Drug Abuse - Causes, Symptoms and Types

IntroductionSymptoms of Drug Abuse
Drug abuse harp on the matter of misuse or overuse1) Loss of appetite or increase in appetite; noticeable
of certain specified substances. To elaborate, theseweight loss or gain.
substances are psychological stimulants and2)Smelling of alcohol, marijuana, or stale smoke
performance-enhancing drugs that have been used3) Frequent minor illnesses (headaches, nausea, slight
for non-healing purposes. Alcohol, amphetamines,tremors, flu-like symptoms,vomiting, sluggishness)
barbiturates, cocaine, methaqualone, opium alkaloids4) General lack of motivation, energy, self-esteem,
and mild tranquilizers are some of the substancesan "I don't care" attitude. Difficulty paying attention;
that are most widely misused. The use of theseforgetfulness.
substances brings on criminal prosecutions against the5) Using drug slang, talking about drugs
user, apart from the obvious physical and6) Neglects taking prescribed medications or takes
psychological damages. And add to it the socialmore medications than usual
discrimination that will follow.• Memory lapses
Causes of Drug abuseTypes of Drug abuse
Psychological : The brain is set up, people can easilyExcitants Drugs which produce cerebral excitation and
develop a psychological dependence on a drug.behavioral stimulation without altering consciousness.
Certain drugs like caffeine and nicotine activate brainThis group includes caffeine, amphetamines
reward systems, and the brain responds by releasingAlcohol:Drinking a large ammount of alcohol drinks
chemicals that have effects ranging from a change insuch as wine, beer, spirits can lead to every day
mood to outright euphoria.drinking financial problems and it can be very
Physiological: A condition in which a person's bodydangerous to your body causing illnes such as
requires certain behaviors or the intake of somedamage your kidney and liver and turn into acancer, it
substance, without which it will become ill.can also damage your brain, and eye sight. Drinking
Substance addiction: A condition in which a person isalcohol during pregnancy can be very harmful to the
dependent on some chemical substance, such asunborn baby causing premature birth, it can delay the
cocaine or heroin.development of the child through its growth, lead to
The Environment: In our biochemical society, we hearvery bad behaviour, fall back in school, and various
mixed messages about the use of psychoactivehealth problems.Cigarette can also cause damage to
drugs. Some, such as alcohol and tobacco, areyour health such as lung cancer and be harmfull to
accepted, while use of hard drugs is condemned.unborn babies.
Some drug use is glamorized in the media, whileCocaine:Cocaine is a natural stimulant that derives
different states have different standards for publicfrom the Erythroxylan Coca plant which can be found
intoxication. All of this makes it easier for people toin South America on the eastern slopes of the
accept drug use as "normal".Andes. It is commonly found in a fine powdered form
Past trauma is a factor that causes many people tothat is snorted, or liquefies and injected.
use drugs.Sexual abuse, loss of a loved one or someHeroine: Pure Heroin is a white powder with a bitter
sort of an accident are all things someone wouldtaste
want to forget. Often times, people will deal withMarijuana: A green, brown, or gray mixture of dried,
these problems and temporarily allow themselves toshredded leaves, stems, seeds, and flowers of the
forget about them by using drugs.hemp plant.