Would you like to be Healthy, Active 9 and Alive

Item

Title
Would you like to be
Healthy, Active 9
and Alive
extracted text
Do You Want
To Be
A

Smoker
Alcoholic
Drug addict?
OR

Would you like to be

Healthy, Active 9
and Alive
•

/

Remember

cfboice fo only, y&UMl

WHAT EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW ?
“ Perhaps the greatest feature which distinguishes man from other
animals is his desire to take medicine.” Sir William Oster said. In
the majority of occasions man takes it on the advice of a physician.
But. from time immemorial, there are people who take drugs on their
own, mainly for pleasure or to avoid or decrease pain, discomfort or
frustration. Drug abuse is the product of an extra-ordinary complex
interaction between man (the host) and his community (the
environment). Drug abuse by students in secondary schools, colleges
and universities is a more serious problem, because these students fomi
tire core from which the leadership in all walks of life will eventually
emerge, hi fact, it is the abuse of drugs by students that is largely
responsible for widespread attention which the problem has begun to
receive at present.

REASONS FOR USING DRUGS
Curiosity satisfaction
Boredom
“nfluence of friends
’o belong to the ‘ in ’ groups
' 1 heighten sensation

To escape harsh relationships
To stay awake late at night
To elevate the mood
To sleep well
Lack of family control

■DRUGS DIFFERENT NAMES
Lmphetamines
lexedrins, Methcdrine
'eppills, purple hearts, speed etc.
arbiturates
[andrax, Seconal, Sedatives etc.
annabis type. Marijuana, Goof balls, Ganja, Grass, Hashish, Pot, Shit,
haras, Cocaine, Pethidine, Opiate type, Opium, Morphine, Heroin,
allucinogen, Mescaline, LSD, Acid,
dn killers, Aspirin, Anacin, APC, Codeine etc.
Estimated number of Drug Addicts 2 Lakhs
inual Rate of Increase 15,000.”

COMMUNITY HEALTH CuLL
47/1,(First Floor)St. Marks Road
BANGALORE - 660 001

Smoking, Alcohol and Drugs
Definition

Drugs and Alcohol which are used to escape from
a particular situation are referred to as a form of
“ Chemical Escapism.” However, young people first
start smoking and the proof of this as being socially (if
not biologically) addictive is seen in the next “phase”
when smokers turn to drugs and|or alcohol.
POISONS IN TOBACCO
1.

SMOKING

Cigarettes contain tobacco which has an alkaloid
which is called nicotine. It is a poison and is used
widely as an ingredient in insecticides. In cigarettes, it
is found to act as a stimulant. Habitual and frequent
smoking is harmful to the body.
Besides the poison Nicotine there is Carbon
Monoxide present at a concentration 400 times the
amount considered safe and hydrogen cyanide 160 times.
Cigarette smoke also contains a radio active compound
plutonium 210. (One drop or 70 mgs of nicotine will
cause the death of a man in a few minutes).
A MAN-MADE MONSTER

It was Cristopher Columbus (1451—1506), Italian
Navigator, who first saw some Cuban natives smoking
their pipes. However, in those civilizations the practice
was perhaps confined to socio-cultural rituals and some­
times it was used to ward off certain illnesses.
In the 16th century, Jean Nicot, the French Ambas­
sador to Lisbon, sent ground tobacco powder to the
Queen of France for the treatment of her migraine.
And the active ingredient of tobacco, 1 Nicotine,’ is
known after him.
It was during the Mughal times that ‘ Flooka ’ and
‘ Chilum ’ became the chief status of high society and

9.

Commit yourself to God, every day and whenever
you feel the craving to smoke.
Sleep a full night’s sleep.

2.

ALCOHOLISM

8.

Definition

Since we are speaking of alcohol and alcoholism,
it would be well to start off, by defining alcohol and
alcoholism.

By pharmacological definition, alcohol is a drug
and may be classified as a sedative, tranquilizer, hypnotic
or anaesthetic, is the only drug whose self-induced
intoxication is socially acceptable.
Persons with alcoholism are those excessive drinkers
whose dependence upon alcohol has attained such a
degree that it shows a noticeable mental disturbance, or
an interference with their bodily and mental health,
their inter-personal relations, and their smooth social
funtioning, or who show the early signs of such
development.

Consumption of alcohol is divided into ‘ use ’ and
‘ abuse.’ The former includes social drinking, not
amounting to medical, neuropsychiatric and psycho­
social complications. The latter is conceptualised as
non-dependant and dependant abuse.

