Know More about Drug Abuse this United Nations International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

You must have heard about the word addiction.
According to its etymology , the root of the word addict comes from the Latin word addictus which means “to devote, sacrifice, sell out, betray or abandon.”

Tess Callahan , a recovered drug addict defined addiction as ,
“ Addiction is just a way of trying to get at something else. Something bigger. Call it transcendence if you want, but it’s a rat in a maze. We all want the same thing. We all have this hole. The thing you want offers relief, but it’s a trap.”

Addiction is a trap , a disorder. One can refer to addiction as , Substance use disorder (SUD) .
Drugs , alcohol , smoking and many others are some common types of addiction .

It’s nerve racking to think something so pernicious is something so common for the world we live in .


What is a drug addiction ?

WHO defines drug addiction as _”, a state of periodic or chronic intoxication detrimental to the individual and to society produced by the repeated consumption of drugs , natural or synthetic …”

Drug abuse , drug addiction ,drug trafficking have been the tragedies of the 20tj century and have been passed on with no less vigour to the 21st century .


International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking

26th June ,has been celebrated as the United Nation International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking since 1989 .

The International conference in Vienna during 17-26 June ,1987 on Drug abuse and Illicit Trafficking, two important texts , Comprehensive Multidisciplinary Outline of Future Activities in Drug Abuse Control & Declaration of the International Conference on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking were adopted and 26th June was declared as United Nation International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in 1989.

Every year , The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) releases a World Drug Report . The report provides data and facts about the intensity of drug problems around the world. The data is completely key statistics and factual data obtained through official sources. UNODC also provides practical solutions to get to grips with these problems and abiding to be committed to attaining a vision of good health .

The World Drug Report provides a global overview of the supply and demand of drugs (such as opiates, cocaine, cannabis, amphetamine-type stimulants and new psychoactive substances ) , as well as their evil effects on health .


World Drug Report — 2021 , focuses not only on drug addiction potential effects but also on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, assisting Member States in addressing challenges that may arise in the near future.

The 2021 report , consisting of five separate booklets, providing an in-depth analysis of the global drug markets and giving a comprehensive picture of the measurable effects and potential impact of the COVID-19 crisis on the world drug problem. Covid -19 has already made the heedless public aware about the importance of health on a global level.

World Drug Day is a day to spread awareness , put the kibosh on use of drugs , to research and share life saving facts , help people recover , to do their part by taking a firm stance against misinformation , while being staunch supporter against drug abuse and illicit trafficking and sharing only the real help facts on drugs and save lives.



Theme 2021 :-

This year, the theme of International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is ‘Share Facts On Drugs, Save Lives”

Information sharing makes a profound impact on individuals’ lives. It ensures that an individual receives the right information at the right time. . Facts about health risks posed by drug abuse and solutions to tackle the problem will help us move towards a society free of drug abuse.It’s like an imperative guard which promotes welfare .

The theme of the 2021 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking aims at restraining misinformation and promoting sharing real facts on drugs and their evil effects on health and solutions to tackle the world drug problem.


Causes of Addiction :-

Dr Lawrence Kolb, the first medical director of the Public Health Service Narcotic Hospital in Lexington shared THE PSYCHOLOGY OF ADDICTION according to him
” addicts are thrill seekers; they are modest people who use drugs to overcome feelings of inferiority. Drugs allowed them to feel “grandiose” in life. They use their DRUG to escape their problems and feel like they can deal with any problem that they are subjected to. Each drug seeking episode is another opportunity to outsmart anyone, feel the thrill of the hunt and come back alive to feel the ‘high’ again.”

According to his research , for an individual to become an addict, factors like, biological, social, cultural and environmental factors have a big contribution.
“Peer pressure” is a common cause for any addict to begin their journey of addiction.

According to Ram Ahuja , a known sociologist , causes of drug abuse can be classified as follows :-
• Psychological Causes
• Physiological Causes.
• Social Causes
• Miscellaneous Causes.


Some special causes include :-

• Using drugs for ” kicks “or “thrill “.
• Peer Group Influence .
• Feeling of Alienation and lack of motivation
• To Escape from the Pressure and Conflicts of Life .


Recovery from drug addiction :-

James Lee Curtis on addiction recovery said ,
“Recovery is an acceptance that your life is in shambles, and you have to change it.”

