Pubdate: Sun, 26 Jun 2005 Source: Star, The (Malaysia) Copyright: 2005 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd. Contact: http://www.thestar.com.my Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/922 Author: Diong Swee Hoon SAY 'NO' TO DRUGS TODAY is International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. Established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1987, this day serves as a reminder of the goal agreed upon by UN Member States of creating an international society free of drug abuse. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) selects a theme for the International Day each year and launches a year-long campaign to raise awareness about the global drug problem. The theme for 2005 is: "Value yourself ? make healthy choices". Of late we have been reading in our local papers about the growing number of drug abuse fatalities in youngsters, professionals and non-professionals alike. Unfortunately, many mixed messages are out there. On the one hand, you may see a commercial encouraging you to keep away from drugs of abuse. The next minute, you might be watching a movie where the character thinks drugs are cool. The fact is, using illegal drugs is dangerous, period. The message this year is self-respect, directed especially to young people around the world. It calls on youths to consider the health-related reasons why they should stay away from drugs or stop using them. Healthy choices are not only about saying "no" to drugs, but also about choosing healthy lifestyles: sports, music, theatre, civil service, and other positive activities. Value yourself? The 2005 anti-drugs campaign targets teenagers and young adults, a group that is particularly vulnerable to drug abuse. At this age, peer pressure to try illicit drugs can be strong, and self-esteem is often low. Moreover, those who take drugs tend to be either misinformed or insufficiently aware about the health risks involved. While young people talk a lot about the "highs" induced by illegal drugs, they may not be aware of the many "lows". Negative effects vary depending on the type of drug consumed, the dose taken, and the frequency of use. In some cases, drug abuse can cause serious depression, panic attack, irregular heartbeat, respiratory problems, and even sudden death. Furthermore, while under the influence of drugs, users may wrongly decide to have unprotected sex or share needles, thus increasing their chances of contracting HIV/AIDS, hepatitis and other infectious diseases. Make healthy choices Leading a healthy lifestyle requires making choices that are respectful of body and mind. To make these choices, the young need guidance from parents, teachers, and other role models, who should not only persuade them to stay away from illegal drugs, but also encourage them to engage in healthy activities. Sports are a good example. Heroin is processed from morphine, a naturally occurring substance from the Asian opium poppy plant. Young girls and boys who're involved in sports learn skills and values that will stay with them for a lifetime: self-confidence, discipline, teamwork, and fair play. Through sports, participants are confronted with ethical questions that can guide them in finding the right answers on and off the playing field. Sports also improve their health and wellbeing. Some common drugs of abuse # Cannabis (also known as bongo/ganja /grass/marijuana/pot/Thai sticks) Cannabis is a tobacco-like greenish or brownish material made up of the dried flowering tops and leaves of the cannabis (hemp) plant. Cannabis resin or "hash" is the dried black or brown secretion of the flowering tops of the cannabis plant, which is made into a powder or pressed into slabs or cakes. Cannabis oil or "hash oil" is cannabis resin in liquid form. Cannabis is by far the most cultivated, trafficked and abused illicit drug. About 147 million, or 2.5% of the world's population, consume cannabis annually. All forms of cannabis are usually smoked. Cannabis resin and oil can also be ingested orally or brewed in tea. Cannabis can make users feel relaxed and heighten their sensory awareness. Thus, users may experience a more vivid sense of sight, smell, taste and hearing. What are the risks associated with cannabis use? Short-term effects include increased appetite and pulse rate. While high, users' intellectual and physical abilities are impaired. With large doses, users may experience severely altered sensory perceptions and slow and confused thinking. If the dose is very large, the effects of cannabis are similar to those of hallucinogens, and may cause anxiety, panic and even psychotic episodes. # Cocaine (also known as crack/bazooka/blanche/cake/coke/lady/ star dust) Cocaine is a fine white or off-white powder that acts as a powerful stimulant. In its pure form, cocaine is extracted from the leaves of the coca plant. On the street, it can be diluted or "cut" with other substances to increase the quantity. Crack is cocaine that has been further processed with ammonia or sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and looks like small flakes or rocks. Prevalence rates for life-time use of cocaine are typically between 1% and 3% in developed countries, with higher rates in the United States and in the producer countries of South America. Cocaine is usually sniffed/snorted or injected, whereas crack is smoked. Cocaine can make users feel exhilarated and euphoric. Furthermore, users often experience a temporary increase in alertness and energy levels, and a postponement of hunger and fatigue. What are the risks associated with cocaine use? Short-term effects include faster breathing and increases in body temperature and heart rate. Users' behaviour can also become bizarre, erratic and violent. Excessive doses of cocaine may lead to convulsions, seizures, stroke, cerebral haemorrhage (bleeding in the brain) or heart failure. Long-term users of cocaine risk a number of health problems, some of them dependent on the method of ingestion. Sniffing cocaine severely damages nose tissue; smoking can cause respiratory problems, whilst injection can lead to abscesses and infectious diseases. Other risks, regardless of ingestion method, include dependency, malnutrition, weight loss, disorientation, apathy and a state similar to paranoid psychosis. # Ecstasy (also known as E/snackies /New Yorkers/disco biscuits) Ecstasy is a psychoactive stimulant. In fact, the term "ecstasy" does not refer to a single substance, but rather to a range of substances similar in chemistry and effects. It is usually distributed as a tablet or pill but can also be in powder or capsule forms. The tablets can be in many different shapes and sizes. Over the last decade or so, ecstasy use has made its way into mainstream culture in certain countries. Younger people in particular often seem to possess a skewed sense of safety about ecstasy use, believing rather erroneously that the substance is safe and benign. It is usually taken orally but can also be snorted or injected. Ecstasy can heighten users' empathy levels and induce a feeling of closeness to people around them. It is often used at "rave parties" to increase participants' sociability and energy levels. What are the risks associated with ecstasy use? In the short term, ecstasy can make the body ignore distress signals such as dehydration, dizziness and exhaustion, and it can also interfere with the body's ability to regulate temperature. Furthermore, ecstasy can severely damage internal organs such as the liver and the kidneys, and sometimes lead to convulsions and heart failure. Large doses of ecstasy also cause restlessness, anxiety and severe visual and auditory hallucinations. Longer-term ecstasy use can damage certain brain regions, resulting in serious depression and memory loss. # Heroin (also known as smack/brown/h/horse/junk/harry/white lady) Heroin is an addictive drug with painkilling properties processed from morphine, a naturally occurring substance from the Asian opium poppy plant. Pure heroin is a white powder. Street heroin is usually brownish white because it is diluted or "cut" with impurities, meaning each dose is different. It is usually injected but can also be snorted, smoked or inhaled. Heroin can make users feel an initial surge of euphoria, along with a feeling of warmth and relaxation. Users also often become detached from emotional or physical distress, pain or anxiety. What are the risks associated with heroin use? Short-term effects include constricted pupils, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, inability to concentrate and apathy. Furthermore, heroin is very addictive, and development of tolerance and physical and psychological dependence occurs rapidly. Long-term heroin use has a variety of severe health effects. Among other things, it can cause severe weight loss and malnutrition that can lead to damaged veins and liver disease. It can also lead to menstrual irregularity, sedation and chronic apathy. Abruptly quitting heroin use leads to moderate/ severe withdrawal symptoms such as cramps, diarrhoea, tremors, panic, running nose, chills and sweats. When taking heroin, users risk taking an overdose, which can lead to coma and death through respiratory depression. Reference: International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Diong Swee Hoon is a pharmacist. For more information, e-mail The information provided is for educational purposes only and should not be considered as medical advice. 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