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babawale95 · 1 year

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TOBACCO: HEALTH IMPACT

Tobacco is the best common name of several plants in the genus Nicotiana of the family Solanaceae, and the general term for any product prepared from the cured leaves of these plants. More than 70 species of tobacco are known, but the chief commercial crop is N. tabacum. The more potent variant N. rustica is also used in some countries.

Dried tobacco leaves are mainly used for smoking in cigarettes and cigars, as well as pipes and shishas. They can also be consumed as snuff, chewing tobacco, dipping tobacco, and snus.

Tobacco contains the highly addictive stimulant alkaloid nicotine as well as harmful alkaloids. Tobacco use is a cause or risk factor for many deadly diseases, especially those affecting the heart, liver, and lungs, as well as many cancers. In 2008, the World Health Organization named tobacco use as the world's single greatest preventable cause of death.

NICOTINE: MAJOR PHYTOCONSTITUENT FOR ADDICTION

Nicotine is obtained from the leaves of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) and is being used for centuries for its pleasurable effect. Nicotine was initially obtained from Nicotiana tabacum Posselt and Reimann in 1828.

The mode of administration f nicotine may be through sniffing, chewing, or smoking. Nicotine comes in the category of the alkaloid (1-methyl-2-[3-pyridyl] pyrrolidine) and is the major phytoconstituent responsible for addiction. The latest findings revealed addiction created via nicotine is very influential and similar to addictions to abusive substances such as cocaine and heroin.

The toxic measure of nicotine is predicted to be 40–60 mg, for adult adults measure as 0is-1 mg/kg for children about 10 mg (1 mg . kg).

PATHWAY ASSOCIATED WITH NICOTINE ADDICTION

Cholinergic system

The investigation has revealed the action of nicotine on the CNS. Its action shows a majority of performance activity. It easily enters BBB stimulating nicotinic ACh receptors. These nicotinic cholinergic receptors act as key ACh receptor subtypes. Excitation of presynaptic nAChRs elicits the Ach discharge plus its metabolism. Long-term exposures to nicotine produce receptor inactivation with successive up-regulation of nAChRs situate. Cholinergic receptors are located in several brain segments particularly located in the midbrain tegmentum, the striatum, the nucleus accumbens, and the ventral tegmentum. It is also present in muscles, adrenal glands, the cardiovascular system, and other body parts. The activation of these receptors is usually done by the ACh mainly in CNS and neurons. These neurotransmitters and associated receptors are concerned with numerous actions, together with respiration, preservation of heart rate, reminiscence, attentiveness, and muscle retrenchment.

Dopaminergic System

The Ascending Mesolimbic and Mesocortical Pathways Main ascending dopaminergic pathways instigate from cell bodies in the brainstem, mostly in the substantia nigra pars compacta and VTA.

Mesolimbic pathway The mesolimbic dopaminergic system contains neurons that invent from the VTA and exceed through the medial forebrain bundle, protrudes the NAc, olfactory tubercle, and another limbic area such as the amygdala, hippocampus, and septum. The mesolimbic system adds a key liability in the management of motivation, emotion, and motor activity. The system is too beneficial in mediating the satisfying properties of physically abused drugs. The NAc obtains the largest projections of the neurons from the VTA. Structurally the NAC contains sub-territories, of this ventromedial shell and dorsolateral core emerge to be leading. The shell, which obtains afferents from subcortical and brainstem compositions, exhibits better neuroanatomical variety than the core. The shell receives outputs indication to the core via the feed-forwardstriateo pallid-thalamic cortico-striatal pathway. Both the shell and the core region emerge to be included in reward-related behavior.

2. Mesocortical pathway The neuron which forms the mesocortical dopaminergic system comes out from the VTA, and they pass through to cortical regions together with the PFC, the entorhinal, and cingulate cortices. This exacting brain system is concerned with the management of elevated cognitive purposes. The PFC is also involved in drug-reward chronic ingestion of an abused drug and is recommended to create dopaminergic hypofunction in the PFC that ought to lie beneath impulsivity and failure of management of drug-carving behavior.

