Ust-Labinsk Central District Hospital

Content:

1. What causes substance abuse
2. Who is most likely to become a substance abuser?
3. Formation of substance abuse
4. Symptoms of substance abuse
5. Features of the effects of certain types of surfactants in substance abuse
6. Consequences of substance abuse
7. Treatment of substance abuse

Substance abuse is a variant of dependence on psychoactive substances (PAS) that are not included in the list of drugs. At its core, this is one of the types of drug addiction. Both drug addicts and substance abusers suffer from mental and physical addiction, deteriorate over time, and suffer complications in the form of mental problems, chronic diseases of internal organs and the nervous system. The medical department provides diagnosis and treatment of people suffering from substance abuse, subsequent rehabilitation and prevention of breakdowns.

Impact of toxic substances on the body

After about a couple of months of use, withdrawal syndrome develops—the person feels physical and mental pain due to stopping use.

Toxins affect this:

1. They destroy the vitamins and minerals that the body needs to function properly. Vitamins and minerals are necessary to maintain immunity (against viruses and bacteria), for strong bones and healthy teeth and hair, for strong and elastic vascular walls, and so on. If there is not enough nutrition, problems with the body begin, which are expressed in an unhealthy appearance, and in malaise, pain and discomfort.
2. Some toxins are removed, and some are deposited in tissues, especially fatty tissues. And even years after a person has stopped using, they can have an effect. Particles of toxins enter the bloodstream and cause fatigue, aggression and even hallucinations. They cloud the mind. A person cannot concentrate, cannot remember something. He may get irritated over small things and even feel physical pain. And he will not realize that the problem is toxins that have entered the blood - those that he took many years ago.

An effect such as euphoria occurs in an unnatural way. In an attempt to deal with toxins that have entered, the body speeds up its metabolism to remove them faster. The work of the heart and other organs accelerates. A person feels a surge of strength and, as a result, an emotional uplift.

Toxins affect the mind. The mind is a computer that helps us solve life's problems. This computer stores and uses memories. A person “remembers” everything that happens in his life. These memories record everything: what a person saw, heard, felt, what he thought about, what decisions he made. Toxins confuse memories to such an extent that they become like a puzzle that was put together haphazardly, and these confusing “pictures” pop up before a person’s eyes - these are hallucinations. Unfortunately, the confusion of memories is not restored when the drug wears off. Therefore, people suffering from substance abuse continue to suffer from mental problems. They have poor memory, it is difficult for them to concentrate, they have fog in their heads, they confuse actions and events, their behavior and decisions are unreasonable because of this.

What causes substance abuse

When treating addictions in adolescents, narcologists have to deal with patients who inhale toxic fumes from household and industrial chemicals. To obtain a hallucinogenic and intoxicating effect, drug addicts most often use products containing:

• xylene;
• toluene;
• benzene;
• perchlorethylene;
• trichlorethylene;
• trichloroethane.

These substances are highly toxic, change human consciousness, damage the intellect, and, as a rule, are part of:

• glue;
• ether;
• paint and varnish products;
• gasoline;
• domestic gas;
• solvents, stain removers;
• washing powders, fabric softeners.

All funds are available and inexpensive.

Causes of substance abuse

It is difficult to single out any one reason for the development of substance abuse in adolescents. Rather, it makes sense to talk about a combination of various factors due to which a person becomes a substance abuser.

These factors include:

• character traits (infantilism, emotional disturbances, passivity, a high degree of dependence on the opinions of others, selfishness);
• insufficient level of educational work among schoolchildren about the dangers of substance abuse;
• low level of intelligence;
• inability to organize your leisure time, idleness, lack of knowledge of what to do;
• depression, loss of interest in life;
• the desire to experience new sensations, to try everything in life;
• dysfunctional family situation;
• getting into bad company, where substance abuse is considered the norm and a number of others.

The main reason why inhaling various toxic liquids is so attractive to some teenagers is the hallucinations that resemble dreams and the feeling of euphoria that occurs after inhaling glue or solvent.

