Dangers of Alcohol And Other Drugs

You see them in movies and on television and read about them in magazines. But what are drugs? You are exposed to information, and misinformation, about drugs every day. So, how can you make the best decisions?



What Is a Drug? Any chemical substance that causes a physical or psychological change is called a drug. Drugs come in many forms, as shown in Figure 1. Some drugs enter the body through the skin. Other drugs are swallowed, inhaled, or injected. Drugs are classified by their effects. Analgesics (AN'! JEE ziks) relieve pain, Antibiotics (AN tie bie AHT iks) fight bacterial infections, and antihistamines (AN tie HIS tuh MEENZ) control cold and allergy symptoms. Stimulants speed up the central nervous system, and depressants slow it down. When used correctly, legal drugs can help your body heal. When used illegally or improperly, however, drugs can do great harm.

The body can develop tolerance to a drug. Tolerance means that larger and larger doses of the drug are needed to get the same effect. The body can also form a physical dependence or need for a drug. If the body doesn't receive a drug that it is physically dependent on, withdrawal symptoms occur. Withdrawal symptoms include nausea, vomiting, pain, and tremors.
Addiction is the loss of control of drug-taking behavior. Once addicted, a person finds it very hard to stop taking a drug. Sometimes, the need for a drug is not due only to physical dependence. Some people also form psychological dependence on a drug, which means that they feel powerful cravings for the drug.

Types of Drugs There are many kinds of drugs. Some drugs are made from plants, and some are made in a lab. You can buy some drugs at the grocery store, while others can be prescribed only by a doctor. Some drugs are illegal to buy, sell, or possess.

Herbal Medicines Information about herbal medicines has been handed down for centuries, and some herbs contain chemicals with important healing properties. The tea in Figure 2 contains chamomile and is made from a plant. Chamomile has chemicals in it that can help you sleep. However, herbs are drugs and should be used carefully. The Federal Drug Administration does not regulate herbal medicines or teas and cannot guarantee their safety.

Over-the-Counter and Prescription Drugs Over-the-counter drugs can be bought without a prescription. A prescription is written by a doctor and describes the drug, directions for use, and the amount of the drug to be taken. Many over-the-counter and prescription drugs are powerful healing agents. However, some drugs also produce unwanted side effects. Side effects are uncomfortable symptoms, such as nausea, headaches, drowsiness, or more serious problems.
Whether purchased with or without a prescription, all drugs must be used with care. Information on proper use can be found on the label.

Tobacco Cigarettes are addictive, and smoking has serious health effects, Nicotine (NIK uh TEEN) is a chemical in tobacco that increases heart rate and blood pressure and is extremely addictive, Smokers experience a decrease in physical endurance. Figure 4 shows the effects of smoking on the cilia of your lungs. Cilia clean the air you breathe and prevent debris from entering your lungs. Smoking increases the chances of lung cancer, and it has been linked to other cancers, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and heart disease. Experts estimate that there are more than 430,000 deaths related to smoking each year in the United States, Secondhand smoke also poses significant health risks.
Like cigarettes, smokeless, or chewing, tobacco is addictive and can cause health problems. Nicotine is absorbed through the lining of the mouth. Smokeless tobacco increases the risk of several cancers, including mouth and throat cancer. It also causes gum disease and yellowing of the teeth.

Alcohol It is illegal in most of the United States for people under the age of 21 to use alcohol. Alcohol slows down the central nervous system and can cause memory loss. Excessive use of alcohol can damage the liver, pancreas, brain, nerves, and cardiovascular system. In very large quantities, alcohol can cause death. Alcohol is a factor in more than half of all suicides, murders, and accidental deaths. Figure 5 shows the results of one alcohol-related accident. Alcohol also affects decision making and can lead you to take unhealthy risks.
People can suffer from alcoholism, which means that they are physically and psychologically dependent on alcohol. Alcoholism is considered a disease, and genetic factors are thought to influence the development of alcoholism in some people,
Marijuana is an illegal drug that comes from the Indian hemp plant. Marijuana affects different people in different ways. It may increase anxiety or cause feelings of paranoia. Marijuana slows reaction time, impairs thinking, and causes a loss of coordination. Regular use of marijuana can affect many areas of your life, as described.

Cocaine Cocaine and its more purified form, crack, are made from the coca plant. Both drugs are illegal and highly addictive. Users can become addicted to them in a very short time. Cocaine can produce feelings of intense excitement followed by anxiety and depression. Both drugs increase heart rate and blood pressure and can cause heart attacks, even among first-time users. What are two dangers to users of cocaine?

Narcotics and Designer Drugs Drugs made from the opium plant are called narcotics. Some narcotics are used to treat severe pain. Narcotics are illegal unless prescribed by a doctor. Some narcotics are never legal. For example, heroin is one of the most addictive narcotics and is always illegal. Heroin is usually injected, and users often share needles. Therefore, heroin users have a high risk of becoming infected with diseases such as hepatitis and AIDS. Heroin users can also die of an overdose of the drug.

Other illegal drugs include inhalants, barbiturates (bahr BICH uhr itz), amphetamines (am FET uh MEENZ), and designer drugs. Designer drugs are made by making small changes to existing drugs. Ecstasy, or "X," is a designer drug that causes feelings of well-being. Over time, the drug causes lesions (LEEzhuhnz), or holes, in a user's brain, as shown in Figure 7. Ecstasy users are also more likely to develop depression.  
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