Drugs

Keywords: definition of a drug, classification of a drug, drug addiction, effects of drugs.

Definition of a Drug:

The definition of a drug means a dry herb. A drug as a substance used in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment or cure of diseases in animals including man. It is a substance with an abnormal effect on certain body functions. The drugs which are obtained and extracted from plants and animals are known as natural drugs. The action of an ideal drug should be localized at the site where it is desired to act. It should not injure host tissues or physiological process and not make host cells resistant to the drug after its use for some time.

According to world health organization (WHO), a drug is defined as any substance or product that is used to modify or explore physiological systems or pathological states for the benefits of recipient.

Classification of Drug

a. Antipyretics

These drugs are used to lower body temperature during the high fever. Paracetamol is most common antipyretic drug. These act through excessive sweating and thereby cooling the body.

b. Analgesics

The drug which is used to receive or decrease pain without the loss of consciousness are called analgesics. They are known as painkillers.

c. Antipyretic and analgesics

This type of drug is used to lower body temperature during high fever as well as to receive pain. They are also known as antipyretic and analgesic drugs. Aspirin is a common example of antipyretic and analgesic drug.

d. Antibiotics

Antibiotic chemical substances produced by various species of microorganisms such as fungi, actinomycetes and bacteria and are capable of suppressing the growth of other microorganisms and ultimately destroy them when given in small concentration. Penicillin, chloramphenicol, tetracycline, streptomycin, cephalexin etc are common antibiotic drugs. They are also known as broad spectrum antibiotics because these antibiotics are used as curative agents against several ailments.

e. Tranquillizers

Tranquillizers are drugs which are employed in the treatment of mental disorders. These produce specific improvement in the mood and behavior of a patient suffering from mental disorder. In short, a tranquillizer restores the peace of mind. Such as Diazepam, equanil, and Phenobarbital are common examples of tranquillizers. 

f. Sulpha drugs

The sulphadrugs which are derivatives of sulphanilamindes, were the first effective chemotherapeutic agents to be widely used for the cure bacterial infection in humans.

g. Antiseptic

Antiseptics are those compounds which either kill or prevent the growth of microorganisms in wounds, cuts etc. where microorganisms usually cause infection. An antiseptic prevents the growth of microorganisms as long as it remains in contact with them. It is directly applied externally into the infected parts.

Drug Addition 

          Drug addiction is a follow-on effect of drug mistreatment. It is a pathological condition. Compulsive physiological need for a habit forming drug as heroin, morphine, cocaine is known as drug addiction. The problem of drug abuse is not confined to a small group of drug addicts. A large percentage of population takes pills or all kinds to deal with all sorts of problem both real and imaginary. Drug addiction refers to the compulsive and repeated use of dangerous amounts of drugs and the appearance of withdrawal symptoms when not using drugs. The effects of drug addiction seen, due to this pressure, are wide-ranging and thoughtful.

A person can become addicted to a drug if he/she gets into the habit of turning to the drug for relief from every problem, mental, physical and social. If a person is nervous, worried, upset or depressed, drugs are not the cure. It is better to try cope with realities of life without the assistance of mind-altering and mood-altering chemicals. Mood-altering chemicals (drugs) give us a holiday from problems; they do not solve our problems. The user experiences withdrawal symptoms if he/she stops using the drug to which he/she has become addicted. Dependence on a drug may be physical, psychological or both. If the dependence is physical, withdrawal may lead to very severe symptoms. If the dependence is psychological i.e. habituation, the user finds life unbearable unless he/she is experiencing the effects of the drug. These drugs are considered highly addictive and can cause death if taking more doses than one is supposed to. One example is crystal meth, or Methamphetamine. It is greatly addictive central nervous system refreshment. Crystal meth is injected, snorted, smoked, or ingested orally. (Office of National Drug Control Policy, 2010) It causes dizziness, anger, and depression. Cocaine is another type of drug under the category of most addictive drugs. Cocaine can be smoked, snorted, or injected. Cocaine is one of the most highly addictive drugs in the world. Therefore, just a small amount more of cocaine could cause death of the user since the user would die of an overdose. Cocaine causes amplified body temperature, paranoia, and loss of hunger. A user could get addicted to cocaine just as soon as he or she consumes it because it has one of the highest likelihood of drug addiction. Cocaine is also one of the most expensive drugs in the world. Cannabis is another example of the most addictive drugs. Marijuana is a form of cannabis that causes feeling of relaxation, increased heart rate, and increased appetite. Heroin is one of the most dangerous of all addictive drugs since it could easily get a consumer to be addicted to it. It causes sleepiness, slow breathing, and euphoria.