WHO IS MOST OFTEN TO BECOME A TOXIC ADICATOR

The main consumers of toxic compounds with narcotic effects are children and adolescents aged 12-14 years. Adults rarely suffer from this type of addiction.

The risk group includes:

• Children growing up without parents, from dysfunctional families.
• Teenagers who fell under the influence of subcultural groups.
• Boys and girls who are inclined to imitate certain authorities.
• Young people with mental underdevelopment and other psychopathology.

Formation of substance abuse

The main route of ingestion of toxic substances is inhalation of vapors. Vivid hallucinatory visions do not always occur when first used. Most often, the symptoms of poisoning come to the fore:

• nausea;
• weakness;
• vomit;
• headache;
• bad feeling.

But in cases where a drug addict persistently continues to use a psychoactive substance, the signs of poisoning gradually disappear, and euphoric experiences take on leading importance. The attraction becomes stronger every time. To form a mental form of addiction, it is enough to experience the “high” only 5-6 times. Over time, the body gets used to the constant presence of psychochemicals. Toxic symptoms subside, incoordination of movements disappears. Euphorization becomes more pronounced and occurs earlier. The dose required to achieve intoxication increases 2-3 times (the addiction stage is underway).

Outwardly, the substance abuser begins to show personality degradation. Observed:

• narrowing the range of interests;
• desire to be alone;
• directing all desires to search for the next portion of a chemical psychotropic drug.

Signs of substance abuse in adults and teenagers

Substance abuse can often be recognized by its external signs. A person loses weight and acquires an unhealthy skin color. Due to liver damage, jaundice of the skin is possible, the eyes “glaze over” and become sunken. Chronic intoxication leads to the appearance of ulcers on the mucous membranes and skin: when inhaling gas or glue vapors, the area around the nose becomes covered with erosions.

Human behavior also changes. There is a sharp degradation of personality, inhibition, decreased intellectual functions, inadequate mental reactions, secrecy and aggression.

Symptoms of substance abuse

Addiction forms very quickly. Clinical manifestations of toxic effects depend on the stage of anesthesia:

1. At the first stage, against the background of inhalation of vapors, euphoric sensations arise, similar to alcohol intoxication and characteristic of the first stage of the process. The drug addict's mood rises, a feeling of comfort arises, a slight stupor appears, warmth in the body, slight dizziness with noise. If you stop inhaling vapors during this phase, the condition will quickly return to normal.
2. As inspiration continues, lightness appears in the body, carelessness and carelessness. Unreasonable joy gives you the opportunity to have fun and laugh just like that.
3. The third stage is characterized by the appearance of “cartoons”. Hallucinatory visions are filled with a variety of sounds and colors. Even after stopping inhalation of psychoactive compounds, symptoms continue for about 2 hours. Euphorization gradually turns into depression, weakness, lethargy, and physical fatigue.

Features of the effects of certain types of surfactants in substance abuse

Based on external changes, one can draw conclusions about what substance the patient is under the influence of.
Each chemical compound has its own characteristic manifestations:

• Gasoline is characterized by intoxication 8-12 minutes after inhalation. The entry of fumes into the lungs is accompanied by coughing and sore throat. After their disappearance, an accelerated heartbeat, redness of the facial skin, dilated pupils, incoordination and unsteadiness of gait appear. The next stage is delirium and hallucinatory visions against a background of euphoria.
• Inhaling acetone is characterized by an instant euphoric reaction, disorientation and hallucinatory colorful symptoms, often with erotic content.
• When inhaling glue, euphoria and hallucinations occur when the bag is placed on the head. It is this factor that causes sad consequences - suffocation.
• When exposed to solvents, mood swings are observed - joy is often replaced by attacks of malice and anger.

After the cessation of the intake of psychoactive substances into the body, weakness, nausea and loss of strength develop.

Prevention of substance abuse

The main measures to prevent substance abuse are:

• developing motivation among adolescents to change their behavior;
• promotion of healthy lifestyles;
• correctional programs;
• various educational and developmental programs that distract a child from the street and reduce the chances of becoming a substance abuser;
• normal microclimate in the family, school;
• informing teenagers about the harm this addiction causes to the body;
• playing sports, giving up a sedentary lifestyle.

