EFFECTS OF DRUG ADDICTION

Effects of Drug Abuse and Addiction Drugs are chemicals. Different drugs, because of their chemical structures, can effect the body in different ways. In fact, some drugs can even change a person's body and brain in ways that last long after the person has stopped taking drugs, maybe even permanently. Depending on the drug, it can enter the human body in a number of ways, including injection, inhalation, and ingestion. The method of how it enters the body impacts on how the drug affects the person. For e ample! injection takes the drug directly into the blood stream, providing more immediate effects" while ingestion re#uires the drug to pass through the digestive system, delaying the effects. $ost abused drugs directly or indirectly target the brain's reward system by flooding the circuit with dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter present in regions of the brain that regulate movement, emotion, cognition, motivation, and feelings of pleasure. %hen drugs enter the brain, they can actually change how the brain performs its jobs. These changes are what lead to compulsive drug use, the hallmark of addiction. Injuries $ore deaths, illnesses and disabilities stem from substance abuse than from any other preventable health condition. Today, one in four deaths is attributable to illicit drug use. &eople who live with substance dependence have a higher risk of all bad outcomes including unintentional injuries, accidents, risk of domestic violence, medical problems, and death. Healt !roble"s The impact of drug abuse and dependence can be far'reaching, affecting almost every organ in the human body. Drug use can!

%eaken the immune system, increasing susceptibility to infections. (ause cardiovascular conditions ranging from abnormal heart rate to heart attacks. Injected drugs can also lead to collapsed veins and infections of the blood vessels and heart valves. (ause nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. (ause the liver to have to work harder, possibly causing significant damage or liver failure. (ause sei)ures, stroke and widespread brain damage that can impact all aspects of daily life by causing problems with memory, attention and decision'making, including sustained mental confusion and permanent brain damage. &roduce global body changes such as breast development in men, dramatic fluctuations in appetite and increases in body temperature, which may impact a variety of health conditions.

Effects On T e #rain *lthough initial drug use may be voluntary, drugs have been shown to alter brain chemistry, which interferes with an individual's ability to make decisions and can lead to compulsive craving, seeking and use. This then becomes a substance dependency.

*ll drugs of abuse ' nicotine, cocaine, marijuana, and others ' effect the brain's +reward+ circuit, which is part of the limbic system. Drugs hijack this +reward+ system, causing unusually large amounts of dopamine to flood the system. This flood of dopamine is what causes the +high+ or euphoria associated with drug abuse.

#e a$ioral !roble"s

&aranoia *ggressiveness ,allucinations *ddiction Impaired -udgment Impulsiveness .oss of /elf'(ontrol

#irt Defects 0early 1 percent of pregnant women in the 2nited /tates use illicit drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, 3cstasy and other amphetamines, and heroin4. These and other illicit drugs may pose various risks for pregnant women and their babies. /ome of these drugs can cause a baby to be born too small or too soon, or to have withdrawal symptoms, birth defects or learning and behavioral problems. *dditionally, illicit drugs may be prepared with impurities that may be harmful to a pregnancy. Finally, pregnant women who use illicit drugs may engage in other unhealthy behaviors that place their pregnancy at risk, such as having e tremely poor nutrition or developing se ually transmitted infections. Drug addiction% regardless of t e t&'es of drug used% as social% 's&c ological and ' &sical effects% suc as( (hanges in the structure and function of your brain from drug abuse make it impossible to safely stop using without professional intervention. If you are abusing any drug, whether prescription or illegal, your brain has adapted to its presence. 5our body perceives a normal that is established by the dependence on the drug.

&hysical effects of drug addiction, as reported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse 60ID*7 vary, depending on the drug, but can include heart rhythm irregularities and heart attacks" breathing difficulties and respiratory arrest" nausea, vomiting, and

abdominal pain" poor musculoskeletal development, cramping and muscle weakness" kidney and liver damage" sei)ures and memory loss" and cancer. &sychological effects can include depression, hallucinations, paranoia and aggression. If left untreated or if the condition gets out of control, any of these effects can lead to death. /ocial effects are often noticed by family and friends of someone addicted to drugs. If you recogni)e a change in aggressiveness, selfishness, lying or a lack of interest in usual activities, you may be observing or e periencing the results of drug addiction.

T e Effects of Drug Abuse on Teens Teenagers often e periment with a variety of activities and substances. 2nfortunately, this e perimentation can lead to substance abuse and addiction. /tatistics show that drug abuse is a growing problem among teens. In addition to cocaine, 3cstasy and other club drugs, a recent $onitoring the Future /tudy showed that the top si most abused drugs by teens are! marijuana 684.9:7, ;icodin 6<.=:7, amphetamines 6>.4:7, cough medicine 6?.<:7, sedatives @ tran#uili)ers 6?.?: each7. %ithout treatment, the effects of drug abuse on teens can lead to serious conse#uences now and well into adulthood. Signs of Teen Drug Abuse There are many symptoms of drug abuse, but some of the most common signs your teen is abusing drugs are! &roblems with the law, such as D2I, breaking curfew, stealing, etc. &roblems at school, such as e cessive tardiness, poor grades, suspension, etc. $ood swings .oss of interest in favorite activities Drug paraphernalia ;iolent behavior %ithdrawal Depression &oor hygiene $issing money

Effects of Drug Abuse on Teens Drug abuse at any age can cause serious health effects, but teens who abuse drugs are at particular risk for negative conse#uences. Teens who abuse drugs are more likely to struggle with addiction later in life and have permanent and irreversible brain damage. /ome other common negative effects of teen drug abuse are! 3motional problems. Drug abuse can cause or mask emotional problems such as an iety, depression, mood swings, suicidal thoughts and schi)ophrenia. In fact, among teens with major depression, 81.? percent report using drugs. 2nfortunately, drug use can also increase the severity of these emotional problems. For e ample, teens that use marijuana weekly double their risk of depression and an iety.

Aehavioral problems. Teens who abuse drugs have an increased risk of social problems, depression, suicidal thoughts and violence. *ccording to a recent survey by the /ubstance *buse and $ental ,ealth /ervices *dministration, teens who abuse drugs are more likely than teens who donBt abuse drugs to engage in delin#uent behaviors such as fighting and stealing. *ddiction and dependence. /tudies prove that the younger a person is when they begin using drugs the more likely they are to develop a substance abuse problem and relapse later in life. Cisky se . Teens that use drugs are five times more likely to have se than teens who donBt use drugs. Teens that use drugs are also more likely to have unprotected se and have se with a stranger. This leads to higher risks of /TDs, teen pregnancy and se ual assault. .earning problems. Drug abuse damages short'term and long'term memory and can lead to problems with learning and memory later in life. Diseases. Teens who abuse drugs with needles increase their risk of blood'borne diseases like ,I;, *ID/ and ,epatitis A and (. Arain damage. Drug abuse among teens can result in serious mental disorders or permanent, irreversible damage to the brain or nervous system. Arain damage among teens who abuse drugs includes brain shrinkage" impaired learning abilities" amnesia and memory problems" impaired reasoning, perception and intuition" increased or decreased sociali)ation" and changes in se ual desire. (ar accidents. Teenagers who abuse drugs are more likely to be involved in car accident'related injuries or death. Dne study showed that 1 to 41 percent of drivers who are injured or die in traffic accidents test positive for T,(.