Problem Associated with Drug Use
Introduction
The use of drugs to alter consciousness brings about certain
risks. These risks vary from drug to drug.However, the risks involved the same
basic issue.
When drugs are used to alter conscious experience,it carries
with it certain risks.These risks of course differ from drug to drug but the
same basic issues are involved.
1.
Drug
abuse: when a drug is abused,it causes physical damage. For instance,liver
damage may result because of much intake of alchohol or impairment of
psychological or social functioning. Frequent drinking of alchohol can also
lead to marital conflicts.
2.
Psychological
dependence: A psychological dependence may develop when an individual needs
to use the drug regularly to maintain a comfortable psychological state.For
instance ,a person may feel edgy,if he or she is deprived of marijuana which he
or she is used to.
3.
Physiological
addiction,tolerance and withdrawal: Many drugs easily become involved in
chemical functioning of the body. The body adjust to the extent that when the
drug is not present,the body cannot function properly and the person experience
painful withdrawal symptoms. Addictive drugs produce progressively stronger
addiction because overtime ,the body learns to adapt more easily to te drug in
its system. As tolerance for the drug increases,larger dose s are needed to
produce the same eefect on consciousness. Therefore ,the addcted person”s body
chemistry becomes more progressively tied to the drug.
4.
Direct side
effect: psychotropic drugs usually have effects that are not limited to a
single neurotransmitter or organic system. There are other serious side
effects,such as annoyance,numbness in the throat caused by inhaling
cocaine,brain damage,heart attacks,loss of control when driving or operating
machines. Furthermore ,violence and suicide are some of the common side effects
of psychotropic drugs.
5.
Social effect:
This relates to the effects the addicted persons behaviors has on the immediate
family,neighbours,co-workers etc. To sustain the habit,the addicted people also
resorts to different forms of anti-social or defiant behavior.