GABAergic System

The interface between nicotine and the GABAergic system was currently revealed. With this research, numerous electrophysiological methods have confirmed that agonists of nicotinic rouse discharge GABA from animal brain parts plus it was Ca2+ dependent. In recent times, the measure of other central tegmental GABAergic interneurons modulated the mesolimbic dopamine activity. With the help of extracellular recording methods in rat brain parts, nicotine enhanced the releasing speed of dopamine and non-dopamine neurons, and it is exciting to know that the firing of dopaminergic neurons was more vital. Findings related to this depict that nicotine enhances the discharge tempo of dopaminergic neurons of VTA as well as the GABA-ergic neurons. It could be concluded that it might be an essential site for the action of nicotine on CNS. The decreased vigorous reaction in the non-dopamine GABAergic neurons produces distinct inactivation. It ultimately may guide to desensitization of dopamine neurons thus assisting further controlled raise in the result of mesolimbic dopamine neurons to nicotine.

Adrenergic System

Various research encompasses also revealed that nicotine also potentiates the discharge of Noradrenalin in various segments of the brain, as wellshowingngne shows its action mainly on locus ceruleus intensity. It was too depicted that in the hippocampus there is maximum desensitization of nicotine-enthused NA as soon as forty minutes and continues for at least one and half hour and after that inactivation turn out to be a dominant method. This makes speculations that this might be mediating the 'reassuring' property of nicotine ingestion.

Serotonergic System

Tobacco ingestion and daily nicotine exposure lower the application of 5-HT in the hippocampus. It could be mainly because of the selective enhancement of the concentration of 5 HT1A receptors in the brain segment. Various researchers have concluded after their work that the theihippocampusobtains serotonergic innervations from the median raphe nucleus. Inhibition of 5-HT discharge within this fraction of the hippocampus conveys an anxiolytic reaction to nicotine as soon as injected locally by microinjection into the dorsal hippocampus. The action of nicotine on 5-HT could not be easy to separate from tpresentmentdopaminergic neurons. The property of nicotine abandonment on dopamine discharge in the CNS may be proved through revelation to demanding stimulus and may trigger the function of anxiety as a feature in tobacco ingestion, in addition to the function of nicotine on decreasing the action by its action on 5-HT neurons inside the hippocampus.

Monoamine oxidase enzymes System

Current research depicts that cotinine enhances nicotinic receptors to enhance the discharge of DA in a calcium-dependent way. Newer techniques such as advanced neuroimaging technology had made it feasible to observe the spectacular action of tobacco ingestion on the brain of conscious and behaving mammals. Positron emission tomography (PET) has provided scientists to reveal that tobacco ingestion affects a noticeable reduction in the theensitysity of an essential enzyme, MAO (monoamine-oxidase), which is accountable for the infringement of dopamine. The reduction in two types of this enzyme MAO-A and B, consequences in elevated levels of dopamine. Investigations had revealed that even though nicotine causes an elevation in brain dopamine, nicotine does not modify MAO intensity [50]. These guides to the opportunity of a new constituent of cigarettes in oke addition to nicotine coreducecing the MAO. Thus, are many possibilities by which smoking may alter the neurotransmitter level for satisfaction and reward.

HEALTH EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT PRODUCTS OF TOBACCO

1,3-Butadiene is a chemical used to manufacture rubber. It is considered to be a carcinogenic chemical that can cause certain blood cancers.

Arsenic is used to preserve the wood. Some arsenic compounds have been linked to cancer of the lung, skin, liver, and bladder.

Benzene is used to manufacture other chemicals. It can cause cancer, particularly leukemia, in humans.

Cadmium is a metal used to make batteries. Cadmium and cadmium compounds can cause lung cancer and have been associated with kidney and prostate cancer.

Chromium VI is used to make alloy metals, paint, and dyes. Chromium VI compounds cause lung cancer and have been associated with cancer of the nose and nasal sinuses.

Formaldehyde is used to make other chemicals and resins. It is also used as a preservative. Formaldehyde causes leukemia and cancer in respiratory tissues.

