Search:

The Effects of Addiction to Drugs

By: David B Smith Drug addiction is not something that just affects the person who is dependent. It has consequences beyond what one can expect. It affects the families of the drug user, his employer, schools, relationships and societies at large. It also has a direct impression on the health of the immediate family of the drug dependant.

The effects of drugs cover a wide spectrum of experiences from the first high to the lows of when the outcome of the drug starts to wear out. For instance, taking cocaine, the former is exhilarating while the latter results in disquiet, exhaustion, downheartedness and a yearning for more drugs to get back to the high from the effects wearing out. Marijuana and alcohol influence the central nervous system and are the causes of many car accidents. Marijuana and other mood-altering 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 influence on the drug abuser, families and humanity as a whole, the need to take action is insistent and immediate. Otherwise, the effects of drug craving can have far-reaching consequences and the drug dependant may not get a opportunity to pick up from his syndrome.