THE MEDICO-LEGAL IMPLICATIONS OF DRUG ABUSE

Abstract

Drug abuse has become a global problem, now a days and ‘Drugs’ have become “the in
thing” and using drugs, a “fashion statement.” Usually, one starts drugs experimentally or out of
curiosity or to be with the crowd or peer pressure. However, these occasional users get
entangled in the web of drug abuse and slowly become physically, mentally and psychologically
dependent on them. So much so that it not only affects the individual but his family and friends –
physiologically, socially and financially; as well as, the society at large. Tolerance to the various
drugs of abuse in turn leads to either increased dose or the use of multiple drugs – poly drug
abuse.
This paper outlines, the epidemiology of drug abuse, the factors affecting it and the
medico-legal issues arising out of such abuse.