Effects of drugs:

The effects of drug habit seen, due to this force, are wide ranging and thoughtful.  Effects of drug habit are felt by the addict both physically and psychologically. The effects of drug habit also include the cost to the fairness and health care systems. Most of the young people are addict of drugs by physically or psychologically. In the world, every day people are addict in drugs. Depending on the drug, it can enter the human body in a number of ways, including injection, breathing, and drinking. The method of how it enters the body impacts on how the drug affects the person. For example: injection takes the drug directly into the blood stream, providing more immediate effects; while ingestion requires the drug to pass through the digestive system, delaying the effects.

Physical effect of drugs:

Substantial effects of drug addiction vary by drug but typically seen in all system of the body. Some of the primary physical effects of drug addiction take place in the brain. Drug addiction changes the way the brain functions and impacts how the body perceives enjoyment. These effects of drug addiction are because the drug repeatedly floods the brain with the chemicals dopamine and serotonin during drug use. The brain adapts and comes to wait for, and depend on, these drug-induces highs.

Physical effects of drug habit are also seen in children of drug abusers as well as in mortality information. One effect of drug addiction is: children born to drug-using mothers can be cognitively affected throughout life. Regarding mortality, one-in-four deaths are due to the effects of drug addiction. Other physical effects of drug addiction include:

·        Tightening of HIV, hepatitis and other illnesses

·        Heart rate irregularities, heart attack

·        Respiratory problems such as lung cancer, emphysema and breathing problems

·        Abdominal pain, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea

·        Kidney and liver damage

·        Seizures, stroke, brain damage

·        Changes in hunger, body warmth and sleeping patterns

Psychological effect of drugs:

The psychological effects of drug addiction come from the cause the user is addicted to drugs, as well as the changes that take place in the brain once a person becomes a drug addict. Initially, many people start using drugs to cope with strain or pain. An effect of drug addiction is creation of a cycle where anytime the user encounters strain or pain, they feel the need to use the drug. This is one of the psychological effects of drug addiction involved in "craving" of the drug. Craving is an effect of drug addiction whereby the addict is obsessed with obtaining and using the drug, to the exclusion of all else. One of the psychological effects of addiction involved in desire is the belief the addict cannot function or handle life without use of the drug.

Other psychological effects of drug addiction include:-

Natural mood swings, depression, nervousness, suspicion, aggression

Reduce in pleasure in everyday life

Problem of mental illness

Hallucinations and uncertainty

Psychological acceptance to the drug's effects creating a need to do ever-increasing amounts of the drug etc.

Conclusion:

          A drug as a essence used in the prevention, analysis, treatment or cure of diseases in animals including man. It is a substance with an abnormal effect on certain body functions. The drugs which are obtained and extract from plants and animals are known as natural drugs. Drug addiction is a follow-on effect of drug mistreatment. It is a pathological condition. Compulsive physiological need for a habit forming drug as heroin, morphine, cocaine is known as drug addiction. The effects of drug habit seen, due to this force, are wide ranging and thoughtful.  Effects of drug habit are felt by the addict both physically and psychologically. The effects of drug habit also include the cost to the fairness and health care systems. Substantial effects of drug addiction vary by drug but typically seen in all system of the body. The psychological effects of drug addiction come from the cause the user is addicted to drugs, as well as the changes that take place in the brain once a person becomes a drug addict.