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In light of the pbading of National Drug and Alcohol Week (January 21-27), the Echo Raksha Singh, a renowned psychologist in Pietermaritzburg, specializing in the treatment of drug and alcohol abuse, has encountered the magnitude of substance abuse in our city.
"More than ever, we are seeing an increase in the number of women becoming addicted to drugs and alcohol in our city, regardless of age or race. Women are also becoming addicts for pain and sleep.
"Among our youngest age groups (13 to 19 years old) in the city, we are seeing a trend toward addiction to marijuana and heroin-based drug, whoonga," said Dr. Former director and psychologist-consultant of the Kelda Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Center, which closed last year in March.
Singh said the problem of drugs and alcohol seems to be increasing in schools, especially with marijuana, and added that crimes such as burglary and robbery often increase in the service of these addictions.
Explaining why people become addicted, Singh said that various factors should be taken into account when considering addiction.
"Studies have shown that there is a significant genetic component in addiction among children whose drug-dependent parents are 50% more likely to become addicts themselves.
"Environmental factors also play an important role because of peer pressure and exposure to drugs and alcohol, which was once a physical experience leading to physical dependence.
"Patients with persistent trauma and abuse who have not been treated often turn to substances such as drugs and alcohol as negative coping strategies, which in turn develop into addiction, "said Singh.
Singh said that there was a noticeable difference between drug and alcohol users and drug addicts, claiming that a social drinker could drink and stop on occasion, while for drug addicts, it was different.
"Drug users have trouble stopping. They need more and more of the same substance to feel strong as they begin to develop a tolerance for the substance.
Over time, they develop a physiological dependence on the substance and suffer from withdrawal symptoms if they do not have one, which leads them to consume it despite the damage that it can cause to themselves or to others " she added.
Regarding the problem in our city, the public is offered ambulatory help to Sanca.
Singh said that although there are programs in place to combat drug and alcohol use, she felt that there was no decisive plan on how to treat the growing number of young patients dependent on whoonga.
"What is needed is not another newspaper headline on the city plagued by young patients hanging on whoonga, but a headline outlining a decisive plan to deal with the problem," he said. she said.
"These people need all possible help because they are trapped and suffer tremendously when they are addicted and dependent on withdrawal symptoms and require biopsychological badistance," said Singh, who proposed to the city to set up a rehabilitation center that can accommodate patients and provide the appropriate medications necessary for medical detoxification that would be effective.
FACTS ABOUT ALCOHOL:
• Alcoholism is usually self-diagnosing.
• Symptoms include repeated drinking despite legal and health issues.
• People with alcoholism can start each day with a drink, feel guilty about their drinking and have the desire to reduce their consumption.
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