Non-dependant abuse refers to the state wherein the
individual although not dependant on alcohol may come
under medical care owing to medical, neuropsychiatric
or psychosocial complications resultant from his alcohol
consumption.
Dependance is used in two contexts, Psychological
dependance, expressed in simplest terms is when the
individual requires progressively larger quantities of
alcohol to produce a given physiological effect
(tolerance) and or develops characteristic •withdrawal
symptoms when acutely abstinent from alcohol.

Behaviour therapy techniques (relaxation, aversion
therapy, assertive training etc.) when used as an adjunct
4

to other therapies such as Alcoholics Anonymous works
well for some alcoholics.
ALCOHOLIC CONTENT

The following alcoholic drinks are produced in the
country : Beer 3-4% ; Gin, Rum, Whisky, 40% Arrack
35%; Toddy 6-8%; Illicit home made brews 45-70%.
Among students prevalence of Alcohol was 9-15.4% in
1977. It has risen considerably.

Alcohol is rapidly absorbed from the stomach and
small intestine. Within 2-3 minutes of consumption,
it can be detected in the blood. The maximum concent­
ration is usually reached about one hour after consump­
tion. The presence of food in the stomach inhibits the
absorption of alcohol because of dilution.

Alcohol has a marked effect on the central nervous
system. It is not a ‘ stimulant,’ as long believed, but a
primary and continuous depressant. Alcohol produces
psychic dependence of varying degrees from mild to
strong. Physical dependence develops slowly.
According to current concepts, alcoholism is con­
sidered a disease and alcohol a ‘disease agent’ which
causes acute and chronic intoxication, cirrhosis of the
liver, toxic psychosis, gastritis, pancreatitis, cardiomyo­
pathy and peripheral neuropathy. Also evidence is
mounting that is it related to cancer of the mouth,
pharynx, larynx and oesophagus.
Further, alcohol is an important and etiologic factor
in suicide, automobile and other accidents, and injuries
and deaths due to violence. The health problems for
which alcohol is responsible are only part of the total
social damage which includes family disorganization,
crime and loss of productivity.
THE SIGNS

The key to determining whether or not a person
is alcoholic according to Alcoholic Anonymous (A. A.),
is not the quantity or quality or frequency of drinking
but what alcohol does to the individual when he drinks.
5

If a person experiences a marked personality change
when he drinks, it is significant. Or if he cannot control
the amount once he starts. Other significant signs of
alcoholism are memory lapses while drinking, intense
craving for more drinks, decline in health due to drink­
ing, a tendency to hide the amount or frequency, drinking
due to shyness or insecurity, escape drinking, deteriora­
tion in family relations. Hence an alcoholic is one who
cannot do without a drink every day.
According to the latest scientific investigation in this
subject there is evidence suggesting that the true alcoholic
has a body chemistry different from that of a normal
person.
When he takes alcohol he experiences a feeling of
well-being. The distinction between alcoholics and non­
alcoholics is that drinking does not provide that sense
of relief from these feelings that it does for an alcoholic.
Once alcohol is ingested into the body of an alco­
holic another difference in body chemistry manifests :
the inability of the liver to metabolise alcohol properly.
The alcohol, after about half an hour in the alcoholic’s
system will have been entirely converted to a chemical
constituent acetaldehyde in the blood stream which
produces a toxic reaction in the form of physical and
mental discomfort. Peculiarly, if the alcoholic takes
another drink at this point, those negative symptoms
vanish and the glow of well-being returns.

“ Alcoholism is a disease which tells you that you
don’t have a disease.” Over years or even a few months
of alcoholic drinking a person can become so habituated
to transcending his life conditions with alcohol that he
has taught himself unconsciously to deny categorically
that alcohol is in any way bad for him.
TREATMENT — CURATIVE

Treatment of this disease consists foremost of con­
vincing the alcoholic to stop drinking and stay stopped
for life. The illness is thus far medically incurable in
that there is no drug or therapy which can correct the
enzvmatic and metabolic conditions. Instances of very
6

heavy drinkers returning to normal drinking exist but
cases of true alcoholics becoming social drinkers are nil
so far.
Psychological and spiritual counselling seem to be
a must for the alcoholic to ensure that he never again
picks up the first drink and sets off the deadly cycle
In this respect will-power is limited. Will-power may
work for some time, even for years, but if the will-power
deserts the alcoholic for even 5 minutes in an emotional
or life crisis he can again start his fatal descent for
the passage of time does not heal the body conditions
which make a person sensitive to alcohol.
Tn India alcoholism is on the increase. For every
10 alcoholic men there is one alcoholic woman. As the
country becomes more westernized, technological and
business oriented, more Indians are trying alcohol for
the first time. Therefore more will fall into the 10-17
percent who develop a drinking problem.

