The drugs alter the biological, psychological and social system of people. Adolescents and young people constitute the population group with the highest risk. For this reason, the work of health promoters is essential. On the subject the promoter of health Amarilis Martínez Palenzuela offered the following interview.
What are the effects produced by drugs in general?
Depending on the type of drug, they can produce hallucinogenic effects, relaxation, sedation, drowsiness, sleep, analgesia; in severe cases, coma.También produce a general activation of the central nervous system, increasing body functions. Its continuous consumption alters the memory, the compression of the language and the capacity to analyze the stimuli.
Drugs usually bring uncontrollable emotional sequelae, restriction of information storage and limited ability to make decisions. For these reasons, prevention is essential to influence the behavior of boys and girls.
Why is working with teenagers so important?
Adolescence constitutes a transit stage from childhood to adulthood. It is a period of numerous physical and psychological changes in the search for one's identity. Young people are linked to practices that undermine healthy development. These substances cause damage to the nervous system and create dependence, sleep disorders, family problems and improper behavior.
What are the substances most consumed by adolescents?
The most commonly used substances are currently called legal drugs: alcohol and tobacco. There are others such as hallucinogenic plants and some medications, which mixed with alcohol, produce sensations, states of dependence and loss of control.
What is the work of health promoters in educational institutions?
The promoters of health have the mission to disclose the effects and the consequences produced by drugs. Firstly, this work is carried out jointly with the teachers, who link the subjects with this topic and promote the debate with the students. The exchange of experiences and the delivery of documents on the subject also help.