Alcohol and Drugs Can Kill You | Abuse

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Introduction
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Alcoholism, Drug Abuse and other drugs is one of the more controversial issues in our society, and often in the talk a source of conflict between generations and between sections of society. It's not the purpose of this page to tell people how to behave or to seek to label them as alcohol or drug abusers. Alcohol and other drugs are powerful substances with a potential to harm users or to tempt them into over-indulgence, so it is important to take care of yourself when considering using them and to avoid taking any risks which you might regret later.

No universal classification of what constitutes unhealthy use exists. Many classifications ignore the fact that alcohol and drug use is an accepted part of many social sets. What is seen as risky behaviour by one group is accepted as normal by another.

Use of drink and drugs can be classified as:

1. Habitual - The use of alcohol or drugs have become a significant and important part of the person's life-style. Stopping would not be easy.
2. Dependent - There is a high degree of physical and psychological addiction. Alcohol and drug use disrupts or rules the person's life. Stopping is not possible without considerable support.
3. Controlled - People have made a conscious decision, have evaluated the risks and can stop if they want.
4. Impulsive - Use is unpredictable and can lead to unexpected accidents and harm. However there is not continual use or dependency.
5. Abstinent - No use is made.

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Consequences
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• If you are wondering about your drink or drug use, have you considered the following?

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Psychological consequences
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• Are you using drink or drugs to escape from a problem which you might be able to solve if you faced it? If so you may be perpetuating your shyness, anxiety, depression, unhappiness etc.
• Don't permanently change our world. They allow us to feel a temporary confidence or happiness, but the effect is usually one of borrowed time. Often the unhappiness or anxiety returns even more strongly once the effects wear off.
• Can cause psychological problems by themselves. Alcohol can commonly cause depression; drugs can also cause depression, or can trigger anxiety or even psychosis (loss of reality).

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Social consequences
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• Drink and drugs very expensive, so uncontrolled use can lead to financial problems.
• Pronounced use of drink or drugs tends to rigidly define social groups, so it may limit your circle of friends.
• Continual or large scale use of alcohol has a bad effect on most people's sex-life.
• You can quite easily end up in trouble with the law. Although drinking alcohol is legal, it can lead to assault and driving when drunk. Similarly, although the law may turn a blind eye to personal use of certain drugs, this attitude is not consistent. Sentences for any supplying drugs can be heavy and unpredictable. Any conviction for drink or drugs offences may severely limit the opportunities open to you in the future.

 
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Physical Consequences
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• Drink and drugs definitely lowers people's ability to resist harming themselves when they have problems.
• Drink and drugs can lower people's inhibitions against hurting others.
• Drink and drugs greatly lessens people's ability to say no to unwanted sexual encounters which they would have definitely avoided had they been sober.
• Many serious accidents are drink and drug related.
• There are long-term health risks.

All these things will not happen to everybody. You may be lucky and avoid any serious mishaps. However, all these consequences are seen routinely enough by anyone involved in welfare work to suggest they are not exaggerated or unusual.

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Taking Control
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If you want to take more control of your use of drink or drugs the following suggestions may help.

• Make a list of the advantages and drawbacks of your alcohol and drug use which are personally significant to you. The above list of possible consequences may help focus your mind. Then decide whether you would like to lessen the disadvantages.
• Keep a diary of your consumption over a week. Be honest about the amounts you are using. Consider whether you could limit your intake by changing your routine so as not to put you in tempting situations.
• Talk to someone whom you trust about your use. See if they feel you have cause for concern.

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 What can others do to help?
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Be supportive, especially when the person first decides to deal with his or her problem. Making the changes necessary to deal with drug or alcohol abuse is not easy. They often involve major changes in a person's lifestyle, friendships and ways of coping. Let the person know that you are supportive of their progress.
Help identify and deal with high-risk situations. These are situations (a wedding, for example) where a person is at risk of using drugs or abusing alcohol.
Remember that change takes time, as long as the problem took to develop it is going to take some time to resolve. If a person slips, encourage them to get back on track and figure out what happened, so they can avoid it next time.

(Information compiled from various sources, especially the Centre for Addictions and Mental Health booklets for Guided Self-Change)

Teen Drug Abuse Affect Brain Development

Drug abuse by Teenagers Is a growing problem that affects many families and communities across the world. Drugs are substances that alter the body's natural functioning, leading to physical and psychological changes. Teenagers are particularly vulnerable to drug abuse due to peer pressure, stress, curiosity, and a desire to escape their problems. However, the consequences of drug abuse can be devastating, including addiction, academic failure, mental health problems, criminal activity, and even death.

