SUBSTANCE ABUSE EXPLAINED

Any abused substance produce some form of intoxication that alters –

·         Judgment

·         Perception

·          Attention or

·         Physical control.

Many substances may bring on withdrawal- an effect caused by cessation or reduction in the amount of the substance used. Withdrawal can range from mild anxiety to seizures and hallucinations.

Drug overuse may cause death.

Tolerance- increasingly larger amount of the drug is required to produce the same level of intoxication.

TOBACCO

According to WHO, tobacco use is one of the biggest public health threats the world has ever faced.

Reasons for using tobacco: a. pleasure

      b. improved performance

      c. vigilance

     d. relief of depression

      e. curbing hunger

      f. weight control

The addicting substance in cigarettes is nicotine:

It changes how the brain and body function.

It can both invigorate and relax a smoker, depending on how much and how often they smoke.

It causes a rapid release of adrenaline which causes:  

·         rapid heartbeat

·         increased blood pressure

·         rapid and shallow breathing

v  Adrenaline causes the release of glucose in blood and nicotine blocks the release of insulin therefore making people hyperglycemic (having more sugar than usual in their blood). Therefore, people eat less (they think it curbs their appetite)

v  Nicotine increases the basal metabolic rate slightly (therefore weight lose takes place but it is not as healthy as exercising)

v  Overtime nicotine can increase the level of LDL cholesterol that damages the arteries and causes a heart attack or stroke.

Cigarette smoke- contains thousands of other chemicals that also damage health.

Health hazards- heart disease, lung cancer and emphysema, peptide ulcer and stroke.

Withdrawal symptoms of smoking-

·         anxiety

·         hunger

·         sleep deprivation

·         depression