Alcoholics Anonymous with branches for the wives
and children of alcoholics and Family Counselling
is of utmost importance in treating alcoholics or drug
addicts. The key to cure lies in a combination treatment
of the addict himself and his whole environment.
PREVENTIVE MEASURES
ALCOHOL EDUCATION

Alcohol education covers a wide range of topics,
from the use of alcohol and its effect on the body, to
preventive education on the disease of alcoholism. It
attempts to integrate this knowledge into the fabric of
the classroom. To be most effective, alcohol education
begins in school and continues through college.
SUGGESTED GENERAL OBJECTIVES

1.

2.

To present objective, scientific information concern­
ing alcohol, its use, mis-use and non-use, and to
develop an awareness of the resulting effects on
individuals and society.
To help the student understand that there are
cultural conflicts regarding the use of alcoholic
7:

.3.

4.

5.

6.
7.

3.

beverages because of different religious, racial and
social backgrounds of people in each community.
To encourage young people to seek information so
that they may determine their own feelings and
attitudes about drinking.
To develop an understanding of the extent to which
the use of alcohol as a beverage has produced major
problems in social life, economic life, and personal
relations.
To develop in students a sense of responsibility for
one’s own welfare and that of others in regard to
the use of alcohol.
To foster an understanding of the nature and
extent of alcoholism as a treatable disease.
To make young people aware of the agencies and
organizations in their communities which provide
assistance to those with alcohol problems.
DRUGS OF ABUSE AND THEIR EFFECTS

Substances with abuse potential range from simple
kitchen spices through common flowers to highly sophis­
ticated drugs. All these substances may be divided into
5 categories.
(1) Narcotics
(2) Sedatives (3) Tranquilizers
(4) Stimulants and (5) Hallucinogens.
Medically defined, narcotics are drugs which
produce insensibility or stupor due to their depressing
effect on the central nervous system.
Included in this definition are opium, opium derivates (morphine, codeine, heroin) and synthetic opiates
(methadone and meperidine). All other drugs susceptible
to abuse are non-narcotics.
Many of these drugs have important legitimate
applications. Narcotic, sedatives, tranquilizing and
stimulating drugs are essential to the practice of modern
medicine and research.
To the abuser, these drugs produce a change in his
emotional responses or reactions. The abuser may feel
s'

intoxicated, relaxed, happy or detached from a world
that is painful, hostile or unacceptable to him.
With repeated use, many drugs cause physical
dependence. This is an adaptation whereby the body
learns to live with the drug, tolerate ever-increasing
doses and reacts with certain withdrawal symptoms
when deprived of it.

Withdrawal symptoms disappear as the body once
again adjusts to being without the drug or if the drug
is re-introduced. Tolerance represents the body’s ability
to adapt to the presence of a foreign substance.
Tolerance does not develop for all drugs or all indivi­
duals, but with drugs such as morphine, addicts have
been known to build up great tolerance very quickly.
The abuser is enslaved by his habit of psychic or
psychological dependence present in most cases of drug
abuse. The abuser feels he cannot function normally
without the drug. It helps him to escape from realityfrom his problems and frustrations. The drug seems
to provide the answer to everything including
disenchantment and boredom.
ADDICTION

Has been defined as a state of periodic or chronic
intoxication produced by the repeated consumption of
a drug and involves tolerance, psychological dependence,
physical dependence and an overwhelming compulsion
to continue using the drug with detrimental effects.
HABITUATION

Is the condition resulting from repeated consump­
tion, with some psychological dependence, but no
physical dependence or compulsion.
DRUG DEPENDENCE

Is a more general term and is described as a state
arising from repeated administration of a drug on a
continuous basis (eg. Drug dependence of the morphine
or barbiturate tvpe).
9

DEPRESSANTS OR SEDATIVES

Include a variety of old and new drugs.
common are the barbiturates.

