The Hazards of Drug Abuse
Jun 03, 2020
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Zhang Ligong
Introduction
Harmful Effects of Drug Abuse:
1. Causes psychological dependence: After entering the body, drugs act on the nervous system, inducing in users an intense craving for continued drug use.
2. Causes physical dependence: Repeated drug use leads to a strong physiological dependency as drugs exert effects on the human body.
3. Leads to various diseases, such as acute and chronic hepatitis, pneumonia, sepsis, and endocarditis.
Drug use refers to the inhalation or consumption of opium, heroin, methamphetamine, morphine, cannabis, cocaine, and other narcotic or psychotropic substances regulated by the state that can lead to addiction. Drug use poses severe risks to individual health, families, and society at large. So, what are the specific harms associated with drug use? The following section addresses this question.
Harms of Drug Use
1. Induces Psychological Dependence
Drug use leads to psychological dependence. Once ingested, drugs act upon the central nervous system, triggering an intense craving for continued drug use. This compulsion drives users to seek out and consume drugs regardless of consequences. Even after undergoing detoxification treatment, full restoration of normal physiological function often requires several months—or even years.
2. Induces Physical Dependence
Drug use causes physical dependence. Repeated drug administration induces a profound physiological dependency: drugs alter the body’s homeostasis, prompting adaptive changes in bodily functions and establishing a new equilibrium under drug influence. Upon cessation, physiological dysregulation occurs, producing a constellation of severe withdrawal symptoms—collectively termed “withdrawal syndrome”—which cause significant distress and discomfort.
3. Triggers Disease Development
Drug use severely compromises physical health. Different drugs produce distinct toxic and adverse effects upon entering the body, causing direct and serious damage to health—and potentially resulting in death. Moreover, drugs adversely affect multiple organ systems—including the digestive, respiratory, cardiovascular, and immune systems—to varying degrees. Chronic or acute hepatitis, pneumonia, sepsis, endocarditis, renal failure, arrhythmias, thrombophlebitis, arteritis, chronic organic brain damage, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and HIV/AIDS may all arise as complications of drug abuse.
The above outlines the major harms associated with drug use. These include physical dependence, psychological dependence, and serious health consequences; drug abuse may precipitate complications such as acute and chronic hepatitis, sepsis, and renal failure. We hope this information proves helpful.
