More than 10 million people suffer from drug abuse, and one in four deaths results from illicit drug use. In fact, more deaths, illnesses and disabilities are associated with drug abuse than any other preventable health condition. People suffering from drug and alcohol addiction also have a higher risk of unintentional injuries, accidents and domestic violence incidents.
What is drug abuse?
Clinically known as substance use disorder, drug abuse or addiction is caused by the habitual taking of addictive substances. Drugs include alcohol, marijuana, hallucinogens and opioids. Substance use disorder is a disease, causing people to compulsively use drugs despite consequences.
How it affects health
They can vary depending on the type of drug, how much and how often it’s taken and the person’s general health. Overall, the effects of drug abuse and dependence can be far-reaching. They can impact almost every organ in the human body.
Now the side effects of drug abuse are as follows:
- Weakness of the immune system, increasing the risk of illness and infection.
- Heart conditions ranging from abnormal heart rates to heart attacks and collapsed veins and blood vessel infections from injected drugs.
- Nausea and abdominal pain, which can also lead to changes in appetite and weight loss.
- Increased strain on the liver, which puts the person at risk of significant liver damage or liver failure.
- Seizures, stroke, mental confusion and brain damage.
- Lung disease
- Problems with memory, attention and decision-making, which make daily living more difficult.
- Global effects of drugs on the body, such as breast development in men and increases in body temperature, which will lead to other health problems.
