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June 29, 2003, Chandigarh, India
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Addiction to narcotic analgesics common Chandigarh, June 28 Unfortunately, his case is not an isolated one. Addiction to narcotic analgesics or opioids is common among patients recovering from orthopaedic and post-operative pain. Why are opioids administered if they entail the risk of producing physical and even psychological dependence in certain cases? The answer is not so difficult to find. “Opioids are the best analgesics for relieving acute pain”, says a senior orthopaedic surgeon. “This is not all. So far there are no effective agents against severe pain that are entirely free from risk”. Except for patients, a majority of narcotic users are youngsters introduced to drugs by their friends. Though data is not readily available, doctors confirm that a large number of youngsters in the city are indeed hooked to these drugs. They begin out of curiosity and continue because of a pleasurable effect — “an unrealistic sense of well-being”. The first experience with these drugs is not always pleasant and often leads to nausea and vomiting. Some do not try again for days, even weeks, while others discover inner satisfaction and make a conscious decision to continue the use of drugs. There are also individuals who struggle with the impulse to use it again and do so intermittently for many months, even years, before becoming compulsive users. Abhinav, a 21-year-old engineering student and a compulsive user of narcotic analgesics rationalises his situation by stating that he was led to addiction to opioids by an orthopaedic surgeon. “I did not realise the danger until I got hooked”. Such explanations may justify Abhinav’s dependence on drugs, but they do not explain why he failed to seek treatment. European psychiatrists have proved that while narcotic analgesics might produce physical dependence with an overwhelming majority, all patients do not develop psychological dependence. They do not become compulsive users and discontinue the drugs when the medical condition is relieved. Why is it then that some individuals become compulsive users, while others do not? A substantial number of confirmed narcotic users relate their first experience with opioids to be quite unpleasant. Such observations have led to the conclusion that those who eventually become compulsive users of narcotic analgesics, inspite of social pressures, suffer from psychological disturbances. Individuals who administer these drugs to alter mood and feeling eventually consider the effects produced by them or the conditions associated with their use as necessary to maintain an optimal state of well-being. “The would-be compulsive users begin consuming drugs in small proportions, but with the development of tolerance, they increase the dosage to continue getting a “thrill” out of it”, says another doctor. He adds: “Cases have come to us with people administering up to 20 injections of morphine daily, a dose which would normally kill a person”. Closely associated with the misuse of opioids are social problems. Instead of seeking treatment, many addicts raise funds by engaging in petty thefts, forgery and even prostitution. When potent narcotics are not available, the addicts seek closely related drugs and sometimes even use large quantities of cough preparations containing codeine or hydrocodone. Can this perilous addiction be cured? According to a doctor at a drug de-addiction centre, “The treatment is an ongoing process. A majority of those coming for counselling go home fully detoxified but relapses do occur in certain cases when the individual is confronted with a problem or renews contact with addicted companions”.  |
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Junk food, sedentary life too damage liver Chandigarh, June 28 Contrary to general belief that it is only alcohol which damages your heart, a new disease called non- alcoholic steato hepatitis (NASH) is on the rise. It is consumption of junk food, having high fat content and sedentary life style which could give you this kind of liver ailment. “The symptoms of NASH are similar to liver hepatitis, with a slight pain on the right side of the stomach, in the initial stages,” explained Prof Yogesh Chawla, head of the Hepatology Department at the PGI, while addressing a press conference. By leading a sedentary lifestyle with no physical activity, the fat content in the junk food, settles down in the liver, giving a person a problematic fatty liver, he added. He said as compared to other parts of the country, there was higher incidence of liver ailments in north India. As such, not just keeping from alcohol, but leading a healthy lifestyle and consuming a healthy diet, would protect you against liver ailments. Professor Chawla, informed that AIIMS and the PGI will hold a joint meeting on October 18, to discuss various forms of liver diseases. “A person consuming country made liquor will damage his liver in five years, while consuming good quality could take 10 years before a person develops cirrhosis,” he explained. He explained that there are three different forms of alcohol-induced liver injury which includes fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis, which eventually causes liver cancer. “A person suffering from acute cirrhosis will vomit blood and pass into coma frequently, as the body resistance decreases, with the only option of liver transplant being left, which is not too common apart from being very expensive,” he elaborated. Professor Chawla said among the men, consumption of 60 grams of liquor and 20 grams by women daily for 10 years could cause liver cirrhosis. He informed that there were five types of hepatitis virus, including A, B, C, D, E and G. “Hepatitis A and E, are not all that serious and are caused due to contaminated water and food, and diabetics, alcoholics and obese people must go in for liver check-up twice a year,” he said. It is hepatitis B and C, which are more serious and the virus is transmitted mostly through surgery, blood transfusion, razor cuts, tattooing and ear piercing. Moreover, hepatitis D is generally associated with the B type virus, and a person will have both. |
