essay about drug of abuse

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Essay on Drug Abuse in 250 and 500 Words in English for Students

• Updated on  
• Apr 2, 2024

Drug abuse refers to the excessive and frequent consumption of drugs. Drug abuse can have several harmful effects on our mental and physical health. Ronald Reagan, the 40th President of the USA, passed the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986 and initiated the War on Drugs . He said, ‘Let us not forget who we are. Drug abuse is a repudiation of everything America is.’

Consuming drugs not only harms the individual himself but also affects society as a whole. Studies have shown that people who consume drugs become addicted to it. This addiction turns into substance abuse, resulting in self-damage, behaviour changes, mood swings, unnecessary weight loss, and several other health problems. Let’s understand what drug abuse is and how to fight it.

Table of Contents

• 1 Essay on Drug Abuse in 250 Words
• 2.1 Why Do People Consume Drugs?
• 2.2 Why Is Drug Abuse Bad?
• 2.3 Laws in India Against Drug Consumption
• 2.4 Steps to Prevent Drug Addiction
• 2.5 Conclusion
• 3 10 Lines Essay on Drug Abuse

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Essay on Drug Abuse in 250 Words

‘When people consume drugs regularly and become addicted to it, it is known as drug abuse. In medical terminology, drugs means medicines. However, the consumption of drugs is for non-medical purposes. It involves the consumption of substances in illegal and harmful ways, such as swallowing, inhaling, or injecting. When drugs are consumed, they are mixed into our bloodstream, affecting our neural system and brain functioning.

The Indian government has taken significant steps to help reduce the consumption of drugs. In 1985, the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act came into force. This act replaced the Opium Act of 1857, the Opium Act of 1878, and the Dangerous Drugs Act of 1930. 

Drug abuse can lead to addiction, where a person becomes physically or psychologically dependent on the substance and experiences withdrawal symptoms when attempting to stop using it. 

Drug abuse can have serious consequences for the individual and society as a whole. On an individual level, drugs can damage physical health, including organ damage, infectious diseases, and overdose fatalities. Not only this, a person already suffering from mental health disorders will face more harmful aftereffects. Addiction disrupts our cognitive functioning and impairs our decision-making abilities.

To fight drug abuse, we need collective action from all sections of society. Medical professionals say that early intervention and screening programmes can identify individuals at risk of substance misuse and provide them with the necessary support services. Educating people, especially those who are at-risk, about drug abuse and its harmful effects can significantly help reduce their consumption.

Drug abuse is serious and it must be addressed. Drug abuse is killing youth and society. Therefore, it is an urgent topic to address, and only through sustainable and collective efforts can we address this problem.

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Essay on Drug Abuse in 500 Words

Drug abuse is known as frequent consumption. In time, these people become dependent on drugs for several reasons. Curiosity drives adolescents and teenagers, who are among the most susceptible groups in our society. Cocaine, marijuana, methamphetamine, heroin, etc. are some of the popular drugs consumed. 

Why Do People Consume Drugs?

The very first question about drugs is: why do people consume drugs? Studies have shown that more than 50% of drug addicts consider drugs as a coping mechanism to alleviate emotional or psychological distress. In the beginning, drugs temporarily relieve feelings of anxiety, depression, or trauma, providing a temporary escape from difficult emotions or life circumstances. 

Some consume drugs out of curiosity, some under peer pressure, and some want to escape the painful experiences. Some people enjoy the effects drugs produce, such as euphoria, relaxation, and altered perceptions. Recreational drug use may occur in social settings or as a form of self-medication for stress relief or relaxation.

Why Is Drug Abuse Bad?

The National Institute on Drug Abuse states that drugs can worsen our eyesight and body movement, our physical growth, etc. Marijuana, one of the most popular drugs, can slow down our reaction time, affecting our time and distance judgement and decreasing coordination. Cocaine and Methamphetamine can make the consumer aggressive and careless.

Our brain is the first victim of drugs. Drugs can disorder our body in several ways, from damaging organs to messing with our brains. Drugs easily get mixed into our bloodstream, and affect our neural system. Prolonged and excessive consumption of drugs significantly harms our brain functioning.

The next target of drug abuse is our physical health and relationships. Drugs can damage our vital organs, such as the liver, heart, lungs, and brain. For example, heavy alcohol use can lead to cirrhosis of the liver, while cocaine use can increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Laws in India Against Drug Consumption

Here is an interesting thing; the USA has the highest number of drug addicts and also has strict laws against drug consumption. According to a report by the Narcotics Control Bureau, around 9 million people in India consume different types of drugs. The Indian government has implemented certain laws against drug consumption and production.

The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (NDPS), prohibits the production, sale, purchase, and consumption of narcotics and other illegal substances, except for scientific and medical purposes.

Also, Article 47 of the Indian Constitution states that ‘ The State shall endeavour to bring about prohibition of the consumption, except for medicinal purposes, of intoxicating drinks and drugs which are injurious to health.’

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Steps to Prevent Drug Addiction

Several steps can be taken to prevent drug addiction. But before we start our ‘War on Drugs’ , it is crucial to understand the trigger point. Our social environment, mental health issues and sometimes genetic factors can play a role in drug abuse.

