While drug use can induce feelings of euphoria and high sensations in someone, the negative consequences generally outweigh these feelings. Drug abuse negatively affects all aspects of people's lives and even though they are aware of these bad effects, their desire to use the drug overpowers their desire for positive relationships and success in work or school.
Addiction
The abuse of a drug can lead to the increased risk of addiction developing, notes the MayoClinic.com. As the body becomes accustomed to the increased use of a specific drug, the body chemistry may change, resulting in the chemical need for the drug to be consumed for people to function. When addiction develops, people will relinquish to the drug, any slight control they still maintained with the drug abuse. Addiction will cause the main focus of their lives to become where they will get their next stash of drugs and how they will maintain the high.
Child Abuse or Neglect
Parent and caregiver drug abuse may result in child abuse or neglect, which can cause the state to remove children from the custody of their parents or caregivers. When parents or caregivers are high or intoxicated, their judgment and ability to care for children may be impaired. Children may be left to care for themselves while their parents are out in search or drugs or passed out due to intoxication.
Drug abuse may result in the inability to handle the stress and frustrations of child care, which may increase the risk of physical abuse. Drug abuse may cause parents to become violent or aggressive towards their children.
STDs
Drug abuse will increase the risk of a person becoming infected with a sexually transmitted disease, or STD. According to the MayoClinic.com, the impaired judgment that occurs as a result of drug abuse increases the chances that users will engage in unplanned and unprotected sex. Having unprotected sex with a variety of partners, especially if those partners also abuses drugs, will put users at increased risk for getting STDs.
The use of needles in some forms of drug abuse can increase the risk of infection with a STD. Drugs, such as heroin, can be injected directly into a person's veins in order to induce the high sooner. The needles used for injection are often shared between users, causing infections to easily be spread.
Health
Drug abuse will affect people's physical and mental health. According to TeensHealth.org, drug abuse causes changes to the body and brain that are harmful. The health problems that result from drug abuse will depend on the specific drug being abused. General health effects of drug abuse include respiratory problems, heart problems, loss of memory, neurological damage, mental health disorders such as mood disorders, overdose and death.
