WE CARE

Dave was not the type of guy to give up easily but even he knew that this time around he was running out of options and most importantly time. Another day had passed and still no job, not even a place to drop his cv and check back later. It was the same story everywhere: NO VACANCY!. He was beginning to panic, his children had been sent home from school the previous day but that wasn’t even the biggest problem, his landlord’s words kept echoing in his head “there would be no more 1 more week after this week”. Where was he supposed to get the money?? Even Jessica was beginning to act strangely at home. Well you cant blame a woman who has had to single-handedly provide for her children and husband for nagging…he thought. She can only endure for….

 

PPPPRRRTTTT!!!! the sound of the horn from the incoming vehicle brought him back to reality. Just in time for him to realize he had walked past the turning that would lead him on to the street that had his now favorite spot, his new found ‘home’: Iya silifa bar.

 

He was 8 bottles in. he never used to go beyond 4, even on his worst days, 6 was the highest. But today the liquor wasn’t intoxicating, the sedative feeling wasn’t coming. He had come here to drown his sorrows but they seemed to be floating like the foam on his cup when he poured his beer in. Alcohol wasn’t working anymore, he had outgrown the effects or maybe they had outgrown him, who knows. But it was time to find something else. He needed his peace, he needed pleasure and the only way was to get high. It was time to move on to something ‘higher’ or he would probably just take his life and say hello to the most high…

 

 

DID YOU KNOW???:

 

-         5% OF PEOPLE (approximately 230million people) USE AN ILLICIT SUBSTANCE AND ABOUT 27 MILLION OF THIS HAVE RECURRENT DRUG USE CAUSING HARM TO THEIR HEALTH.

 

 

-         IN 2013 DRUG USE DISORDERS RESULTED IN 127000 DEATHS. THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF DEATHS BEING CAUSED BY OPIOD USE DISORDER FOLLOWED BY COCAINE USE DISORDERS WHILE ALCOHOL USE DISORDER CAUSED AN ADDITIONAL 139000 DEATHS.

 

 

 

WHAT IS SELF MEDICATION?

Self-medication is a human behavior in which an individual uses a substance or any exogenous influence to self-administer treatment for physical or psychological ailments. Generally speaking, self-medication is defined as "the use of drugs to treat self-diagnosed disorders or symptoms, or the intermittent or continued use of a prescribed drug for chronic or recurrent disease or symptoms". The most widely self-medicated substances are over-the-counter drugs used to treat common health issues at home, as well as dietary supplements. These do not require a doctor's prescription to obtain and, in some countries, are available in supermarkets and convenience.

Self-medication is often seen as gaining personal independence from established medicine, and it can be seen as a human right, implicit in, or closely related to the right to refuse professional medical treatment.

Some mental illness sufferers attempt to correct their illnesses by use of certain drugs. Depression is often self-medicated with alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, or other mind-altering drug use. While this may provide immediate relief of some symptoms such as anxiety, it may evoke and/or exacerbate some symptoms of several kinds of mental illnesses that are already latently present, and may lead to addiction/ dependence, among other side effects of long-term use of the drug. Due to the different effects of the different classes of drugs, the SMH postulates that the appeal of a specific class of drugs differs from person to person. In fact, some drugs may be aversive for individuals for whom the effects could worsen affective deficits.

 

CNS DEPRESSANTS

Alcohol and sedative / hypnotic drugs, such as barbiturates and benzodiazepines, are central nervous system (CNS) depressants that lower inhibitions via anxiolytics. Depressants produce feelings of relaxation and sedation, while relieving feelings of depression and anxiety. Though they are generally ineffective antidepressants, as most are short-acting, the rapid onset of alcohol and sedative/hypnotics softens rigid defenses, and in low to moderate doses, provides relief from depressive affect and anxiety.

As alcohol also lowers inhibitions, alcohol is also hypothesized to be used by those who normally constrain emotions by attenuating intense emotions in high or obliterating doses, which allows them to express feelings of affection, aggression and closeness. People with social anxiety disorder commonly use these drugs to overcome their highly set inhibitions.

 

PSYCHOSTIMULANTS

Psycho-stimulants, such as cocaine, amphetamines, methylphenidate, caffeine, and nicotine, produce improvements in physical and mental functioning, including increased energy and feelings of euphoria . Stimulants tend to be used by individuals who experience depression, to reduce anhedonia and increase self-esteem. The SMH also hypothesizes that hyperactive and hypomanic individuals use stimulants to maintain their restlessness and heighten euphoria. Additionally, stimulants are useful to individuals with social anxiety by helping individuals break through their inhibitions.

 

OPIATES

Opiates, such as heroin and morphine, function as an analgesic by binding to opioid receptors in the brain and

Gastrointestinal tract. This binding reduces the perception of and reaction to pain, while also increasing pain tolerance. Opiates are hypothesized to be used as self-medication for aggression and rage. Opiates are effective anxiolytics, mood stabilizers, and anti-depressants, however, people tend to self-medicate anxiety and depression with depressants and stimulants respectively, though this is by no means an absolute analysis.

 

CANNABIS

Cannabis is paradoxical in that it simultaneously produces stimulating, sedating and mildly psychedelic properties and both anxiolytic or anxiogenic properties, depending on the individual and circumstances of use. Depressant properties are more obvious in occasional users, and stimulating properties are more common in chronic users.

 

The risks that are associated with self-medication include:

·         Inaccurate diagnosis

·         Using inappropriate medications that cause side effects

·         Masking the symptoms of a serious condition

·         Delaying medical advice

·         Inaccurate dosage that leads to accidental overdose

·         Mixing medications that are not safe to mix, which may result in legal costs or health concerns

·         Risk of abuse

·         Risk of developing an addiction or several addictions

In the worst-case scenario, self-medicating can lead to severe health conditions or even death.

 

SUBSTANCE ABUSE, also known as drug abuse, is a patterned use of a drug in which the user consumes the substance in amounts or with methods which are harmful to themselves or others, and is a form of substance-related disorder. In some cases criminal or anti-social behaviour occurs when the person is under the influence of a drug, and long term personality changes in individuals may occur as well. In addition to possible physical, social, and psychological harm, use of some drugs may also lead to criminal penalties, although these vary widely depending on the local jurisdiction. Drugs most often associated with this term include: alcohol, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, cannabis, cocaine, methaqualone, opioids and substituted amphetamines.

The exact cause of substance abuse is not clear, with theories including one of two: either a genetic disposition which is learned from others, or a habit which if addiction develops, it manifests itself as a chronic debilitating disease.

 

In summary self medication and substance abuse are two very dangerous behaviors that can cause damages and problems in the life of an individual. We at AIESEC in Lagos in line with the United Nations SDG Goal 3 seek to ensure healthy lives and promote well being by enlightening the youths of today of the dangers involved as well as empowering them to take charge of their health.   

WE CARE is an initiative of the IGV(Incoming Global Volunteer) functional area of AIESEC in Lagos.



 

 It is time to be that change we want to see...It is time to create a lasting impact on our immediate environment and community...We are AIESEC!, it is time to show that WE CARE!.

                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                         WRITTEN BY:
                                                           ONWUTA OYINYE AND ADEBOLA DAMILARE OF MAC.