• Education and awareness are the primary weapons in the fight against drugs. 
• Keeping distance from people and places addicted to drugs.
• Encourage a healthy and active lifestyle and indulge in physical workouts.
• Watch motivating videos and listen to sound music.
• Self-motivate yourself to stop consuming drugs.
• Talk to a medical professional or a psychiatrist, who will guide you to the right path.

Drug abuse is a serious problem. The excessive and frequent consumption of drugs not only harms the individual but also affects society as a whole. Only a collective approach from lawmakers, healthcare professionals, educators, community leaders, and individuals themselves can combat drug abuse effectively. 

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10 Lines Essay on Drug Abuse

Here is a 10-line essay on drug abuse.

• Drug abuse can significantly affect our physical growth
• Drug abuse can affect our mental functioning.
• Drug abuse may provide instant pleasure, but inside, it weakens our willpower and physical strength.
• Educating people, especially those who are at-risk, about drug abuse and its harmful effects can significantly help reduce their consumption.
•  Drugs easily get mixed into our bloodstream, and affect our neural system. 
• Prolonged and excessive consumption of drugs significantly harms our brain functioning.
• In 1985, the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act came into force.
• The USA has the highest number of drug addicts and also has strict laws against drug consumption.
• Drug addicts consider drugs as a coping mechanism to alleviate emotional or psychological distress.
•  Adolescents and teenagers are the most vulnerable section of our society and are driven by curiosity.

Ans: Drug abuse refers to the excessive and frequent consumption of drugs. Drug abuse can have several harmful effects on our mental and physical health.

Ans: ‘When people consume drugs regularly and become addicted to it, it is known as drug abuse. In medical terminology, drugs means medicines. However, the consumption of drugs is for non-medical purposes. It involves the consumption of substances in illegal and harmful ways, such as swallowing, inhaling, or injecting. When drugs are consumed, they are mixed into our bloodstream, affecting our neural system and brain functioning.

Ans: Drug abuse is known as frequent consumption. In time, these people become dependent on drugs for several reasons. Adolescents and teenagers are the most vulnerable section of our society who are driven by curiosity. Cocaine, marijuana, methamphetamine, heroin, etc. are some of the popular drugs consumed.  The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (NDPS), prohibits the production, sale, purchase, and consumption of narcotics and other illegal substances, except for scientific and medical purposes.

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Drug Abuse - Free Essay Examples And Topic Ideas

Drug abuse, the chronic or habitual use of drugs to alter one’s mood, emotion, or state of consciousness, is a severe social and health issue. Essays on drug abuse could explore the causes and consequences of drug abuse, the various types and classifications of drugs, and the societal reactions to drug abuse. Discussions might also cover prevention and treatment strategies, the portrayal of drug abuse in media and literature, and the ongoing efforts by governments and organizations to combat drug abuse and its detrimental effects. We’ve gathered an extensive assortment of free essay samples on the topic of Drug Abuse you can find at Papersowl. You can use our samples for inspiration to write your own essay, research paper, or just to explore a new topic for yourself.

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How To Write an Essay About Drug Abuse

Understanding the complexity of drug abuse.

When tackling an essay about drug abuse, it's essential to first comprehend the intricacies of the topic. Drug abuse, a prevalent issue globally, involves the chronic or habitual use of drugs for non-medical purposes, leading to health hazards and socio-economic problems. In your introduction, define drug abuse and distinguish it from drug use and addiction. Address the multifaceted nature of the issue, encompassing psychological, physiological, and societal dimensions. This foundation is crucial for guiding your exploration of drug abuse, its causes, effects, and potential solutions. Recognizing the sensitivity and complexity of this topic is key to writing an insightful and respectful essay.

Analyzing Causes and Effects

The body of your essay should delve into the causes and effects of drug abuse. Explore the various factors that can lead to drug abuse, such as psychological distress, peer pressure, socio-economic status, and exposure to drugs in the family or community. Then, discuss the ramifications of drug abuse on individuals, families, and society. These effects can include health issues, strained relationships, financial problems, and societal costs like increased crime and healthcare expenses. Use specific examples and data to support your points, while maintaining a compassionate tone, acknowledging that individuals suffering from drug abuse often face a complex interplay of challenges.

Addressing Prevention and Treatment

In this section, shift your focus to prevention and treatment strategies for drug abuse. Discuss different approaches to preventing drug abuse, such as education and awareness programs, policy changes, and community support initiatives. Then, examine the various treatment options available, including medical interventions, counseling, rehabilitation programs, and support groups. It's crucial to discuss the importance of a holistic approach to treatment, which addresses not just the physical aspect of addiction but also the psychological and social factors. This part of your essay should highlight the importance of compassion and support in addressing drug abuse, rather than solely punitive measures.

Concluding with a Call to Awareness and Action

Conclude your essay by summarizing the main points and emphasizing the importance of addressing drug abuse in society. Reflect on the need for increased awareness, better prevention strategies, and effective treatment programs. Encourage readers to consider the role they can play in combating drug abuse, whether through personal support, advocacy, or policy change. A strong conclusion will not only provide closure to your essay but also inspire a sense of responsibility and urgency in dealing with this critical issue.

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The Morning

Has fentanyl peaked.

We explain a decline in overdose deaths.

By German Lopez

Last week brought some rare good news on drugs: Overdose deaths declined in 2023 . And while the opioid crisis has taken some surprising and terrible twists over the years, it may finally be turning around.

