Chronic exposure to drugs of abuse disrupts the way critical brain structures interact to control behaviour - behaviour specifically related to drug abuse. Just as continued abuse may lead to tolerance or the need for higher drug dosages to produce an effect, it may also lead to an abuser to seek out and take drugs compulsively, acting criminally to achieve his purpose.
Drug addiction erodes a person's self-control and ability to make sound decisions, while sending intense impulses to take drugs.
THE FAR REACHING IMPACT OF ADDICTION INCLUDES: Cardiovascular disease, stroke, cancer, HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B and C, lung disease, obesity, mental disorders.
Individuals who suffer from addiction often have one or more accompanying medical issues, including lung and cardiovascular disease, stroke, cancer, and mental disorders. Imaging scans, chest x-rays, and blood tests show the damaging effects of drug abuse throughout the body. Some drugs of abuse, such as inhalants, are toxic to nerve cells and may damage or destroy them either in the brain or the peripheral nervous system.
Drug abuse and mental disorders often co-exist. In some cases, mental diseases may precede addiction; in other cases, drug abuse may trigger or exacerbate mental disorders.
Drug abuse can cause serious health problems for others. Such as negative effects of prenatal drug exposure on infants and children as well as subtle deficits in developmental areas such as behaviour, attention, and cognition. And increased spread of infectious diseases.
Injection of drugs such as heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine accounts for more than a third of new AIDS cases. Injection drug use is also a major factor in the spread of hepatitis C, a serious, potentially fatal liver disease and a rapidly growing public health problem.
All drugs of abuse cause some form of intoxication, which interferes with judgement and increases the likelihood of risky sexual behaviour. This, in turn, contributes to the spread of HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B and C, and other sexually transmitted diseases.
Most drugs are classified according to their effect on the body. Some drugs have localised effect and work only on a certain part of the body. Others affect several body systems.
The nature of a drug determines its effect on the body. Psychoactive drugs affect the transmission of nerve impulses to the brain (the central nervous system). They can change behaviour, emotions, and perceptions of reality.
Caffeine in coffee is a stimulant that occurs naturally in the plants from which the products are made.
Cocaine is a short acting stimulant derived from the leaves of the coca plant, which can lead abusers to "binge" (to take the drug many times in a single session). Cocaine stimulates the central nervous system. Its immediate effects include dilated pupils and elevated blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and body temperature. Occasional use can cause a stuffy or runny nose, while chronic use can ulcerate the mucous membrane of the nose. Injecting cocaine with contaminated equipment can cause AIDS, hepatitis, and other diseases. Preparation of freebase, which involves the use of volatile solvents, can result in death or injury from fire or explosion.
Overdosing on cocaine is a real possibility. The number of deaths from cocaine and the number of emergency room admissions for drug reactions involving cocaine have increased greatly. Cocaine abuse can lead to severe medical consequences related to the heart, and the respiratory, nervous, and digestive systems. High doses can cause seizures and cardiac and respiratory arrest. Cocaine can also damage the nerves, the circulatory system, and lead to a stroke. Most cocaine is sold illegally as a white powder that is sniffed through the nose, which often results in severe damage to user's nasal passages. Cocaine is used legally for a few medical purposes, such as a painkiller during nasal surgery.
During the 70's and 80's, cocaine became a popular drug, especially among the wealthy, young people. The high cost of the drug ruined many lives. The effects of cocaine can be so powerful that a long-term user makes obtaining the drug more important than anything else in life including food sleep sex and career. The psychological dependency of cocaine (euphoria) is particularly difficult to break.
Crack is a less-expensive, smokeable form of cocaine developed during the 80's. It is more powerful than ordinary cocaine because the drug's effect on the nervous system peaks just after a few seconds of smoking. The brain is flooded with a concentrate dose of the drug producing an intense high. Users describe the feeling of euphoria that follows intake as a rush. This effect is produced by snorting or inhaling in a few minutes while an injection kicks in within 30 seconds and smoking in less than 10 seconds.
The rush lasts for only a few seconds, replaced by a state of arousal, which lasts from 5 to 30 minutes. The effect wears off quickly leaving the user seeking another dose. The user then begins to feel restless irritable and depressed. To overcome these symptoms he resorts to more to the drug, repeating the cycle till no more drug is left. Crack or free base rock is extremely addictive, and its physical effects include dilated pupils, increased pulse rate, elevated blood pressure, insomnia, loss of appetite, tactile hallucinations, paranoia, and seizure.
Crack and cocaine are very dangerous, both put an enormous strain on the circulatory system. Even a young and healthy cocaine user can suffer a deadly heart attack or stroke the first time he uses it. Because of its low price crack is available to many more people.
Amphetamines, commonly called speed or uppers, including methamphetamine, are powerful stimulants that can produce feelings of euphoria and alertness. Methamphetamine's effects are particularly long lasting and harmful to the brain. Amphetamines can cause high body temperature and can lead to serious heart problems and seizures.
Ecstasy (MDMA) produces both stimulant and mind-altering effects. It can increase body temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, and heart as well as stress. Ecstasy may also be toxic to nerve cells.
A person who uses Amphetamines feels very energetic but the effects quickly wear off after a person uses up his reserve supply of energy. Once the body has used up its energy, it feels very tired. This deep tiredness encourages more use of the stimulant, and leads to a strong dependency on the drug. Amphetamine users can go without sleep for an entire week or more. Additional stimulants include Ritalin.
Hallucinogens are drugs that affect the sensory perceptions by the central nervous system. These drugs cause the user to perceive reality in a distorted way. A hallucinogen user may see or hear things that are not there, experience feelings they have never had before and react to both new and familiar surroundings in unpredictable ways.
LSD or "acid" (Lysergic acid diethylmide) and PCP (animal tranquilliser) are two powerful hallucinogens. LSD is the most powerful hallucinogen. Acid, as this drug is commonly called, interferes with the normal transmission of nerve impulses in the brain. Its effects vary from person to person and are unpredictable. The abusers may see vivid colours and images, hear sounds, and feel sensations that seem real but do not exist. Abusers also may have traumatic experiences and emotions that can last for many hours. Some short-term effects can include increased body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure; sweating; loss of appetite; sleeplessness; dry mouth; and tremors.
Virtually all people who have used LSD regularly have had a "bad trip" in which their hallucination has become frighteningly real. Some LSD users have lost touch with reality after only a single dose of the drug.
LSD, mescaline, and psilocybin cause illusions and hallucinations. The physical effects may include dilated pupils, elevated body temperature, increased heart rate and blood pressure. The user may experience panic, confusion, suspicion, anxiety, and loss of control.
PCP (Phencyclidine) produces feelings of strength and great power. Also known as Angel Dust, PCP can result in nightmarish illusions that may last for many days. High doses produce seizures and even heart attacks. Users often become extremely violent and are a danger to themselves and others. Phencyclidine (PCP) interrupts the functions of the neocortex, the section of the brain that controls the intellect and keeps instincts in check. Because the drug blocks pain receptors, violent PCP episodes may result in self-inflicted injuries. The effects of PCP vary, but users frequently report a sense of distance and estrangement. Time and body movements are slowed down. Muscular co-ordination worsens and senses are dulled. Speech is blocked and incoherent. In later stages of chronic use, users often exhibit paranoid and violent behaviour and experience hallucinations. Large doses may produce convulsions and coma, as well as heart and lung failure.
Other hallucinogens include ecstasy. Hallucinogens have no medicinal use they are illegal substances.
(Information complied from various drug web sites.)
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