The most

TRANQUILIZERS

Can be used to counteract tension and anxiety
without producing sleep or significantly impairing
mental and physical function. Major tranquilizers are
those with anti-psychotic activity.
Minor tranquilizers are used in the treatment of
emotional disorders characterized by anxiety and tension.
Many are used as muscle relaxants.
STIMULANTS

These drugs directly stimulate the central nervous
system. Examples are caffeine (coffee, tea, cola etc.)
Amphetamine is also potent. Cocaine is a dangerous
stimulant.
HALLUCINOGENS

Distortions of perception, dream images and halluc­
inations are characteristic effects of a group of drugs
called hallucinogens, psychotomimetics. dysteptics or
psychedelics. They include mescaline and LSD.
(Lysergicacid Diethylamide).

They have no general clinical medical use but are
being used as drugs of abuse.
MARIHUANA

(CANNABIS)

There is no medical use for marihuana.
ABUSE

It may be smoked, sniffed or ingested and the
mental effects are euphoria, exaltation and a dreamy
sensation. Senses are distorted. Sometimes panic and
fear are experienced. Hallucinations may develop with
large doses. Tn the company of others the marihuana
to

user talks and laughs easily. When alone he may be
drowsy and quiet. Ability to perform normal tasks
like car driving are seriously impaired.

Though marihuana may not produce physical
dependence it is socially addictive and though considered
a soft drug leads invariably to hard drugs and their
addiction. Young people who may try marihuana for
1 kicks ’ or just out of curiosity often find themselves led
to serious addiction in the course of time.

The danger of Mescaline and L.S.D. cannot be over
emphasized. They even damage and alter the chromo­
somes and children born to a couple where either used
these drugs may develop abnormality even after
discontinuation of the drug.

Drug abuse is and has always been very much a
problem in India — not merely confined to the West.
The history of drug dependence in India is not very
different from the rest of the world. The intoxicating
properties of Alcohol, referred to as som-ras in earlier
Indian Text (Vedas) 1300—1000 B.C. and those of
cannabis were probably known here more than 2000 years
ago. The distinctive features of their use in India were
their association with social and religious activities. The
use of opium probably dates back to 16- 17th century,
coinciding with the coming of the Europeans to India.
Till about 1947 opium and cannabis were available at
licenced shops.

Most students start off with hashish and charas,
and then go on to L. S. D. Cocaine, Barbiturates,
Mandrax, Valium and Amphetamines in the belief that
the latter facilitate better mental performance.

A recent survey in Bombay reveals that of the
4,000 students questioned, 320 were on hard drugs. The
most commonly abused drug was cannabis followed by
amphetamines, barbiturates, LSD, opium, heroin,
cocaine and morphine.
In general, the following drugs are used bv Indian
students:
D£>LS'.3>9*S
I
1^—
COMMUNITY HEALTH CELL
47/1, (First FlooriSt. Marks lioad
3ANGAL03E - S60 OO1

Alcohol, Amphetamines, Barbiturates, Cannabis,
Opium, Tobacco, Hypnotics, and Opiates.
Tobacco, alcohol, amphetamines, barbiturates,
cannabis, LSD, opium, cocaine, pethidine, painkillers,
transquillizers.

Barbiturates, Methaquolone, Amphetamines, Can­
nabis, LSD.
Mandrax, Dexadrine, Opium, Pot, LSD, Bhang.

In four major government hospitals in Delhi-which
treated only 50 patients in 1982 — almost 3,000 addicts
came for treatment last year and 1,000 of them had to
be refused admission because of lack of beds.
Three government hospitals in Bombay treated
2,500 addicts last year. However, only 1,000 could be
admitted for treatment.

In Varanasi University 35 percent boys and 15.35
percent girls have tasted opium, liquor, hemp, ganja,
bhang, cocaine, heroin, LSD, etc. Drug addiction in
girls is increasing (I. C. M. R.)
While in Calcutta an estimated 200 addicts sought
treatment, reports from the neighbouring north-eastern
states is perhaps the most worrying. In the state of
Manipur alone, 256 people, many of them girls in their
teens, had to undergo intensive treatment for smack
addiction last year. (Smack or brown sugar is unrefined
heroin).

The problem has spread even to the southern states
and hospitals in Madras and Bangalore have treated
over 200 addicts in the past year.
But these figures are only the tip of the iceberg
because researchers estimate that only one out of every
10 addicts come for treatment. Police intelligence puts
the number of addicts in the country at a conservative
lakh which is increasing at the rate of 1-5,000 every year
and psychiatrists are already talking of a heroin plague
sweeping the country.
12

4.