Polonium-210 is a radioactive element that has been shown to cause cancer in animals.

Tar is not one single chemical, instead, it describes several chemicals that are in tobacco smoke. It leaves a sticky, brown residue on your lungs, teeth, and fingernails.

Carbon monoxide: Carbon monoxide is a harmful gas you inhale when you smoke. Once in your lungs, it’s transferred to your bloodstream. Carbon monoxide decreases the amount of oxygen that is carried in the red blood cells. It also increases the amount of cholesterol that is deposited into the inner lining of the arteries which, over time, can cause the arteries to harden. This leads to heart disease, artery disease, and possibly a heart attack.

Nicotine is a dangerous and highly addictive chemical. It can cause an increase in blood pressure, heart rate, the flow of blood to the heart, and a narrowing of the arteries (vessels that carry blood). Nicotine may also contribute to the hardening of the arterial walls, which in turn, may lead to a heart attack. This chemical can stay in your body for six to eight hours depending on how often you smoke. Also, as with most addictive substances, there are some side effects of withdrawal. And some e-cigarettes and newer tobacco products deliver even more nicotine than traditional cigarettes.

SECONDHAND SMOKER

Smokers aren’t the only ones affected by tobacco smoke. Secondhand smoke and vapor are serious health hazards for nonsmokers, especially children. Nonsmokers who have high blood pressure or high blood cholesterol have an even greater risk of developing heart diseases when they’re exposed to secondhand smoke. Secondhand tobacco smoke contributes to thousands of premature heart disease and lung cancer deaths. Studies show that the risk of developing heart disease is about 25-30 percent higher among people exposed to environmental tobacco smoke at home or work. Secondhand smoke promotes illness, too. Children of smokers have many more respiratory infections than do children of nonsmokers.

LEGALITY

The smoking age is the minimum legal age required to purchase or use tobacco products. Most countries have laws that forbid the le of tobacco products to persons younger than certain ages, usually the age of majority.

CONCLUSION

The nicotine contained in tobacco is highly addictive and tobacco use is a major risk factor for cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, over 20 different types or subtypes of cancer, and many other debilitating health conditions. Every year, more than 8 million people die from tobacco use.

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babawale95 · 1 year

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CANNABIS SATIVA: A PROMISE TO CLINICAL MANAGEMENT

INTRODUCTION

Cannabis refers to a group of three plants with psychoactive properties, known as Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis.

When the flowers of these plants are harvested and dried, you’re left with one of the most common drugs in the world. Some call it to weed, some call it pot, and others call it marijuana.

As weed becomes legal in more areas, names for it are evolving. Today, more and more people are using the term cannabis to refer to weed.

Some argue that it’s a more accurate name. Others feel it’s more neutral compared with terms like weed or pot, which some people associate with its illegal use. Also, the term “marijuana” is falling out of favor due to its racist history.

Cannabis is usually consumed for its relaxing and calming effects. In some countries, it’s also prescribed to help with a range of medical conditions, including chronic pain, glaucoma, and poor appetite.

Keep in mind that while cannabis comes from a plant and is considered natural, it can still have strong effects, both positive and negative.

COMPONENT

The term "phytocannabinoid" has been proposed for the natural components of the plant and "endocannabinoid" for the components synthesized in animals and humans that are the endogenous ligands for cannabinoid receptors. Cannabinoids in plants are substances that show a carbocyclic structure with 21 carbon atoms and are usually formed by three rings: cyclohexene, tetrahydrofuran, and benzene. Cannabinoids contain aromatic oxygenated hydrocarbons and do not contain nitrogen. δ9-THC is the cannabinoid responsible for the main psychoactive effects of many pharmacological products. in some Cannabis varieties, the additional cannabinoid homologs substitute the pentyl group usually joined to the aromatic ring with a propyl. The chemical composition of C. sativa is complex because it contains four hundred chemical products (mono- and sesquiterpenes, sugars, hydrocarbons, steroids, flavonoids, nitrogenated complexes, and amino acids, and a total of sixty-six cannabinoids, with δ9-THC as the psychostimulant in highest proportion. The main cannabinoids are δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol, δ-8-tetrahydrocannabinol (δ8-THC), cannabidiol (CBD), and cannabinol (CBN). Other cannabinoids present in the plant are cannabichromene (CBC), cannabidiol (CBL), cannabigerol (CBG), cannabigerol monomethyl ether (CBGM), cannabielsoin (CBE), cannabidiol (CBND), cannabidiol (CBT), dehydrocannabifuran, and cannabicitran.