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benefit from health camp Panchkula, June 28 Cultural Programme: The HUDA Young Members Club is organising a cultural programme in collaboration with Ghoomer Academy at Yavanika Open Air Theatre tomorrow. Mr. M.P. Bansal, Administrator, Panchkula, will be the chief guest on the occasion. Yoga Camp: The week long Yoga Training camp organised by Haryana Yoga Sabha from June 22 will conclude on June 29 under the presence of Pardhan Yogacharya Prof. M. Lal ji Maharaj. A detailed yoga demonstration will be organised on the
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Sukhchain, Gursewak strike gold Chandigarh, June 28 Today’s results: below 51 kg: Sukhchain Singh 1, Arshdeep Dhiman 2; below 56 kg: Gursewak Singh 1, Vikrant 2, Amit 3; below 62 kg: Inderpal Singh 1, Parmod Kumar 2, Jatinder Singh 3; below 69 kg: Gurinder Singh 1, Bhagat Singh 2, Harjit Singh 3; below 77 kg: Ramandeep Singh 1, Sarabjot Singh 2, Ravinder Singh 3; below 85 kg: Harminder Singh 1,Gurprince Singh 2, Rahul Katyal 3; and above 85 kg: Kashish Khanna 1. Later, the Public Sports Club was adjudged the overall winner while Weightlilfting Coaching Centre, Sector 42 remained runner-up. Tomorrow, the powelifting matches will be held. Inter-district cricket meet Patiala scored 173 runs for the loss of five wickets in 71 overs in reply to Chandigarh’s total score of 249 runs for the loss of nine wickets in the Punjab Inter-district under-19 Cricket Tournament played here today at PCA Stadium, SAS Nagar. Shiv Karan Gill with 90 runs remained unbeaten while Bhupinder scored valuable 50 runs for Patiala. Earlier, for Chandigarh, Uday Kaul made a brilliant 94 runs. Brief scores: Patiala: (first innings) — 173 runs for five in 71 overs (Shiv Karan Gill 90 n.o.,Bhupidner 50, Asim Gyupta 3 for 37); Chandigarh: 249 runs for nine in 90 overs (Uday Kaul 94, Vijay 28, Bharat Sharma 25, Hardavinder 5 for 73, Harjosh 2 for 43, Ankur Jund 2 for 65). Training camp A 15-day talent hunt-cum -training camp for the budding badminton players of Chandigarh concluded this evening at the Panjab University Gymnasium Hall. Mr Ravinder Talwar, secretary of the Chandigarh Olympic Association, was the chief guest on the occasion. He also awarded Samridhi Mahajan of Chandigarh who secured 91 per cent marks in Class X examinations and is a national player. The talent hunt was part of the drive launched by the Chandigarh Badminton Association to tap talent from the city and nearby areas for the growth of badminton. Mr M.C. Sethi, chairman of the association, praised the efforts of Mr Surinder Mahajan in guiding the youngsters. Mr Gian Chand Gupta, president of the association, informed that another camp of this nature will be held in the month of August. More than 40 boys and girls attended the camp. Cricket tourney Kishangarh XI beat Minerva Academy by seven runs, Fateh Cricket Club defeated Sky Cricket Club by six wickets and JJ Sports downed Graphics XI by a narrow margin of three runs in the 1st Lieut-Col I.S. Deol Memorial Cricket Tournament played here today at the Cricket Stadium, Sector 16. COA meeting The first executive committee of the newly elected office-bearers of the Chandigarh Olympic Association (COA) will be held on July 2 at 7 pm at the lake club, Chandigarh. According to Mr Raman Kalia, chairman, Media Committee, main agenda of the meeting is to discuss the allotment of land for the proposed Chandigarh Olympic Bhavan, sports calendar of various associations. The issue of holding the next meeting of the Indian Olympic Association will also be discussed at the meeting. |
CAT notice to UT Admn Chandigarh, June 28 Mr Bakshish Singh, had filed an application against the Union of India, UT Administration, UT IG, UT SSP, UT SP and UT sub-inspector Jaswinder Kaur. The applicant has pleaded that his junior had been ordered to be promoted. He alleged that his claim has been overlooked merely on punishment of censure imposed on him on June 5, 2003. He added that according to the Supreme Court ruling, the punishment of censure cannot be held against the application for further promotion. The application has prayed for interim order for staying promotion of Jaswinder Kaur, on the ground that her promotion will cause irreparable loss and damage to him. The respondents have been issued notices for June 30. |
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Commissioner visits Burail Jail Chandigarh, June 28 The Oath Commissioner attested the affidavit of Jagtar Singh Tara made in favour of Navjot Singh in the presence of the jail authorities, UT police and Navjot's counsel Mr N.S Minhas. The court of UT CBI Special Judge, Mr Balbir Singh, had allowed the application moved by Navjot Singh, who was also alleged to be involved in the case that the accused, Jagtar Singh Tara, wanted to give an affidavit that he was not involved in the case. |
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