Research report on social issur of Drug and Alcohol Usage - Written in 2005

8/14/2019 Research report on social issur of Drug and Alcohol Usage - Written in 2005

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Acknowledgement:-

We have no words at our command to express our deepest gratitude of almightyALLAH who enable us to complete our project against all add and observation.

Would that we have words to pay tribute to our loving parents and teacherswhose invaluable prays salutary admire and embodying attitude kept our spiritalive to strive for knowledge and integrity which enable us to reach milestone.

We would also like to express how enormously thankful to our respectableteacher SIR KHADIM HUSSAIN for providing the general direction, all scope ofthis project, for helping us in refining our effort and ideas.

We also acknowledge the help and pleasant gathering of all our class fellows.

Introduction


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This report is part of the project given to us as a Research Reading Activity byour Business English Lecturer, Sir Khadim Hussein, on the 22nd of December

2005. We were to find an article or a chapter of a book, based on a certain themeand analyze it thoroughly. The study was decided upon on the first day of theproject. The idea of doing it on an article "Marijuana and alcohol use byteenagers".

Marijuana is a green or gray mixture of dried, shredded flowers and leavesof the hemp plant (Cannabis sativa). It is the most often used illegal drug in thiscountry. Marijuana is mind-altering (psychoactive) drugs it contain THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) which is the main active chemical in marijuana. There aremany different names for marijuana. Slang terms for drugs change quickly, andthey vary from one part of the country to another. They may even differ acrosssections of a large city. Terms from years ago, such as pot, herb, grass, weed,

Mary Jane, and reefer, are still used. You might also hear the names skunk,boom, gangster, kif, or ganja. There are also street names for different strains or"brands" of marijuana, such as "Texas tea," "Maui wowie," and "Chronic.Marijuana's effect on the user depends on the strength or potency of the THC itcontains.

Most users roll loose marijuana into a cigarette (called a "joint"). The drugcan also be smoked in a water pipe, called a "bong." Some users mix marijuanainto foods or use it to brew a tea. Marijuana cigarettes or blunts often includecrack cocaine, a combination known by various street names, such as "primos"or "woolies." Joints and blunts often are dipped in PCP and are called "happysticks," "wicky sticks," "love boat," or "tical. Teenagers have a new method for

smoking marijuana: they slice open cigars and replace the tobacco withmarijuana, making what's called a "blunt." When the blunt is smoked with a 40 oz.bottle of malt liquor, it is called a "B-40."Not everyone who uses marijuana becomes addicted, when a user begins to seekout and take the drug compulsively, that person is said to be dependent on thedrug or addicted to it. Some heavy users of marijuana show signs of dependencebecause when they do not use the drug, they develop withdrawal symptoms.Some subjects in an experiment on marijuana withdrawal had symptoms, such asrestlessness, loss of appetite, trouble with sleeping, weight loss, and shakyhands. Marijuana use by teenagers who have prior serious antisocial problemscan quickly lead to dependence on the drug. That study also found that, for

troubled teenagers using marijuana progression from their first use of marijuanato regular use was about as rapid as their progression to regular

tobacco use, and more rapid than the progression to regular use of alcohol.Long-term studies of students and their patterns of drug use show that


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very few young people use other drugs without first trying marijuana. The risk ofusing cocaine has been estimated to be more than 104 times greater for thosewho have tried marijuana than for those who have never tried it. Although there

are no definitive studies on the factors associated with the movement frommarijuana use to use of other drugs, growing evidence shows that a combinationof biological, social, and psychological factors are involved.

The alcohol, which is consumed at bars or parties (ethyl alcohol, or ethanol), iscreated by fermentation, a process in which the yeast fungus feeds on the sugarsand/or starches in certain plants such as barley or grapes and excretes alcoholalong with carbon dioxide (CO2).From the cheapest beer to the most expensive wine or after dinner liqueur, allalcohol is made with the same fermentation process. The different colors, tastes,potencies and flavors come from the different fruits or vegetables used as well asthe additives, by-products and diluting substances of the fermentation process.

Many people do not realize they have a drinking problem which is dangerous totheir health. Unfortunately, people often drink as a way to:

Get a break from their daily routine.

De-stress from school or work.

Reward themselves.

Feel less inhibited in social situations.

Fit in with others that are drinking.

Express feelings that are difficult to express when they are sober.

Suppress painful feelings such as shame, anger, sadness or loneliness.

Alcohol is the most commonly used drug. Whether you are over or under thelegal drinking age, you cannot avoid making decisions about drinking -- atparties, on dates, in your room. Your decisions can increase your risk of flunkingcourses, getting a sexually transmitted disease, and being involved in fights andaccidents. It can also increase your risk of developing a long-term drinkingproblem.Careless decisions about drinking -- made at the last minute or when you havealready begun drinking -- usually have the worst consequences. But you canmake careful decisions--before you drink at all or before you drink at a party orother event -- that will protect you and those you care about.

Methodology


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Locale of the study

The study was conducted in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan. It represents amore cosmopolitan atmosphere than other areas of Pakistan, therefore teenagersare more accessible.

