacy as a human being can
be tyrannical.
Be careful of giving parental blessing without consideration.
Give young children general support for doing good things, not only insist that they should not
take drugs.
If, whatever the discipline or family relationships, parents sense that they are drifting away from
their children, and they want to change, make it slow rather than a sudden change. Do it
gradually, but do it.
The more policing, harassing parents are to their children, the more stringent the laws become for
possession for drugs; the more the society brand children criminals, the more likely they are
to be felons and lose the right of citizens, the more unlikely is any family reconciliation or
understanding.

Parents should set examples

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We teach peace, and practice war, take alcohol and say 'No' to any experimentation by children, or
fail to give cogent reasons for youths to shun it. This seems unreasonable to many young people.
The young tend to copy the ideas, values, beliefs and prejudice of parents. If parents have and
can stimulate constructive interests, their children may follow the example. Give children a
healthy pattern to follow, and start early. If when and if it ever comes to a real debate over whether
a child has a right to do some things, it is usually too late. Those of us who are critical of children's
drug abuse must demonstrate to our children that there are better and more lasting ways to
experience the fullness, the depth, the variety and the richness of life than that of ingesting
psychoactive chemicals-drugs. Observe the following principles:-
Listen to them.
Be consistent.
Trust them.
Give them facts.
Exhibit standards of tastes and behaviour which you would like them to emulate, do not demand
agreement before them.
Maintain friendliness and firm discipline.
Set limits and enforce them.
Avoid setting group against group. Say what is right and not who is right
Train them for independence in every possible way.
Remember your own feelings during adolescence.

Control measures by the school

The role of the school in controlling drug use and abuse is paramount and fundamental. This is so
because the school forms the secondary socializing agent for children and youths. But
unfortunately, drug education if practised, has failed to reduce the number of cases of drug abuse.
The reason why drug education has failed may be due in part to the fact that the programme is
poorly planned or that the approaches are faulty or that the teachers do not really know the
factual or scientific knowledge about drugs. The programme focuses on complete abstinence
as opposed to drawing a distinction between sensible, constructive and excessive use of drugs.
Virtually everyone is a drug user and a drug prescribed by physician can be abused from
the counter or illegally. Children and youths should be informed of the difference between
controlled use of alcohol and dangerous drinking pattern, for example, instead of telling them that
consumption is bad. Children and youths must be exposed to the knowledge of drugs. The school
should consider the following points in an attempt to control the use of drugs, and control drug
abuse.
1 Youths need accurate, factual, unprejudiced information, and when given such
information honestly and directly, they respond sensibly. They should be exposed to programmes
of drug education, programme that begin in the primary school through secondary school and
college, and are aimed as well at the problem of drug use and abuse among parents of youths.
The school must be well aware of how much, and what kind of information shall be
transmitted, how long it will be transmitted, at what age levels, and perhaps most important, by
whom.
The effectiveness of any drug education programme is equally important. To be
effective, a preventive educational effort must be carefully tailored to specific
population groups, and must be based on the best education and scientific footing.
Students need authoritative information, and they should know where it comes from.
Pupils and youths must be encouraged to accept, imbibe good standards by the school
including teachers setting examples. Youths find it disgusting when teachers who

33
preach against taking drug or alcohol for instance, take it themselves, sometimes
excessively that they would even smell alcohol in class. This also calls for the need
for teachers to be firm and fair in their disciplinary approach to children. Give
children every information they need about drug, them encourage them to take
independent but positive decision on the issue of drug. Educational efforts aimed at
increasing knowledge, changing attitudes and behaviours does not only end with the
school but extends beyond it . Later in the unit, more educational efforts will be
discussed.
Drug education has to focus on the need of the abusers. It is known that the use of
drug or abuse may occur as a result of peer pressure, disenchantment with society or
just for the fun of it. Psychosocial reasons abound for taking drugs. Children’s'
background is another consideration. These must be taken into consideration, that is,
references must be made to the importance of individual feelings to self specifically
self esteem, self respect and self identity, when discussing drug education in school.
Apart from drug education, children need guidance and counseling service and
techniques such that will help to meet the needs such as obtaining employment,
continuing an educational programme or establishing a hope. In addition, there
should be a good emotional atmosphere, healthy school environment and achievable
educational tasks with which they can cope.

Other Aproaches Of Controlling Drug Use And Abuse

International approach to control

The World Health Organization (W.H.O) has declared that one or two main conditions must exist
before a drug can be considered in need of control.
The drug is known to be abused and the effect extends beyond the user, besides which the means
of spreading its use involve communication between illicit dealers and potential users, that is,
involving initiating others.
A drug that is to be used for medical purposes known to have psychic or physical
dependence properties. Most of the drugs (e.g. opium, heroin, hallucinogens, marijuana,
amphitamines and so on) fits into one or both categories.
Drug abuse has far reaching consequences beyond the individual. Hence, the control must take
each of these consequences into consideration, that is, the physiological, social and psychological.
International control measure should therefore aim at:
 limiting legal narcotics to medical uses
 controlling crops of narcotizing plant
 licensing legal producers and accounting for what they manufacture
 tracking down illegal producers and peddlers. But unfortunately international control
measures are not always successful because of illegal manufacture and distribution.

