A STUDY TO ASSESS THE KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDE ON PREVENTION OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE AMONG COLLEGE STUDENTS IN SELECTED COLLEGES AT JHUNJHUNU, RAJASTHAN

Abstract

Health is a holistic word inclusive of body, mind and soul. It is the real jewel of life, the most precious possession of man. Physical health, mental health and social health is equally important. Human mind is considered to be a ‘tabula rasa’ that means a blank state during the foetal period. All the behaviours whether it may be adaptive or maladaptive are learned through various experiences and circumstances, even though some genetic traits are involved. People abuse substances such as drugs, alcohol, and tobacco for varied and complicated reason. Substance abuse is a medical condition. It interferes with a person’s relationships with family and friends, interferes with a person’s ability to fulfil work, school, or family obligations, or results in legal problems and dangerous behaviour. It can also involve using or taking a substance in increasing amounts, going to great lengths to obtain the substance, experiencing withdrawal symptoms when the substance is stopped, or being unable to stop or reduce the use of the substance. Tobacco, alcohol and substance misuse (also known as drug misuse) is a universal phenomenon affecting all fragments of society. There are evidences of substances have been used since ancient times for traditional, medical and mood- altering purposes. Increasing substance use might cause social, behavioral and health- related problems both physical and mental as well as an increase in healthcare burden and cost. Among the substance users the risk of death at early age is higher compare with non-substance users. Tobacco chewing, smoking, alcohol and drug misuse are important and major risk factors for cancers, coronary heart disease, stroke, mental health, sexual health, obesity, accidents and poor quality of life. The fact is that drug abuse is not merely the problem of the addicts but of the entire society. Many, particularly children and youth, are prone to be easy prey to it because in their eagerness to appear ‘liberal’ are open to ‘social drinking’, smoking and even taking drugs and often the victim is in need of dire help because he/she just cannot help himself/herself. Weaning away from any kind of addiction often needs some kind of support and intervention. This issue looks at some of these problems and identifies places where they could tap for help. Adolescent have significant energy, drive with abundant innovative ideas. So, they are enthusiastic with greater zeal to experience the new things as a result they indulge into drug abuse. Research studies have shown that the initiation of substance abuse usually takes place in adolescence.