There are two main causes. First, drug epidemics tend to follow a natural course in which the drugs enter a market, spread and then fade away, at least for some time. The opioid epidemic appears to have entered that final phase. Second, policymakers have increased access to both Narcan, a medication that reverses opioid overdoses, and addiction treatment. These changes have saved lives. Today’s newsletter will explain both causes.

Faddish cycle

Drugs are often faddish; epidemics tend to ebb on their own. Why? Users die. People see the damage that a drug does, and they shun it. Surviving users move on to other drugs that they see as better or safer, sometimes incorrectly.

Think of all the drugs that have come and gone over the past several decades, such as crack, meth and synthetic marijuana. (In the case of meth, a comeback is underway . Even the worst fads can return.)

The opioid epidemic is no exception. In fact, it has arguably been a succession of three different fads — first opioid painkillers, then heroin and finally fentanyl — that have felt like one.

Annual drug overdose deaths in the United States

100,000 deaths

In the 1990s, doctors started to prescribe more painkillers. The drugs proliferated not just among patients but everyone else as teenagers took them from parents’ medicine cabinets and peddlers sold them on the black market. By the 2010s, many painkiller users had moved on to heroin as they lost access to the pills — because doctors stopped prescribing them — or sought a stronger high. Then, fentanyl arrived.

Fentanyl has been worse than heroin and other opioids. Drug cartels make it in laboratories in Mexico, using ingredients typically imported from China. Before the current crisis, fentanyl was not widely misused in the U.S. It first spread in drug markets across the East Coast and the Midwest in the mid-2010s, consistently causing a spike in overdoses wherever it went.

For a little while, its spread largely stopped at the Mississippi River. It was easier to mix with the white-powder heroin popular in the eastern U.S. than with the black tar heroin popular in the western U.S. As fentanyl’s spread briefly stalled, overdose deaths declined nationally in 2018. But then the drug went westward, reaching the Pacific Coast. That new wave, coupled with the Covid pandemic, caused annual overdose deaths to exceed 100,000.

So why is last year’s drop different from 2018’s? Opioids, including fentanyl, have already reached every corner of the country; they have few places left to spread. The Covid pandemic is over, taking with it the chaos and isolation that led to more overdoses. The drug users most likely to die have already done so. More people have rejected opioid use. And the remaining users have learned how to use fentanyl more safely.

Policy’s impact

Some policy changes have played a role in the decline, too.

In particular, federal officials have successfully pushed the use of Narcan (also known as naloxone), a medication that reverses opioid overdoses. Police officers and firefighters often administer it. Libraries and schools carry it. Pharmacies sell it over the counter. Some first aid kits include it. People who overdose are now much likelier to get Narcan quickly enough to save their lives.

The federal government has also put more money toward addiction treatment, both through Medicaid and through new laws aimed at the drug crisis. The government has pushed doctors to prescribe medications that treat opioid addiction. Some states, like Vermont , have made treatment more accessible and higher quality.

These changes have not addressed every problem. Patients can struggle to pay for treatment. And some programs continue to use practices not supported by science, such as confrontational approaches and therapies in which patients bond with horses . Still, the policy changes have helped improve the treatment system overall.

Even after last year’s decline, annual overdose deaths remain above 100,000. That death toll is higher than all annual deaths from car crashes and guns combined. The introduction of a new drug — the next fad — could still increase that death toll again.

Policymakers could speed up the drop in deaths. They could require health insurance plans to cover addiction treatment. They could fund more high-quality treatment. They could reduce the price of Narcan and similar medications. They could better coordinate with China and Mexico to reduce the flow of fentanyl into the U.S.

The opioid epidemic is burning out anyway, but its decline could be steeper, saving thousands more lives.

Related: A major study found that weed use among teenagers was lower in states where the drug was legal, confounding expectations.

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The prosecution rested its case in Donald Trump’s Manhattan criminal trial after Michael Cohen finished testifying. The defense is likely to rest today .

Prosecutors found a photo of Trump with his bodyguard from October 2016, taken shortly before Cohen said he called the bodyguard to discuss the payment to Stormy Daniels with Trump. The defense had challenged Cohen’s account of the call.

During cross-examination, Cohen admitted to stealing from Trump’s company . He kept money that was meant to go to a tech company hired to rig polls in Trump’s favor.

The defense called Robert Costello, a lawyer who advised Cohen before they had a falling out. Costello testified that Cohen told him that Trump “knew nothing” about paying off Daniels . Cohen previously said that he’d lied to Costello.

Trump has often sat still, his eyes closed, during the proceedings. Sometimes he’s sleeping; sometimes he seems to be compartmentalizing, our colleague Maggie Haberman says .

A verdict could come next week, answering the question of whether Trump will campaign for president as a convicted felon .

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A “technical failure” caused the crash that killed Raisi and Iran’s foreign minister, the state media reported.

Images of the crash site show that Raisi’s helicopter was a model developed for the Canadian military in the 1960s. Iran struggles to update its aviation fleet because of sanctions .

Raisi was a candidate to succeed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 85, as Iran’s supreme leader. His death complicates a difficult search for the next ruler .

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The International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor requested arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and the leaders of Hamas for crimes related to Oct. 7 and the war in Gaza.

