416 Where There Is No Doctor 2011
DRUG ABUSE AND ADDICTION
The use of harmful, habit-forming drugs is a growing problem in the world today.
Although alcohol and tobacco are legal in most countries, both are habit-forming
or ‘addictive’ drugs. They contribute to the poor health and death of many millions of
people each year. Alcohol abuse causes enormous health, family, and social problems
throughout the world. Cigarette smoking has for many years been a major cause of
death in rich countries. and is now becoming an even bigger cause of death in poor
countries. As more people in the rich countries stop smoking, the tobacco companies
have turned to the ‘Third World’ as their new and easiest market.
Health problems related to use of alcohol and tobacco are discussed on pages
148 to 149.
In addition to alcohol and tobacco, many people in different parts of the world are
using drugs that may be illegal. These vary from place to place, and include marijuana
(weed, pot, grass, sin semilla, mota, hashish, ganja), opium (heroin, morphine, smack),
methamphetamine (speed) and
cocaine (crack, snow, rock).
An increasing problem among
poor children in cities is the sniffing
of chemicals, especially glue, but
sometimes paint thinner, shoe polish,
gasoline, and cleaning fluid. Also, some
people misuse medicines—especially
certain strong painkillers, stimulants, and
‘appetite control’ drugs.
Drugs can be swallowed, injected,
smoked, chewed, or sniffed. Different
drugs create different effects on the body and mind. Cocaine or kolanuts may make
a person feel energetic and happy, but some time later he will feel tired, irritable, and
depressed. Some drugs, like alcohol, opium, morphine, and heroin, may at first make a
person feel calm and relaxed, but later they may cause him to lose his inhibitions, self-
control, or even consciousness. Other drugs, such as marijuana, PCP, LSD, and peyote
make a person imagine things that do not exist, or create dream-like fantasies.
WARNING: Use of cigarettes, alcohol, or other drugs by pregnant
women can harm their unborn child. Also, injecting drugs using the
same needle for more than one person spreads dangerous diseases.
See hepatitis (p. 172) and HIV and AIDS (p. 399).