Acknowledgement

I Padmaja Shandilya have put in efforts to

complete this project, however, it would not have
been possible without the kind support and help
of many individuals. I would like to extend my
sincere thanks to all of them.
Furthermore I would also like to acknowledge
with much appreciation, the crucial role of the
staff of Shree Vasishtha Vidhyalaya, who gave the
permission to use all required equipment and the
necessary materials to complete the task
“investigatory project”. Next, many thanks go to
the head of the project, Ms. Sapna Trivedi who
has invested her full effort in guiding me in
achieving the goal. I have to appreciate the
guidance given by supervisor Ms Rashmi Khan as
well as the panels especially in our project
presentation that has improved my presentation
skills, thanks to their comment and advices. Also
I would like to thank my parents and friends who
helped me a lot in finalizing this project within
the limited time frame.
Contents
What is Drug Addiction?
Drug Abuse Vs. Drug Addiction
Commonly Abused Substance
Opioids
Cocaine
Nicotine
Cannabinoids
Barbiturates
Drug Abuse Prevention
Effects of Drug on Body and Brain
Death Rate due to Drug Addiction in India
 Drug Addiction

"An over-indulgence of anything,

even something as pure as water,
can intoxicate.”
What is drug addiction?
Addiction is a disease that affects your brain and
behaviour. When you’re addicted to drugs, you can’t
resist the urge to use them, no matter how much
harm the drugs may cause.
Drug addiction isn’t about just heroin, cocaine, or
other illegal drugs. You can get addicted to alcohol,
nicotine, opioid, painkillers and other legal
substances.
At first, you may choose to take a drug because you
like the way it makes you feel. You may think you
can control how much and how often you use it. But
over time, drugs change how your brain works.
These physical changes can last a long time. They
make you lose self-control and can lead you to
damaging behaviours.
There are a range of genetic and environmental
risk factors for developing an addiction that vary
across the population. Roughly half of an
individual's risk for developing an addiction is
derived from genetics, while the other half is
derived from the environment. However, even in
individuals with a relatively low genetic loading,
exposure to sufficiently high doses of an addictive
drug for a long period of time (e.g., weeks–
months) can result in an addiction. In other words,
anyone can become an addict under the right
circumstances.

“Addiction is the only prison where the

locks are on the inside.”
What Are the Differences Between Drug Abuse
and Addiction?
Many people use the terms drugs abuse and drug addiction
interchangeably, even though they are very different terms.
If you are struggling with drugs in your life, it’s important
for you to know the difference between these two terms so
you can seek the right treatment. Only then, when you
identify your problem, will you begin to make the first
steps towards your recovery.

Although drug abuse and drug addiction are different

terms, they are related. Drug abuse refers to using drugs
even though it has become a problem in your life. You may
have begun using drugs without any noticeable negative
consequences, but as you continued to abuse drugs, the
negative consequences became more apparent.

People addicted to substance and people who abuse

substances are different. While both have adverse effects
on an individual’s life, knowing the difference between
abuses us addiction will help you understand and remedy
the situation. Those who abuse drugs and alcohol still have
control over their lives, while those with an addiction have
a disease that affects many aspects of their life. People with
addiction may seem to have only abuse problem, when in
reality their life is beginning to fall apart. Similarly, those
with an abuse problem might seem like they have an
addiction, but they are actually in control of their
substance use.
Commonly abused substance

Opioids

Opioids are narcotics that act on opioid receptors to

produce morphine-like effects. Medically they are
primarily used for pain relief including
anaesthesia. Other medical uses include suppression
of diarrhoea, replacement therapy for opioid use
disorder, reversing opioid overdose, suppressing
cough, suppressing opioid induced constipation, as well
as for executions in the United States. Opioids are also
frequently used non-medically for
their euphoric effects or to prevent withdrawal.

Morphine is an Opioid that is naturally found within the

Opium poppy plant. Among the natural Opioids found
within the poppy, Morphine is the most abundant and
potent, making it a popular pain reliever since its
discovery. It is used to relieve moderate to severe pain,
usually after surgery or traumatic injury.
 Cocaine

Cocaine, also known as coke, is a strong stimulant . It is

commonly snorted, inhaled as smoke, or dissolved and
injected into a vein. Mental effects may include loss of
contact with reality, an intense feeling of happiness,
or agitation. Physical symptoms may include a fast
heart rate, sweating, and large pupils. High doses can
result in very high blood pressure or body
temperature. Cocaine is addictive due to its effect on
the reward pathway in the brain. Its use also increases
the risk of stroke, myocardial infarction, lung problems
in those who smoke it, blood infections, and sudden
cardiac death. Following repeated doses a person may
have decreased ability to feel pleasure and be very
physically tired.
 Nicotine

Nicotine is the most well-known chemical found in

tobacco. It’s an alkaloid, which means it contains
nitrogen and is chemically similar to things like caffeine
and cocaine.
This increases blood pressure and heart rate. It is found
in cigarettes, tobacco. Smoking increase the carbon
monoxide concentration content in the blood and
reduces concentration of haem bound oxygen.
Nicotine’s effects are the result of its ability to bind to
certain receptors in the brain. When the nicotine binds
to the receptors in your brain, it stimulates the release
of “neurotransmitters.” These are like chemical
messengers used by the brain to send signals, with the
most well-known being dopamine.
 Cannabinoids

Cannabis is derived from the dried flowering tops, leaves, stems,

and seeds of the Cannabis sativa plant. Cannabis has been used
for hundreds of years by humans for fibre, seed, medical
treatment, and recreationally.

Cannabinoids exert their effects by interacting with specific

cannabinoid receptors present on the surface of cell. These
receptors are found in different parts of the central nervous
system and the two main types of cannabinoid receptors in the
body are CB1 and CB2.