An addiction to drugs isn’t a character flaw or a sign of weakness, but it’s a trap like Johann Hari said , ” Addiction is an adaptation. It’s not you–it’s the cage you live in.”

To recover from drug addiction takes much more willpower than it actually seems. Abusing illegal drugs can create changes in the brain, causing powerful cravings and a compulsion to use it over and over again and being sober feels like an untouchable goal .

But ,
” If you chased your recovery like you chased your high, you would never relapse again.”
– By Unknown with words of encouragement for those in drug addiction recovery

No matter how hopeless the situation seems or how many times any individual fails . With the right treatment and support, change is always possible.


Control of Drug Abuse :-


There are many ways to control drug addiction :-

Educational Approach :-

As 2021 , theme of UN international Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is
” ‘Share Facts On Drugs, Save Lives”,
It’s important to have education about the evil effects of drug consumption .

Cannabis, heroin, opium , marijuana, morphine , cocaine , codeine and many such drugs are recorded to be the most commonly used . There has also been evidence of an increasing prevalence of methamphetamine as well.
There are different types of drugs which are consumed and get addicted by the public with zero awareness about its harmful effects .
Methamphetamine Addiction, Cannabis Addiction, alcoholism etc are different types of addiction.
It is important to have information from credible sources and restrain others from spreading misinformation.


Behaviour therapy :–

Therapy and counseling may be done with an individual, a family or a group can be as helpful as medical treatment .
Therapists suggest strategies to individuals to cope with drug craving , help in medication during relapse , can suggest alternative activities which help in preventing drug abuse etc.

There are basic three types of behavioural therapy :-

1: Cognitive-behavioral therapy, which seeks to help patients to recognize, avoid and cope with situations in which they are most likely to relapse
.
2: Multidimensional family therapy, which is designed to support the recovery of the patient by improving family functioning.

3:Motivational interviewing, which is designed to increase patient motivation to change behavior and enter treatment.


Community Approach ( Institutions & Self Help groups ) :-

Many communities , such as Narcotics Anonymous, Alcoholics Anonymous help people with their addiction .A 12-step recovery support group, like Narcotics Anonymous (NA), is one the best help for an addict.

The community supports a vision that addiction is a chronic disorder with a danger of relapse.

Institution like , NIDA,
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) is one of the institutes under the National Institutes of Health , and is responsible for funding more research on drug abuse and addiction than any other agency in the world. Many NIDA-funded studies focus on achieving a deep and essential understanding of substance abuse of drugs .
NIDA seeks to educate the public and keep them updated on their new findings and how these findings may indicate the need for changes in legislation, medical care, or prevention efforts.


Treatment Centers :-

Treatment centres offer help for people who have an addiction problem. A rehabilitation centre would offer individual, group or family therapy sessions. Such centers focus on understanding the nature of addiction, finding solutions and helping individuals to be drug-free and preventing relapse.

Such treatment center perform “Detoxification”

The goal of detoxification, also called “detox” or withdrawal therapy, is to enable you to stop taking the addicting drug as quickly and safely as possible .

These treatment centers provide medication like methadone and buprenorphine that can be used to treat addiction to prescription opiates, and behavioral therapies can be used to treat addiction to prescription stimulants, benzodiazepines, and other drugs.

Self -help :-

Overcoming an addiction and staying drug-free require a persistent effort.
But as Vince Lombard said ,
” Once you learn to quit, it becomes a habit.”

Committing to sobriety is a big one step towards controlling addiction
. Recovery requires time, motivation, and support, but by making a commitment to change, you can overcome your addiction and regain control of your life.




Kurt Cobain on the futility of substance abuse ( drug abuse ) says ,

“Drugs are a waste of time. They destroy your memory and your self-respect and everything that goes along with your self-esteem.”

Every year on 26th June , one can help others to regain their self esteem and overcome addiction which seems impossible.

Many people struggle with addiction, the first step toward recovery is the toughest .


” One of the hardest things was learning that I was worth recovery.” – Demi Lovato.
One can help addicts restructure their life and replace destructive habits and behaviour with healthy ones ,let them know their worth and help them lead a positive and healthy life.

So share facts about drugs and save lives .