Health to you and your children!

Consequences of substance abuse

Without timely treatment of substance abuse, regular use of psychoactive substances leads to loss of vital interests and failure to fulfill responsibilities.

Children and adolescents develop mental and somatic disorders:

• reduced body weight;
• brittle nails and hair loss;
• sallow color and puffiness of the face;
• reduced intelligence.

Withdrawal syndrome develops after 3-6 months of regular use of psychotropic substances.

Withdrawal is accompanied by:

• aggressiveness and malice;
• sleep disorders;
• decreased appetite;
• constant dilation of the pupils;
• tremor of the arms and legs, local convulsions;
• depression and anxiety.

The withdrawal syndrome lasts about 2 weeks. Mental dependence can take much longer to make itself felt.

Substance abuse: consequences for the human body

If we consider the physiological processes of a person with substance abuse, the consequences for the body can be unpredictable - even death.
The functioning of the lungs, central nervous system, heart, and brain is disrupted in a drug addict. Absolutely all organs suffer, and some processes are irreversible. For example, in the case of the occurrence of such serious diseases as: cirrhosis of the liver, bone marrow damage, etc. The harm of substance abuse on the human body when consuming certain chemicals (for example, gasoline) is as great as with heroin addiction. Addiction makes a person disabled, and then leads to death.

Treatment of substance abuse

Getting rid of the disease begins with a visit to a narcologist. After the examination, the patient is sent to a narcological hospital.

Treatment of addiction to toxic substances takes place in several stages:

• Cleansing the body and relieving withdrawal symptoms. Medical detoxification includes infusion-drip therapy. Droppers are placed for several days until complete removal of toxins is achieved.
• Medicinal cleansing is complemented by procedures of laser blood irradiation, plasmapheresis, hemodialysis, hemosorption, and xenon therapy.
• Maintenance pharmacotherapy. The patient receives injections of vitamins, nootropics, hepatoprotectors, and metabolic agents.
• Psychotropic therapy. To relieve symptoms of mental disorders, the following are added to the course of treatment: antidepressants, tranquilizers, antipsychotics.
• Additional methods are acupuncture, electrical stimulation.
• Psychotherapy. When treating substance abuse, individual and group psychocorrection, hypnosis, and cognitive-behavioral techniques are prescribed. Relatives (most often parents of adolescent substance abusers) are involved in psychotherapeutic sessions.
• Coding. The most effective results in the treatment of addiction are provided by stress therapy methods according to Dovzhenko.

The final stage is rehabilitation, aimed at consolidating the results of therapy and preventing possible breakdowns. Narco has its own programs for the resocialization of people suffering from substance abuse. The prognosis for recovery from substance abuse depends on timely consultation with a specialist. The earlier therapy begins, the better its results will be.

The text was checked by expert doctors: Head of the socio-psychological service of the Alkoklinik MC, psychologist Yu.P. Baranova, L.A. Serova, a psychiatrist-narcologist.

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Diagnosis of substance abuse

If parents have the slightest suspicion that their child is using toxic or narcotic drugs, they must immediately contact a drug treatment clinic and have the teenager examined.

Diagnostic measures for suspected substance abuse include a psychiatric examination and a number of laboratory tests.

Due to the fact that the dose of an inhaled toxic substance is eliminated from the body quite quickly, it is almost impossible to make a diagnosis based on the patient’s appearance, and it is also quite problematic to determine the toxic substance that a teenager uses to achieve a state of euphoria.

We can talk about the development of substance abuse if the following signs are present:

• the person becomes irritable, secretive, aggressive;
• he tries to get the next dose of the toxic substance by any means;
• To obtain the desired effect, the patient needs to constantly increase the dose of the substance taken, while the period of exposure to the chemicals on the body is reduced.

To confirm the diagnosis, a toxicological analysis of the patient’s urine and blood is performed.