Effects of Drug Addiction
February 2, 2011 | Health
The effects of drug addiction are felt by many people throughout the world. Much research has shown that the addiction causes both adverse physical and mental conditions.
When a person indulges in unwarranted abuse of chemical substances, and continues such behavior, the abuse will inevitably turn to an addiction of the drug being used. People commonly turn to drugs to escape the reality of their problems, or simply to gain a temporary mental ‘high’.
Many of the drugs used are methamphetamines, heroin, cocaine, ecstasy, and marijuana. Each produces a different effect on the user, but all have common factors demonstrated by the addiction.
Some Physiological Effects of Drug Addiction.
There are several effects drug addiction can have on the body, both short term, and long term. –
- Initially the pattern of breathing will become irregular.
- A rapid increase in both heart rate and blood pressure will be noticed.
- Sudden weight gain or weight loss may be experienced.
- The longer term effects are more serious, and can cause brain damage, and lung diseases. The biggest risk to any addict is by the sharing of needles for injection purposes with other addicts, this can lead to AIDS.
Some Psychological and Social Effects of Drug Addiction.
When a drug user reaches the stage of addiction, he or she loses the power to control its use. The body will demand the drug in repeated doses, and not satisfying the demand will result in the following signs –
- Extreme body restlessness.
- Bouts of severe depression and anxiety.
- An increased craving to take more of the drug to satisfy the body’s need.
- The types of drugs involved are illegal in most countries, and are very expensive to obtain as a consequence.
- Due to the expense involved, frequently addicts will resort to criminal activities to enable them to be able to procure the much needed drug. Very often stealing, prostitution, and many other anti social forms of behavior are carried out to satisfy the need for more of the drug.
Some drug users may turn extremely violent when under the influence of drugs, and the use of drugs not only affects the user but family and friends, who will often feel helpless, and not know how to do anything positive to assist the addict.
It is not impossible for an addict to be re habilitated, but the first requirement for treatment, and probably the most important, is that the person should realize that he or she has a serious problem which is dangerous to the addict and to people around. The final result being future, physical, or mental incapacitation, and a probable early death.