A drug is any substance obtained from plants or manufactured in factories. which when taken into the body changes the normal body functioning. A drug can affect the body either positively or negatively.
Medical drugs are meant to have a healing effect on the body. However, they are misused in the following ways; overdosing, underdosing, sharing drugs or self medication.
Drug abuse is the use of a drug for other reasons that are not medical.
Commonly abused drugs include; tobacco, miraa(khat), heroin, mandrax, alcohol, bhang, cocaine, opium, and intoxicating inhalants.

Tobacco

• It can be smoked,chewed or sniffed.
• Its smoke contains three harmful substances; tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide.
• It is a stimulant.
• Tar causes cancer of the lungs, lips, throat and mouth.
• Carbon monoxide interferes with transportation of oxygen.
• Babies born to smoking mothers may have deformities.
• Smoking causes discolouration of teeth and bad breath.

Alcohol

• It is taken in form of a drink. e.g beer, wines and spirit.
• It is very addictive.
• Alcohol harms the liver, it may cause liver cirrhosis.
• Alcohol also contributes to many road accidents. It interferes with proper functioning of the brain of motorists, pedestrians and drivers who have used it.

Miraa (Khat)

• It is obtained from a plant.
• Leaves and barks of young twigs are chewed.
• It causes sleeplessness.

Cocaine

• It is a strong stimulant obtained from coca plant.
• It can be sniffed, smoked or injected into the body.
• It is highly addictive narcotic.

Bhang

• Also called marijuana.
• Obtained from the hemp plant also called cannabis sativa.
• It can be smoked or made into a paste which is added to food or drinks.
• It stimulates users making them violent.
• It leads to memory impairment and loss of proper judgement.

Heroin

• Obtained from opium.
• Opium comes from the flowers of opium poppy plant.
• It can be snifffed, injected into the body or smoked.
• It is a narcotic drug.
• It causes drowsiness when abused.

Mandrax

• It is a synthetic drug made commercially in factories.
• Causes drunkenness similar to alcohol intoxication.
• It slows down body functions and cause sleep.

Intoxicating inhalants

• They emit fumes which are inhaled.
• They include petrol, glue and other petroleum products.
• They afffect the breathing system.
• They also damage the brain cells of the user.

General effects of drug abuse.

• They lead to poor health ot the users.
• Overdoswe of these drugs may lead to death.
• Users of drugs are at a higher risk of contracting HIV and AIDS.
• Expectant mothers who use drugs may bear low weight children or malformed children.
• Drug users may become addicted and abandon their jobs. This leads to peverty and low economic development.
• Leads to development of diseases.

- Myths are stories told to people and are widely believed to be true by the society. - For example most people believe that AIDS is caused by wutchcraft.
- A misconception is a false idea or concept that people have due to lack of the correct facts.

Common myths and misconceptions about HIV and AIDS.

• Some people believe that a man can be cured of AIDS by sexual intercourse with a virgin.
• AIDS only affects prostitutes.
• AIDS is caused by witchcraft and bewitchment.
• Thinness is a sign of AIDS.
• AIDS is a disease that affects people living in town.

Care and support of people infected by HIV

• They need to beloved and be cared for.
• Provision of adequate and balanced diet.
• Provision of timely and medical care.
• Provision of high standards of hygiene.