THE familiar social drugs of western society. It should not be forgotten that the legal acceptance of alcohol, with its long history and Biblical pedigree, is little more than a cultural accident. In the Muslim world, where opium and cannabis are tolerated, it is denounced with the same zeal that the western world reserves for heroin.
The first exposure any child has to a social drug will almost always be to alcohol or tobacco , and parental example is an important factor in moulding young people's attitudes. The moral authority of heavy-drinking or nicotine-addicted parents can be seriously compromised when they object to the use of other drugs by their children.
The health hazards of prolonged alcohol and tobacco use are well known, and they contribute to far more premature deaths than any other drug - 100,000 a year in Britain from tobacco alone. In 1991, the total number of people who died accidentally from abusing opiates (including heroin) in this country was 97. No deaths at all were recorded from the misuse of cocaine or cannabis.
Immediate risks: Greatly increased chance of suffering an accident (including fire and drowning) while under the influence; alcoholic poisoning; possibility of death when taken in combination with other drugs. Alcohol is also a common factor in suicide.
Long-term dangers: Liver damage (in extreme cases, cirrhosis); increased susceptibility to various cancers, including those of oesophagus and mouth; pancreatitis; gastritis; duodenal ulcers; circulation disorders including high blood pressure and stroke; brain damage; malnutrition; anxiety and depression; reduced sex drive and infertility; dependence.
Signs of use (tobacco): Discarded packaging; ash and cigarette-ends; spent matches; cigarette lighter. Tobacco smell on breath and skin.
Long-term dangers: Dependence; increased likelihood of heart disease; stroke; bronchitis and emphysema; thrombosis; cancer - particularly of the lung, but also of 12 other sites including cervix, kidneys and bladder; increased risk of premature and low birth-weight babies, and of infant mortality with smoking mothers.
