Unit 1 Description of a Pharmacy Grammar

Drug addiction

Treatment of drug addiction depends partly on what drug the person is addicted to, because it is not safe to withdraw some drugs suddenly. Whether drug addicts can break the habit completely also depends on their personality and lifestyle and on how much support they have from other people. However, treatment nearly always aims to stop the drug-taking completely. It starts either by gradually cutting down or by suddenly withdrawing the drug. Either of these methods is always very difficult for an addict. At this stage they always need a great deal of comfort and help. Occasionally a doctor prescribes small amounts of a medicine similar to the drug the person is addicted to. This method prevents withdrawal symptoms and is safer for the addict. However, it is normally only used with older addicts for whom other methods have failed.

Nick is now 19. He left school at 16 with three GCSEs (examinations for General Certificate of School Education) and was accepted on a YTS training scheme at a large garage. The YTS year went very well and Nick was given a full time job as a trainee motor mechanic.

Suddenly there was more money in his pocket at the end of the week and Nick started going out to discos and clubs with his girlfriend Linda. He found it very difficult to lead a full social life and hold down his hard-won job. Linda was out of work and could sleep all day.

Some of Linda's friends introduced Nick to speed which he could afford now he had a job. It seemed to be the answer to all his problems and gave him a real lift after a late night or a heavy day at work. But after about six months Nick found that he needed speed not only to give him a lift but also just to get through the day.

One of Linda's friends was a pusher and he suggested that Nick really needed something stronger like heroin. At first he was worried and refused it but he met lots of 'happy' customers who all said that all the talk about 'H' was really silly and that the oldies were against it because they didn't want you to enjoy yourself.

Nick was convinced and started 'shooting up'. Heroin was much more expensive than speed and he couldn't afford to buy as much as he needed. The only way to pay for it was to take money from his boss. Heroin also started to affect Nick's personality. Instead of his usual easy-going, helpful self he became slow and listless. Eventually, his employer found him stealing money and, already dissatisfied with his work, he gave him the sack and told the police.

The long term effects of dependence are usually shown on films or television as being very unpleasant and often associated with a criminal life. This kind of life is usually caused partly by the drugs which are being taken and partly by other factors. The drugs sometimes change addicts' behaviour so that they no longer take care of themselves, for example, they stop eating properly or washing. In addition the cost of buying enough drugs to avoid withdrawal symptoms can mean that an addict has to get money dishonestly.

Taking drugs can cause other health hazards. Addicts who inject themselves may become careless about hygiene and use dirty needles and syringes. They are then more likely to introduce infections into their bloodstreams. Addicts who sniff substances can easily damage the delicate inner lining of the nose, and some even manage to destroy the hard tissue in between the two nostrils. They can also damage their kidneys, liver and central nervous system.

Two weeks later Nick's parents' house was busted. His parents couldn't believe what had happened and threw him out. Without a job or home, Nick wandered about sleeping rough and in hostels for two weeks before deciding to go to a doctor to get help. The doctor referred him to a special center where he is now having treatment.