PSY250_M4@2

Running head: EFFECTS OF DRUG ABUSE 1

EFFECTS OF DRUG ABUSE

Effects of Drug Abuse

Effects of Drug Abuse

Introduction

Drugs are chemicals that alter the normal body and brain functioning. The effects of drugs varies with drugs, others have mild effects while some are detrimental to an individual and can have a long-lasting or even a permanent effect (Koob & Le Moal, 2009). The purpose of this paper is to attempt to elucidate the negative effects of drugs, both the short-term effects, the long-term effects, and the permanent effects. The first part of the paper focuses on the different types of drugs and classes to which they are classified. The paper then proceeds to the second part which addresses the effects of drug abuse and addict. In the second part, the paper concentrates on the short-term, the long-term, and the permanent effects of drug use (Koob & Le Moal, 2009). Also, the addresses physical, psychological, economic, social and family effects of drug abuse. Lastly, the paper dwells on the different ways by which the problem abuse can be solved covered in the third section of the paper.

Drug Abuse

Clinically, drug abuse refers to the use of drugs or substances for the wrong purpose, it might be overusing or underusing of that particular drug (NIDA, 2010). Drug abuse is commonly caused by developing an habit of taking a drug that tend to be addictive in nature, it can also be caused by influence from peers or even from fellow employees in any given organization, thirdly it can be caused by the environmental influence where someone stays for example a child who is brought up in an environment where drugs like alcohol, heroin, bhang, marijuana, opioids and even hallucinogens may end up being a drug addict thus, drug abuse. Similarly, the National Institute on Drug Addiction (NIDA) defines addiction as a chronic exchange of brain disease which can be inferred by behaviors such compulsive search and us of the drug without considering the side effects it might have (NIDA, 2015)

Effects of Drug Abuse

Drug abuse may have a long term effect on an individual’s organs in ways such as weakening the immune system thus increasing the susceptibility to infections; it can also damage the liver thus liver failure, and can lead to collapse of the veins and infections of the blood vessels. Additionally, drug abuse causes seizers, stroke and even produce whole body changes such as breast development in men, dramatic fluctuation of appetite and increase in body temperature (NDIA, 2010). Secondly drug abuse may have variety of effects on the brain which interferes with ones capability to make reasonable decisions thus developing a compulsive attitude of search and use of dug.it can also cause drug hijack leading to deposition of unusual amount of dopamine to flood the system which cause euphoria associated with the so abused drug

Drug abuse can also cause behavioral problems such as addiction, hallucination, aggressiveness, loss of self-control; one may start having impaired judgment regarding issues and impulsiveness. Drug also causes birth defect to the mother during birth or to the born child later in life and even before birth in the following ways; mothers who take illicit drugs may pose several risks to their unborn children such as giving birth to a child who has learning and behavioral problems later in life. Finally expectant women who take illicit drugs may sometimes engage in activities such as poor nutrition and even developing sexually transmitted infections which might place their pregnancy at a very risky condition.

References

(NIDA) National Institute of Drug Abuse. (2015). Drug Facts: Nationwide Trends | National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Retrieved from https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/anabolic-steroids

Koob, G. F., & Le Moal, M. (2009). Drug abuse: Hedonic homeostatic dysregulation. Science, 278(5335), 52–58. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.278.5335.52

National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2010). Drug, brains, and behavior. The science of addiction. Nida, 1–144. https://doi.org/http://www.drugabuse.gov/sites/default/files/sciofaddiction