Drug abuse means self-administration of any drugs for non therapeutic purpose almost always for altering consciousness. In other words, it is the bad use or excessive use without the prescription of a doctor.
Three types of drug abuse are-
1. Physician originated.
2. Patient originated.
3. Adolescent originated.
Physician originated:
This type of drug abuse may result when a doctor is reluctant about the dose and dosing frequency of psycho-active drugs or drugs with addictive potential. It is rarely common in the 1st world countries because of the control of pharmacist in drug dispensing. It contributes about 5% of the drug abuse.
Patient originated:
This type of drug abuse is relatively uncommon in the 1st countries where pharmacist control is present. But some patients may visit several physicians to obtain a number of prescriptions for psycho-active drugs or drugs with addictive potential, i.e., barbiturates, tranquillizers, stimulants and narcotics & collect the drugs from different retail pharmacy. In some patient originated abuse, psychological compulsiveness is the main reason of taking drugs with addictive potentials.
Adolescent originated:
Mental pressure, depression, heroism, mass media advertising, affluence are the factors more frequently reported for drug abuse by adolescent. In this drug abuse, alcoholic beverages, cigarettes, marijuana, hashish, pethidine, morphine & heroin are frequently used. In some cases experimental intake of medicine which is prescribed for the family members also cause adolescent drug abuse.
