1. World problems
  2. Abuse of plant drugs

Abuse of plant drugs

  • Dependence on plant drugs

Nature

Since so many plants contain chemicals which affect the human organism, abuse of plant drugs may be unintentional, i.e. through the unwitting ingestion of natural toxic plant substances. Typical drug reactions may also occur as a result of ingesting chemical fungicides, pesticides or other chemical preparations applied to plants. Many of these chemicals interfere with important enzyme systems and induce neurometabolic disorder. However, some plants yield psychoactive substances with little or no processing and may be readily abused.

Background

The history of the human race has also been a history of drug use. Since earliest times, herbs, roots, bark, leaves and plants have been used to relieve pain and help control disease. Drugs easily extracted from plants by chewing, infusion or simple extractive processes such as maceration include mescaline, khat, coca, and betel. In tropical countries millions of persons in rural areas may be addicted to these substances.

Broader

Narrower

Tryptamine drugs
Presentable
Tobacco smoking
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Abuse of khat
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Aggravates

Schizophrenia
Presentable
Multi-drug abuse
Presentable
Porphyria
Yet to rate

Aggravated by

Related

Strategy

Value

Abuse
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Reference

Metadata

Database
World problems
Type
(D) Detailed problems
Subject
  • Health care » Pharmacy
  • Plant life » Plants
  • Societal problems » Addiction, drug abuse
  • Content quality
    Presentable
     Presentable
    Language
    English
    Last update
    Oct 4, 2020