PERCENTAGE PREVALENCE RATE OF
DIFFERENT DRUGS AT VARIOUS CENTRES
(Mohan, 1981) 15

Drug

Bombay

Alcohol
15.1
Tobacco
8.1
12.6
Painkillers
0.4
Cannabis
Opium
0.4
1.0
Tranquillisers
Barbiturates
0.6
Amphetamines 0.2
LSD
0.07
Cocaine
0.05
Pethidine
0.05
Total No.
4151

Madras

Delhi

9.5
15.2
1.2
1.5
0.03
1.0
1.4
0.4
0.4
—
0.08
3580

12.2
10.00
20.9
1.3
0.5
2.9
0.6
0.3
0.2
0.03
0.2
3991

Jaipur Hydera­ Vara­ Saugar
bad
nasi
10.4
9.3
9.8
11.8
10.9
9.2
8.1
15.1
15.2
5.2
13.8
2.3
8.4
0.9
1.0
10.9
0.9
0.3
0.2
0.1
1.2
1.2
1.6
2.5
0.4
0.5
0.5
1.8
0.1
0.7
1.3
0.5
0.2
0.1
0.9
0.2
0.6
0.1
0.09
0.1
0.2
0.1
0.9
0.1
4081
2097
3852
4415

HOSTELS AND LEISURE HOURS

88 per cent of student addicts in Madras study in
colleges which have attached hostels. This obviously
means that greater care should be taken by hostel wardens
and college authorities to ensure that the spare time of
students is gainfully employed.
Drug addiction is more frequent among those
students who have idle time and spare money. The
survey reveals that 54 per cent of the addicts get more
than L5 hours of leisure time per week and that 30 per
cent even have 40 hours of leisure time per week. The
survey estimates that, on an average, students get between
600 to 1000 hours of free time every year, not counting
the two months of vacation. The survey suggests that
parents, academic authorities and the government should
take note of this and try to see that this time is more
usefully spent, perhaps by way of social work or com­
pulsory sports.
MOVIES

The survey also revealed that the majority of
student drug addicts were hooked on movies. About 70
per cent of them saw at least one movie a week. Perhaps
the current wave of sex and violence in cinema has
influenced the addict. As one student addict put it,
“ Though movies as a mass media are not distinctly
13

propagating addiction, the general trend of movies
during the recent decade is defiance of authority,
glorification of deliquency and permissiveness in sex,
pornography and blue films have become a matter of
fact routine among a number of students who consider
drugs as a lesser evil or no evil at all.”
The survey has also come up with case studies of
two students addicts one from a poor family where the
boy was systematically punished for not doing well; the
other from an affluent family where the father was
preoccupied with business and the mother with social
activities. This shows that money or the lack of it is
no guarantee against addiction.
Since prevention is far better than cure, the
responsibility clearly rests with the parents. With the
advent of part-time parent and nuclear families, many
parents do not communicate enough to remain in
touch with the children’s life and activities outside the
home. Also parents find it hard to believe that their
children could be taking drugs and close their eyes to
various changes of character and behaviour apparent in
the drug addict. By the time they accept the truth, it
is often too late to cure the young man or woman and
a perfectly good family’s happiness or peace is shattered
by accusations of guilt, resentment and often hatred. The
addict often does not wish to be cured, and bears hatred
and resentment towards his family and so all channels
of communication are effectively closed.

Dr. Alan De Souza, a well known psychiatrist in
Bombay has this to say about drug dependence. “The
psychological make-up of the would-be drug dependent
is also very important. Early parental over indulgence
and pampering or conversely parents who are rejecting
and depriving sow the seeds of drug dependency straight
from the cradle.
The adolescent years are indeed also very important.
During this period the adolescent passes through a
difficult phase. He is hardly understood and is neither
accepted as a child or as an adult. It worries him and
may cause him to withdraw or seek an outlet in drugs.
With the first upsurging'of sex. he necessarily is looking
14

for “ kicks.’' Here we have the early beginning of a
drug dependence.
Each repeated frustration serves to convince the
drug dependent that this world is a difficult place to
live in, and he chooses to take a chemical vacation the
moment things don’t suit him. The comfort involved
serves to condition him. Once tolerance develops, the
need to increase the dose occurs. The cost involved in
this whole affair causes him to steal and cheat and the
drug dependent slowly slips down the social ladder.
The cumulative effect of the drug is often one of physical
deterioration which occurs slowly. The drug dependent
often mixes with the outcasts of society, whom he
finds are the only people who will accept him.
Hence the need for the family to support and love him.
5.

