Consuming drugs and chemical affect human health and brain processes in various ways. Some impacts are desirable and widely used by the medical industry to treat a wide variety of ailments. However, drug abuse and addiction is a serious issue worldwide because of health consequences that may be severe and long lasting. According to American Abuse Centers, drug abuse results in biological and behavioral issues that have a high correlation with crime and public health and safety.
Impact of Drug Abuse on Health
Drug abuse has a number of wide-ranging short and long-term effects on health. The impact can vary with the type of drug, the quantity, frequency, and the general health of the person consuming it. Drug abuse can affect every human organ and the effects can be severe and far-reaching. Some of the more common impacts include a weakened immune system that increases the risk of infection and illness, a variety of cardiovascular conditions, weight loss, liver damage, and failure. Substance abuse is also linked with mental confusion, stroke, seizures, and brain damage.
Additionally, people abusing drugs may experience problems in paying attention, making decisions, and remembering things. Drug overdose is a common and unfortunate cause of premature death. Counseling and drug rehab can prove effective in many cases and help people get their lives back on track.
Effect of Substance Abuse on the Brain
Almost all drugs, including cocaine, nicotine, marijuana, and other recreational drugs affect mood and instinct. The brain is flooded with dopamine, a brain chemical responsible for regulating feelings of pleasure and emotion. The resulting “high” is among the main reasons for drug addiction. Drugs can alter the chemistry of the brain, change how it performs, and obstruct a person’s ability to think rationally and make choices. Over time, it can lead to addiction and substance dependency.
Alcohol, for example, disrupts the brains ability to communicate and influences mood, behavior, and ability to recognize things. Alcohol can also induce nutritional deficiencies, cause seizures, and liver damage. It can also affect the brains of fetuses in pregnant women.
Behavioral Impact of Drugs
Substance abuse can result in wide ranging short and long-term behavioral problems like addiction, aggressiveness, paranoia, hallucinations, impaired judgment, loss of self-control, impulsiveness, etc. These effects can have serious consequences like accidents, injuries, crime, work disruptions, etc. Common results of drug abuse include motor vehicle crashes, damage to property, and domestic violence.
Consuming excessive amounts of alcohol and other drugs can lead to impaired judgment and loss of physical and mental coordination. These impacts have been link with behaviors like unprovoked aggressive behavior, including assault, rape, hazing, and drowning, DUI, and accidents leading to injuries, and even death. Those abusing drugs are more inclined to indulge in unsafe sex, resulting in unwanted pregnancies and transmission of STDs, including AIDS.
Conclusion
Drug and alcohol abuse and addiction is of serious concern to individuals as the dependency and risk-taking behavior can have grave impacts on their health, emotional wellbeing, academics, and. It also can potentially affect relationships and disrupt the wellbeing of family members. Counseling and rehab can prove effective in many cases and help people get their lives back on track.
