Types and Effects of Psychoactive Drugs - Prevention and Control of Drugs and Alcohol Abuse

1. Avoid Undue Peer Pressure

Adolescents should not be pressured beyond their threshold.

2. Education and Counselling

• Educate to face problems, stresses, disappointments, and failures as part of life.
• Channelise energy into healthy pursuits - sports, reading, music, yoga, extracurricular activities.

3. Seeking Help from Parents and Peers

• Seek help from parents, peers, or trusted friends immediately.
• Helps vent feelings of anxiety and guilt and get proper advice.

4. Looking for Danger Signs

• Parents, teachers, and friends must watch for and identify danger signs of drug/alcohol use.
• Friends should not hesitate to inform parents/teachers in the best interest of the person.

5. Seeking Professional and Medical Help

• Help is available from psychologists, psychiatrists, and de-addiction & rehabilitation programmes.
• With effort and willpower, affected individuals can recover completely and lead a normal, healthy life.

• The principle of "prevention is better than cure" is vital because substance use often begins during adolescence, necessitating early identification of risky situations by parents and teachers.
• Nurturing parenting that incorporates consistent discipline is associated with a lowered risk of tobacco, alcohol, and drug abuse.
• Prevention efforts include avoiding undue peer pressure, respecting individual personality, providing counselling to manage stress and failure, and encouraging healthy extracurricular activities.
• If danger signs are identified, seeking guidance from trusted friends, parents, or professionals - such as psychologists, psychiatrists, and rehabilitation programs - is essential for successful recovery and a return to a healthy life.