Drug Abuse

Drug abuse is the improper or excessive use of drugs that leads to harmful effects on physical, mental and social health.

• Curiosity and desire for new experiences
• Peer pressure and need for group acceptance
• Academic and family stress
• Desire for excitement, adventure, or escape from problems
• Easy availability through drug peddlers/mafia networks

Important: The same drug categories are misused by sportspersons for performance enhancement – anabolic steroids, stimulants, diuretics, hormones, and psychoactive drugs. This misuse constitutes drug abuse even though the substances have medical origins.

Immediate Effects

• Reckless behaviour, vandalism, and violence
• Impaired judgment and coordination

Severe/Long-Term Effects

• Coma
• Death due to respiratory failure, heart failure, or cerebral haemorrhage
• Nervous system damage from disrupted neuron communication
• Organ damage (liver, kidney) from chronic alcohol/drug use

Anabolic Steroid Effects (Gender-Specific)

• Decline in academic performance
• Social withdrawal and isolation
• Unexplained changes in mood or behaviour
• Disturbed eating and sleeping patterns
• Aggression or unusual secrecy

• Avoid undue peer pressure – learn to say no confidently
• Education and counselling on health hazards of substance abuse
• Family and peer support - open communication with parents/guardians
• Recognise danger signs early in oneself or peers
• Seek professional/medical help and rehabilitation programmes when needed
• Strong anti-drug-abuse laws and crackdown on peddlers/drug mafia

• Drug abuse is the excessive use of harmful substances, often starting in teenagers due to academic stress, peer pressure, or curiosity.
• Commonly abused substances include opioids, cannabinoids, and prescription medicines, which are also sometimes illegally used by athletes to boost performance.
• Severe health effects of long-term drug use include dangerous organ damage, nervous system failure, coma, and even sudden death.
• Major warning signs of addiction in students include a sudden drop in academic performance, unusual aggression, and severe social isolation.
• Effective prevention involves avoiding negative peer pressure, maintaining open communication with parents, and seeking professional medical help if needed.