What is drug Abuse?

Drugs and Drug Abuse
Drug and abuse pose potent problems in the world today, ruining the lives of countless millions. However, what is more alarming is the still more alarming lack of awareness about the problem amongst the masses.

What is Drug Abuse?
Now this is one issue that not many people have agreed to. However, apart from the specifics, all the definitions of drug abuse harp on the matter of misuse or overuse of certain specified substances. To elaborate, these substances are psychological stimulants and performance-enhancing drugs that have been used for non-healing purposes.

在現今的社會，我們周圍充滿著各式各樣的藥物。在醫療上我們利用藥物來減輕痛苦和醫療疾病；而在日常生活上，我們也會使用不同的藥物來自我鬆弛、減低壓力和醫治一些輕微的疾病。在一般的社交禮儀上，酒精飲品、煙草及一些輕微的刺激劑（如咖啡及紅茶等）也往往成為不可缺少的用品。
在醫護人員指導下服食藥物或在有節制下短期服食藥物，通常都不會造成嚴重的負面後果。但現在則有越來越多的青少年及成人，為貪求藥物（尤指不同的精神科藥物）所帶來的迷幻及興奮效果，而在沒有醫護人員指示下服食一種甚或多種藥物。他們往往忽略藥物所帶來的負面效果，以致泥足深陷。從新聞上我們不時發覺有青少年因濫用藥物以致傷害自身或他人，亦時有少女因而被迷姦。他們不但個人受影響，其家人及朋友甚至下一代亦會遭受牽連。最近在台灣便有一名有毒癮的母親誕下一名出世便已有毒癮的嬰兒。

其實濫用藥物一詞，廣義而言是泛指在未經醫務人員的正確指導下使用任何藥物，有時也稱為誤用藥物，或將藥物作非醫療用途總之，這是很難界定的辭語，藥物濫用到極端就是對於某一種特別的物質「上癮」：身體變得越來越倚賴所用的藥物，必須經常地補充該種藥物，才能「正常」的工作；上了毒癮的人自己不能停止使用該藥物，如果他或她要解除毒癮，就必須接受醫藥協助。而跟據台南縣衛生局的解釋，濫用藥物是指非以醫療為目的，在不經醫師處方或指示情況下，過量或經常使用某種藥物，致傷害個人健康及社會安寧秩序。




港現今常被濫用的藥物分類


隨著科學及醫學的進步，人們的生活得以改善；但諷刺地「毒品」的種類也因而不斷日新月異，推陳出新。香港禁毒處對常被濫用的藥物，大體上可分為麻醉鎮痛劑、迷幻劑、鎮抑劑、興奮劑、鎮靜劑及其他等六大類。
NARCOTICS ANALGESICS麻 醉 鎮 痛 劑
Dipipanone(Wellconal)
地 匹
圖片參考：http://sek.hkcampus.net/~sek-cpw/Antidrug/antidr16.gif
酮 ,Heroin海 洛 英 .Methadone美 沙 酮.Physeptone
菲 仕 通.Morphine Ampoules嗎 啡 針 劑 .Opium鴉 片
HALLUCINOGENS迷 幻 劑
Cannabis大 麻.Cannabis resin大 麻 樹 脂.
LSD麥 角 副 酸 二 乙 基
圖片參考：http://sek.hkcampus.net/~sek-cpw/Antidrug/antidr24.gif
胺 .
Ketamine氯 胺 酮
DEPRESSANTS鎮 抑 劑
Barbiturates:巴 比 士 酸 鹽.
Amylobarbitone異 戊 巴 比 妥
Butobarbitone(Soneryl)正 丁 巴 比 妥
Quinalbarbitone(Secobarbital)速 可 巴 比 妥
(速 可 眠 ) .Methaqualone(Mandrax)甲
圖片參考：http://sek.hkcampus.net/~sek-cpw/Antidrug/antidr30.gif
酮
STIMULANTS興 奮 劑
Amphetamines:安 非 他 明.
Methylamphetamine甲 基 安 非 他 明
Phentermine(Duromine, Redusa, Mirapront)
α-α甲基苯乙基胺. Cocaine可 卡 因
MDMA(Ecstasy)亞甲二氧基 甲基安非他明

Drug abuse is the use of illicit drugs or the abuse of prescription or over-the-counter drugs for purposes other than those for which they are indicated or in a manner or in quantities other than directed.

Drug dependence (addiction) is compulsive use of a substance despite negative consequences which can be severe; drug abuse is simply excessive use of a drug or use of a drug for purposes for which it was not medically intended.

Physical dependence on a substance (needing a drug to function) is not necessary or sufficient to define addiction. There are some substances that don't cause addiction but do cause physical dependence (for example, some blood pressure medications) and substances that cause addiction but not classic physical dependence (cocaine withdrawal, for example, doesn't have symptoms like vomiting and chills; it is mainly characterized by depression).

Drug abuse can lead to drug dependence or addiction. Drug dependence may also follow the use of drugs for physical pain relief, though this is rare in people without a previous history of addiction.

The exact cause of drug abuse and dependence is not known. However, the genetic make-up of the individual, the pharmacology of the particular drug, peer pressure, emotional distress, anxiety, depression, and environmental stress are all factors which seem to be involved.

Peer pressure may lead to use or abuse, but at least half of those who go on to addiction have depression, attention-deficit disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder or another psychological problem.

Children who grow up in an environment of illicit drug use may first see their parents using drugs. This may put them at a higher risk for developing an addiction later in life for both environmental and genetic reasons.