National approach
One approach which is in common use today is the law. Under the federal law, possession of
marijuana for personal use is a felony. Conviction means a few years in jail of not more than ten.
Today in this country peddlers of hard drugs are meant to face firing squad if found guilty. Are
these restrictions really working or are they yielding positive result is an important question. What
actually happens is your guess too. Rather than depend too much on these laws, much parental
efforts should be directed at the young innocent youths and the abusers. The alternative approach,
therefore, is that all tiers of government, national, state and local governments should organize

34
seminars, workshops and discussions for every person or group of persons, including teachers,
parents, opinion leaders on drug, its use and dangers. The solution to drug problems should be
everybody affair. Specifically, ways of enhancing correct knowledge, desirable attitudes and
behaviour would be through one or a combination of the following;
Involvement of children, youths, parents and teachers in group seminars or
discussions highlighting trends, social, psychological and physical effects of the
substance of drug. Showing of films, radio and television broadcasts on the outcome of drug intake
and trafficking. Organizing talks and counseling by resource persons.
Discussion of the problems of drug in churches, mosques, parents teachers meetings
and other school - community - government organization. The most prominent national agency for
drug control in Nigeria is National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC)

Synergy between agencies

Laws forbidding the use of certain brand of drugs, cigarettes, alcohol that has been enacted should
be enforced by concerned agencies in a synergetic manner. The Federal Road Safety corps has
announced prohibition of sale of alcohol in and around motor parks which is a welcome
development, in addition, educational enlightenment on road use and drug use is to be carried out by
members of the commission with other health agencies for drivers and other road users.

Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation as used here means making it possible for persons handicapped by disease or injury
or drug to lead a fairly normal life. It means the restoration of health by training. Many drug
abusers are behaviorally abnormal, really different from what they used to be. They have
physical and psychosocial problems. Sometime they lose contact with realities of life. Whatever
the problems of the drug abusers are, they require help, at least to bring them back to a condition as
near as possible to normal. They need rehabilitation services. The services will depend on the
following factors.
Age of the individual.
The nature and extent of the handicap.
The reaction of the handicapped person to the difficulties that he faces. In dealing
with the problems of drug abusers, the alcoholics, the narcotics, neurotics, the
psychopaths, the smoker, it is important to regard each person's problem as individual and
personal. Great determination and singleness of purpose is usually essential for success. The
rehabilitation of drug abusers should be community or family based. This means that services
which are to be provided must be available or located in the community or family which the
individual comes from. Some of the rehabilitation programme are discussed below:.
1. Psychiatric Services Treatment:
When the individual is diseased or sick as a result of drug misuse, or abuse treatment is
necessary. Usually such treatment is given by medical and paramedical personnel’s. The
health facility for such treatment should be located in the community. It could be a
community hospital or a health centre or primary health institution. This will put him
back to his former health.
2. Vocational counseling.
This involves the study of each patients work and educational history. Depending on his
handicap, the person is then retrained for his former job or is educated and retrained
for a new type of work. Psychologist help the patient adjust to his handicap by listening to
their problems and offering suggestions for them to make decisions useful to
themselves.

35
Support: Social workers with the help of health workers assess and advise the handicapped
at home. They are registered. Support such as financial assistance and meals are useful
rehabilitation.

Employment: After treating a drug abuser from his ailment and brought back to a fairly
normal condition, there is no reason why he should not be asked to go back to his place of work. If
there was no employment at all, training is necessary, so that he can now be gainfully
employed. When he is employed, he will be useful to himself and the society he belongs. Self
identify, self-image and self esteem are restored.

Provision of recreational facilities and equipment: Recreational facilities and

equipment must be provided for drug patients who have recovered so that they can use their
energies and leisure time in rewarding activities. Such recreational activities as swimming,
games, and athletics should be provided in community recreational centres.

Improvement of the conditions of the neighbourhood: Many slums exist in urban centres with
people living in dirty surroundings, in dilapidated buildings.
The inhabitants are usually poor. Facilities for social and recreational activities are usually lacking.
Some of the inhabitants are compelled to take to drugs which usually result in many
psychosocial problems. Drug taking to them is a sign of dissatisfaction with the prevailing
conditions or the status quo. In order to prevent them from using or abusing drugs, the
conditions of the environment must be improved. Slums and all the rural areas should have
such basic facilities as electricity, water, health facility -in order to make life for the
inhabitants worth living.

Above all it is the will power that causes the moderation, stoppage of the use and/or the
misuse of drugs.

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