THERAPEUTIC PROPERTIES

The therapeutic effects of cannabinoids are used in the treatment of neuropathic, oncologic, and symptomatic pain in multiple sclerosis in patients unresponsive to usual treatments, epilepsy, spasticity (related to multiple sclerosis), Huntington's disease or medullary lesions, AIDS, and terminal cancer, nausea, chemotherapy-induced vomiting, itching, allergies, psychiatric symptoms, and motility conditions. Marijuana that is administered orally (or rectally) is used in patients in the terminal phase; it is a truly useful anti-suffering drug. Cannabinoids like δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol are found naturally in the Cannabis sativa plant. Some compounds like nabilone, rimonabant, and levonantradol have been synthesized, and inside the organism, there are endogenous cannabinoids, or endocannabinoids, such as anandamide, 2-arachidonoyl-glycerol, 2-arachidonoyl-glycerol ether, O-arachidonoyl-ethanolamine, and N-arachidonoyl-dopamine, that are part of the endocannabinoid system and participate in the regulation of motor activity, learning, memory, and nociception. The progress of scientific research has permitted the identification of molecular targets activated or inhibited by these substances, targets that are part of the inter-cellular communication endogenous cannabinoid system, especially active in the CNS, and that as in many other systems are susceptible to pharmacological manipulation. In vitro tissue, culture biotechnology could be projected as an efficient tool to produce cannabinoids safely. In the United States and several European countries, the debate over marijuana is centered around its medicinal use and many initiatives in other countries are in operation or recognize and establish its efficacy and safeness in some of the mortal diseases, fo,r example multiple sclerosis, arthritis, epilepsy, glaucoma, HIV, chronic pain, Alzheimer's disease, and cancer.

MECHANISM OF ACTION

The exact mechanism of action of CBD and THC is not currently fully understood. However, it is known that CBD acts on cannabinoid (CB) receptors of the endocannabinoid system, which are found in numerous areas of the body, including the peripheral and central nervous systems, including the brain. The endocannabinoid system regulates many physiological responses of the body including pain, memory, appetite, and mood. More specifically, CB1 receptors can be found within the pain pathways of the brain and spinal cord where they may affect CBD-induced analgesia and anxiolysis, and CB2 receptors have an effect on immune cells, where they may affect CBD-induced anti-inflammatory processes.

CBD has been shown to act as a negative allosteric modulator of the cannabinoid CB1 receptor, the most abundant G-Protein Coupled Receptor (GPCR) in the body 5. Allosteric regulation of a receptor is achieved through the modulation of the activity of a receptor on a functionally distinct site from the agonist or antagonist binding site. The negative allosteric modulatory effects of CBD are therapeutically important as direct agonists are limited by their psychomimetic effects while direct antagonists are limited by their depressant effects.

EFFECT

What are the short-term effects of cannabis?

Using cannabis can have a range of short-term effects. Some are beneficial, but others are more concerning.

Some of the more desirable short-term effects include:

relaxation

giddiness

experiencing things around you, such as sights and sounds, more intensely

increased appetite

altered perception of time and events

focus and creativity

These effects are often minimal in products containing very high levels of CBD, compared with THC.

But cannabis can also have some problematic side effects for certain people. Side effects may include:

coordination issues

delayed reaction time

nausea

lethargy

anxiety

increased heart rate

decreased blood pressure

paranoia

What are the long-term effects of cannabis?

Brain development

People who start using cannabis in their teens may also have a higher risk for mental health issues later in life, including schizophrenia. But experts still are

Dependence

Some people can also become dependent on cannabis. Others even experience withdrawal symptoms when not using cannabis, such as irritability, low appetite, and mood swings.

