In order to understand how drugs affect you, you must understand what drugs actually are; Drugs are

chemicals that change the way a person's body works. You've probably heard that drugs are bad for you, but what does that mean and why are they bad? In general drugs alter the chemical state of a person and affect normal functions of your body and mind. Drugs can be categorized in three groups:
Medicines: As drugs change the chemical state of your body and/or mind, when you feel sick you are given some (good) drugs by your doctor to balance the chemical imbalance in your body to get you better. Legal addictive drugs: Alcohol and tobacco are harmful yet legal in Chile. They can cause damage to your body and mind.

Illegal addictive drugs: There are many drugs which fall into this
category; when people talk about a "drug problem," they usually mean abusing legal drugs or using illegal drugs, such as marijuana, ecstasy, cocaine, LSD and heroin.

MARIJUANA: Marijuana is the most commonly abused illicit drug in Chile. It is a dry, shredded green and brown mix of flowers, stems, seeds, and leaves derived from the hemp plant Cannabis sativa. The main active chemical in marijuana is THC. Marijuana is usually smoked as a cigarette (joint) or in a pipe. It is also smoked in blunts, which are cigars that have been emptied of tobacco and refilled with a mixture of marijuana and tobacco.

ECSTASY: It is a synthetic, psychoactive drug that is chemically similar to the stimulant methamphetamine and the hallucinogen mescaline. Ecstasy produces feelings of increased energy, euphoria, emotional warmth, and distortions in time, perception, and tactile experiences. It is taken orally, usually as a capsule or tablet. Ecstasy can cause severe dehydration and hyperthermia, which then leads to muscle breakdown and kidney, liver and cardiovascular failure. Common aftereffects include sleep problems, anxiety and depression.

COCAINE: Cocaine is a powerfully addictive central nervous system stimulant that is snorted, injected, or smoked. Crack is cocaine hydrochloride powder that has been processed to form a rock crystal that is then usually smoked. Cocaine usually makes the user feel euphoric and energetic, but also increases body temperature, blood pressure, and heart rate. Users risk heart attacks, respiratory failure, strokes, seizures, abdominal pain, and nausea. Sudden death can occur on the first use of cocaine or unexpectedly afterwards.

LSD: Lysergic acid diethylamide is a hallucinogen. LSD can distort perceptions of reality and produce hallucinations; the effects can be frightening and cause panic. It is sold as tablets, capsules, liquid, or on absorbent paper. LSD produces unpredictable psychological effects, with "trips" lasting about 12 hours. With large enough doses, users experience delusions and hallucinations. Physical effects include increased body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure; sleeplessness; and loss of appetite.

HEROIN: Heroin is an addictive drug that is processed from morphine and usually appears as a white or brown powder or as a black, sticky substance. It is injected, snorted, or smoked. Short-term effects of heroin include a surge of euphoria and clouded thinking followed by alternately wakeful and drowsy states. Heroin depresses breathing, thus, overdose can be fatal. Users who inject the drug risk infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS and hepatitis.

Drug abuse can cause fatal effects on you. Lets check some of the consequences of using drugs:

Your body You age faster, and with time you start to look 10-15 years older than your age. Lung cancer.

Your brain Drugs can cause unrepairable damage to your brain cells. Loss of memory.

Your social life Greatly impaired judgement and decision making ability.

Withdrawal from the family activities, and family members. Set bad example for younger siblings. After a while no family member or friend is close enough. Hard to keep up with the work pressure, and may loose your job. Spend most of the earning to buy drugs. At times feel the 'need' to steal for drug money. Feel scared and lonely.

Rotten teeth.

Dementia

Physical dependence and addiction.

Irrational decision making.

Insomnia.

Suicidal depression.

Dilated pupils.

Nightmares and hallucinations. Impaired depth, and time perception. Impairment

Loss of appetite.

Hair loss.

Criminal convictions are also recorded for drug offenses, which can affect your life in many ways.

Remember you are the architect of your own life. Choose your path wisely. One life. One chance.