Drug addiction is not something that just affects the individual person who is shooting up. It has consequences beyond what one can visualize. It affects the families of the drug abuser, his employer, schools, friendships and societies in general. It also has a direct bearing on the health of the immediate family of the addict.
The effects of drugs encompass a wide spectrum of experiences from the original high to the lows of when the influence of the drug starts to wear out. For instance, abusing cocaine, the former is exhilarating while the latter results in apprehension, lassitude, depression and a longing for more drugs to get back to the high from the effects wearing out. Marijuana and liquor affect the central nervous system and are the causes of many automobile accidents. Marijuana and other mind-expanding drugs cause flash backs, much after the effects have worn out, even after a few weeks of usage.
Chances of HIV contagion caused by multiple uses of hypodermic needles are high as is hepatitis. Increased sexual activity among addicts increases the risk of addicts acquiring AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.
Many addicts indulge in felonious activities such as aggravated burglary and prostitution to raise funds to feed their behavior. Some substances like liquor bring on aggressive deeds. Over 10,000 fatalities per annum due to drug abuse are recorded in the USA. Substances most cited are cocaine, heroin and morphine reasonably often in combination with alcohol or other drugs.
The drug abuser's dependence on the substance, added to its effect on emotions and bodily responses, often leads to wedded conflict and poor performance at work resulting in dismissal. Family life is often troubled and, out of love or fear or both, family members or the spouse enable the addict in his obsession through destructive behaviors of codependency. They deny that there is a difficulty, or cover up for the drug user and supply him with money to feed the habit.
Babies born to drug abusers tend to be much lower in weight than the average due to the mother being under nourished or of a mistreated constitution. Fetuses in the wombs of addicts get affected by the drugs taken by the mother, by a process called crossing the placental wall, and agonize from revocation symptoms directly after being born. This is mainly so in the case of users of crack and heroin. The fetal liquor syndrome, due to the alcohol abused during pregnancy, affects offspring of alcoholic mothers. Infants develop AIDS virus through the intravenous injections of drugs that the mothers take.
Society pays a very high penalty due to the frequency of addictions of any kind. Work- man-days are lost in the workplace, involving cost over runs. Drug users are more susceptible than non-takers to cause accidents endangering themselves and their workmates. More than fifty percent of all road accidents in the United States are caused diametrically or implicitly by alcohol abuse.
Turf wars and other vicious crimes between drug dealers cause havoc in neighborhoods. Residents are constantly under menace and there are crimes among the addicts themselves. Some areas report that young children are recruited to be lookouts and helpers as immature offenders get lighter punishments. Teenagers as well as younger children equipped with handguns have become reasonably common. Among the destitute, most ache from drug or liquor craving or mental disorder, and often from all three circumstances.
Since drug dependence has such a serious effect on the drug abuser, families and society as a whole, the need to take charge is vital and immediate. Otherwise, the effects of drug craving can have far-reaching consequences and the addict may never get a opportunity to convalesce from his syndrome.
The effects of drugs encompass a wide spectrum of experiences from the original high to the lows of when the influence of the drug starts to wear out. For instance, abusing cocaine, the former is exhilarating while the latter results in apprehension, lassitude, depression and a longing for more drugs to get back to the high from the effects wearing out. Marijuana and liquor affect the central nervous system and are the causes of many automobile accidents. Marijuana and other mind-expanding drugs cause flash backs, much after the effects have worn out, even after a few weeks of usage.
Chances of HIV contagion caused by multiple uses of hypodermic needles are high as is hepatitis. Increased sexual activity among addicts increases the risk of addicts acquiring AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.
Many addicts indulge in felonious activities such as aggravated burglary and prostitution to raise funds to feed their behavior. Some substances like liquor bring on aggressive deeds. Over 10,000 fatalities per annum due to drug abuse are recorded in the USA. Substances most cited are cocaine, heroin and morphine reasonably often in combination with alcohol or other drugs.
The drug abuser's dependence on the substance, added to its effect on emotions and bodily responses, often leads to wedded conflict and poor performance at work resulting in dismissal. Family life is often troubled and, out of love or fear or both, family members or the spouse enable the addict in his obsession through destructive behaviors of codependency. They deny that there is a difficulty, or cover up for the drug user and supply him with money to feed the habit.
Babies born to drug abusers tend to be much lower in weight than the average due to the mother being under nourished or of a mistreated constitution. Fetuses in the wombs of addicts get affected by the drugs taken by the mother, by a process called crossing the placental wall, and agonize from revocation symptoms directly after being born. This is mainly so in the case of users of crack and heroin. The fetal liquor syndrome, due to the alcohol abused during pregnancy, affects offspring of alcoholic mothers. Infants develop AIDS virus through the intravenous injections of drugs that the mothers take.
Society pays a very high penalty due to the frequency of addictions of any kind. Work- man-days are lost in the workplace, involving cost over runs. Drug users are more susceptible than non-takers to cause accidents endangering themselves and their workmates. More than fifty percent of all road accidents in the United States are caused diametrically or implicitly by alcohol abuse.
Turf wars and other vicious crimes between drug dealers cause havoc in neighborhoods. Residents are constantly under menace and there are crimes among the addicts themselves. Some areas report that young children are recruited to be lookouts and helpers as immature offenders get lighter punishments. Teenagers as well as younger children equipped with handguns have become reasonably common. Among the destitute, most ache from drug or liquor craving or mental disorder, and often from all three circumstances.
Since drug dependence has such a serious effect on the drug abuser, families and society as a whole, the need to take charge is vital and immediate. Otherwise, the effects of drug craving can have far-reaching consequences and the addict may never get a opportunity to convalesce from his syndrome.
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