제 20 호 What the Hell Is a Drug?
South Korea Is No Longer a Safe from Drugs
Kicker: SCIENCE
What the Hell Is a Drug?
South Korea Is No Longer a Safe from Drugs
By Myung-Gwan Kang
How much do you know about drugs? Many people associate drugs with illegal substances that are highly addictive and expensive, which is accurate. When asked to name types of drugs, most people might mention the following six: marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, opium, and poppies. While it's true that these drugs are illegal and have a high potential for addiction, the details behind why they are so are often not well understood. Additionally, despite their illegality, discussions about drugs are frequently featured in articles in Korea.
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The Current Drug Situation in Korea
There were times when Korea was proudly referred to as a drug-free nation. However, in the 1970s, a notable surge in drug prevalence began. Cannabis gained popularity in the '70s, followed by methamphetamine in the '80s and cocaine in the '90s. Presently, an array of diverse drugs is widely circulated. This phenomenon can be attributed to Korea's development of an entertainment and pleasure-seeking culture, driven by economic growth. Decades of change have brought us to the realization that Korea is no longer effectively a drug-free nation.
Furthermore, the escalating drug use and the consequential social issues demand serious attention at the national level. It is now imperative to assess the current situation more accurately and seek appropriate responses.
What are drugs?
For most people, encountering drugs is only through a movie or drama. So what on earth is this drug? Even in small amounts, the drug has powerful analgesic and anesthetic effects. Additionally, it is a substance that becomes addictive with continued use. There are many different types of drugs, and they can be divided into stimulants, sedatives, and hallucinogens depending on the action of the central nervous system.
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Method of drug administration
There are many ways to administer drugs to your body. Typically, there are injections and inhalation of drugs through the nose. The typical injection drug is opium. Opium is a drug made by processing the juice of the poppy. And when opium is processed further, it becomes morphine. Morphine is a very strong narcotic. After that, if this strong morphine is further improved and chemically processed, it becomes an incredibly powerful drug. This is heroin. Heroin is so powerful that it gets its name from the word hero and penetrates the brain much faster than morphine. That's why heroin is called the drug of drugs.
On the other hand, there is cocaine which is inhaled through the nose. Cocaine is a drug extracted from coca leaves that grow in South America. In the early days of cocaine, it was not a drug because it was used as a tonic. To share an interesting fact, by the 1920s, Coca-Cola contained cocaine, which is why it was given the name Coca-Cola.
Why do you inhale drugs through your nose?
Many people witness drug administration through audiovisual content such as movies and dramas. But why inhale drugs through the nose instead of using the convenient injection method? Now, let's delve into the reasons and side effects of inhaling drugs through the nose.
Drugs that are inhaled through the nose are mostly cocaine types. Cocaine is bipolar, so it dissolves well in water solubility and fat solubility. When inhaled through the nose, it can be absorbed 30 to 60% via the mucous membrane of the nasal cavity, moving through the blood vessels to the brain. At this time, the effect lasts up to 60-90 minutes when inhaled through the nose, but if inhaled differently, the duration of the effect is shorter. Hence, the method of inhaling through the nose is often preferred.
However, inhaling it through your nose is too dangerous. Cocaine has a potent vasoconstriction effect, making prolonged inhalation hinder blood flow. If this is repeated, damage to the cartilage in the nasal septum accumulates, resulting in a hole. When a hole occurs, it becomes difficult to breathe, the nasal mucosa dries quickly, and the pressure of the nose changes, causing inconvenience in daily life. Additionally, the bones of the nasal septum can be damaged, leading to nasal deformity.
Drugs in the war
Drugs may be dangerous now, but when they first came out, they were known to be good and have had a significant impact on human history. Opium, for instance, was once so universally embraced that scholars indulged in it regularly, akin to the way coffee is enjoyed today, especially in the 19th century.
Another historical application was observed during World War II when the German military used Pervitin, a form of methamphetamine, to facilitate rapid advances. The German military employed a strategy known as "Blitzkrieg" or lightning warfare, which necessitated soldiers to stay awake and alert for extended periods. Notably, during the invasion of Luxembourg, soldiers refrained from sleep for three consecutive days, fueled by the mass administration of Pervitin.
However, the initial euphoria surrounding these substances was short-lived, as the detrimental side effects became glaringly apparent. The German military's reliance on Pervitin revealed a dark side, with soldiers experiencing severe consequences ranging from physical and mental health issues to addiction.
The mass production of narcotics and its reasons
The reason narcotics became prevalent after the 20th century is attributed to the increased demand for labor. In industrialized societies, where people had to work alongside machines, working hours were synchronized with the cycles of the machines. Machines operated from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., and people adjusted their work accordingly. Originally, humans used to sleep when the sun set, but to force work out of sync with the natural rhythm, narcotics were employed. The origin of the name Philopon comes from the Greek word "philoponus," combining philo (love) + sophy (wisdom) = philosophy. "Ponus" in Greek means labor. This translates to "loving labor," implying the idea of eating and working.
Side effects of drugs
Dopamine is the happiness hormone that brings joy to people. However, when one engages in drug use, dopamine is excessively secreted. If you use drugs repeatedly, dopamine is depleted and no more dopamine is released. Without dopamine secretion, one may fall into depression. So, why do people continue to use drugs even when dopamine is depleted? The reason lies in the intense memories stored in the brain's hippocampus, driving the individual to seek drugs again. However, the development of tolerance results in reduced dopamine secretion even with the same amount of drug intake, leading to increased drug consumption. Eventually, the effects diminish, and the person's well-being deteriorates further.
Next is a hallucination. Most individuals who use drugs experience the meth bug syndrome, feeling as if bugs are crawling under their skin. This leads to compulsive scratching, resulting in open sores. This naturally makes daily life difficult and emotional control difficult.
So far, I have explained various drugs, such as what drugs have been in the past and what side effects they have. Drugs are the fastest way to ruin your life, and drugs will ruin you more than any other situation. Currently, there is a significant amount of news about drugs in Korea. To address these drug-related issues, it appears crucial to recognize the severity of the situation at the national level and take appropriate measures. The people of the Republic of Korea should collaborate to mitigate the harm caused by drugs and strive for a healthier life.
Sources:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1i2iilAX9A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjSSnCpLohM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8DsjEwxSe0
https://namu.wiki/w/%EB%A7%88%EC%95%BD
