Drug Addiction
What is drug addiction?
Drug addiction - is serious chronic, psycho-somatic disease occurring as a result of short-term use of narcotics and manifesting in irresistible thirst for their repeated use.
About narcotics and their pernicious influence on human being.
Narcotics, in relation to human organism, play the role of toxic, chemical compounds: under their influence irreversible physiological disorders occur, almost in all organs and systems of organism – from cerebral tissues up to osseous system that affect in negative way health and duration of life; under influence of narcotics, - and that is the most important – formation of physical and psychical addiction takes place.
Physical addiction.
Physical addiction from narcotics occurs as a result of negative changes in neuro-mediator system of organism and is revealed in the form of abstinence syndrome (“withdrawal pains”). Withdrawal pains can last several days manifested through splitting psycho-physical states.
Signs of abstinence syndrome:
• Strong pains in different parts of the body, especially in muscles and joints of the legs, spine;
• Rhinitis;
• epiphora
• diarrhea;
• nausea;
• shivering
• general discomfort;
• anxiety.
Dominating incentive
Such poignant state may last several days provoking search of next dose of “drug” (narcotic). If narcotics do not arrive in the organism of addict person, than painful physical manifestations gradually quieten down but only in the event if there are no somatic diseases which symptoms are perceptible without “knocking” by narcotics. Nevertheless, physical addiction is not the most important problem for treatment of addict person.
Psycho-emotional addiction is principal danger and trouble in overcoming of addiction. It is formed from specific stimulation of encephalon supporting satisfaction feeling so called “centers of pleasure”.
Normal balanced state of pleasure centers suppose adequate reaction on external stimulus without chemical (drug and alcohol stimulation) allowing a man to rejoice, take pleasure from life, to hold up through his troubles. In case of narcotics effect, these structures of encephalon become overexcited allowing drug addict to experience incomparable feelings, which keenness excel even orgasm, that leads gradually to exhaustion of these structures and makes, in order to get desired effect, to increase the dose and intervals of narcotics intake.
Absence of chemical stimulation leads to apathy feeling, deep depression, it is perceived as tragedy , it can be demonstrated in the desire to live, alternating of attacks of irritation, agitation and aggression are observed as well as anorexia and reducing of physical tonus. In such state the life seems to be hopeless and in order to withdraw from this state, drug addict person is ready for everything for the sake of dose in which he sees his only salvation.
However, none system of human organism can work endlessly in the mode of constant stimulation. Period of exhaustion is inevitable. Sensitivity of pleasure centers lowers in such way that even with their stimulation by bi doses of narcotics, expected effect does not occur, and only discomfort state of such condition smoothes. By that time, the deformation of value system, life priorities, moral and ethic norms has taken place. Positive reactions on once beloved things, hobbies are lost, social connections and professional skills are also lost. Physical destruction and psycho-emotional degradation take place. Once beautiful, healthy man transforms in castaway wreck within short period of time. This is narcomania!
First signs of narcotics intake and signs of beginning of drug addiction
To note in proper time the beginning of drug addiction means to start opportune treatment and to prevent more probably the disease.
Unfortunately, majority of relatives and nearest persons of the person who began to take narcotics note it too late. More often, the reason of that fact is not so much carelessness as ignorance of symptoms of arising disease. Taking it into account, we report main signs of beginning of narcotics intake that do not require special methods of diagnostics:
• periodic goings out for a long time, having obligatory character;
• change of behavior in case of forced staying to the view of relatives showing through fussiness and irritability;
• change of attitude towards once interesting matters (computer, TV programs, reading etc.);
• inadequacy of behavior if there are no signs of alcohol and drug intoxication;
• periodic loss of money or things from home;
• appearance of previous unusual falsity, reservedness;
• appearance at home of medicines not used by anybody, syringes, chemical substances;
• narrow pupil or desire to hide the eyes behind dark glasses, appearance at home of eye drops not prescribed by the doctor;
• unmotivated change of communication sphere, concealed telephone calls and talks;
• abrupt increase of pocket money expenses;
• Instability of mood, irritability, hot temper, fussiness that precede going out;
• Traces of injections impossible to be concealed, complications after injections in the form of bruises, aphtae, abscesses;
• Reticence, contraction of interests;
• disposition to sweating, epiphora, diarrhea, anorexia, bad mood sleep disorders in cases it is impossible to go out.
Presence of one or more listed signs do not evidence obligatory the beginning of drug addiction, but it should alert (!) you and you should mean possible presence of such problem. However, marked changes of state and behavior may evidence with big probability psychical and psychical addiction and necessity of medical aid.
(Extract from the book of A. Danilin and I. Danilina «How save children from narcotics» Ì., 2001)