Any drug—alcohol, marijuana, cocaine or any prescription or street drug—may be subject to abuse by an individual. For an individual addicted to drugs, use persists despite the existence of negative consequences. Rates of drug use remain high, with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services finding in 2008 that 19.6 percent of young adults aged 18 to 25 and 5.9 percent of adults 26 and older reported current illicit drug use. Dangers associated with drug use vary and span many different domains.
Risk Factors
Increasing the dangers associated with abuse of drugs is long-term use. Joseph Milby, Joseph Schumacher and Jalie Tucker of the University of Alabama write in “Handbook of Clinical Health Psychology” that drug abusers infrequently seek treatment for their substance problems. While possible to abstain from substances without treatment, intervention may be very helpful by decreasing length of use and potentially preventing the development of further substance related problems.
Economic Cost
The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that drug abuse costs Americans about $500 billion per year. The financial toll of drug abuse comes from related medical treatment, lost wages and associated criminal activities. On a smaller scale, drug abuse may result in the financial ruin of an individual and his family. MayoClinic.com identifies that drug abuse coupled with financial problems may lead to participation in illegal activities in order to get more money for drugs. Excessive spending on drugs may limit an individual’s ability to pay bills or other necessary expenses, resulting in debt.
Developmental Considerations
The National Institute on Drug Abuse explores the negative consequences of drug abuse across the life span. Babies exposed prenatally to substances may show profound effects, including premature birth, underweight and effects on intelligence and behavior. Additionally, babies may develop dependence on the substance in the womb. Adolescents who abuse drugs show increased rates of risky behavior, such as unprotected sex and violence. The academic performance of adolescent drug abusers may suffer. For adult drug abusers varied effects include work and relationship problems, along with difficulties “thinking clearly, remembering, and paying attention,” according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Medical Complications
Both short- and long-term use of drugs may result in dangerous medical complications. MayoClinic.com indicates that an overdose of a drug may result in death, unconsciousness and coma. Other physical consequences may result from drug abuse, including development of heart disease and liver damage. Individuals who abuse drugs are more likely to have problems with severe mental illness. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services found that in 2008 that 2.5 million Americans suffered from a severe mental illness and were substance abusers concurrently.
Drug abuse may have profound negative effects on the human brain. Brains of adolescents are in a crucial stage of development; therefore, drug abuse during this period of time, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, can negatively affect this process. Drug abuse negatively affects brain functions.
Other Complications
Drug abuse often leads to an increase in risky behavior. The risky behavior, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, may include sharing needles and engaging in unprotected sex while intoxicated. These factors increase the risk of drug abusers becoming infected with human immunodeficiency virus or HIV or some other infectious disease, according to MayoClinic.com. An individual with HIV may eventually develop AIDS without treatment, leading to illness and death.
References
- “Handbook of Clinical Health Psychology: Volume 2. Disorders of Behavior and Health” Jesse Milby, Joseph Schumacher and Jalie Tucker; 2004
- MayoClinic.com: Drug Addiction
- National Institute on Drug Abuse: Addiction: Drugs, Brains, and Behavior – The Science of Addiction
- NIDA InfoFacts: Drug Abuse and the Link to HIV/AIDS and Other Infectious Diseases
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Results From the 2008 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: National Findings