President Biden called the prosecutor’s request outrageous: “There is no equivalence — none — between Israel and Hamas.” He later said that what’s happening in Gaza “is not genocide.”

OpenAI asked Scarlett Johansson, who played a seductive virtual assistant in the movie “Her,” to become a voice of ChatGPT . She said no twice, but the company released an assistant that sounds like her.

“I was shocked, angered and in disbelief”: Johansson rebuked Sam Altman , OpenAI’s chief executive. The company has suspended the voice.

OpenAI designed a voice of a “lightly flirtatious, wholly attentive woman,” our movie critic writes. Read more about how the voice resembled the one in “Her.”

More on Business

The seafood chain Red Lobster has filed for bankruptcy . The company plans to close many of its restaurants.

The financier Ivan Boesky, who symbolized the brash Wall Street of the 1980s — and paid a $100 million penalty for insider trading — died at 87 .

2024 Election

Trump and the Republican Party beat Biden and the Democrats in fund-raising for the first time this election. The Biden campaign still has far more cash on hand.

Trump’s Truth Social account posted a video with hypothetical newspaper articles about what his victory would mean for America that referred to “the creation of a unified Reich.” His campaign said a staffer had posted it.

Other Big Stories

Gangs control Haiti’s infrastructure , including police stations and ports.

South Africa’s highest court barred former President Jacob Zuma, who is attempting a political comeback, from running for Parliament next week . His new party will still put his face on ballots, complicating the election.

Contaminated blood products killed about 3,000 patients of Britain’s National Health Service, a long-awaited report found. The authorities hid their failings for years.

Storms could bring tornadoes and damaging winds to the Midwest today.

Arizona has a choice: become more like Texas or more like California. This year’s U.S. Senate race will suggest where it’s headed , Tom Zoellner writes.

Samer Attar spent weeks documenting the struggle to save lives in Gaza’s ravaged hospitals. Watch his dispatches in this Opinion Video .

Here are columns by Michelle Goldberg on Trump’s criminal trial and Paul Krugman on the Dow’s hitting 40,000 .

MORNING READS

Travel: Spend 36 hours on the Spanish island of Minorca.

Climate questions: Is biodegradable plastic really a thing? Yes, but it isn’t a perfect solution .

Health: How to soothe — and prevent — ingrown hairs .

Lives Lived: Bruce Nordstrom, whose grandfather immigrated from Sweden and founded Nordstrom as a small shoe-store chain, was instrumental in turning the retailer into an international fashion giant. He died at 90 .

N.H.L.: The Edmonton Oilers survived Game 7 in Vancouver despite giving up two goals in the final nine minutes. They will play the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference Final.

N.B.A.: The Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers play in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals tonight. Boston is a favorite .

ARTS AND IDEAS

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s style — the skinny ties, button-downs and weather-beaten tan — is unique among this year’s presidential hopefuls. It also might be an electoral advantage: His preppy look evokes, in the American mind, his father and his uncle, the Times’s chief fashion critic Vanessa Friedman writes .

“It matters because those unstated associations serve to moderate Mr. Kennedy’s more outré positions,” Vanessa adds.

More on culture

The Times sat down with the stars of Yorgos Lanthimos’s new dark comedy, “Kinds of Kindness,” which just premiered at Cannes .

Penguin Random House, the largest publishing house in the U.S., dismissed two top executives ; the industry faces financial challenges.

The author of “Crazy Rich Asians” left Singapore’s upper crust when he was 11. He’s still writing about it .

The Portal — a live video feed between Dublin and New York City — has reopened. It was shut off last week because of bad behavior on both sides, including a flasher.

Stephen Colbert had thoughts about Justice Samuel Alito blaming his wife for the flying of an upside-down American flag.

THE MORNING RECOMMENDS …

Roast a curry-rubbed half chicken with peppers , an ideal recipe for one.

Celebrate love with an anniversary gift .

Take a portable solar battery charger with you on a hike.

Here is today’s Spelling Bee . Yesterday’s pangram was taxonomy .

And here are today’s Mini Crossword , Wordle , Sudoku , Connections and Strands .

Thanks for spending part of your morning with The Times. See you tomorrow. — German

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Watch CBS News

Psychoactive drugs like ketamine and MDMA are having a moment. The FDA will soon weigh in.

By Dawn Megli

May 28, 2024 / 5:00 AM EDT / KFF Health News

Lori Tipton is among the growing number of people who say that MDMA, also known as ecstasy, saved their lives.

Raised in New Orleans by a mother with untreated bipolar disorder who later killed herself and two others, Tipton said she endured layers of trauma that eventually forced her to seek treatment for crippling anxiety and hypervigilance. For 10 years nothing helped, and she began to wonder if she was "unfixable."

Then she answered an ad for a clinical trial for MDMA-assisted therapy  to treat post-traumatic stress disorder. Tipton said the results were immediate, and she is convinced the drug could help a lot of people. But even as regulators weigh approval of the first MDMA-based treatment, she's worried that it won't reach those who need it most.

"The main thing that I'm always concerned about is just accessibility," the 43-year-old nonprofit project manager said. "I don't want to see this become just another expensive add-on therapy for people who can afford it when people are dying every day by their own hand because of PTSD."

Which drugs are being explored?

