The Global Problem of Drug Abuse: Analysis and Perspectives

The history of drug abuse stretches back in time. No society has been without its mood-modifying drugs, whether they are used legally under medical supervision or illegally by chewing, sniffing, inhaling, swallowing, smoking, or by injection. Interest in the therapeutic effects of chemical substances has been accompanied by their deliberate use to produce changes in mood, thought, & behavior so as to escape boredom, disquietude, or stress. A description of different groups & kinds of drugs is provided, indicating the degree of abuse, the populations most affected, characteristic risks, & symptoms resulting from usage. International efforts to control abuse by the World Health Organization & other UN agencies are outlined. Modified HA.