Sampling

A sample population of 52 teenagers was the target number for the purpose ofthis survey. A total of 98% respondents completed the questionnaire and therebybecame the total survey sample. Respondents participation in the survey wassought through a combination of direct request by the survey team members,

through reference by key informants and through peer referral.Interviews with the key informants. (Among them psychologists andprofessionals working in addiction treatment center).

Preparation and pre-testing of questionnaire:

The questionnaire for use among the respondents in this survey was prepared inthe English language. Semi-structured interviews were also prepared for use withrepresentatives of educational institutions and teenagers work places.

Data collection:Data were collected during 30 December 2005 to 3 January, 2006.As the studywas both qualitative and quantitative, and two methods of data collection wereemployed.

Data collection by questionnaire

Data collection by interviews

Results


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The questionnaire was distributed among 50 respondents. The results are as

follows.

Q:- What is your age?

Interpretation:-

50% of the respondents were from 18 to 19 year, 34% from 16 to 17 years and 16%

from 13 to 15 years.

16%

34%

50%

13-15

16-1718-19


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Q:- What is your Profession?

38%

62%

Students

Others

Interpretation:-

38% of the respondents were students and 62% were related to different jobs.


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Q:- Do you take Marijuana?

42%

58%

yes

no

Interpretation:-

42% of the respondents were marijuana users, whereas 58% respondents saidthat they did not use marijuana.


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Q:- If yes then how often you take?

38%

62%

Regularly

Occasionally

Interpretation:-

38% of the users were using regularly and 62% were using marijuanaoccasionally.


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Q:- Has your consumption changed in past six months?

48%

14%

38% Increase

Decrease

No change

Interpretation:-

The consumption of marijuana was increasing in 48%, decreasing in 14% andthere was no change in 38% of marijuana users.


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Q:- What do you think about the reason of taking marijuana?

56%29%

10%5%

Tension

Enjoyment

Trend

All

Interpretation:-

56% of the respondents said that reason of taking marijuana is Tension, 29%said that its Enjoyment and 10% said that its a trend to use marijuana. Only 5%of the respondents gave the opinion that all are the reasons for taking marijuana.


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Q:- In your opinion, is the use of marijuana increasing inteenagers?

72%

28%

yes

No

Interpretation:-

72% of the respondents said that the use of marijuana among the teenagers isincreasing where as, 28% gave the opinion that its not.


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Q:- Do you take Alcohol?

18%

82%

Yes

No

Interpretation:-

Only 18% of the respondents were alcohol users.


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Q: - If yes then how often you drink it?

33%

67%

Regularly

Occasionally

Interpretation:-

33% of the alcohol users were regular in using alcohol but 67% were making useoccasionally.


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Q:- Has your consumption changed in past six months?

22%

11%

67%

Increased

Decreased

No change

Interpretation:-.

The consumption of alcohol was increasing in 22%, decreasing in 11% and therewas no change in 67% of alcohol users.


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Q:- What do you think about the reason of drinking?

42%

22%

20%

16%

Tension

Enjoyment

Trend

All

Interpretation:-

16% of the respondents said that reason of drinking is Tension, 22% said thatits Enjoyment and 20% said that its a trend to drink. And 16% of therespondents gave the opinion that all are the reasons for drinking.


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Q:- In your opinion, is the use of alcohol is increasing inteenagers?

46%

54%

Yes

No

Interpretation:-

46% of the respondents said that the use of marijuana among the teenagers isincreasing, where as 54% gave the opinion that its not.

Discussion


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Some people feel nothing at all when they first try marijuana. Others may feelhigh (intoxicated and/or euphoric).

It's common for marijuana users to become engrossed with ordinary sights,sounds, or tastes, and trivial events may seem extremely interesting or funny.Time seems to pass very slowly, so minutes feel like hours. Sometimes the drugcauses users to feel thirsty and very hungry-an effect called "the munchies."

These are some short-term effects of Marijuana,

Sleepiness Difficulty keeping track of time, impaired or reduced short-termmemory

Reduced ability to perform tasks requiring concentration andcoordination, Such as driving a car Increased heart rate Potential cardiac dangers for those with preexisting heart disease Bloodshot eyes Dry mouth and throat Decreased social inhibitions Paranoia, hallucinations Impaired or reduced short-term memory Impaired or reduced comprehension

Altered motivation and cognition, making the acquisition of new informationdifficult. Paranoia Psychological dependence Impairments in learning and memory, perception, and judgment -difficulty Speaking, listening effectively, thinking, retaining knowledge, problem solving, And forming concepts Intense anxiety or panic attacks

These are some long-term effects of Marijuana

Enhanced cancer risk Decrease in testosterone levels and lower sperm counts for men Increase in testosterone levels for women and increased risk ofinfertility Diminished or extinguished sexual pleasure