The combinations of cannabinoids and terpenes give different

strains their unique qualities, such as making you more alert,
elated, focused, relaxed, or sleepy.
 BARBITURATES

A Barbiturate is a drug that acts as a central nervous

system depressant, and can therefore produce a wide
spectrum of effects, from mild sedation to death. They are
effective as anxiolytics, hypnotics, and anticonvulsants, but
have physical and psychological addiction potential. They
have largely been replaced by benzodiazepines in routine
medical practice, particularly in the treatment of anxiety
and insomnia.

A class of drugs known as benzodiazepines has largely

replaced barbiturates for both medical and recreational
use. Benzodiazepines have less severe side effects and are
not as likely to result in accidental overdose as
barbiturates. Examples of benzodiazepines include Valium
and Ativan.
 Drug Abuse Prevention
Education is Key

Drug abuse prevention begins with education, spreading the

word regarding the dangers of drugs to oneself and to the
community. These programs are just the beginning.
Drug abuse prevention begins with education, spreading the
word regarding the dangers of drugs to oneself and to the
community. These programs are just the beginning. The
information provided is most effective when it is followed up
with continued support. Drug prevention programs seek to
involve the family, community or workplace in the
prevention process. To be effective, communities need to
sustain the progress. This often requires continued
leadership and financial support.

Drug abuse has a pervasive effect on an entire community.

Understanding drug use risk factors and spreading the word
through prevention programs is the best defence against
drug abuse.
 Parental monitoring has been the most effective way to
slow the expansion of drugs in family situations.
 School drug prevention programs serve a valuable purpose
in first time users aged 12-17.
 Schools with strict compliance rules and counselling
support have been successful at reducing usage.
 Programs should make sure to address all aspects of drug
abuse. This includes underage use of legal drugs such as
alcohol and tobacco, illicit street drugs, inhalants and the
inappropriate use of legal drugs such as prescription and
over the counter drugs.
 These programs must also be tailored to the specific needs
of the audience. Having specialized programs for different
genders, ages, cultures and ethnicities only make the
programs more effective.
 Family Based Drug Prevention.
The prevention of drug abuse should start inside the
family unit as early as possible. There are many obvious
benefits of home based drug prevention education
including self-awareness, and the enhancement of
parent-child communication skills and family bonding.
Parental supervision and involvement are critical in
adolescents. Parents must not only have a plan to
educate their children on the dangers of drug use and
abuse, but they must also establish and enforce family
rules. This includes creating an effective system of
monitoring their children's activities.
  School Based Drug Abuse Prevention Programs.
Drug abuse prevention should be addressed as early as
preschool. Preschool children can benefit from learning
how to handle aggression, solve problems, and
communicate better so that they can avoid putting
themselves at risk for drug abuse later in life. Middle and
high school programs should focus on peer relationships,
communication, assertiveness, drug resistance skills and
developing anti-drug attitudes. School based prevention
programs should be repeated often for the best level of
success.
 Community Based Drug Abuse Prevention
Programs. Communities that make an effort to come
together in the fight against drugs are sure to make an
impact in the prevention of drug abuse. There are many
places to establish these prevention programs including
schools, churches and community based clubs.

“First you take a drink, then the drink takes a drink,

then the drink takes you.”
Effects of Drug Abuse and Addiction
Drugs are chemicals that affect the body and brain.
Different drugs can have different effects. Some effects
of drugs include health consequences that are long-
lasting and even permanent. They can even continue
after a person has stopped taking the substance.
Today, more than 7 million people suffer from an illicit
drug disorder, and one in four deaths results from illicit
drug use. In fact, more deaths, illnesses and disabilities
stem from effects of drug abuse than from any other
preventable health condition. People suffering from
drug and alcohol addiction also have a higher risk of
unintentional injuries, accidents and domestic violence
incidents.
Health Problems
The impact of drug abuse and dependence can be far-
reaching, affecting almost every organ in the human
body. Drug use can:
 Weaken the immune system, increasing
susceptibility to infections.
 Cause cardiovascular conditions ranging from
abnormal heart rate to heart attacks. Injected drugs
can also lead to collapsed veins and infections of the
blood vessels and heart valves.
 Cause nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.
 Cause the liver to have to work harder, possibly
causing significant damage or liver failure.
 Cause seizures, stroke and widespread brain damage
that can impact all aspects of daily life by causing
problems with memory, attention and decision-
making, including sustained mental confusion and
permanent brain damage.
 Produce global body changes such as breast
development in men, dramatic fluctuations in
appetite and increases in body temperature, which
may impact a variety of health conditions.

Effects on the Brain

Although initial drug use may be voluntary, drugs have

been shown to alter brain chemistry, which interferes
with an individual's ability to make decisions and can
lead to compulsive craving, seeking and use. This then
becomes a substance dependency.
 All drugs of abuse - nicotine, cocaine, marijuana, and
others - effect the brains "reward" circuit, which is
part of the limbic system.
 Drugs hijack this "reward" system, causing unusually
large amounts of dopamine to flood the system.
 This flood of dopamine is what causes the "high" or
euphoria associated with drug abuse.
Behavioural Problems
 Paranoia
 Aggressiveness
 Hallucinations
 Addiction
 Impaired Judgment
 Impulsiveness
 Loss of Self-Control
 Death Rate due to Drugs Addiction in
India

According to the National Crime Records Bureau, there

were 3,647 such suicide cases in India in 2014, of which
Maharashtra reported the highest, at 1,372. This was
followed by Tamil Nadu, with 552 cases and Kerala, with
475.Punjab reported 38 such cases.
“the unFortunate thing about this
world is that good habits are so much
easier to up than bad ones.”
Bibliography
NCERT Biology
www.wikipedia.com
www.icbse.com