TREATMENT

The treatment consists in hospitalisation and sealing
of all the parts of entry of the drug. This operation
is a formidable task. The drug dependent is cunning,
and knows how to deceive. Invariably he manages to
obtain his drug surreptitiously and thus defeats the
purpose of treatment. Evidence of the withdrawal
syndrome is an indication that the patient is not obtain­
ing the drug. Unfortunately some drugs do not produce
a withdrawal syndrome. However close observation of
the drug dependent during the withdrawal phase shows
him to be restless, sleepless and suffering from loss of
appetite. These symptoms are enough to prove that
he is off his drug.
The withdrawal symptoms are covered up, by the
administration of a blanket of tranquillisers and
hypnotics. The general nutrition of the patient requires
attention. Vitamins galore must be the order of the
day, as these patients are generally severely depleted of
vitamins and nutrients, as they usually restrict their
food intake while taking a drug which satisfies them
completely.
ROLE OF THE FAMILY

The real treatment starts after the withdrawal
phase, when psychotherapy individually or in a group
15

aid in rebuilding the personality of the drug dependent.
The family members should be taken into confidence,
for without their aid nothing may be achieved. The
family members contribute in no small measure to
creating and perpetuating the drug dependent.
Inspite of every effort on the part of the therapist
a bulk of therapy comes to no avail as mentioned
already. Nevertheless an air of optimism should prevail,
and efforts to rehabilitate the drug dependent should
continue.
CLASS ACTIVITY

I.

Discuss :

i. Cigarette smoking is associated by young people
with glamour and sophistication.
ii. ‘ Drugs are not potentially harmful.’
iii. ‘ Alcohol need not be a part of socializing.’
II.

Questionnaire :

i. Smoking
ii. Alcoholism
iii. Are you an Alcoholic ?
iv. Drug Addiction
v. Sheela’s Dilemma
II.

i.

1.
2.
3.

4.
5.
6.

SMOKING

Did you ever try smoking ?
If yes, what did you feel ?
Do you smoke now ?
How many cigarettes a day ?
Can vou give us 2 reasons for smoking ?
1.
2.
Would you like to give it up ?
Do you need help to give it up ?
State any good effects of smoking ?
1.
2.
16

7. State any bad effects of smoking ?
1.
2.

8. Can you suggest measures to reduce Cigarette
Smoking ?

ii.

ALCOHOLISM

1. Who can become an alcoholic ?
a. only the poor and uneducated
b. rich and powerful
c. those who are weak minded
d. anyone can become an alcoholic

2. What is alcoholism ?
a. Pastime
b. a chronic illness
c. abuse of alcohol

3. When does a person get drunk ?
a. It depends on the individual
b. more than one drink
c. It depends on the situation
d. All three reasons.
4. What are the short term effects of alcohol ?
a. makes vou more appealing and attractive
Yes\No
b. gives pleasure and relaxation
Yes\No
c. removes inhibitions
Yes\No
d. makes you think clearly
Yes\No
e. As alcohol continues to bathe the brain think­
ink slows down speech and reasoning y>j|No
5. Are there long term effects of alcoholism
a. emotional
b. physical
c. spiritual
17

6. Can death occur due to alcoholism
Yes\No
7’. Please use the check list to identify a problem
drinker.
a. Feels the need to drink daily to cope with
life
Yes\No
b. Prefers to drink alone
Yer|2Vo
c. Goes to work intoxicated
Yes\No
d. Uses alcohol to obtain relief from feeling of
loneliness, anxiety and inadequacy
Y’e.rpVo
e. Drinks to a point of intoxication every time
Yes\No
f. Drinks compulsively
Yes\No
g. Tries to deny or conceal drinking Yes\No
h. Experiences periods of blackouts, extreme
agitation and hallucination
Yes\No
i. Sneaks drinks before a party, at work, or in
bathroom because heishe feels he|she doesn’t
get enough to drink.
Yer|?/o
j. Experiences hostile, destructive violent
impulses
Y’<?j|.2Vo
k. Lack of muscular co-ordination and drinks
to relieve the tremor of the hands
Yes\No
1. Habit has brought conflict with wife|family|
friendsjemployerlpolice
Yes\No
m. Friends keep away
Yes\No
n. Sustains body injuries as a consequence of
intoxication
Y es\No
o. Efficiency and ambition decreasing Yes\No
8. What would you do to help a person who is an
alcoholic ?
iii.