MDMA is part of a new wave of psychoactive drugs that show great potential for treating conditions such as severe depression and PTSD. Investors are piling into the nascent field, and a host of medications based on MDMA, LSD, psychedelic mushrooms, ketamine, the South American plant mixture ayahuasca, and the African plant ibogaine are now under development, and in some cases vying for approval by the Food and Drug Administration.

Proponents hope the efforts could yield the first major new therapies for mental illness since the introduction of modern antidepressants in the 1980s. But not all researchers are convinced that their benefits have been validated, or properly weighed against the risks. And they can be difficult to assess using traditional clinical trials.

The first MDMA-assisted assisted therapy appeared to be on track for FDA approval this August, but a recent report from an independent review committee challenged the integrity of the trial data from the drug's maker, Lykos Therapeutics, a startup founded by a psychedelic research and advocacy group. The FDA will convene a panel of independent investigators on June 4 to determine whether to recommend the drug's approval.

Proponents of the new therapies also worry that the FDA will impose treatment protocols, such as requiring multiple trained clinicians to monitor a patient for extended periods, that will render them far too expensive for most people.

Tipton's MDMA-assisted therapy included three eight-hour medication sessions overseen by two therapists, each followed by an overnight stay at the facility and an integration session the following day.

"It does seem that some of these molecules can be administered safely," said David Olson, director of the University of California-Davis Institute for Psychedelics and Neurotherapeutics. "I think the question is can they be administered safely at the scale needed to really make major improvements in mental health care."

From psychedelics to breakthrough therapies

Psychedelics and other psychoactive substances, among the medicines with the oldest recorded use , have long been recognized for their potential therapeutic benefits. Modern research on them started in the mid-20th century, but clinical trial results didn't live up to the claims of advocates, and they eventually got a bad name both from their use as party drugs and from rogue CIA experiments that involved dosing unsuspecting individuals.

The 1970 Controlled Substances Act made most psychoactive drugs illegal before any treatments were brought to market, and MDMA was classified as a Schedule 1 substance in 1985, which effectively ended any research. It wasn't until 2000 that scientists at Johns Hopkins University were granted regulatory approval to study psilocybin anew.

Ketamine was in a different category, having been approved as an anesthetic in 1970. In the early 2000s, researchers discovered its antidepressant effects, and a ketamine-based therapy, Spravato, received FDA approval in 2019. Doctors can also prescribe generic ketamine off-label, and hundreds of clinics have sprung up across the nation. A clinical trial is underway to evaluate ketamine's effectiveness in treating suicidal depression when used with other psychiatric medications.

Ketamine's apparent effectiveness sparked renewed interest in the therapeutic potential of other psychoactive substances.

They fall into distinct categories: MDMA is an entactogen, also known as an empathogen, which induces a sense of connectedness and emotional communion, while LSD, psylocibin and ibogaine are psychedelics , which create altered perceptual states. Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic, though it can produce hallucinations at the right dose.

Despite the drugs' differences, Olson said they all create neuroplasticity and allow the brain to heal damaged neural circuits, which imaging shows can be shriveled up in patients with addiction, depression and PTSD.

"All of these brain conditions are really disorders of neural circuits," Olson said. "We're basically looking for medicines that can regrow these neurons."

Psychedelics are particularly good at doing this, he said, and hold promise for treating diseases including Alzheimer's.

A number of psychoactive drugs have now received the FDA's "breakthrough therapy" designation, which expedites development and review of drugs with the potential to treat serious conditions.

What are the downsides and risks of psychoactive drug studies?

But standard clinical trials, in which one group of patients is given the drug and a control group is given a placebo, have proven problematic, for the simple reason that people have no trouble determining whether they've gotten the real thing.

The final clinical trial for Lykos' MDMA treatment showed that 71% of participants no longer met the criteria for PTSD after 18 weeks of taking the drug versus 48% in the control group.

A March report by the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review, an independent research group, questioned the company's clinical trial results and challenged the objectivity of MDMA advocates who participated in the study as both patients and therapists. The institute also questioned the drug's cost-effectiveness, which insurers factor into coverage decisions.

Lykos, a public benefit company, was formed in 2014 as an offshoot of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, a nonprofit that has invested more than $150 million into psychedelic research and advocacy.

The company said its researchers developed their studies in partnership with the FDA and used independent raters to ensure the reliability and validity of the results.

"We stand behind the design and results of our clinical trials," a Lykos spokesperson said in an email.

There are other hazards too. Psychoactive substances can put patients in vulnerable states, making them potential victims for financial exploitation or other types of abuse. In Lykos' second clinical trial, two therapists were found to have spooned, cuddled, blindfolded and pinned down a female patient who was in distress.

The substances can also cause shallow breathing, heart issues  and hyperthermia.

To mitigate risks, the FDA can put restrictions on how drugs are administered .

"These are incredibly potent molecules and having them available in vending machines is probably a bad idea," said Hayim Raclaw of Negev Capital, a venture capital fund focused on psychedelic drug development.

But if the protocols are too stringent, access is likely to be limited.

Rachel del Dosso, a trauma therapist in the greater Los Angeles area who offers ketamine-assisted therapy, said she's been following the research on drugs like MDMA and psilocybin and is excited for their therapeutic potential but has reservations about the practicalities of treatment.

"As a therapist in clinical practice, I've been thinking through how could I make that accessible," she said. "Because it would cost a lot for [patients] to have me with them for the whole thing."

