The International E-Magazine on Adolescent Health; Alcohol and Illegal Drug Use Vol. 4 | Page 3

E-HEALTH MAGAZINE MAY 2014 The consequences of drug abuse on individuals and society “Drugs are a waste of time. They destroy your memory and your self-respect and everything that goes along with your self esteem.” ― Kurt Cobain By Lorena González,Marcela Benavides and Cindy Jiménez By mere definition, an addiction is a strong and harmful need to regularly have something or do something. It can also be defined as a primary, chronic disease of brain reward, motivation, memory, and related circuitry. It it essential to understand that the most common addictions, meaning drugs, cigarettes, and alcohol, affect much more than just the health of the addicted. Specifically, addictions have a deep effect on society, and wether or not it functions effectively. A c c o r d i n g t o Wo r l d H e a l t h Organization, addiction is closely related to an exponential increase in rates of crime, car accidents, domestic violence, abuse, job loss, and homelessness. Often, addictions deteriorate a person’s mental wellbeing, pushing them to loose not only their job, but vital relationships such as family ties and friendships. “Drug misuse is not a disease, it is a decision, like the decision to step out in front of a moving car. You would call that not a disease but an error of judgment.” ― Philip K. Dick “Drugs, what a devil-inspired poison! It’s death on the installment plan.” ― David Wilkerson, The Cross and the Switchblade removed from their home and placed risk for more dangerous effects into state custody. include the potential of having a heart attack or a stroke as well the Shifting our attention, a large respiratory failure. amount of crime can be attributed to substance addiction. This is We can conclude that a person is addicted to something when he/ she caused mainly by the fact that many addicts are trying to obtain money to can’t concentrate or focus on other purchase their substance of choice, things without doing that task or no matter the social implications. activity before. It is easier, in our Driven by their blinding need, they times, to get addicted to material stuff (for example) because we live in often commit murder, robbery or a society with peer pressure and were assault. competition is necessary because Addiction may also cause an only the best, strongest and the economical burden, for many people able to adapt will survive. attempt the selling of household References: goods, which leads to financial pressure and mounting debts. This "Distracted Driving Quotes, Drinking & Driving, Drive, causes a negative impact on a Impaired Driving, Don't Text and ImpairedEtc." Distracted Driving Quotes, Drinking & Driving, Driving, Don't Text and Drive, Etc. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 May 2014. nation’s stability. . Focusing on families, those who are related to an addicted individual are forced to go through an emotional roller coaster. Constantly they are subjected to domestic violence and financial struggle. Likewise, children raised in this type of environment face a higher The long term effects of drug use probability of entering the addiction include the leading of mental and world, and they are at risk of being physical effects. This includes Paranoia, Psychosis, Immune deficiencies and organ damages. Now short-term effects is another story. The most common short-term effects include increased heart rate, dizziness, mood changes (that later becomes Paranoia), tremors, high blood pressure, between others. The "Twenty-Four Examples of Addictions." Twenty-Four Examples of Addictions. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 May 2014. (Life Science & Health Science 266)Life Science & Health Science. McGraw-Hill Create. .