ARE YOU AN ALCOHOLIC ?

To answer this question ask yourself the following
questions and answer them as honestly as you can.
1. Do you lose time from work due to drinking ?
Yes\No
18

2. Is drinking making your home life unhappy ?
3.

Do you drink because you are shy with people ?

4.

Is drinking affecting your reputation ?

5.

Have you ever felt remorse after drinking ?

y«|7Vo

y«|2Vo

y«|2Vo

Have you got into financial difficulties as a
result of drinking ?
yer|7Vo
8. Has your ambition decreased since drinking ?

6.

y«|ATo

9.

Do you crave a drink at a definite time daily ?
yer|No

10. Does drinking cause you to have difficulty in
sleeping ?

.

yer|7Vo

11. Has your efficiency decreased since drinking ?
yej|7Vo

12. Is drinking jeopardizing your job or business ?
y«|2Vo

13. Do you drink to escape from worries or trouble?
Yes No
14. Do you drink alone ?
Yes No
L5. Have you ever had a complete loss of memory
as a result of drinking ?

y^iVo

16. Has your physician ever treated you for
drinking ?
Yes\No
17. Do you drink to build up your self-confidence ?
y«|No

If you have answered YES to any one of the
questions, there is a definite warning that you may be
an alcoholic.
If you have answered YES to any two, the chances
are that you are an alcoholic.
If you have answered YES to three or more, you
are definitely an alcoholic.
iv.

DRUG ADDICTION

1. Drugs are used by drug dependents as a means
to escape from reality — I agree
a. Completely b. Partly c. don’t agree
19

2. Drug dependents are those who takes drugs
a. continuously
b. only sometimes
c. for medical reasons
d. can’t live without them
e. to forget
3. Drug dependency produces physical dependency
True\False
4. The characteristics of the drug dependents are
a. dull, depressed and frightened
b. cheerful, active and gay
c. talkative and confident.
5. The reasons for drug dependency are : Rank
in order of importance.
a. peer group influence
b. Lack of strong personality
c. Lack of friends
d. Poor family life
e. To overcome depression
f. Because its modern
6. Do you feel that by not discussing the drugs and
drug addiction at home, elders are helping the
young people to get into drug addiction ?
a. strongly b. not at all c. to a certain extent
7. Drug addiction is-------------------- (Tick most
appropriate one)
a. just a personal problem
b. a disease
c. living in a different world
d. a social problem
8. The predominant feelings in a drug addict are
(under influence of the drugs)
Rank if possible.
d. despair
a. anger
e. rejection
b. frustration
f. cheerfulness
c. excitement
20

9. Name of some of the drugs you are aware of :
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
10. What would you as a student do to help a
student you know is a drug addict ?
1.
2.
11. What do you think of the importance of the
following when you work with a drug
dependent ?
d. Healthy habits
a. Religion
e. Mass media
b. Personal Contact
c. Respect for the ■
f. Parents’ help
individual
g- Help of teacher
SHEELA’S DILEMA

V.

Rupa is twenty years old. She is an intelligent and
energetic girl studying in a reputed college. After her
P. U. C. she wanted to do medicine but she could not get
into any of the medical colleges, so she settled for the
B.Sc. course.

When Rupa thinks of her childhood she has
unpleasant memories because when she was ten years
old her parents were separated for several years. She
stayed with her mother then. Fortunately the parents
came together recently and they are living together with
her younger brother and sister.
In College Rupa had a friend named Sheela but
they had some misunderstanding and therefore, Rupa
has no close friends to confide in.
I

Sheela has observed that Rupa is very irregular at
classes and moves with a new sebof friends. She has
■

■

21

n

also discovered that Rupa is being lured away by boys
who give her drugs. This makes it easy for the boys to
take Rupa out even at night as she stays as a paying
guest.
Sheela does not like Rupa being exploited like this.
Several students in the college laugh at Rupa and she
feels rejected. Though Sheela wants to help Rupa she
is reluctant to do so because her attempts in the past
failed. She feels that she should not bother about Rupa
but mind her own business. But a voice from within
whispers that she should help Rupa.
WHAT SHOULD SHEELA DO ?

Discuss in Groups.
Group Reports Read & Consensus Taken.
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