Drug Abuse Articles: Drug Abuse and Alcoholism

The words medication and drugs are generally used interchangeably. Medication is a substance administered for the diagnosis, cure, treatment, mitigation (relief), or prevention of disease. The term drug also has the connotation of an illicitly obtained substance such as heroin, cocaine or amphetamines.

When there is chronic, repeated use, without medical supervision, of non-medical drugs and alcohol in quantities large enough to cause uncontrollable behavioural changes with a resulting dependency on these substances, there exist drug abuse and alcoholism respectively. We live in a drug oriented society, and there is a drug to meet everyone’s needs such as tranquilizers, barbiturates, or amphetamines. Under supervision by a competent physician, this have beneficial effects. Unfortunately, it is a relatively simple matter for an individual to obtain these drugs illicitly and he may use them as his passport to UTOPIA. The indiscriminate use of drugs to shut out life’s problems is not peculiar to any one segment of the population. People in all socioeconomic levels, age groups, and educational levels are seeking the same answer. Unfortunately drug abuse only adds many huge problems later.

Drug dependency is a mental problem on the abuser’s part, and a sure for of disorder. It is a sign of impairment of functioning and the individual is usually considered to be deviating from the normal and is considered as psychoneurotic. There is a state of consciousness alteration and a defect on personality.

Classification of mental disorders

A. Psychoses
a. Senile and presenile dementia
b. Alcoholic psychosis
c. Psychosis associated with intracranial infections
d. Psychosis associated with other cerebral conditions
e. Psychosis associated with other physical conditions

B. Psychoses not associated with physical conditions
a. Major affective disorders
b. Schizophrenia
c. Paranoid states
d. Other psychosis

C. Neuroses

D. Personality disorders and certain other non psychotic mental disorders
a. Personality disorders
b. Sexual deviations
c. Alcoholism
d. Drug dependence

E. Psychophysiologic disorders
F. Special symptoms
G. Transient situational disturbances
H. Behavioural disorders of childhood and adolescence
I. Mental retardation
J. Conditions without manifest psychiatric disorders and nonspecific condition
1. social maladjustment without manifest psychiatric disorder
2. Nonspecific conditions

Pathology, symptoms, therapies and approaches for the major diagnostic entities in psychiatry

Psychoses
A. Acute brain syndrome- symptoms from which patient usually recovers since the situation is often reversible and temporary in nature

Pathology
a. Infection

1. Intraxcranial or nervous system; e.g., enxcephalitis or meningitis

2..Systemic or toxic e.g., Pneumonia or typhoid

b. Trauma to the head

c. Circulatory disturbances resulting in impairment of blood flow to

the brain

d. Metabolic disorders- electrolyte imbalance; e.g., dehydration,

diarrhea, vomiting

e. Drug intoxication or poisoning

f. Alcoholic intoxication

Symptoms
a. Delirium and its accompanying confusion, hallucinations and

delusions

b. Disorientation and confusion as to time, place, identity

c. Memory defects for both recent and remote facts

d. Slurring of speech may occur along with an indistinct pronoun-

ciation or use of words

e. Tremors, incoordination, imbalance, and incontenence may

develop

Therapy
a. Reduce causative agent such as fever, toxins, drugs or alco-
hol
b. Prevent further damage
c. Provide diet high in calories, protein and vitamins
d. Provide mild sedative if necessary

Nursing intervention
a. Provide quite environment, reduce stimuli
b. Provide assurance to patient and family
c. Since liability of mood is common, plan care so that the staff approaches these patients when they appear receptive
d. Ensure adequate intake and output
e. Observe for changing physiologic and neurologic symptoms

Delaney Admits to Theft, Drug Possession

Filed under: drug abuse articles

David Delaney, 37, of Yorkville, pleaded guilty Wednesday to theft and possession of a controlled substance, both Class 4 felonies typically punishable with probation or up to 3 years in prison, court records show. … arrested Delaney in May 2011 on …
Read more on Patch.com

The Partnership at Drugfree.org Comments on National Survey on Drug Use and …

Filed under: drug abuse articles

24, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Mixed news from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) released today by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), found that prescription drug abuse among young adults has …
Read more on Sacramento Bee

From Twitter:

RT @policeofficer: RT @policeofficer: Seacoast police to host drug take-back day to prevent abuse #HiTechCJ http://t.co/Buy6dq9d – by Crime_Tweeters (Crime_Tweeters)

From Twitter:

Seacoast police to host drug take-back day to prevent abuse #HiTechCJ http://t.co/Buy6dq9d – by policeofficer (Raymond E. Foster)

From Twitter:

RT @SeacoastTweets: RT @SeacoastTweets: Seacoast police to host drug take-back day to prevent abuse: PORTSMOUTH — Police departments across the Seacoast… … – by NHinfo (Dave)