2. OUTLINE
• Introduction
• Drug Addiction
• Drug Abuse
• Drugs Of Abuse
• Alcoholism
• Effects of Alcoholism
• Treatment of Alcoholism
• Smoking/Passive Smoking
• How Can I Quit Smoking
• Pharmacist Role
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3. INTRODUCTION
• Addiction is a complex condition, a brain disease that is manifested by compulsive
substance use despite harmful consequence. People with addiction (severe
substance use disorder) have an intense focus on using a certain substance(s),
such as alcohol or drugs, to the point that it takes over their life.
• People can develop an addiction to:
- Alcohol
- Marijuana
- Hallucinogens
- Inhalants, such as, paint thinners and glue
- Opioid pain killers, such as codeine and oxycodone, heroin
- Sedatives, hypnotics and anxiolytics
- Cocaine, methamphetamine and other stimulants
- Tobacco
• People with a substance use disorder have distorted thinking, behavior and body
functions. Changes in the brain’s wiring are what cause people to have intense
cravings for the drug and make it hard to stop using the drug. Brain imaging studies
show changes in the areas of the brain that relate to judgment, decision making,
learning, memory and behavior control.
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4. DRUG ADDICTION
• Drug addiction simply defined as a state in which a
person has lost the power of self control with reference to
a drug and abuses the drug to such an extent that the
person or society were harmed.
• These substances can cause harmful changes in how the
brain functions. These changes can last long after the
immediate effects of the drug — the intoxication.
Intoxication is the intense pleasure, calm, increased
senses or a high caused by the drug. Intoxication
symptoms are different for each substance.
• Over time people with addiction build up a tolerance,
meaning they need larger amounts to feel the effects.
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6. How Does One Become Addicted?
It’s obvious that one must use drug, but at some
point in the initial experimentation stage, the original
motivation of the drug must produce some enjoyable
felling. The user must come to like the effect of the
drug and so use it again, hence they will increase
the timing and frequency of administration which will
lead to tolerance. Once tolerance has developed,
termination of the drug use may or may not produce
physical discomfort known as withdrawal symptoms.
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7. How Does One Become Addicted?
Cont’d…
Most of centrally acting drugs have shown to cause physical
symptoms of withdrawal and are said to produce physical
dependence. At this final stage, the trial of addiction; tolerance,
psychological dependence and physical dependence were
completed and the person is said to be addicted.
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9. Treatment For Drug Addiction
• Treatment can occur in different settings and in different
forms. Basically treatment of addiction is a long term
process that involves multiple intervention and regular
monitoring.
• Medications such as methadone, buprenorphine, and
naltrexone are available for opiates addicted individuals.
• Nicotine preparations(patches, gum, lozenges & nasal
spray) are available for individual addicted to tobacco.
• Disulfiram and Naltrexone available for alcohol
dependence.
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10. DRUG ABUSE/MISUSE
• This is also referred to as substance abuse which is defined
as the use of drug in such a way that is different from the
intended purposes that will cause harm to the health of the
user.
• According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, people
begin taking drugs for a variety of reasons, including:
- to feel good — feeling of pleasure, “high”
- to feel better — e.g., relieve stress
- to do better — improve performance
- curiosity and peer pressure
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11. Risk Factors of Drug Abuse
Certain factors that make one liable to abuse drugs include;
• Continuous use of drugs not recommended by
pharmacist/doctor leading to tolerance.
• Self administration.
• Through diversion from friends and family.
• Internet through the use of online pharmacy
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12. Drug/Substance Of Abuse
Common types of abused drugs in Nigeria
• Stimulant: users at the initial stage experience pleasant
effect such as energy increase e.g. caffeine, cocaine,
methamphetamine, nicotine, energy drinks etc.
• Depressant: (narcotics/non narcotics)they usually relieves
pain, induces sleep and addictive e.g. morphine, codeine,
tramadol, methadone, benzodiazepines (BZDPs) e.g
diazepam, bromazepam
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13. Drug/Substance Of Abuse Cont’d
• Hallucinogens: This class of drug alters the sensory
processing unit in the brain producing distorted
perception, feeling of anxiety, euphoria, sadness and
inner joy e.g. marijuana(cannabis).
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14. WHO Interventions Related To Prevention
Of Drug Abuse
According to WHO interventions related to prevention of drug
abuse
• Primary prevention: This is intended to prevent drug use,
aim at lowering the chances of further individuals starting to
use drugs.
