Anti-drug Efforts for Preventing Drug Misuse

Introduction:

The anti-drug effort aims to mobilize support and inspire people to act against drug use. The principal agent of anti-drug efforts is the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). This prime body conducts global campaigns and encourages awareness-raising activities around the globe, and invites volunteers, non-profit organizations, the private sector, and the member states to work efficiently by:

• Organizing global events to mark 26 June as the International Day against drug abuse and illicit trafficking.

• Spreading awareness about the campaign through networks and contacts.

• Using the campaign slogan and logo in promotional events, websites, and social media.

• Donating funds to the local NGO (non-governmental organization) supports drug prevention and treatment efforts.

What Are Drugs?

Drugs are chemical substances that can change a person’s mental and physical state. Drugs include prescription medicines, over-the-counter medications (OTC), tobacco, alcohol, and illegal drugs.

What Is Drug Use?

A drug is a substance that affects the way the body functions with respect to changes in the body and mind’s work in response to the drug. If a drug is classified as ‘illegal or ‘illicit,’ it means that it is restricted and forbidden by law.

What Are the Types of Illegal Drugs?

• Cannabis, also known as marijuana.

• 3-4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), also known as ecstasy.

• Cocaine.

• Heroin.

• Ketamine.

• Anabolic agents.

• Inhalants.

• Methamphetamine.

• Gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB).

• Hallucinogens.

What Is the Classification of Drugs?

Drugs are classified into depressants, stimulants, and hallucinogens.

• Depressants: These drugs are known to slow down the central nervous system and alter brain functioning by slowing down the messages conveyed between the brain and the body. Some examples of depressants are alcohol, opioids, cannabis, Ketamine, GHB, and barbiturates.

• Stimulants: These are also known as psychostimulants and act by stimulating the central nervous system and speeding up the messages transmitted between the brain and the body. Some examples of psychostimulants are cocaine and Methamphetamine.

• Hallucinogens: Are also known as “psychedelic” drugs. These drugs typically alter the person’s sense of taste, sense of smell, sense of hearing, sense of vision, or feel things differently, including hallucination. Some examples of hallucinogens are D-lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), Mescaline, Psilocybin, Phencyclidine (PCP), cannabis, ecstasy, and Ketamine.

What Are the Symptoms of Drug Use Disorders?

Symptoms of drug abuse include:

• It affects the person’s brain and behavior.

• Bloodshot eyes or red eyes.

• Looking tired.

• Addiction to taking drugs. Urge to take illegal drugs on a regular basis.

• Decreased appetite.

• A sense of euphoria.

• Changes in physical appearance, such as a pale look or looking ungroomed.

• Dry mouth.

• Decreased coordination.

• Difficulty completing tasks at work, school, or home due to difficulty concentrating or memory issues.

• Anxiety issues.

• Irritability or changes in mood.

• Engaging in risky behaviors, despite knowing the negative consequences.

• Inability to reduce or control drug use.

• Financial issues.

• Weight loss.

• Decreased mental sharpness.

• Suicidal thoughts.

• Nausea.

• Altered state of mind.

• Hallucinations.

• Increased heart rate.

What Are the Anti Drug Efforts Used in Preventing Drug Misuse?

The strategy of anti-drug efforts is to contribute to safer and healthier communities through coordinated efforts to prevent use, treat dependency, help refrain from drug abuse and reduce the production and distribution of illicit drugs. The preventive measures include:

• Creating awareness about the risks of drug use and misuse at schools, colleges, institutions, workplaces, or community centers.

• Parents and family members must support and guide their children to resist it. Seeking counseling from a professional is also worthwhile.

• Good family bonding and relationships through parental monitoring and supervision contribute to listening and understanding children, teenagers, and adults when discussing drug issues and being supportive of their efforts to resist it.

• Schools should educate about drugs and their side effects to instill good values in children. Early intervention at preschools, schools, and colleges to address risk factors for drug abuse, and identify the drug abuse symptoms such as aggressive behavior, altered state of mind, poor social skills, changes in mood, decreased focus, lack of concentration, and academic difficulties, can prevent the child from being a victim of drug abuse.

• The establishment of evidence-based prevention programs aimed at large populations in multiple settings such as schools, clubs, workplaces, faith-based organizations, and the media help in installing good values among citizens by creating awareness about refraining from drug abuse and creating drug-free communities.

• Early identification of symptoms of drug abuse and early intervention with risk factors can result in quitting the addiction and improving the quality of life.

• Prevention programs should focus on all forms of drug abuse, targeting the underage use of legal drugs such as tobacco or alcohol, the use of substance use or illegal drugs such as marijuana or heroin, and the inappropriate use of legally obtained substances like inhalants, overuse of prescription medications, or misuse of over-the-counter drugs.

• Prevention programs should address the drug abuse problem in the local community.

• Prevention programs and anti-drug campaigns should address risks specific to the population, such as age, gender, and ethnicity.

• Creating awareness of drug abuse and its side effects through posters, presentations, newspaper and media advertisements, and social media.

• Improve screening procedures at ports of entry to prevent potential drug access.

• Strengthen and support law enforcement agencies to control drug trafficking.

• Introduction of legislation to control chemical precursors and pharmaceutical products used in the manufacturing of illegal drugs.

• Creating and sustaining policies and programs formulated with national agencies against substance abuse.

• Conduct drug control programs.

• Build a management framework for the National Anti-Drug Agenda.

• Implement a national strategic approach against drug use.

• Establishment of rehabilitation centers to help people and support their efforts to resist it.

• It is essential to stop the trade of drugs.

• Enforcing strict laws and regulations about the possession and transfer of illegal substances.

• The National Drug Council plays a crucial role in the coordination and implementation of national anti-drug policies that help fight against drugs by creating awareness of the policy, sharing information, and promoting public awareness.

Conclusion:

Drug addiction leads to a progressive disease that causes people to lose control of the use of some substances, which results in life-threatening consequences. The anti-drug efforts help mobilize support and inspire people to act against drug use. An anti-drug effort is a platform that actively engages the population at the local level and global levels as well as against illicit drugs.