What is drug addiction?

Drug addiction, also called substance dependence or chemical dependency, is a disease that is characterized by a destructive pattern of drug abuse that leads to significant problems involving tolerance to or withdrawal from the substance, as well as other problems that use of the substance can cause for the sufferer, either socially or in terms of their work or school performance. More than 2.6% of people suffer from drug addiction at some time in their life. The term dual diagnosis refers to the presence of both a drug-abuse or dependence issue in addition to a serious mental-health problem in an individual. Substance abuse or dependence unfortunately occurs quite commonly in people who also have severe mental illness. This is important given that people with a serious mental illness are far more at risk of engaging in violence, being incarcerated, or contracting infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Individuals with dual diagnosis are also at higher risk of being noncompliant with treatment. What types of drugs are commonly abused? Virtually any substance whose ingestion can result in a euphoric ("high") feeling can be abused. While many are aware of the abuse of legal substances like alcohol or illegal drugs like marijuana (in most states) and cocaine, less well known is the fact that inhalants like household cleaners are some of the most commonly abused substances. The following are many of the drugs and types of drugs that are commonly abused and/or result in dependence: Alcohol: Although legal, alcohol is a toxic substance, particularly to a developing fetus when a mother consumes this drug during pregnancy. Amphetamines: This group of drugs comes in many forms, from prescription medications like methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta) and dextroamphetamine and amphetamine (Adderall) to illegally manufactured drugs like methamphetamine ("meth"). Overdose of any of these substances can result in seizure and death. Anabolic steroids: A group of substances abused by bodybuilders and other athletes, this group of drugs can lead to terrible psychological effects like aggression and paranoia, as well as devastating long-term physical effects like infertility and organ failure. Caffeine: While it is consumed by many, coffee, tea and soda drinkers, when consumed in excess this substance can produce palpitations, insomnia, tremors and significant anxiety. Cannabis: More commonly called marijuana, the scientific name for cannabis is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). In addition to the negative effects the drug itself can produce (for example, infertility, paranoia, lack of motivation), the fact that it is commonly mixed ("cut") with other substances so drug dealers can make more money selling the diluted substance or expose the user to more addictive drugs exposes the marijuana user to the dangers associated with those added substances. Examples of ingredients that marijuana is commonly cut with include baby powder, oregano, embalming fluid, PCP, opiates, and cocaine. Cocaine: A drug that tends to stimulate the nervous system, cocaine can be snorted in powder form, smoked when in the form of rocks (crack cocaine), or injected when made into a liquid. Ecstasy: Also called MDMA to denote its chemical composition (methylenedioxymethamphetamine), this drug tends to create a sense of euphoria and an expansive love or desire to nurture others. In overdose, it can increase body temperature to the point of being fatal. Hallucinogens: Examples include LSD and mescaline, as well as so-called naturally occurring hallucinogens like certain mushrooms, these drugs can be dangerous in their ability to alter the perceptions of the user. For example, a person who is intoxicated with a hallucinogen may perceive danger where there is none and to think that situations that are truly dangerous are not. Those misperceptions can result in

dangerous behaviors (like jumping out of a window because the individual thinks they are riding on an elephant that can fly). Inhalants: One of the most commonly abused group of substances due to its accessibility, inhalants are usually contained in household cleaners, like ammonia, bleach, and other substances that emit fumes. Brain damage, even to the point of death, can result from using an inhalant just once or over the course of time, depending on the individual. Nicotine: The addictive substance found in cigarettes, nicotine is actually one of the most habit-forming substances that exists. In fact, nicotine addiction is often compared to the intense addictiveness associated with opiates like heroin. Opiates: This group is also called narcotics and includes drugs like heroine, codeine, Vicodin, Percocet, and Percodan. This group of substances sharply decrease the functioning of the nervous system. The lethality of opiates is often the result of the abuser having to use increasingly higher amounts to achieve the same level of intoxication, ultimately to the point that the dose needed to get high is the same as the dose that is lethal for that individual by halting the person's breathing (respiratory arrest). Phencyclidine: Commonly referred to as PCP, this drug can cause the user to feel extremely paranoid, become quite aggressive and to have an unusual amount of physical strength. This can make the individual quite dangerous to others. Sedative, hypnotic, or antianxiety drugs: As these substances quell or depress the nervous system, they can cause death by respiratory arrest of the person who either uses these drugs in overdose or who mixes one or more of these drugs with another nervous system depressant drug (like alcohol or an opiate).

INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION At the stroke of midnight India will see a new dawn. said Jawaharlal Nehru on the night of 14th August, 1947. Today we Indians celebrate that golden moment with the same unmatched enthusiasm that they did 61 years ago. SJPUC joined the caravan of celebrations by hosting a function on the 15th August 2008. The Students Council celebrated the Patriotic week from 11th August 2008 to 14th August 2008 by conducting competitions like Pick and Speak, Poetry Writing, Collage, Badge Making, Sketching and Singing. The prize winners were awarded on 15th August, 2008. The Chief Guest for the day was Mr. S.V.Krishna Iyer, a freedom fighter, a former MP and Cabinet Minister. The National Flag was unfurled by the Chief Guest along with the Principal, Rev Fr Melwin Mendonca and Lt Sandesh. The Principal addressed the gathering with his wonderful message about the strides that India has made post Independence. The Chief Guests speech enlightened the gathering. He stressed upon the role of the youth in building up a just society and understand the real meaning of the term FREEDOM. He also remembered his college days wherein they participated in the freedom struggle, Dandi March along with Mahatma Gandhi. He feels elated at the thought of being imprisoned for the sake of his country along with the other freedom fighters.

The show then sported some entertainment programs which included a skit by the Social Service Association, a choir performance by the lecturers of the language department and a dance by the Hindi Parishad. There was also a surprise ethnic wear contest where students in traditional attire were rewarded. The celebrations culminated with the vote of thanks by the President of the Student Council, thus filling us with Patriotic Fervor. Freedom of expression exists practically as a fundamental right Yes/No Expression lies in the very core of society. Without expression society itself is a myth as expression is what results in one human being relating to another. As human beings and members of the society, each of us has delegated to us- some duties. In return for this, society grants us some rights , allowances of sorts. One such right is the freedom of expression. Every man, regardless of who he might be, has some opinions, points of view and his own takes or the array of events he observes. This assortment of various opinions is a burden on his mind and expression reduces the load on his shoulders. As far as India is concerned, constitutionally, legally and practically, freedom of expression is a reality. Everybody with some necessary effort can express his views and many people do so as well. The media both electronic and print the active social life and the social gatherings that occur ever so frequently in India enable this. The real flaw in India lies not in availability of freedom of expression but in its consequence. It is extremely common today to switch to a news channel and listen to some reader use his right to the fullest, all the while using it inappropriately. People make incorrect, inflammatory and some times outrageous statements. That is as far as use of the right is concerned. I must concede that the action one wants taken as a result of exercising the right in question is not always taken, that things are not always done as a result of a statement made and that things said and opinions expressed are not always worked upon as well as they should be. However, it is crucial to note that the problem is not with the right but with the authority, person or any other entity at the receiving end of the statement in question. Taking all this into consideration, we must be conscious of the fact that the right to freedom of speech is available to us in India. We are all entitled to use it as citizens of this country as long as we stay within the borders of decency, social acceptability and correctness to the extent of our perception. My preceding statements bear testimony to this fact.