Del Dosso said a group therapy model, which is sometimes used in ketamine therapy, could help scale the adoption of other psychoactive treatments, too.

How artificial intelligence is helping find analog molecules

Researchers expect plenty of new discoveries in the field. One of the companies Negev has invested in, Mindstate Design Labs, uses artificial intelligence to analyze "trip reports," or self-reported drug experiences, to identify potentially therapeutic molecules. Mindstate has asked the FDA to green-light a clinical trial of the first molecule identified through this method, 5-MeO-MiPT, also known as moxy.

AlphaFold, an AI program developed by Google's DeepMind, has identified thousands of potential psychedelic molecules.

There's also a lot of work going into so-called analog compounds, which have the therapeutic effects of hallucinogens but without the hallucinations. The maker of a psilocybin analog announced in March that the FDA had granted it breakthrough therapy status.

"If you can harness the neuroplasticity-promoting properties of LSD while also creating an antipsychotic version of it, then that can be pretty powerful," Olson said.

This article was produced by KFF Health News , a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF — the independent source for health policy research, polling and journalism. KFF Health News is the publisher of California Healthline , an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation .

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Home — Essay Samples — Nursing & Health — Substance Abuse — Drug Abuse In America Essay

Drug Abuse in America Essay

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A synthetic drug ravages youth in Sierra Leone. There’s little help, and some people are chained

A young man smokes Kush at a hideout in Freetown, Sierra Leone, Monday, April 29, 2024. (AP Photo/ Misper Apawu)

Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio declared a state of emergency in April over the drug kush, which is made from cannabis, fentanyl and tramadol. However, government resources are limited, and the country’s only public rehab center is unable to accommodate all the people in need of addiction treatment.

A young man smokes Kush at a hideout in Freetown, Sierra Leone, Monday, April 29, 2024. Sierra Leone declared a war on the cheap synthetic drug, calling it an epidemic and a national threat. The drug is ravaging youth, and healthcare services are severely limited. (AP Photo/ Misper Apawu)

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View of Freetown, Sierra Leone, Sunday, April 28, 2024. Sierra Leone declared a war on the cheap synthetic drug, calling it an epidemic and a national threat. The drug is ravaging youth, and healthcare services are severely limited. (AP Photo/ Misper Apawu)

Two boys walk in Moa Wharf, a slum where Kush users live in Freetown, Sierra Leone, Friday, April 26, 2024. Sierra Leone declared a war on Kush, a cheap synthetic drug, calling it an epidemic and a national threat. The drug is ravaging youth, and healthcare services are severely limited. (AP Photo/ Misper Apawu)

A man sleeps in the shade on the streets of Freetown, Sierra Leone, Sunday, April 28, 2024. Sierra Leone declared a war on Kush, a cheap synthetic drug, calling it an epidemic and a national threat. The drug is ravaging youth, and healthcare services are severely limited. (AP Photo/ Misper Apawu)

Kush users rest in a room where they receive care in an unconventional rehabilitation centre in the Bombay community, in Freetown, Sierra Leone, Thursday, April 25, 2024. Some youth in the Bombay community are helping Kush addicts stop by rehabilitating them. (AP Photo/ Misper Apawu)

A girl walks past a ‘No more Kush’ warning on a wall on Bombay Street in Freetown, Sierra Leone, Saturday, April 25, 2024. Sierra Leone declared a war on the cheap synthetic drug, calling it an epidemic and a national threat. The drug is ravaging youth, and healthcare services are severely limited. (AP Photo/ Misper Apawu)

Habib Taigore Kamara, Executive Director of Sierra Leone’s Youth Development and Child Link (SLYDCL), stands in his office in Freetown, Sierra Leone, Thursday, April 25, 2024. Habib’s organisation provides medical care and psychological support for drug users in Sierra Leone. (AP Photo/ Misper Apawu)

A group of youth meet in Bombay Street in a compound where they rehabilitate Kush users in Freetown, Sierra Leone, Saturday, April 28, 2024. Youth in the Bombay community are helping Kush addicts stop by rehabilitating them in a temporary space. Sierra Leone declared a war on the cheap synthetic drug, calling it an epidemic and a national threat. The drug is ravaging youth, and healthcare services are severely limited. (AP Photo/ Misper Apawu)

An employee at Sierra Leone Youth Development and Child Link (SLYDCL) provides medical care for Kush users at Moa Wharf, a drug den in Freetown, Sierra Leone, Friday, April 26, 2024. Sierra Leone declared a war on the cheap synthetic drug, calling it an epidemic and a national threat. The drug is ravaging youth, and healthcare services are severely limited. (AP Photo/ Misper Apawu)

A Kush user waits outside during a medical outreach center of Sierra Leone’s Youth Development and Child Link (SLYDCL), an NGO that provides medical care and psychological needs for drug users, Friday, April 26, 2024. Sierra Leone declared a war on the cheap synthetic drug, calling it an epidemic and a national threat. The drug is ravaging youth, and healthcare services are severely limited. (AP Photo/ Misper Apawu)

Kush users’ queue to receive medical care at a medical outreach center of Sierra Leone’s Youth Development and Child Link (SLYDCL), an NGO that provides medical care and psychological needs for drug users, Friday, April 26, 2024. (AP Photo/ Misper Apawu)

