Drugs;  us, misuse and drug abuse

What is a drug?

A drug is any natural or artificial chemical that causes changes in the body or the mind or both when taken into the body.

On the other hand, medicines are drugs that are used to treat or prevent illness.

What is the relationship between drugs and medicines?

All medicines are drugs but not all drugs ire medicines.

Essential medicines

Essential medicines are those that satisfy the priority health care needs of the population.

Example of essential medicine on Uganda drug list are

Antimalarial such coetum, quinine

Pain killers such as panadol

Antibiotic such as ampicillin, septrin

Characteristics of essential drugs

• They are effective against diseases
• They readily available
• They are cheap

Proper use of medicine

When taking medicine one should:

1. Take medicine only according to a doctor’s instructions (in the right amount or dose).
2. Not drink directly from the medicine bottle but make use of spoons so that it is easy to measure the amount The amount taken should be as prescribed by the doctor.
3. Take medicine at the right time and keep the intervals as recommended.
4. Not share medicine given with another person even if both think they are suffering from similar diseases.

Good storage of medicine

Medicine is needed to keep us in good health. Medicine can go bad if not stored properly. Medicine that has gone bad because of overstaying or being kept under poor conditions cannot cure the intended diseases. Such medicine is said to be expired. It can be dangerous (poisonous) to your health. Good storage of medicine is very important.

When storing medicine, it is important to remember that:

1. Medicine should be kept away from children. Children should not play with medicine as they can accidentally consume it and poison them.
2. Medicine should be stored in a cool dry place unless it is indicated otherwise on the container label or in the doctor’s instructions. Exposure of some medicines to sunlight may affect the medicine.
3. Expired medicine should not be It may be dangerous to your health.
4. The medicine container should always be closed properly.
5. Children should not play with medicine containers.

 

How to protect children from drug poisoning

When used correctly, drugs can cure many ills. But when they’re abused, misused or left unattended, they can be deadly – especially for children

• Always use the dosing device that comes with the medicine; never kitchen spoons
• Store all medicines away and out of sight of children, and make sure child-proof caps are locked
• Never tell children medicine is candy
• Never let your child take medicine on their own
• Make sure visitors lock and put away suitcases and purses containing medications
• Safely dispose of leftover and unwanted medications

 Safety measures when handling chemicals at home

There are many chemicals used at home. Which chemicals do you use in your home or school?

• Chemicals are used in the farm (applied on crops and livestock), in the house (to keep away pests), and in schools too. Chemicals are dangerous and therefore care should be taken when handling Some safety measures include: Store chemicals away from children, away from food, water, animals and from fire.
• Close the chemical container properly after use.
• Always wear protective clothing like gloves, masks and overcoat or overall when handling or spraying chemicals. After spraying you should take a bath, wear fresh clothes and immediately wash the ones you used.

Should an accident occur involving chemicals, the victim should be taken to the nearest health centre together with the chemical container after administering the appropriate first aid.

Always use the chemicals following the instructions given on the chemical container label.

• Chemicals should never be transferred into other containers like juice or soft drink bottles because people may drink them, mistaking them for the drinks that the container should hold.
• Keep chemicals out of the reach of
• You should not inhale, smell, sniff or taste chemicals.
• Dispose of empty chemical containers after use by burying them.
• Empty chemical containers should not be burned. They can explode.
• All people including children could be informed that chemicals or their containers are as dangerous as the chemicals themselves.

 

What is drug misuse and drug abuse?

The two terms are often confused.

Drug misuse is the use of drugs for any purpose other than that for which they are medically intended. This could mean taking more than what is prescribed, or taking a medication that was not prescribed to you

Examples of drug misuse

• Taking wrong dose
• Taking a drug for someone elese
• Buying a drug without doctor’s prescription
• Taking wrong medicine

Drug abuse

This means taking drugs classified as illegal such as cocaine, bhang, madrax and heroin

Or

Excessive use of drugs that lead to addition such as tobacco and alcohol

Commonly abused drugs

Tobacco

People use tobacco by

• Smoking
• Chewing
• Sniffing

Poisonous substances in tobacco smoke

• Tar – is a sticky dark-brown substances that cause cancer of the mouth, lips, throat, and cancer.
• Carbon monoxide poison hemoglobin
• Nicotine –is a stimulant that cause addiction

There are two types of smokers

• Active smokers- people smoke intentionally
• Passive smokers- people than inhale smoke when a smoke smokes

Effect of smoke to unborn baby

• They become underweight
• Have weak immune system
• Poor mental development
• Poor physical growth

Alcohol

It contain an addictive substance called ethanol

Common example of alcohols include beers, wine local brew

Excessive uptake of alcohol causes liver damage of liver cirrhosis

Local brew may contain poisonous methanol that causes blindness

Why people take alcohol

• To relax
• To forget problem
• To get sleep
• For peer pressure
• Because of frustration

 

Alcoholism

Alcoholism is when one can no longer control their use of alcohol, compulsively abuse alcohol, despite its negative ramifications, and/or experience emotional distress when they are not drinking.

Health effects of alcoholism and drug abuse

• Poor health due to poor feeding habits
• Lack of concentration
• Addition when a person cannot do without the drug
• Impaired judgement that can lead to accidents
• Loss of consciousness
• Coma and death
• Poor health of unborn baby
• Destruction of body organs

The family and social effects of alcoholism and drug abuse

• School dropout due to drug abuser failing to pay fee or attend classes
• Rape- drug abuser have a tendency to rape people
• Self-neglect of a drug abuser
• Loss of income – drug addicts do not perform their duties or work punctually.
• Drug induced accidents
• Marital conflicts
• Fighting and violence- drug addicts have a tendency of fighting and being violent.
• Defilement
• Robbery

 Beneficial use of ethanol

• Sterilize medical equipment and hands to stop covid-19.
• Use as fuel in food warmer
• Solvent in drugs and cosmetic
• preservatives

For revision question download PDF below

drugs; use, misuse and abuse – Upper primary

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Compiled by Dr. Bbosa Science + 256 778 633 682