Nchumbeni Y Jungio
Counsellor Unity College, Dimapur
Our body is made up of a trillion of cells, with every organ functioning in its complex ways. Everything is in balance normally; any variations in any part of the body influence the normal functioning of the body. As, It is becoming very frequent to encounter many of our young people getting entangled in the story of using intoxicants driving towards dependency leading to conflicts in various areas of their life. When we go around asking how they have started, everyone may present with different stories and situations which may points towards different mode of management but it is also important to consider the common characteristics we find in the various psychoactive substances that play out in same way for different individuals. Let’s quickly check out basic facts about psychoactive substances and the role they play in our bodies.
There exists a tendency in humans to seek thrill, experimentation, novel things where the intention for every person may be different which continues till we cease to exist.
The psychoactive substance which comes in various forms and has amazing effects in the lives of a person which always have a major potential to play out the negative unavoidable consequences is one among the list of experimentation that we come across especially as we move along the line of adolescence (13-19) and emerging adulthood (19-24/25 years).
Our brain continues to develop through early adulthood and the part of the brain called the prefrontal cortex which carry out the executive function of organizing thoughts, activities, managing time, decision making, judgment, and self-control (include the control of substance use) is the last to develop during our 20s. So When substance use starts early, it interferes with normal brain functioning which is still in the process of maturation.
Some of the very common psychoactive substances around us that we are familiar with are Alcohol, Cannabis (Marijuana), Opioids (Heroin, codeine) street names include brown sugar, junk, Sunflower (S/F), etc, Volatile solvents, Nicotine, Cocaine.
The term Substance is used for any drug, medication, or toxins that share the potential to abuse.
Abuse is the maladaptive use pattern leading to remaining intoxicated, impairment in the social, job, schools, college functioning.
Dependence involves tolerance that is an increased amount of substance to achieve the desired effect and withdrawal symptoms.
It can result in physiological addiction and psychological addiction.
Physiological addiction is when the person has to use it to avoid physical discomfort or harmful withdrawal syndrome (turkey as some of us generally call).
Psychological dependence is when the individual feels compelled to use despite the negative physical and social effects.
The addictive substances have pleasurable effects on the brain and these pleasurable feelings in the initial use motivate us to use again and again despite knowing the risk of significant harm.
A neurotransmitter called Dopamine which makes us feel happy ‘reward feeling when we engage in certain activities we like e.g. like meeting a friend, going for a date, having favorite food, playing watching movies, adventurous activities etc. This Dopamine is released in a limited required amount by our brain and thereby makes us engage in those various activities again. So here there is a connection in the act of using psychoactive substances, it is very clever which open the door of dopamine in the brain which leads to its release in an unregulated amount and there is an intense feeling of rush and high which creates a feeling of pleasure for the person taking it and if the person continues repeatedly despite the negative consequences where the body and brain seeking for the pleasure it creates which becomes challenging to break away from it.
Hence the cycle of the behavior will be created and some of us end up using it to the extent that the whole activities of our life circle around that particular substance which may be indicating the potential of becoming dependent on it.
We have been always taught through various mediums about the harmful effects and loaded with unwanted advice with good intentions by the many people around us. But today I would like to ask ourselves questions ‘How many of us understand the consequences it has on our lives? Or how many of us know the different substance plays its role on the different parts of our body? Are we becoming ignorant or too ignorant to not understand to end the conversation with ‘It’s my choice I know it’, because the dependency on the substance may not have an impact on us alone but may spread its ill consequences to our family, friends, career, and so on……
Check on yourself Are you becoming too attached or dependent on the psychoactive substances that it’s becoming hard to go on without it or you know someone who is taking the said path of dependency.
There is also a life beyond psychoactive dependence and we can work to unlearn it and become a support for someone who wants to come out of it.
There are still studies going on why some people become dependent while others are not, but at the same time, there is multiple research carried out that has presented its findings of the effects and the various consequences.
So can we learn to develop healthy habits and choices, saying ‘No’ to unhealthy habits, ‘I quit if we are using it’, extending genuine support to someone in need. There may be situations where we might not be able to come out of the dependency alone, let us not hesitate to reach out to seek proper help. And also let us learn not to stigmatize or label someone with addiction but instead become a pillar to lean on to fight it.
