Drug Abuse
Drug abuse refers to the use of drugs through self-medication or without due medical prescription and administration. Drug abuse is also incorporated with misusage of doctors prescribed medication.
Effects of Drug Abuse
The effects of drug abuse can not be under-emphasized in our generation. If we look at drug abuse in its form, continents, countries, and even societies are still suffering from this vice enveloping both the young and old. Individuals at all spheres of life have lost someone to drug abuse due to peer pressure, lack of quality information, unstable financial backgrounds, and environmental based situations. These are some of the few influences that lead to the viral status of the societal menace called ’’Drug Abuse’’.
Factors of Drug Abuse
1. Disconnection from society and social networking systems.
2. It causes irregular eating habits and emotional status.
3. It causes long term organ failures such as kidney, heart, or lung diseases.
4. Due to the effects of drug abuse, individuals easily get provoked mentally and such signs can be seen through irregular mood swings, paranoia, psychosis, and more.
5. Ongoing financial distress from selling valuable items to fund and maintain such lifestyle.
6. Frequent criminal records.
7. Death.
8. Weakened immune system: Abusing of drugs act by affecting host immune function, promoting the virus entry into the immune cells to undergo replication increasing the risk of illness and infection.
9. Impaired Heart function: Heart conditions ranging from abnormal heart rates to heart attacks and collapsed veins and blood vessel infections can result from injected drugs.
10. Increased spread of infectious diseases: Injection of drugs accounts for 1 in 10 of cases of HIV. Injection drug use is also a major factor in the spread of hepatitis C,49 and can be the cause of endocarditis and cellulitis.
11. Negative effects of drug use while pregnant or breastfeeding: A mother’s substance or medication use during pregnancy can cause her baby to go into withdrawal after it’s born, which is called neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS).
12. Liver dysfunction: Drug abuse causes increased strain on the liver, which puts the person at risk of significant liver damage or liver failure.
13. Brain damage: history of people who is addicted to drugs have been recorded to come down with seizures, stroke, mental confusion and brain damage.
It is important to note that the effects of drug abuse can not be under-emphasized due to the many causes it leads not only to the individual, but also to society. It is easier to start an addiction, but it is harder to end the addiction. It is necessary to stop and end drug abuse, because it will make it harder for persons who actually need the medication to survive.
If you have no history of drug abuse. Your best chance to avoid addiction is not to use drugs, and avoid situations that present problems. If someone offers you drugs, say “NO” clear and confirm. Walk away: No one can make you do something you don’t want to. Remember, choosing not to do drugs keeps you in control of your mind, your body, and your future.
Written by David Matthias and Rahama Yusuf