Friday, March 28, 2014

10 Details About Substance Abuse

Addiction is when you have developed such a habit of taking a certain drug that you feel compelled to keep taking it. If you try to stop, it causes you to be uncomfortable, often physically as well as emotionally.


Cigarettes Are Addictive


Cigarettes contain nicotine, which can cause addiction just like heroin and cocaine. This makes it hard to stop once you start. Cigarettes also contain tar, which causes lung cancer. According to the D.A.R.E. website, if you smoke, you are 10 times more likely to get cancer than if you don't smoke. It also states that smoking causes 85 percent of the deaths each year that are caused by lung cancer, and 30 percent of all deaths from heart disease.


Marijuana Can Cause Permanent Damage


Because some people with terminal illnesses treat pain with marijuana, this drug has a reputation of being less harmful. But marijuana has many bad effects on the body, including causing learning and memory problems, altering perception of reality, causing clumsiness and increasing the heart rate. Marijuana contains a chemical called THC which inhibits brain function, and can leave permanent or long-lasting effects even after you've stopped smoking it. Because of how it affects the brain, it's also dangerous to drive after smoking pot, just as it is after drinking alcohol.


Anabolic Steroids Are Dangerous


People most likely to take anabolic steroids are athletes. Steroids can stunt growth if taken by a teenager, and can cause high blood pressure, high cholesterol, acne and problems with the liver and kidneys. It can cause males to develop breasts, and can make females grow facial hair and go bald.


Drugs Affect the Brain


Drugs change the chemistry of the brain, and that is one of the reasons that drugs are addicting. Nicotine, cocaine and marijuana are examples of drugs that cause changes in the brain. Changes in brain chemistry affect how the brain works, which is why drugs are harmful for the brain.


Drugs Spead HIV and AIDS


HIV can be spread by intravenous injections, when drug users share needles. This is common knowledge. But it's also true that those who abuse other drugs, drugs that you don't need to use needles to take, can have an increased risk of HIV. This is because drugs and alcohol make you less able to make responsible decisions.


Drugs Cause Death


According to Johns Hopkins University, 25 percent of the deaths in the U.S. are caused by alcohol, smoking or illegal drug use.


Illegal Drugs Affect the Economy


Some of the economic affects of drug abuse are: health care costs associated with emergency room visits and other health affects of drug abuse; health care costs to treat smoking-related conditions; legal costs and jail expenses for those caught selling illegal drugs; lost work time caused by alcohol abuse. According to Johns Hopkins University, one out of every 14 dollars spent on health care goes to treat a smoking-related condition, and substance abuse costs are estimated at $414 billion every year in the U.S.


Young Teens Abuse Inhalants


Inhalants are products that produce fumes that have a harmful effect. Many of these are commonly-found household products such as glues, paints and other chemicals. The largest group to abuse these substances are seventh through ninth graders, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.


Prescription Drugs Can be Abused


Many people equate drug addiction with illegal drugs and alcohol, but some of the most addicting drugs are prescription medication. People can become addicted to medications their own doctors prescribe for them, they sometimes steal them from parents or other relatives, or they buy them illegally. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health in 2006 found that over 16 million teenagers admitted to trying this kind of drug at least once.


Stimulants are Highly Addictive


Stimulants are drugs that put you in a better mood or give you more energy. This type of drug, including cocaine, amphetamines and even nicotine, is highly addicting.









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