Toxicomania is the abuse of toxic substances that are not legally included in the drug lists. Most often used chemicals - varnishes, fuel, glue, - the inhalation of vapors which causes a stupefying effect. Toxicomania negatively affects the nervous system, contributes to a pathological change in consciousness, causes addiction and addiction. Worst of all, when such bad habits, like substance abuse, smoking and alcoholism, affect the immature body of children and adolescents. This leads to irreversible somatic and mental changes, which are very difficult to correct.
Toxicomania - Causes
The causes of substance abuse among adolescents may be curiosity and boredom, the desire to assert themselves and experience new sensations, the inability of modern youth to occupy themselves with anything. The most common abuse of inhalants occurs collectively. The teenager does not want to lag behind peers and in due course there is an accustoming. Talk about the formed substance abuse can be when a teenager does not need a company, he goes to a single, daily inhalation of inhalants.
Symptoms of substance abuse
Symptoms depend on the type of inhalant and the duration of its inhalation. 3-5 breaths cause a buzzing in the head, a sore throat, dizziness, a salivation and lacrimation, an expansion of the pupils, an inability to concentrate and react to external stimuli. The condition lasts 10-15 minutes. After this, there are unpleasant signs of substance abuse - vomiting, nausea, thirst, etc. Progressive illness causes relaxation after inhalation, psychosensory disorders and psychomotor agitation. External manifestations: sharp weight loss, brittle nails and hair, puffiness of the face, dryness and earthiness of the skin.
Types of substance abuse
- Substance abuse with acetone. This kind causes fast and strong hallucinations. Immediately after inhalation, euphoria appears and disorientation occurs in time. an overdose of acetone vapor can cause someone.
- Inhalation of nitrocellulose solvents. It causes motor revival, frustration of consciousness, rapid change of mood from ecstasy to anger and aggression. An intoxicating state is replaced by a headache, severe weakness in the body, vomiting.
- Toxicomania with glue. Used only glue of certain brands. He poured himself into a cellophane bag and put it on his head. Thus, the harm of substance abuse is supplemented by another problem: there are cases when teenagers, being drugged, can not remove the package from their heads and they die from suffocation.
- Toxicomania with gasoline. An intoxicating narcotic effect is provided by the hydrocarbons included in the gasoline - xylene, benzene, toluene. The cloth moistened in gasoline is used. The state of euphoria is replaced by delirium and hallucinations.
How to deal with substance abuse?
Begin treatment with cancellation and inaccessibility of inhaled substances, after they start to fight with the withdrawal syndrome and affect the mental dependence. For best effectiveness, the first months of treatment should be in the hospital. There are procedures for detoxification of the body in order to restore functions
The fight against substance abuse at home and without the supervision of a doctor does not give effective results. Unauthorized use of medicines may cause additional harm.
If the patient has reached the last stage of substance abuse and completely lost his life, he will need not only treatment, but also rehabilitation. He will need the help of a psychotherapist, psychologist, social worker and other specialists. Only in this case, treatment of substance abuse can lead to the desired results.