Biology · Human Health and Diseases · NEET
Use means taking a drug the correct way, for a real medical reason, in the right dose given by a doctor. For example, morphine used as a painkiller for a surgery patient is proper use. Abuse means taking the drug for the wrong reason, like to feel a high or escape stress, and not for medical need. So the same drug can be use or abuse depending on WHY and HOW it is taken. For NEET, remember NCERT calls the regular non-medical taking of drugs and alcohol as 'abuse'.
No, they are not the same. Abuse is the wrong act of taking the drug. Addiction is the mental state where the person feels a strong need to keep taking it again and again to get the same good feeling. NCERT warns that abuse can slowly lead to addiction. So abuse is the behaviour, and addiction is what the behaviour can grow into.
NCERT clearly states that using these drugs even once can be a fore-runner (starting point) to addiction. So one time is not automatically addiction, but it is dangerous because it can pull the user into a vicious circle of regular use. This is a common NEET line, so learn the exact wording: 'use of these drugs even once, can be a fore-runner to addiction.'
Addiction is mainly the strong mental urge to take the drug for pleasure. Dependence is when the BODY itself now needs the drug, so that stopping suddenly causes an unpleasant withdrawal syndrome. NCERT defines dependence as the tendency of the body to show a characteristic and unpleasant withdrawal syndrome if the regular dose is abruptly stopped.
Withdrawal syndrome is the set of unpleasant symptoms that appear when a dependent person suddenly stops the drug or alcohol. NCERT lists these as anxiety, shakiness, nausea and sweating. These feelings go away when the drug is taken again, which traps the person. In severe cases withdrawal can be life threatening and the person may need medical supervision.
Try the real previous-year questions from this chapter — each with the answer and a full solution.
It means taking drugs or alcohol repeatedly for non-medical reasons, such as to feel a high or escape problems, instead of taking them as medicine in the correct dose.
NCERT highlights adolescence (the teenage years) as the period when curiosity, need for adventure and peer pressure make young people most likely to try and abuse drugs and alcohol.
Repeated abuse can lead to addiction (strong mental urge), and continued use leads to dependence (the body needs it and shows withdrawal if stopped). So the path is abuse to addiction to dependence.
Because stopping suddenly causes withdrawal syndrome with anxiety, shakiness, nausea and sweating. These symptoms are relieved only by taking the drug again, so the person keeps using to avoid the discomfort.
The three main groups are opioids (like morphine and heroin), cannabinoids (like marijuana) and coca alkaloids (cocaine). Alcohol and tobacco are also commonly abused.