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Effects of alcohol

Alcohol -- including beer, wine, and hard liquor are the most commonly usedand widely abused psychoactive drug in the country.The health problems associated with alcohol include brain damage, cancer, heartdisease, and cirrhosis of the liver.Alcohol is a drug sold to anyone for the sake of money. This drug is a tranquilizerand a member of the family of sedative-hypnotic drugs.Temperate and occasional users of alcohol who are in normal health do notappear to suffer negative effects from use of alcohol.Consumed in substantial amounts, alcohol's toxicity may be because it acts as a

foreign substance in the body's metabolism. The short-termexpression of this toxicity is felt as a hangover. The long-term toxicity maydevelop into alcoholism and alcohol-related diseases such as cirrhosis.Unlike carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, which can be manufactured by the body,alcohol is an introduced substance that is not synthesized within the body. It is afood because it supplies a concentrated number of calories, but it is notnourishing and does not supply a significant amount of needed nutrients,vitamins, or mineralsthese are empty calories.

Most foods are prepared for digestion by the stomach so that their nutrients canbe absorbed by the large intestine, but 95 percent of alcohol is absorbed directly

through the stomach wall or the walls of the duodenum and the small intestine.Since alcohol so easily permeates every cell and organ of the body, the physicaleffects of chronic alcohol abuse are wide-ranging and complex. Large doses ofalcohol invade the body's fluids and interfere with metabolism in every cell.Alcohol damages the liver, the central nervous system, the gastrointestinal tract,and the heart. Alcoholics who do not quit drinking decrease life expectancy by 10to 15 years.


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Conclusion

The study was intended to be a comprehensive report based on a combination ofqualitative and quantitative analysis. The results of the study provide detailedinformation about the use of marijuana and alcohol among the teenagers inIslamabad. For this study we interviewed the doctors, psychologists andrepresentatives of educational institutions. At some locations, even thoughteenage drug users were identified, they refused to come forward and talk to ourgroup members. In these circumstances, the help of key informants was sought

to complete the questionnaire. At some instance, it was difficult or impossible tointerview the addictives.

Our study focuses only on the teenagers. As from the results of our survey, 38%of the respondents were students and 62% of the respondents were related to thedifferent jobs.42% of the respondents were the users of marijuana.38% of themwere regular marijuana users and 62% were making use of marijuanaoccasionally. The consumption of marijuana was increasing in 48% of the users.According to the respondents the main reasons for taking marijuana are tensionand enjoyment.72% of the respondents said that use of marijuana is increasing.

According to the results, 18% of the respondents were alcohol users.33% wereregular and rest of them were making use of alcohol occasionally. Theconsumption of 22% alcohol users was increased in past six months. The mainreason of using alcohol is tension. 54% of the respondents said that the use ofalcohol in teenagers is increasing.

So we conclude that the use of marijuana and alcohol among the teenagers isincreasing.


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References

List of the persons visited

Dr.S.A.Azhar Kazmi, Project director of EMAAN clinic.

Dr.Shakeel Abbasi, Psychologist at EMAAN clinic.

Abdul hayee-sheikh, Principal of Islamabad Model College for Boys,F-8/4, Islamabad.(IMCB)

Mr. Sher Afgan, Security Guard in FIU (Intelligence).

List of the places visited

EMAAN clinic, St # 60, I-8/3, Islamabad.

Islamabad Model College for Boys, F-8/4, Islamabad.

Sadaqat Clinic, Murree road, Rawalpindi. Bari Imam.

Golra Shareef.

Websites

www.nida.com/Publications/Marijuana brochure/facts for teens/textonlyversion.htmlhttp://rds.yahoo.com/S=96062883/K=marijuana+users/v=2/SID=w/l=IVR/SIG=135at606e/E

XP=1137343234/*-http://www.whitworth.edu/Whitworthian/spring2004/0224/news/20040224_marijuana.htmhttp://www.focusas.com/Alcohol.htmlwww.newscientist.com/channel/being-human/drugs-alcohol.htmlwww.nepenthes.lycaeum.org/Drugs/THC/Health/mj.alcohol.html


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Appendix

Q1: - What is your age?

1. 13-152. 16-173. 18-19

Q2: - What is your Profession?

1. Student2. Other (___________)

Q3: - Do you Take Marijuana?

1. Yes2. No

Q4: - If yes then how often you take? (Optional)

1. Regularly2. Occasionally

Q5: - Has your consumption changed in past six months? (Optional)

1. Increased

2. Decreased3. No change


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Q6:- What do you think about the reason of taking Marijuana?

1. Tension2. Enjoyment3. Trend4. All

Q7:- In your opinion, is the use of marijuana increasing in teenagers?

1. Yes2. No

Q8:- Do you drink Alcohol?

1. Yes

2. No

Q9:- If yes then how often you drink it?

1. Regularly2. Occasionally

Q10:- Has your consumption changed in past six months?

1. Increased2. Decreased3. No change


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Q11:- What do you think about the reason of drinking?

1. Tension2. Enjoyment3. Trend4. All

Q12:- In your opinion, is the use of alcohol increasing in teenagers?

1. Yes2. No


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Documents

Research report on social issur of Drug and Alcohol Usage - Written in 2005