What is alcohol and drug abuse?

Harmful use of alcohol or drugs is a situation where they are used in such a pattern that causes health problems and addiction, and negative impacts on personal and social life.

What is the relationship between alcohol and drugs?

Alcohol and drugs when used together can magnify each other's impact and increase the potential for great risks to health and addiction.

What do you mean by drug abuse?

Drug abuse may be defined as the misuse of either legal or illegal drugs in which a substance is used in quantities other than those prescribed to achieve purposes other than what it was recommended.

What are the warning signs of alcohol or drug abuse in teenagers?

Warning signs include poor academic performance, friends change, criminal behavior, strained family relationships, red eyes, continuous coughing, and changes in eating or sleeping pattern.

How does drug tolerance lead to dependency?

The body becomes tolerant of frequent drug-taking. Larger amounts are required to elicit similar effects. This would lead to a cycle of increasing usage up to physical and psychological dependency.

Alcohol and Drug Abuse - Symptoms & Treatment

Edited By Irshad Anwar | Updated on Sep 30, 2024 06:26 PM IST

Alcohol and drug abuse is a problem of severity to individuals, families, and communities. These drugs usually interfere with the functioning of the brain and the biological systems, thereby causing immense harm to health. Abuse of alcohol naturally refers to excessive drinking, whereas abuse of drugs is defined as a misuse of either legal or illegal drugs. In the context of competitive exams such as NEET, AIIMS, and Nursing or paramedical entrance exams, the substance abuse causes, effects, and prevention would be of great interest to the students. This topic is included in the biology class 12 chapter on human health and disease from the CBSE.

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This Story also Contains

What Are Drugs And What Is Drug Abuse?
Tips, Tricks And Strategies To Prepare Alcohol Drug Abuse Prevention Control
Weightage Of Topic Alcohol Drug Abuse Prevention Control In Exams
Types of Questions Asked On Alcohol Drug Abuse Prevention Control In Exams
Recommended Video On Alcohol Drug Abuse Prevention Control

Also Read:

What Are Drugs And What Is Drug Abuse?

Most of the drugs are plant-derived, such as opioids, coca alkaloids, and cannabinoids.
Synthetic drugs include barbiturates, amphetamines, and benzodiazepines.
Drugs affect the central nervous system; they change the functioning of the body and cause multiple damages.
They alter the feeling of the body due to distorted signals. This causes hallucinations and distorted perceptions.
During the influence of drugs, people go for unusual activities.

Causes Of Alcohol And Drug Abuse

There are multiple reasons why people turn to alcohol and drugs, including:

Cause	Explanation
Peer Pressure	Social circles can influence behaviour, especially among teenagers.
Stress and Anxiety	Many people misuse substances to cope with emotional or psychological stress.
Genetic Predisposition	Studies have shown that genetic factors may make some individuals more vulnerable.
Availability	Easy access to alcohol and drugs increases the likelihood of abuse.
Curiosity and Experimentation	Especially common in adolescents, driven by the need to explore and experiment.

Negative Effects Of Drug And Alcohol Abuse

Rapid heart rate
Slow movement of the body
Throat dryness
Rapid breathing or slow breathing
Impaired senses (smell, sight, hearing, touch)
Substance abuse results in devastating impacts on the physical, physiological, and mental states
No safe dosage for drug intake; long-term use creates tolerance and dependence
During adolescence, young people often initiate drug or alcohol use to relieve anxiety or depression or to gain popularity in their social interactions.
Gateway drugs such as tobacco and alcohol serve as a gateway to dangerous use of drugs like marijuana, cocaine, and heroin
Young people are risky because they are curious, take considerable risks, and are influenced by their friends.
Substance abuse family history enhances the possibility of progression from experimentation to dependency.

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Early Teenager Drug Or Alcohol Misuse Indicators:

Poor academic performances
Friendship change
Criminal behaviour
Family relationship: strained
Body signs: red eyes, frequent coughing, and changes in eating or sleeping pattern
Dependency signs: blacks outs, withdrawal signs, loss of functioning in family, school, or work.

Prevention of Alcohol and Drug Abuse

Prevention strategies are highly important in combating this ever-increasing problem of substance misuse. Holistic prevention includes all the education, support systems, and healthcare interventions.

Strategy	Description
Education and Awareness	Schools and communities should be educated about the dangers of alcohol and drugs.
Parental Involvement	Parents play a crucial role in preventing substance use through communication.
Mental Health Support	Offering counselling and support for stress and anxiety reduces the risk of abuse.
Law Enforcement and Policies	Strict regulations on the sale and distribution of alcohol and drugs are necessary.
Peer Support and Counseling Programs	Rehabilitation centres and counselling help users recover and prevent relapses.

Tips, Tricks And Strategies To Prepare Alcohol Drug Abuse Prevention Control

Visual Aids: Utilize diagrams to obtain an impact of substances on brain functioning, neuron communication, and body systems.
Mnemonics: The kinds of drugs can be recalled with the use of a mnemonic like "CD-HS" or Cannabis, Depressants, Hallucinogens, Stimulants
Real-Life Examples: Case studies help in relating academic knowledge regarding alcohol and drug abuse to real-life situations.
Flashcards: Flashcards are utilized for remembering causes, effects, and prevention strategies for alcohol and drug abuse.

Weightage Of Topic Alcohol Drug Abuse Prevention Control In Exams

Given below is the weightage of the topic Alcohol drug abuse prevention control in exams:

Exam	Weightage on Alcohol and Drug Abuse
CBSE Board Exams	3-5%
NEET	2-3%
Nursing Entrance Exams	2-4%
Paramedical Exams	3-5%

Types of Questions Asked On Alcohol Drug Abuse Prevention Control In Exams

The table given below indicates the types of questions related to the topic of alcohol drug abuse prevention control asked in various exams:

Exam Type	Type of Questions
CBSE Board Exams	Short answer questions on causes and prevention of alcohol and drug abuse
NEET	MCQs on the biological effects and prevention strategies
Nursing Entrance Exams	True/False or scenario-based questions on counselling for substance abusers
Paramedical Entrance Exams	Case studies on the management of substance abuse

Conclusion

In summary, alcohol and substance abuse is a major problem in our society, yet it is often overlooked. Many people can relate to this and the solution is for us to join hands and work together as a team. countries that do not abuse drugs are more productive and healthier.

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