Substance abuse and its psychological, physical effects on individuals

The National Health Watch

Substance Abuse
This includes alcohol abuse and drug abuse.
It is important to realise that alcohol is also a drug in this context, although its consumption is legally and socially approved.
Drug abuse (including alcohol abuse) is the persistent and usually excessive self-administration of any drug which has resulted in psychological or physical dependence, or which deviates from approved social patterns of the culture.
Drug dependence is a state of psychological or physical dependence, or both, arising in a person following the administration of a drug on a periodic or continuous basis. Drug dependence is of a highly variable nature, and to be accurate it is necessary to state or specify the kind of dependence.
For example, in alcohol dependence or in tobacco dependence.
The two most important drugs of abuse in Papua New Guinea today are ethanol (alcohol) and cannabis (marijuana).
Persistent abuse of alcohol affects the functions of the human body in the following ways:
Early Effects
Brain:

  • Thinking is slowed down.
  • Social restraints are removed.
    This effect may lead to antisocial behaviour such as wife-bashing.
  • Control of body functions is lost.
  • Unconsciousness later develops.

Stomach:

  • Alcohol causes soreness and burning and decreases the desire to eat.

Liver:

  • Fatty liver. This is a form of liver cell damage.

Long term Effects of Alcohol Abuse for Many Years
Brain:

  • Mental disturbances which include major mental illnesses (e.g. psychosis).
    There is evidence that excessive alcohol abuse damages the brain cells (neurons).

Heart:

  • Disease of the heart.

Kidneys:

  • Difficulty in getting rid of some body wastes.

Malnutrition:

  • This will lead to infections, sores and body weakness.

Nerves:

  • Pain, burning or numbness in hands and feet. Also hands shake.

Skin:

  • Peeling of the skin.

Liver:

  • Liver cirrhosis or scarred liver resulting in: jaundice (yellow eyes), mental disturbance,
    vomiting blood, swollen abdomen and feet.

Blood:

  • Changes in sugars and fats.

Muscles:

  • They become weak and do not function so well.
    In summary, alcoholism has been described correctly as a disease of the mind and the body.

Next week’s edition – Harmful Effects of Cannabis (Marijuana) Abuse