Today, June 26, is International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. Coincidentally, the day also marks my first work anniversary as an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at AIIMS Bhubaneswar. A thread about drug use & addiction. #ShareFactsOnDrugs #SaveLives 1/n
Myth: Addiction is a voluntary behavior
Fact: Most people start as occasional users. But something happens as time passes. The person goes from being an occasional user to a compulsive user. Over time, continued drug use produces changes in your brain. #ShareFactsOnDrugs 2/n
Fact: Most people start as occasional users. But something happens as time passes. The person goes from being an occasional user to a compulsive user. Over time, continued drug use produces changes in your brain. #ShareFactsOnDrugs 2/n
At times, the changes are toxic and drastic, while at others, the changes are more subtle. BUT almost always, these changes lead to effects causing uncontrollable/compulsive drug use. #ShareFactsOnDrugs #SaveLives 3/n
Myth: Drug addiction is a character flaw
Fact: An ever-increasing body of scientific evidence suggests that the transition from voluntary use to addiction occurs through a combination of processes, including a series of brain changes/neuroadaptations due to repeated drug use 4/n
Fact: An ever-increasing body of scientific evidence suggests that the transition from voluntary use to addiction occurs through a combination of processes, including a series of brain changes/neuroadaptations due to repeated drug use 4/n
Every drug has its own mechanism for changing brain functions. However, many of these effects are pretty similar across various drugs. These effects include molecular and cellular changes, mood/memory/motivation changes, and motor function changes. 5/n
Due to these changes, drug use, becomes the most powerful and at times sole motivator in that person’s life and existence. Thus, addiction is not a character flaw nor a defect in your personality. Instead, it’s a chronic disease just like Diabetes or Hypertension 6/n
Myth: You just have to use your willpower to quit
Fact: When a person develops an addiction, only willpower is rarely enough. Addiction is no longer a matter of choice. There is such a strong compulsive need to use drugs that people cannot stop despite knowing its harms 7/n
Fact: When a person develops an addiction, only willpower is rarely enough. Addiction is no longer a matter of choice. There is such a strong compulsive need to use drugs that people cannot stop despite knowing its harms 7/n
Myth: Treatment for drug addiction should be a one-shot deal
Fact: Like Hypertension, Addiction is a chronic disorder requiring prolonged treatment. A minor proportion of people can quit drugs cold turkey; most people with addictions require long-term, repeated treatment 8/n
Fact: Like Hypertension, Addiction is a chronic disorder requiring prolonged treatment. A minor proportion of people can quit drugs cold turkey; most people with addictions require long-term, repeated treatment 8/n
Myth: You are a failure if you relapse
Fact: Addiction is a chronic illness with a relapsing-remitting course. Relapse doesn’t mean you are a failure but part and parcel of the illness. It is part of a normal process of recovery. #ShareFactsOnDrugs #SaveLives 9/n
Fact: Addiction is a chronic illness with a relapsing-remitting course. Relapse doesn’t mean you are a failure but part and parcel of the illness. It is part of a normal process of recovery. #ShareFactsOnDrugs #SaveLives 9/n
Viewing relapse as a failure leads to strong negative emotions that are unhealthy/unnecessary, leading to continued drug use. On the contrary, relapse suggests that there is (1) a need for continued treatment or (2) a need for a change in the treatment plan. 10/n
Myth: Addiction affects only certain types of patients
Fact: Addiction is a disease that does not discriminate. It can affect anyone from any race, gender, ethnicity, region, state, family, profession, or socioeconomic strata. #ShareFactsOnDrugs #SaveLives 11/n
Fact: Addiction is a disease that does not discriminate. It can affect anyone from any race, gender, ethnicity, region, state, family, profession, or socioeconomic strata. #ShareFactsOnDrugs #SaveLives 11/n
Myth: Addicts made a wrong choice; it’s their fault
Fact: No one chooses/decides to get addicted to a drug out of their own free will. Even starting/experimenting with drugs doesn’t always happen because one likes the effects. #ShareFactsOnDrugs #SaveLives 12/n
Fact: No one chooses/decides to get addicted to a drug out of their own free will. Even starting/experimenting with drugs doesn’t always happen because one likes the effects. #ShareFactsOnDrugs #SaveLives 12/n
Multiple factors increase the risk of starting a drug or developing an addiction, many of which are not under one’s control, such as being born in a dysfunctional family. Not all drug use leads to addiction. #ShareFactsOnDrugs #SaveLives 13/n
Myth: Marijuana/Cannabis/Ganja is not addictive.
Fact: The chances of developing an addiction to different drugs are different for each person. In case of cannabis, one in around 11 people who use it become addicted. #ShareFactsOnDrugs #SaveLives 14/n
Fact: The chances of developing an addiction to different drugs are different for each person. In case of cannabis, one in around 11 people who use it become addicted. #ShareFactsOnDrugs #SaveLives 14/n
Myth: Cannabis is harmless
Fact: Cannabis use affects brain and causes problems in thinking, problem solving, memory, reaction time, attention, and learning. Cannabis is also associated with chronic cough, bronchitis, and other lung problems. #ShareFactsOnDrugs #SaveLives 15/n
Fact: Cannabis use affects brain and causes problems in thinking, problem solving, memory, reaction time, attention, and learning. Cannabis is also associated with chronic cough, bronchitis, and other lung problems. #ShareFactsOnDrugs #SaveLives 15/n
Sources: NIDA, NIAAA, UNODC, other gov websites and own reading.
Myth: Legal substances are less harmful than illegal ones.
Fact: legality of a substance has nothing/very little to do with its harmfulness. In fact legal substances such as alcohol, tobacco and volatile solvents are amongst the most harmful substances of use. 16/n
Fact: legality of a substance has nothing/very little to do with its harmfulness. In fact legal substances such as alcohol, tobacco and volatile solvents are amongst the most harmful substances of use. 16/n
Myth: Cigarette filter makes it safer to smoke.
Fact: Filter does not lead to less harm. A filter is designed to make smoke particles smaller, thus making them easier to absorb. This leads to more addiction. 17/n
Fact: Filter does not lead to less harm. A filter is designed to make smoke particles smaller, thus making them easier to absorb. This leads to more addiction. 17/n
Myth: Nicotine is the most toxic ingredients in cigarettes
Fact: It is the other substances in cigarettes that cause the most harm. Nicotine, on the other hand, is associated with addiction part. Nicotine replacement therapy is a treatment strategy in tobacco addiction 18/n
Fact: It is the other substances in cigarettes that cause the most harm. Nicotine, on the other hand, is associated with addiction part. Nicotine replacement therapy is a treatment strategy in tobacco addiction 18/n
Myth: Smoking few cigarettes a day is harmless.
Fact: No amount of smoking is harmless. In fact, smoking even 1-3 cigarettes is also associated with an increased risk of lung cancer, heart diseases, and other ailments. 19/n
Fact: No amount of smoking is harmless. In fact, smoking even 1-3 cigarettes is also associated with an increased risk of lung cancer, heart diseases, and other ailments. 19/n
Myth: Admission to rehab centers is the only way forward.
Fact: Most patients with addiction do not require inpatient treatment and can be managed by outpatient treatment. Many forms of treatment are available depending on the severity of the addiction.
20/n
The end!
Fact: Most patients with addiction do not require inpatient treatment and can be managed by outpatient treatment. Many forms of treatment are available depending on the severity of the addiction.
20/n
The end!
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