Respiratory problems

Smoking cannabis carries abuse. This may be due to inflammation and irritation of the airways. Cannabis has been associated with bronchitis, and it may be a risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, recent studiesTrustehasurce have shown little evidence of a link between cannabis use and lung cancer.

LEGAL ASPECT

Cannabis is illegal in many places, but more and more areas legalize it for both recreational and medical uses. In the United States For example, several states legalised recreational and medical cannabis.

Othlegalizedlegalised it only for medical use. But cannabis remains illegal under federal law in the United States.

The laws around cannabis also vary from country to country. Some permit the use of products containing only CBD, while others consider any kind of uses canabis use a serious crime.

If you’re curious about trying cannabis, make sure to read up on the laws in your area first.

CONCLUSION

Cannabis is a term that’s being increasingly used to refer to weed or marijuana. Regardless of what you call it, cannabis has a range of short- and long-term effects, which can be both beneficial and harmful.

If you’re curious about trying cannabis, start by checking whether it’s legal in your area.

If it is, consider talking to a doctor or pharmacist beforehand to make sure it won’t interact with any medications or supplements you take. A doctor can also help you weigh the potential benefits and risks to your health.

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babawale95 · 1 year

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THE CAFFEINE INTELLIGENCE RELATIONSHIP

Have you ever prepared for a test, interview, or examination and had to use coffee to stay awake? Am guessing yes.

Coffee works in this regard because it contains caffeine which is a stimulant and it causes a boost in energy, which in turn helps promote the greater concentration of mental abilities caffeine has been observing have another effect on the brain, it increases your IQ!!! Yes I mean makes you smart. It has been scientifically proven that it helps people their ability to preserve and retrieve memories by building more brain connections in the brain.

Caffeine especially improves short-term memory, for example, remembering a telephone you have just looked at before you dial it.

In addition, caffeine has been shown to improve the declining memories of older people. A little quality of caffeine also ramps up concentration, attention, vigilance, visuospatial reasoning, and the ability to perform calculations and think logically.

How it works

A section of the brain called the " hippocampus " is responsible for maintaining long-term memory when you need to concentrate on work or an assignment. Caffeine works to constrict the blood vessels in the brain. At the same time, it also boosts an individual's metabolism. As it energizes the brain, it also reduces the flow of oxygen to the heart in a complex physiological response.

Caffeine also increases levels of dopamine in the brain, which in many people creates a pleasant sensation. It is this dopamine connection in the caffeine brain relationship that is thought to contribute to addiction. In technical terms, caffeine also affects the release of adenosine, a brain chemical that helps to tell the body when it's time to sleep. That's why someone can stay awake with it!

Caffeine causes neurons in the brain to fire more rapidly which sends ssa ignasignals to the pituitary gland to release hormones that later trigger the release of adrenaline e --- part of the classic fight or flight" reaction. It's the release of adrenaline (combined with dopamine ) that helps give users the mental alertness or high that is for most a very pleasurable and productive experience

If you want to use coffee to boost your intelligence you need to use it right, because caffeine like many drug substances has side effects and causes unwanted effects in the body.

Researchers have found out that about 200mg of caffeine in caffeine tablets equivalent to 8oz ( a cup of coffee is excellent for cementing your memories. Up to 300mg seems to do even more but, it should be noted that significantly more than thistastartart reverses the memory benefits and lead to side effects such as insomnia, disorientation moodiness, and nervousness.

To reiterate, due to mode of action in the body, causes increased alertness, attention, and energy that comes with elevated pressure, and an eased heart rand and ann also leads to da angerousincreasess inion od pressure, which places added strain on the heart there you have the relationship between caffeine-containing coffee and intelligence.

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babawale95 · 1 year

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SKIN BLEACHING AND ITS DERMATOLOGICAL EFFECTS.

Introduction

In life, some men and women are not happy with the way nature made them. Because of this, they work hard to tell “NATURE” that He made mistake in their skin color when He was creating them, and that pushes them into the consumption of bleaching, whitening, or body-lightening creams. Daily, the number of people that dive into bleaching is a high increase.

