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Not many are fully aware of the massive damage that drug use can do to the body. Most people can’t even answer directly when asked what crack cocaine does to the body when such addiction is pretty prevalent. This is something that this post will touch upon. Much needs to be known about how drug use can damage the human body. Full awareness of such will greatly help in the prevention of substance abuse. Sometimes, people simply need to be informed. Sometimes, it’s all a matter of knowing the right amount of information at the right place and the right time and knowing between right and wrong.
Variety in Effects
Not one drug is alike. This is why different drugs can affect your body differently. The effects also differ from person to person. The negative effects of drug use can vary depending on the following factors:
- general health
- body size
- amount of drug intake
- strength of the drug
- presence of other drugs in the body
- a person’s mood
- a person’s environment
Dependence and Tolerance
Primary on the negative effects of drug use is dependence. Regular drug use lead to dependence. Dependence on drug use can be debilitating because a drug-dependent person will cease to function properly if there is no drug use. Tolerance also happens after using drugs for long periods. This means that a person will require more and more amounts of drugs after every use because old amounts will cease to give an effect. There is absolutely no safe level of drug use.
Different Drugs and the Effects they Bringing
Drug use attacks the body’s nervous system. This is why people who used drugs think, behave, and feel differently. The following are the seven main types of drugs:
- Depressants – slow down the processes of the nervous system
- Psychedelics – affects all of the body’s senses; can cause hallucination
- Stimulants – make a person more energetic; speeds up actions in the nervous system
- Empathogens – makes a person feel connected and accepted
- Cannabinoids – can make a person feel paranoid, anxious, relaxed, or happy.
- Opioids – slows the heart rate and give sensations of pleasure
- Dissociatives – can make a person feel detached; can also cause hallucinations
Risks
The following factors are considered when assessing the level of risk involved in drug use:
- kind of drug
- drug strength
- person’s height
- person’s weight
- person’s age
- person’s metabolism
- amount of drug taken
- number of use
- duration of use
- how the drug was consumed (via injection, snort or orally)
Mixing drugs can also be very dangerous as its effects are unpredictable.
Harms
Drug use can cause severe damage to the following:
- Physical health
- Mental health
People can suffer from the following:
- Memory problems
- Participation in risky behaviours
- Behavioural changes
- Increased aggression
- Insomnia
- Reduced appetite
- Heart problems
- Liver problems
- Kidney problems
- Cancer
- Dental issues
- Psychosis
- Regular flu
- Vein damage
- Financial problems
- Work problems
- Social problems
On Common Drugs and their Effects
1. Cannabis
People who use cannabis can experience the following effects:
- altered perception
- relaxation
- increased blood pressure
- increased heart rate
- paranoia
- psychosis
- asthma
- schizophrenia
- cancer
- poor concentration
- infertility
- heart disease
2. Cocaine
People who use cocaine can experience the following effects:
- boosted energy
- happiness
- overstimulation
- pain reduction
- miscarriage, if the person who took the drug is pregnant
- anxiety
- paranoia
- psychosis
- damage to the lining of the nasal passage
- vein damage
- hepatitis infection
3. Ecstasy
People who use ecstasy can experience the following effects:
- chattiness
- feeling of warmth
- feeling alertness
- anxiety
- confusion
- psychosis
- paranoia
- memory loss
- depression
- overheating
- dehydration
- excessive body retention of fluid
4. Mephedrone
People who use mephedrone can experience the following effects:
- euphoria
- anxiety
- paranoia
- vomiting
- sweating
- headaches
- overstimulation of the nervous system
- overstimulation of the heart
- insomnia
- hallucination
- fits of agitation
- respiratory failure
- collapse
- death
5. Ice
People who use ice can experience the following effects:
- feelings of confidence
- feelings of pleasure
- alertness
- energetic
- scratching
- itching
- teeth grinding
- excessive sweating
- reduced appetite
- increased sex drive
- damage to nasal passage
6. Speed
People who use speed can experience the following effects:
- alertness
- confidence
- energetic
- reduced appetite
- aggression
- agitation
- confusion
- paranoia
- psychosis
- depression
- lethargy
- high blood pressure
- heart attack
- vein damage
The “Come Down”
People who take drugs and alcohol experience a come down after usage. They don’t last forever but they are extremely unpleasant. Its duration will depend on the kind of drug and the amount of drug intake. A person’s general health will also affect how he or she will experience the “come down.”
People often experience the following during a “come down”:
- dizziness
- anxiety
- depression
- irritation
- shakiness
- tiredness
- sweats
- nausea
- headache
- lack of appetite
- sleepiness
- insomnia
You Can Get Help
Help is always available if you’re having a hard time. You can always reach out to the following:
- Alcohol and Drug Foundation
Tel. 1300 85 85 84
- ReachOut NextStep
Online tool that can recommend relevant support for any drug concern.
- DirectLine
Tel. 1800 888 236