Kush users receive treatment at a medical outreach facility of Sierra Leone’s Youth Development and Child Link (SLYDCL),an NGO that provides medical care and psychological needs for drug users, Friday, April 26, 2024. Sierra Leone declared a war on the cheap synthetic drug, calling it an epidemic and a national threat. The drug is ravaging youth, and healthcare services are severely limited. (AP Photo/ Misper Apawu)

A Kush user shows his injury through a window at a medical outreach center of Sierra Leone’s Youth Development and Child Link (SLYDCL), an NGO that provides medical care and psychological needs for drug users, Friday, April 26, 2024 . The drug leaves people lethargic, desperate and ill. While the government does not publish official figures on kush-related deaths or hospital admissions, Ansu Konneh, the director of mental health at the Ministry of Social Welfare, said there had been a sharp rise in people addicted to kush. (AP Photo/ Misper Apawu)

Kush users rest in a room where they receive care in an unconventional rehabilitation centre in the Bombay community, in Freetown, Sierra Leone, Thursday, April 25, 2024. Some youth in the Bombay community are helping Kush addicts stop by rehabilitating them. Over 70 drug users have received care and overcame drug abuse since January 2024. (AP Photo/ Misper Apawu)

A Kush user reacts after receiving treatment at Sierra Leone’s Youth Development and Child Link (SLYDCL), an NGO that provides medical care and psychological needs for drug users in Sierra Leone, Friday, April 26, 2024. Sierra Leone declared a war on the cheap synthetic drug, calling it an epidemic and a national threat. The drug is ravaging youth, and healthcare services are severely limited. (AP Photo/ Misper Apawu)

A boy looks at his phone on the street of Bombay at night, Freetown, Sierra Leone, Saturday, April 28, 2024 Sierra Leone declared a war on the cheap synthetic drug, calling it an epidemic and a national threat. The drug is ravaging youth, and healthcare services are severely limited. (AP Photo/ Misper Apawu)

Ephraim Maculey, (R), a former Kush user and now an anti-drug activist, talks with drug users at a drug den in Freetown, Sierra Leone, Friday, April 26, 2024. Maculey is an employee of Sierra Leone’s Youth Development and Child Link (SLYDCL), an organisation that provides medical care and psychological services to drug users in Sierra Leone. (AP Photo/ Misper Apawu)

A young man rolls Kush as other users sleep at a hideout in Freetown, Sierra Leone, Monday, April 29, 2024. Sierra Leone declared a war on the cheap synthetic drug, calling it an epidemic and a national threat. The drug is ravaging youth, and healthcare services are severely limited. (AP Photo/ Misper Apawu)

Memunatu Kamara breaks down in tears next to her son Mohammed, who smokes Kush in Susan’s Bay, one of the three largest slums in Freetown, Sierra Leone, Sunday, April 28, 2024. Kamala said it’s a shame for her to see her son going wasteful due to Kush’s addiction. Sierra Leone declared a war on the cheap synthetic drug, calling it an epidemic and a national threat. The drug is ravaging youth, and healthcare services are severely limited. (AP Photo/ Misper Apawu)

Mohammed Kamara, a Kush user, shows a picture of himself before he got addicted to Kush and dropped out of school at his family’s home in Susan’s Bay, one of the three largest slums in Freetown, Sierra Leone, Sunday, April 28, 2024 Kamara fell to peer pressure and dropped out of school when he was in Senior High. “I want to go back to school”, says Mohammed, and pursue my mechanical engineering dream."Sierra Leone declared a war on the cheap synthetic drug, calling it an epidemic and a national threat. The drug is ravaging youth, and healthcare services are severely limited. (AP Photo/ Misper Apawu)

Young men work on a landfill in the east end of Freetown, Sierra Leone, Tuesday, April 30, 2024. Kush users mostly sort through rubbles at dumpsites to make money. Sierra Leone declared a war on the cheap synthetic drug, calling it an epidemic and a national threat. The drug is ravaging youth, and healthcare services are severely limited. (AP Photo/ Misper Apawu)

FREETOWN, Sierra Leone (AP) — In Sierra Leone, a cheap, synthetic drug is ravaging youth. Trash-strewn alleys are lined with boys and young men slumped in addiction. Healthcare services are severely limited. One frustrated community has set up what it calls a treatment center, run by volunteers. But harsh measures can be used.

The project in the Bombay suburb of the capital, Freetown, started in the past year when a group of people tried to help a colleague’s younger brother off the drug called kush. After persuasion and threats failed, they locked him in his room for two months. It worked. He has returned to university and thanked them for setting him free.

“The only time I left the room was when I went to the bathroom,” Christian Johnson, 21, recalled. He said he was motivated to kick the drug by thoughts of his family, the fear of becoming a dropout and the abandonment by many of his friends.

Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio declared a state of emergency in April over the drug kush, which is made from cannabis, fentanyl and tramadol.

The volunteers then expanded the effort and took over an abandoned building. They seize people at families’ request and sometimes chain them to prevent them from escaping — an echo of a practice the West African country’s only psychiatric hospital previously used. There’s little padding against the concrete floor and walls, and little to do beyond confronting their craving.