One of the most common drugs abused by teenagers is marijuana. Marijuana is a psychoactive drug that can affect memory, attention, and learning. Frequent use can also lead to respiratory problems, depression, anxiety, and increased risk of addiction to other drugs. Moreover, marijuana use can impair driving skills, leading to accidents and injuries.

 Another drug that is frequently abused by teenagers is alcohol. Alcohol is a depressant that can lead to impaired judgment, memory loss, and loss of coordination. Teenagers who abuse alcohol are also more likely to engage in risky behavior, such as unprotected sex or driving under the influence. Alcohol abuse can also lead to long-term health problems, including liver damage and addiction.

Prescription drugs, such as painkillers, stimulants, and sedatives, are also commonly abused by teenagers. Many teenagers believe that prescription drugs are safer than illegal drugs because they are prescribed by a doctor. However, prescription drugs can be just as dangerous, leading to addiction, overdose, and even death. Moreover, prescription drug abuse can lead to the use of illegal drugs, as teenagers may turn to drugs like heroin when they can no longer obtain prescription drugs.

Teen drug abuse can also be a sign of underlying mental health problems, such as anxiety, depression, or trauma. Some teenagers may turn to drugs as a way of coping with these issues, but this can often make the situation worse. Drug abuse can lead to a range of mental health problems, including depression, anxiety, and psychosis.

Preventing teen drug abuse is crucial for the health and well-being of teenagers. Parents, teachers, and healthcare professionals can play an essential role in preventing drug abuse by educating teenagers about the dangers of drugs, setting clear expectations and boundaries, and providing support and resources for those who may be struggling. Early intervention is critical, as the earlier drug abuse is detected, the more effective treatment can be.

The effects of different types of drugs on teenagers include:

 

Irritability, insomnia, convulsions, anxiety, paranoia, violent behavior, memory loss, learning problems, increased heart rate, lethargy, panic attacks, symptoms of chronic bronchitis, daily coughs and phlegm, more frequent chest colds, muscle tension, teeth clenching, dehydration, hypothermia, brain damage, and death. By Jennifer Bailey

Causes And Solutions For Drug And Alcohol Addiction

Teen drug abuse is a serious problem that can have far-reaching consequences. It is important for parents, teachers, and healthcare professionals to educate teenagers about the dangers of drugs, provide support and resources for those who may be struggling, and intervene early if drug abuse is suspected. With early intervention and appropriate treatment, many teenagers can overcome drug abuse and lead healthy, productive lives.

 

Something that causes us of drug addiction are something that everyone should know about hazard drug addiction. Even if you have never used drugs, you should know in case someone you love is in trouble. Your child may need to you to know this too, when he is young and needs to be educated. From teen drug addiction to life threatening severe cases in adults, the causes of drug addiction are indications that your condition needs attention. In fact, once you learn the causes of drug addiction, drug and alcohol addiction recovery can begin.

How Does It Happen?

If you are someone looking in from how drug addiction happens, do not be too harsh to judge. All it takes is one experiment, one time of wanting just see what the big deal is to make a serious problem start. The high that people get from drugs is something that draws them back for maybe just one more time. Soon it becomes something that they can no longer shake. The experiment is now out of their hands.

The causes of drug addiction are not the things that we can control, like that experiment. Although it may seem harmless, within just a few times of trying it out, it can become lethally addictive. That is where the problem truly lies. Once the experiment has gotten to this level, it is out of the person's control.

What you will learn about alcohol and drug detox is that it is not about the person's will to stop doing what they are doing. It is more so about the actual problem that lies within the brain during an addiction. What you will learn through your drug and alcohol addiction recovery is that the brain needs to be retrained from the addiction. The brain will demand the drugs. That is because the brain is now much different, transformed even. It is different in both its functions as well as its structure.

Every time you reach that high from a drug, you are in fact changing your brain's chemistry. This is what causes drug addiction and this is what makes it inevitable that those that continue to use drugs will in fact become addicted to it. Drug abuse is not something anyone sets out to do, but once that one experiment leads to a few more; it is a sure path to becoming addicted.

With this being the cause of drug addiction, the brain's ability to function is severely limited. You should consider drug addiction a disease of the brain in which over time it becomes more and more damaged by the toxins. Eventually, if the user does not seek drug and alcohol addiction recovery, he or she will experience a range of health problems including the slow destruction of the brain.

Solution drug abuse and alcohol is that with a successful drug and alcohol addiction treatment program, the user can put a stop to this destruction. Article writer By: Jim Johnson