• Secondary prevention: It was aimed to prevent the
occurrence of complications in occasional users.
• Tertiary prevention: Here the focus is on those who make
abusive use of drugs, so as to prevent additional loss of
individual into the society.
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15. ALCOHOLISM
• This is defined as a chronic illness marked by consumption
of alcoholic beverages at a level that interferes with physical
or mental health and social responsibilities.
• Alcoholism is a progressive condition that is indicated by the
existence of four primary symptoms:
1. Craving- the persistent and urge to consume alcohol.
2. Loss of control- the inability to stop, once having started.
3. Physical Dependance- the onset of withdrawal symptoms
such as nausea, insomnia, anxiety, fatigue and emotional
volatility in the absence of alcohol.
4. Tolerance- the need to consume increasingly larger
amounts of alcohol.
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17. Causes Of Alcoholism
•The five most common causes of
alcoholism:
1. Environment.
2. Age.
3. Mental health.
4. Combining substances.
5. Family history
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19. Effects of Alcoholism
Alcohol affect the central nervous system as a depressant,
resulting in a decrease of activity, anxiety, tension and
inhibition.
• Irritation of GIT causing nausea and vomiting.
• Liver diseases(hepatic cirrhosis) may develop
• Increases the risk of cancer of larynx, esophagus, colon
• Sexual dysfunction in men and alteration of menstrual
cycle in women.
• Alcohol consumption during pregnancy can cause
problems in the developing fetus, which may result in
mental retardation of the child.
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20. Effects of Alcoholism
• People who abuse alcohol have a higher incidence of
unemployment and domestic violence.
• Vitamins are not absorbed properly in long term use of
alcohol, which can lead to nutritional deficiencies.
• On withdrawal, withdrawal syndrome develops with
symptoms that may include elevated temperature, increase
in blood pressure, rapid heart rate, restlessness, anxiety,
loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, psychosis, seizures,
and rarely death
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21. Treatment of Alcoholism
Alcohol usually requires a treatment program that includes
medical supervision and counseling.
Detoxification is the first phase of treatment(takes 4-7)days,
balance diet with vitamin supplements are important.
Disulfiram and Naltrexone available for alcohol dependence.
Tranquilizers and sedatives are prescribed to control alcohol
withdrawal symptoms.
A physical examination is performed to identify physical
problems related to alcohol use.
Toxicology screening: blood alcohol level confirms recent
alcohol ingestion.
Liver function test.
Complete blood test.
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22. Treatment of Alcoholism
Support from family and friends of the effected person
after detoxification is necessary to maintain abstinence.
Psychological support, nursing and medical care.
Educating individuals about the disease of alcoholism
and it’s effect is also part of the therapy.
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23. SMOKING
Smoking is so widespread in our society that many think of it as
the prototypical substance of abuse, because it does not
produce disruptive behavior but when you inhale the smoke
from cigarette, you are taking over a thousand different
chemicals into the body system which will effect the mucous
lining of the lungs. These chemicals include carbon monoxide,
phenol, butane, nicotine and ammonia which will pass into the
blood stream. In general, the health consequences of smoking
are devastating.
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24. Smoking Cont’d…
• Smoking is one of the most important preventable causes of
death in our community.
• Smoking is a risk factor for many disease conditions such as
cardiovascular diseases, cancer of the mouth, esophagus,
larynx, kidney and bladder, allergies and peptic ulcer.
• Smokers can appear older than their age due to presence of
wrinkles, as a result of reduction in water content of their skin.
• Passive smoking can cause the following: wheezing,
coughing, and asthma attack, itching and watering of the
eyes
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26. Reasons Why One Should Quit Smoking.
• Health
• Loved ones
• Finance
• Vitality
• Safety.
• your health, your family, your finances,…
what reason could you have not to quit???
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29. Role Of A Pharmacist In Addiction
• Pharmacist play a crucial role in the reduction and
prevention of substance abuse through pharmacist-patient
interaction during psychotropic medication dispensation.
• Pharmacist could act in pharmaceutical care, by promoting
information and applying follow-up protocols for patients in
use of psychoactive drugs
• Could help in multidisciplinary team by providing with
knowledge to other professionals on drugs mechanism of
action, toxic kinetics and dynamics, pharmacological
interaction and adverse reactions
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