CyberDodo fights against drug abuse (2-26)

What are drugs? 1/2

The word "drug" is generally described as a natural or synthetic substance with psychotropic effects that is used with the aim of feeling pleasure and which will create dependency for its consumer. This dependency is established as in fact after a while, it is difficult to stop consuming this substance.

In this case file, we will exclusively talk about products whose consumption and sale are legally forbidden, according to a list which may vary greatly depending on the country. Readers will therefore understand that a product described here as a drug may be classified differently in their countries, because legislation in this domain is not identical throughout the planet.

A significant distinction must be made about "legal drugs", tobacco, alcohol and certain medication, because their consumption can produce similar effects to drugs termed as "illegal". On the subject of the dangers linked to cigarettes, see the case file focusing on this subject.

Examples of drugs

This generic term groups together several substances with varied effects:

Cannabis, Cocaine, Glue, Hallucinogenic Mushrooms, Crack, Ecstasy, Heroin, LSD, Solvents; these are all written with a capital letter because their consumption is dangerous.

How do people become drug addicts?

Addictions always start with "trying out" something which seems to have no consequences. Generally a friend offers the child the opportunity to try out a certain product. At this time, it rarely consists of drugs considered to be "hard" drugs, and often cannabis is the first to be tried out.

The pleasant effects that the child feels, combined with a festive feeling, which is generally the scope of his first contact with the drug, will incite him to try it again.

The frequency varies a lot from one individual to another, factors such as timidity, a lack of confidence in self, a certain discontentment or a difficult personal or family situation, etc. can markedly increase consumption. However, at this stage, the child no longer feels he is in danger, because he thinks he can stop consuming the drugs at any time.

But even though the choice to stop effectively exists for most children who know how to control themselves, numerous others are gradually going to slide into a state of dependency which is going to lead them to consume more and more, then gradually the effects they are seeking will diminish as they become accustomed to it, they increase the doses, use several substances and finally try increasingly ‘harder' drugs.

This irrepressible desire for drugs that are increasingly expensive and a danger to their personal development will push certain children to do illegal things so as to be able to fund the cost of their consumption. The state of loss for them justifies all the mistakes and desocialises them more and more.

Not to mention the effect on their health.

Comment: the constant increase in alcohol consumption among children (Remember, the Convention considers all human beings aged less than 18 years old to be children) and their significant effects on the body encourages drug taking, as it breaks the taboo of "forbidden or dangerous products".