A group of youth meet in a compound where they rehabilitate Kush users in Freetown, Sierra Leone, April 28, 2024. (AP Photo/ Misper Apawu)

“We turn parents away for lack of space,” said Suleiman Turay, a local football coach who helped launch the center. “The people in the community cooperate and help in their own individual ways. Some bring food, some bring water, doing whatever they can to help.” A doctor in the community visits from time to time. Police said they were not aware of the project or the practice of chaining people.

So far, the Bombay Community has treated 70 to 80 people, volunteers said. One showed the chains used in extreme cases, although no one was chained at the time. The youngest held was a 13-year-old boy sent there by his father.

“I was very angry, and I wanted to have nothing to do with him,” said the father, Gibrilla Bangura, a college lecturer. “I am very grateful to these men and women for their role in helping my son.”

Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio this year declared a war on kush, calling it an epidemic and a national threat. He has launched a task force on drug and substance abuse, promising to lead a government approach focused on prevention and treatment involving law enforcement and community engagement.

“We are witnessing the destructive consequences of kush on our country’s very foundation, our young people,” Bio said in April.

A young man rolls Kush as other users sleep at a hideout in Freetown, Sierra Leone, Monday, April 29, 2024. (AP Photo/ Misper Apawu)

People rarely know what they’re getting with kush, a derivative of cannabis mixed with synthetic drugs like fentanyl and tramadol and chemicals like formaldehyde. In some communities, civil society workers say, people have dug up graves to grind bones to cut with the drug, seeking chemicals used in embalming.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s director in Sierra Leone, Daphne Moffett, said one challenge in responding to the crisis is the drug’s changing composition. “Before appropriate interventions can be developed, we need to know what materials are in Kush,” she said in an email.

The drug leaves people lethargic, desperate and ill. While the government does not publish official figures on kush-related deaths or hospital admissions, Ansu Konneh, the director of mental health at the Ministry of Social Welfare, said there had been a sharp rise in people addicted to kush turning up at Sierra Leone’s only psychiatric hospital since 2022.

Kush users rest in a room where they receive care in an unconventional rehabilitation centre in the Bombay community, in Freetown, Sierra Leone, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/ Misper Apawu)

Konneh heads Sierra Leone’s first public drug rehabilitation enter, which opened in Freetown in February. He said kush has affected Sierra Leone like no other drug.

“It’s making young people drop out of college, and it’s having a physical effect on their health. You can see they have swollen feet, they have multiple organ failures, they’re involved in crimes,” he said. “It’s a very serious situation. It’s creating family disintegration, problems in communities, and they’re dying every day.”

Prince Bull-Luseni, the director of the West Africa Drug Policy Network, a group that aims to promote policy reforms, said Sierra Leone is the worst-hit country in the region. “Every community in Sierra Leone, not just in Freetown, has been hit by kush and it’s tearing them apart,” he told the AP, adding that with no treatment or rehabilitation for most users, “there’s no way to address it.”

The Social Linkages For Youth Development And Child Link, a nonprofit organization that seeks to fight drug use, relies on former users of the drug to help educate young people about its toll. The organization had lobbied the government for years to allocate more resources to fighting addiction.

“Overcoming the addiction wasn’t easy. It was one of the hardest steps of my life,” said Ephraim Macaulay, a peer educator who came across kush in college and soon was paying less than a dollar for a day’s supply. “It’s like you trying to get out of water and there’s water all around you.”

He motivated himself by comparing himself to friends and family. They were clean. He stank. Gradually, he stopped taking the drug. Now he sometimes feels like crying when talking to peers, reminded of what his life could have been if he hadn’t kicked the addiction.

Ephraim Maculey, (R), a former Kush user and now an anti-drug activist, talks with drug users at a drug den in Freetown, Sierra Leone, April 26, 2024. (AP Photo/ Misper Apawu)

Habib Kamara, the executive director at SLYDCL, said the availability of kush has grown exponentially after suppliers began to manufacture it locally. He said law enforcement needs to do more to target manufacturers at the top of the supply chain instead of chasing buyers and low-level sellers. The government has said it wants to help, not punish, those who use the drug.

Habib Taigore Kamara, Executive Director of Sierra Leone’s Youth Development and Child Link (SLYDCL), stands in his office in Freetown, Sierra Leone, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/ Misper Apawu)

“This country has fought two pandemics,” he said, listing COVID and West Africa’s devastating Ebola outbreak that began a decade ago. Kush has had a similar impact, causing young people to drop out of school, straining the healthcare system and tearing apart families.

“If we cannot have an approach that reduces usage, in the future we will not have people to replace us tomorrow in the workforce,” Kamara said.

Some parents are exhausted. Memunatu Kamara, 49, sells smoked fish at a market in Freetown, providing the main income for her family of six. Her husband is an imam. Their son, the oldest, has dropped out of school and stolen the few valuables they owned to buy the drug.

“A very intelligent boy has become a dropout,” she said, wiping away tears. “I feel pain seeing him in this condition. I feel shame among my peers. I feel discouraged about his future. I have no idea what else to do about it.”

She has put her son on the waiting list for the Bombay Community.

Memunatu Kamara breaks down in tears next to her son Mohammed, who smokes Kush in Susan’s Bay, one of the three largest slums in Freetown, Sierra Leone, April 28, 2024. (AP Photo/ Misper Apawu)

Associated Press writer Jessica Donati in Dakar, Senegal, contributed to this report.

The Associated Press receives financial support for global health and development coverage in Africa from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org .