I Saw, I Learnt

Peer pressure can be a most distressing thing especially when in tender age. These days many of us do drugs or drink a lot just to look cool in our group against our better judgement. But is it worth it?

I come from a family of high values, I have never feel any temptation to drugs or alcohol (Not when it comes to drinking to survive in cold temperature, then alcohol is a medicine) but one day I come very close to break all my rules. It was back when I was in school and I was with my friends. We all were good kids, no one of us had any bad habits but we got curious and that curiosity let us to decide that we will drink few pegs, at least for once. Yup we decided and then we were returning to our homes. I have always traveled in Mumbai locals and that day when we were returning from railway station to my home when we witnessed a terrible accident. A boy, who probably was too young to have licence came zooming at the speed more than 80Kmph and his bike was wavering, one moment he was driving straight, next moment his course changed and his bike crushed a child’s leg who was sleeping on the footpath then he hit the pole. We were one of those people who helped both of them getting admitted in the nearest hospital. He died of brain hemorrhage, the hit on his head was pretty hard on that pole and doctors confirmed that he was too drunk. That poor kid he crushed probably can’t ever walk again.

After what I saw, I learnt not to drink and never let any one of my friends drive while they are drunk. I got my driving licence first before driving and I never go too fast, though we don’t have any particular seep limit in India but I always keep my driving seep in check on bike and in car as well. 

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Drugs are retarded, So don't get started

From my last post we already know about the types of drugs. Now let’s proceed.

How do drugs affect a person?

The effects of a drug depend on the type of drug and a range of personal and environmental factors. Some factors to consider include:

• Duration and quantity of drug. Generally, the greater the quantity taken, the greater the effect. Overdose occurs when the amount taken exceeds the body's ability to cope with the drug.
• How the drug is taken. Generally, drugs that are injected or inhaled act very quickly and the effects are more intense. Snorting through the nose is the next fastest-acting method, while the effects of drugs eaten or swallowed take longer to occur.
• The proportion of body fat, rate of metabolism and, for women, stage of the menstrual cycle can all influence the intensity and duration of drug effects.
• The person's mood and environment also plays a role. How a person is feeling and the social setting can have a significant impact on drug effects. A person is more likely to enjoy the experience in a comfortable social atmosphere than in a threatening environment.
• Tolerance to the drug. The first time a person uses a drug, they have a very low tolerance and are likely to feel the effects very strongly. The more often the drug is taken, generally the less intense the effects will be. This means that larger amounts are needed to obtain the desired effect.
• Other drugs used (poly drug use). Combining drugs can increase or alter the effects, often in unpredictable ways.

Problems drug use can cause:

Apart from being injurious to your health, it can cause multiple problems like:

• Family or relationship problems
• Problems at work or school
• Accidents
• Legal problems
• Financial problems

Drug dependency:

Drug dependence can be physical or psychological, or both.There is degrees of dependency, from mild dependency to compulsive drug use (addiction). It is impossible to say how long a person must take a drug before they will become dependent.

Experimenting does not necessarily lead to regular or dependent drug use, and regular use does not necessarily lead to problems. However, there is no "safe" level of drug use. All drugs have the potential to cause harm, not just the illegal ones.

So, Keep up the mantra

'NO' to drugs

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Say 'NO' to Drugs

Well someone shouts ‘Say NO to drugs’, you just give a smart shrug, "Oh but Drugs heal!”.

You know that we are not talking about the legal drugs but the illegal ones. Since this is my first post so I want my lovely readers to get acquainted with the word ‘DRUGS’.

Now the first question is...

What is Drug?

A drug is any substance, solid, liquid or gas that brings about physical and/or psychological changes. (From web)

How are drugs classified?

Drugs are commonly classified according to their legal status or their effects on the central nervous system.

Legal and illegal drugs:

Legal drugs are controlled by Law and regulations. Like tobacco is injurious to health, but it isn’t illegal also It can’t be sold to anyone below 18 years old.
Also legal drugs have a quality control and their prizes are in check.

Illegal drugs are those which are very injurious to health, hence prohibited.  There is no quality control over them and no fixed prizing. And user can never be sure that the drug they are taking is actually the alleged one or not. Hence it should be avoided at every cost.

Effects on the central nervous system:

There are three main types of drug affecting the central nervous system.

1. Depressants:

Depressants are drugs that slow down the functions of the central nervous system. They do not necessarily make a person feel depressed.

Example:

• Alcohol
• Barbiturates, including Seconal, Tuinal and Amytal
• Benzodiazepines (tranquilisers)
• Cannabis
• GHB (Gamma-hydroxybutrate) or "fantasy"
• opiates and opioids, including heroin , morphine, codeine, methadone and pethidine
• Some solvents and inhalants

In small quantity, depressant makes user feel relaxed but a large quantity lead to unconsciousness, vomiting or even death. They even slow down person’s ability to understand and react. And it does damages internal organs like liver.

2. Stimulants:

Stimulants act on the central nervous system to speed up the messages to and from the brain. They can make the user feel more awake, alert or confident, it increases person’s heart rate, body temperature and blood pressure. At the same time it reduces ones appetite, talkativeness, agitation and sleep disturbance.

Mild stimulants include:

• Caffeine in coffee, tea and cola drinks
• Nicotine in tobacco.
• Ephedrine used in medicines for bronchitis, fever and asthma.

Stronger stimulants include:

• Amphetamines, including illegal amphetamines
• Cocaine
• Ecstasy

Large quantities of stimulants can "over-stimulate" the user, causing seizures, headaches, anxiety, panic, paranoia. Prolonged use of strong stimulants can cover some of the effects of depressant drugs, such as alcohol, making it difficult for a person to judge their side effects.

3. Hallucinogens

Hallucinogens are drugs that cause hallucinations - profound distortions in a person's perceptions of reality. People who have taken them may believe they see or hear things that aren't really there, or what they see may be distorted in some way.

Hallucinogens include:

• LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide)
• Datura
• Ketamine ("K", "Special K")
• Magic mushrooms (psilocybin)
• Mescaline (peyote cactus)
• PCP ('angel dust')
• Cannabis is a hallucinogen as well as a depressant. 
• Ecstasy can also have hallucinogenic qualities.

Some effects of hallucinogens include loss of appetite, dilation of pupils, increased activity, talking or laughing, paranoia , emotional and psychological euphoria and well-being, jaw clenching, sweating, panic, loss of contact with reality, irrational or bizarre behavior, stomach cramps and nausea.

***

Now that we know about the types of drugs and it's side effects, I hope that you'll think twice before tanking drugs. and It is my sincere request that please say "NO" to illegal drugs as well as to those drugs which are injurious to health. As they say, "Health is Wealth." 

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