Drug Abuse Signs, Treatment and Rehabilitation for Primary 4

Characteristics of Drug Abusers, their Treatment and Rehabilitation

Performance Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. list commonly abused drugs and identify them by their street names;
2. mention some characteristics of abusers of alcohol, tobacco and cannabis.

What is Drug Abuse?

Drug abuse means using drugs in a way that is harmful to the body or mind. It is when a person takes drugs that are not prescribed by a doctor, or takes more than the doctor prescribed. It can also mean using legal drugs like alcohol and tobacco too much, or in a way that causes problems.

Abusing drugs can make a person sick, change their behaviour, and cause problems at home, at school, and in the community. It is important to understand the dangers of drug abuse and how to recognise its signs.

Commonly Abused Drugs and Their Street Names

Some drugs are commonly abused because they can make people feel a certain way, even though they are very harmful. These drugs often have different names that people use on the street, which are not their real names. Knowing these street names can help people identify when a drug is being discussed.

Cannabis

Cannabis is a plant-based drug that is often abused. It is illegal and very harmful to health. People who abuse cannabis often use different street names for it to hide what they are talking about.

Common street names for cannabis include:

1. Hemp
2. Stone
3. Ganja
4. Igbo

Characteristics of Drug Abusers

When a person abuses drugs, their body and behaviour can change. These changes are called characteristics, and they can be signs that someone is abusing drugs. It is important to know these signs so that help can be sought for the person.

Characteristics of Alcohol Abusers

Alcohol is a legal drink, but abusing it means drinking too much, too often, or in a way that causes problems. People who abuse alcohol can show several signs:

1. Aggressiveness: They may become easily angry, shout, or fight with others.
2. Convulsion: In serious cases, their body may shake uncontrollably, which is a convulsion.
3. Slowed speech: Their words may become unclear, slurred, or difficult to understand.
4. Hallucination: They might see, hear, or feel things that are not real.
5. Shaking of the hands: Their hands may tremble, especially when they are not drinking.
6. Inability to maintain balance: They may stumble, fall, or have trouble walking straight.
7. Disobedience: They may refuse to follow rules or listen to advice from parents or teachers.

Characteristics of Tobacco Abusers

Tobacco is a plant that is smoked or chewed. It contains nicotine, which is very addictive and harmful. People who abuse tobacco, especially by smoking, show clear signs:

1. Smells: Their clothes, hair, and breath often smell strongly of smoke.
2. Discoloration of lips: Their lips may turn darker or have a bluish tint.
3. Burnt/dark fingers: Their fingers, especially those used to hold cigarettes, may become stained yellow or brown.
4. Colored teeth: Their teeth can become yellow or brown from the tobacco stains.
5. Incessant coughing from lung congestion: They may cough a lot, especially in the mornings, because their lungs are affected by the smoke.
6. Lack of appetite: They may not feel hungry often and might lose weight.

Characteristics of Cannabis Abusers

Cannabis abuse also causes changes in a person’s behaviour and feelings:

1. Undue excitement: They may become overly excited or laugh a lot for no clear reason.
2. False source of confidence and pleasure: They might feel very confident or happy when they are under the influence of the drug, but this feeling is not real and does not last. It can make them do things they would not normally do.

Identifying Abused Drugs by Their Street Names

Being able to identify commonly abused drugs by their street names is an important skill. It helps people understand when harmful substances are being discussed, even if their real names are not used.

For example, if someone talks about “hemp” or “ganja,” it is important to know that they are referring to cannabis, which is an illegal and dangerous drug. This knowledge helps in staying away from such substances and reporting their use to trusted adults.