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- WHAT IS DRUG ABUSE?
Drug is a desperate desire to obtain, and, use,drugs for non medicinal purpose in order to experience its mental effects. Drug abuse causes dependency both physical and mentally. Youth in every society occupy delicate positions in the population structure for various reasons, research has shown that drug barons prefer recruiting youths for drug trafficking,most of whom are either unskilled or illiterate.
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- CAUSES OF DRUG ABUSE AMONG YOUTH
1 Unstable home environment
2 Weak parental control
3 Poor relationship with parent
4 Use of drug among friends/peers
5 child abuse
6 Availability of drugs and so on
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- CONSEQUENCES OF DRUG ABUSE TO YOUTH
1 Physical health: Drug abuse can damage various organs of the human body like the liver,the lungs,etc.
2 Mental health : It causes mental health problems such as depression,developmental lags,apathy and so on. Others include conduct problems,personality disorder,suicidal thoughts and sometimes suicide
3 Addiction : When addicts first used a drug,they perceive what seem to be a positive effect,they may also believe they can control their use. However,the drugs take over their lives,and it becomes necessary for them to even feel okay or normal
4 Family : Youth who use drugs gradually withdraw from their family,as well as set bad examples for their younger ones.
5 Education : Drug abusers are prone to dropping out of school, because their brain becomes damaged and the start performing badly at school,they might even commit a crime and go to jail
6 Finance: At first you might not need to use your money on drugs. You may get them free from a friend or at a party,then you get addicted and can no longer find free drugs,you start using your little money until you have nothing left,then you start stealing and lose your mind.
- DRUGS OFTEN ABUSED BY YOUTH
1 Cigarettes: Cigarettes are one of the easily affordable,and available drugs to youth. Cigarettes are very addictive drugs that can cause harm to youth such as lung cancer which they know about but do not care.
2 Alcohol : Alcohol is another addictive drug which can be gotten easily without prescription,it also causes harm to the body such as liver damage .
3 illegal drugs like marijuana,opiates(like heroine), stimulants(like cocaine)
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- HOW TO OVERCOME DRUG ABUSE DEPENDENCY
For many people struggling with addiction,the toughest step toward recovery is the very first one that is recognizing that you have a problem and wanting to make a change,recovery needs time,motivation and support,but by making a commitment to change,you can overcome your addiction and take control of your life.
Six major steps to overcoming drug addiction
1 Continually remind yourself of the reason you want to change.
2 Pray for God's strength
3 Disassociate yourself from drug abusers
4 Put away any reminder of drug from your home and places you frequent
5 Ask friends/family for support
6 Seek professional treatment like therapy and detoxification.