What is bleaching?

Bleaching is the process of whitening or lightening any material with the use of chemicals. Not all chemicals can bleach but specific ones do. During the bleaching, process care is taken because excessive use of any chemical with higher content of any ingredients could be harmful.

HYDROQUINONE (C6H6O2) is widely used in skin-lightening creams and is soon to be banned altogether. According to Priscamcguire, poisoning, convulsion, asthma, leukemia, liver damage, anaphylactic shock, and infertility are not conditions normally associated with cosmetics. However, prolonged use of certain cosmetic creams, which contain bleaching agents, has been linked with all of the above. In recent years, despite rigorous campaigning to raise awareness about the dangers of excessive exposure to the sun, the serious health risks which can arise from using unregulated bleaching creams have received little or no attention.

Why bleach?

Black skin renews itself quickly, rapidly producing new skin cells. This ability for regeneration keeps our skin fresh and looking younger always. Whenever Black skin is damaged or traumatized, the body produces an excess of “Melanin” in the area. This hyperpigmentation can result in a humble spot or cut producing a dark patch where it is healed.

However, in some sections of society, particularly in African communities and Black American communities, skin beaches are used to lighten the skin in the misguided belief that a lighter complexion is better.

How Does Work????

Bleaching creams work by stripping the skin of its natural pigmentation. In dark-skinned people, pigmentation is the skin’s natural protection from the sun. Bleaching doesn’t just superficially lighten the skin, it alters the skin’s natural structure, removing and inhibiting the production of the color-creating melanin ( melanocytes). Once the skin has been “bleached” it loses its natural protective barrier, making it susceptible to damage by the sun's rays. This is also why many bleaching products contain either sunscreen or come with instructions advising people to use sun protection cream along with the product. Prolonged use of these bleaching products can also prevent the formation of melanin in the deeper basal layers of the skin, which will leave the skin lighter, but also leave it more vulnerable to damage. Hydroquinone, in particular, has been found to damage the connective tissues in the skin and cartilage, hence its removal from skincare products. People who use bleaching products can end up with rough skin.

Dermatological Effect of Bleaching

Skin whitening or bleaching is, in fact, a process in which the hair on the skin is bleached to match the actual skin tone. However, they have side effects which include: dark gray spots, skin cancer, acne, swelling of the skin, thinking of the skin, setting down of fat on the face, chest, upper back, and stomach, and neurological and kidney damage due to a high level of mercury used in the cream, psychiatric disorders, severe birth defects, asthma, and liver damage. Some of these side effects could be seen almost immediately while some are seen after prolonged use of skin whitening creams.

Conclusion

A lot of people are suffering from melanoma (cancer of the melanocytes ) due to bleaching. A balanced diet can improve your skin and make you look fresh other than bleaching.

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babawale95 · 1 year

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DRUG ABUSE: PHARMACISTS STANDS

The subject of drug abuse in recent times has been of great concern. Drug according to Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act is defined as;

A substance recognized in an official pharmacopeia or formulary.

A substance is other than food intended to affect the structure or function of the body.

A substance intended for use as a component of a medicine but not a dense component, past, or accessory of a dense.

A substance intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or privation of disease.

According to Mariam Webster’s dictionary, abuse is seen as an improper or excessive use or treatment misuse. In its simplest form, drug abuse is an improper use of a substance intended for the use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease. The definition of drug abuse would be fragmentation it is not mentioned that drug abuse also encompasses the use of illegal drugs such as cocaine, heroin, etc. However, this discourse intends to elucidate the former definition of drug abuse. It seeks to understand why patients abuse drugs and possibly to proffer solutions on how to combat the growing menace. The major reason why people abuse drugs are;

Illiteracy: Illiteracy is one of the major reasons for drug abuse. People with little or no education especially in rural areas tend to abuse drug than literate people. Due to their inability to read and comprehend, they either take an underside or overdose on the drug. The pharmacist can help reduce this occurrence by explaining the risk associated with such errors in plain, everyday language. Also, they have a responsibility of educating them on when to take drugs and what quantity is to be taken.

