“Don’t Even Think About It: Drug Addiction and the Dangers That Come With It”

We’ve all heard the horror stories. We’ve all been told countless tales of sorrow from people who’ve suffered through it. We’ve read so many news stories about celebrities that have been caught using and abusing it. We are all familiar with the difficulties, the pain and the struggles that come along with drug addiction.

So why are people still getting hooked?

Despite all of the warnings, a lack of information is still one of the most common reasons why people get addicted. So if you’re thinking about experimenting with heroin, marijuana, or any other drug, read this first. Here are some of the dangers of drug addiction.

The Phases of Drug Addiction

There are many reasons why people try drugs. A low sense of self-worth and peer pressure can easily nudge a person into the wrong direction. Stress and underlying mental disorders can also factor into it. Sometimes, their own Doctor can be the start of an addiction. Check out our article “Don’t Let Your Doctor Get Your Addicted To Drugs“.

Regardless of how it began, a person will undergo different “phases” of addiction.

The first part is tolerance. This is when your body gets used to a certain amount of the drug in your system. When you start needing more of the drug to get the effects you’re looking for, that means you’re becoming tolerant.

When your body gets used to the sensations caused by the drug, that’s psychological dependence. You start feeling disoriented and unable to function when you can’t have some. It can even feel like a physical addiction.

Physical addiction is when your body generates strong withdrawal symptoms when you stop using the drug. And the last part is addiction, often seen as the compulsive need to seek the particular drug.

How Drugs Effect Your Health

The health effects of drug addiction can widely vary depending on the substance. Irregular or rapid heart rate, or even heart failure can stem from abusing drugs such as cocaine and meth, among others. Other common effects are high blood pressure, impotence, lung damage, psychosis, memory problems, and seizures. Those that use injectable drugs are also at risk of getting blood-borne diseases such as HIV or hepatitis.

There’s more to be aware of, but the bigger problem is that the addict may not even care about what the drug is doing to their body.

Effects on Pregnancy

If it can harm an adult’s body, it can also harm the growing baby inside the womb. Drug abuse may cause miscarriage, low birth weight, and premature delivery. Withdrawal symptoms may also become apparent in the newborn baby.

Severe cases can lead to the death of the baby and/or the mother. If you or someone you love may be in danger because of substance abuse, do not hesitate to get the help you need to have a healthy pregnancy.

Effects on Your Relationships

An addict may risk affecting those around him as he affects himself. Close personal relationships can be destroyed entirely, as the person prioritizes acquiring and abusing the drug over seeking the help of those who love him.

Addiction has the tendency of separating the person from his or her loved ones, also affecting professional and social aspects of the person’s life.

Effects on Yourself

As the drug takes control over most aspects of the person’s life, it takes away the addict’s sense of self. It can cause the person to let go of their dreams, stop caring over their health, and even commit crimes.

Statistics show that around 29 percent of inmates in state prisons were using drugs before committing acts of violence. Workplace stats show that almost 70% of employers deal with addiction in their workforce.

If you find yourself in an early stage of substance abuse, it’s not too late to seek treatment.

Recovering from addiction will require the help of people who care. This would include the person’s family, friends, support groups, and also addiction specialists.

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Dr. Vikram Tarugu MD

Dr. Vikram Tarugu, M.D, is the CEO of Detox of South Florida, Inc and medical professional focused on addiction. A veteran in the medical field with over 25 years of professional experience. He is a consultant for many South Florida Rehab centers. Patients travel from allover the US to seek his help with addiction and Hepatitis C treatment.