Addictive Disorders

Addiction does not, as is commonly thought, relate only to drugs (heroin, crack, LSD, marijuana). For instance, in Great Britain alcohol probably causes over 40,000 deaths a year and tobacco up to 100,000 deaths. Other forms of addiction include reliance on coffee, sweets, tranquillizers and sleeping tablets. The nature of the addiction is often linked to cultural factors, e.g. cannabis is considered “normal” among Rastafarians, while alcohol is prohibited among the Muslim community. It is clear that whatever the form of addiction, be it coffee or heroin, there appears to be a general increase in the problem in society and that many school and health authorities are increasingly disturbed by the younger age groups that appear to be using hard drugs. It is important to realize that human beings are creatures of habit and addiction may be an exaggeration of a normal habit pattern. Often people will become addicted without having a wish to become so. They may be prescribed addictive drugs and then find it difficult to stop taking them. Addiction may be chemical, i.e. the body requires a drug such as caffeine, alcohol, heroin, valium, to function. Often the body develops a level of tolerance to the drug and a higher dose may be necessary to produce the same effect.

Physical signs and symptoms will depend on the nature and type of addiction and the stage which the addict has reached. General symptoms may include mood swings, behaving out of character, irritability, lack of sleep, unreliability, poor performance at work or frequent illness, neglecting food, change in appearance. Probably the most important step for any addict is to acknowledge the problem, because without doing so, treatment is of little value. This is where friends, or a doctor, may be of help.

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Tobacco – The Emerging Crisis in the Developing World

The World Health Organization estimates that 3,5 million people die annually from causes related to tobacco use, with more than half of these deaths occurring in industrial countries. By the 2020s, however, when the death toll is likely to reach 10 million each year, 70% of tobacco-related deaths will be in developing countries.

Smoking is the primary cause of lung cancer. It is associated with heart disease, stroke, emphysema and lung diseases. Children who are regularly exposed to second-hand smoke are prone to respiratory illnesses. Smoking during pregnancy can increase the risk of miscarriage, result in low infant birth-weight and impede child development. Tobacco consumption is the leading cause of preventable death in many countries. In both industrial and developing countries half of regular smokers die from causes related to their tobacco use. Smokers are three times as likely to die between the ages of 35 and 69 as are non-smokers.

Since 1970s vigorous antismoking campaigns have been mounted in most industrial countries banning tobacco in the media, increasing cigarette taxes, requiring health warnings on cigarette packages, banning cigarette sales to minors and disseminating information.

But in most developing countries information campaigns lag far behind, while marketing and advertising campaigns have intensified. Per capita cigarette consumption fell by 10% between the early 1970s and early 1990s in industrial countries. But in the same period consumption increased by 64% in developing countries. Per capita consumption more than doubled in Haiti, Indonesia, Nepal, Senegal and Syria, and tripled in Cameroon and China.