Stress: People who work round the clock and lead busy lives tend to experience stress. A greater percentage of this class of people have trouble sleeping, so the usual resort time is “ sleeping pills”. And it is often abused. The consequence of this abuse can cause the body to build up a tolerance requiring an increase in dosage to attain the same effects. In worse cases, the patient becomes dependent on the drug or develops an addiction. Pharmacists can advise patients on the ills of drug abuse and offer emotional support.

Self-Medication: Most people from different backgrounds have been in the harmful practice of self-medication. This involves the use of medicines to treat self-recognized or self-diagnosed conditions and symptoms. The risk associated with self-medication include; incorrect self-diagnosis, incorrect choice of therapy, dangerous drug reactions, masking a severe disease, and risks of a dependent.

Pain: A person born with a chronic disorder associated with much pain and those that have acquired injuries due to accordant may need a pain killer to alleviate the pain. Abuse of painkillers implies that abusers take more of the drug than the doctor would ever recommend. This could lead to a lowering of breathing, coma, brain damage, addiction, and death.

Pharmacists have a critical role to play in righting the “drug abuse” problem. The pharmacist’s accessibility coupled with trust places him in a better position to educate patients on drug abuse and its consequences. Pharmacists should encourage proper drug disposal, counsel patients, and educate the community on drugs. They need to ensure that their focus spans beyond dispensing by taking an active role in curbing drug abuse, hence positively impacting their patients and the general community.

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babawale95 · 1 year

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SELF-MEDICATION

Self-medication is an increasingly popular method of managing one's healthcare. It has a role in the management of minor illnesses, but if abused can pose a significant health risk for the individual. Self-medication occurs in conventional and complementary medicines. Potential risks apply equally to conventional and complementary medication, as there are serious interactions that medicines and natural products can have in a patient. Medication is commonly prescribed by a health professional after an examination of a patient. This is based on the individual's health record, family history, age, symptoms of the patient's illness, and results from any test conducted. This is to ensure that any potential drug-drug interactions, allergies, and adverse effects are identified. Prescription stipulates the needed dose as well as the frequency of administration and the duration of treatment. It is therefore important that proper diagnosis by health professionals be carried out before the commencement of treatment. The prescriber should ensure that patients use the medication correctly while hints could be given concerning possible side effects, drug-drug interaction, and contraindications.

Self-medication is not only limited to conventional medicines, it also occurs with herbal medicines. Alternative medical therapy in modern times is gradually gaining acceptance worldwide. It is estimated that nearly 60 percent of the population resort to some form of alternative therapy to treat their health problems. Ayurvedic medicine has a special role in the treatment of chronic disorders and is being increasingly used both by the lay public as well as by medical practitioners. The commonest myth regarding Ayurvedic medicines is that these medicines are completely safe, and are therefore to be safely consumed by a patient without a physician's prescription or advice. This belief has led to large-scale self-medication by people all over the world, often leading to disappointing results, side effects, or unwanted aftereffects.

Another myth often propagated for commercial reasons is that a single herb, or a single medical product, is capable of treating all or diverse medical conditions. While it is true that most herbal medicines have a wide safety margin, several herbs can have serious side effects. Examples include Bhallatak ( _Semicarpus Anacardium_ ), which even with a few doses, can cause skin rash and blisters, and burning urine with bleeding; Kuchla ( _Strychnosnux comics_ ), taken in high doses and for prolonged periods, may cause convulsions; and Sarpagandha ( _Raulwofia serpentina_ ), taken long term, may cause depression and increased suicidal tendency. Ayurvedic preparations which contain minerals and Bhasmas may cause toxicity due to incorrect manufacturing methods, or the presence of heavy or toxic metals. There is also a small risk of a cross-reaction with other medications.

Self-medication can result in several numbers of health risks such as; incorrect diagnosis, unknown side effects, internal organ damage, dosages, and polypharmacy.

The use of the Internet and other communication media is acceptable when utilized only as a learning tool to reduce raising cases of self-medication.

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