•HARMFUL

HARMFULEFFECTS OF

DRUG USE AND

TO INDIVIDUAL FAMILY AND COMMUNITY

ABUSE
WHAT IS DRUG
WHAT IS
ADDICTI
DRUG
ON?
The definition of drug addiction refers to
the obsessive and repeated use of
dangerous amounts of drugs and the
appearance of withdrawal symptoms
when not using drugs. The effects of drug
addiction seen, due to this compulsion,
are wide-ranging and profound. Effects of
drug addiction are felt by the addict both
physically and psychologically. The
effects are also seen in those around the
addict, like family members.
E
E FFFFE E
CCT T
O FODFR UDGRS U
TOGWSATR O
D
W A RS DA S
N AN

INDIVIDUA
L
 Physical Effects of Drug
Addiction
The impact of drug abuse and dependence can be far-reaching, affecting
almost every organ in the human body. Drug use can:
• Weaken the immune system, increasing susceptibility to
infections. Cause nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.
• Cause cardiovascular conditions ranging from abnormal heart
rate to heart attacks. Injected drugs can also lead to collapsed
veins and infections of the blood vessels and heart valves.
• Cause the liver to have to work harder, possibly causing
significant damage or liver failure.
• Cause seizures, stroke and widespread brain damage that can
impact all aspects of daily life by causing problems with
memory, attention and decision-making, including sustained
mental confusion and permanent brain damage.
• Produce global body changes such as breast development in
men, dramatic fluctuations in appetite and increases in body
Psychological Effects of Drug
Addiction
may be voluntary, drugs have been shown to
alter brain chemistry, which interferes with
an individual's ability to make decisions and
can lead to compulsive craving, seeking and
use. This then becomes a substance
dependency.
• Paranoia
• Aggressiveness
• Hallucinations
• Addiction
• Impaired Judgment
• Impulsiveness
• Loss of Self-Control
Risking Your Health and the Health of
Others
Drugs can impair your judgment, this may cause you to
take part in risky sexual behaviour which puts you in
great risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases.
When you have a partner or spouse back home you are
then putting their health at risk of contracting these
STD’s.
If you use intravenous drugs and needle share you are
putting yourself and others at great risk of contracting
blood borne diseases that too can transmit to your
partner. These diseases that can be contracted through
needle sharing can cause you or your loved ones to
EFFECT OF DRUGS TO
WAR D S

Family
 Drug addiction can cause serious
emotional damage for your children.
Your drug abuse may cause you to
become violent, emotionally abuse
your children or even sexually abuse
them, causing damage that will stay
with them for the rest of their lives.
Many children of addicts suffer
from long term emotional and
psychological damage that causes
serious affects on their social
stability, as well as their education
and mental health.
Using drugs has caused your children to lose
respect for you as you are no longer reliable,
hurting yourself and them. Your home may
be lacking structure and rules, causing your
child to turn to a life similar to your own as
an escape from pain in their reality. With
such insecurity your children may even
begin to blame your drug use on themselves,
causing further mental and emotional
damage.
Your addiction may have lead to
spousal of partner abuse; physical
and emotional. This can have
devastating effects on your
relationship. Many intimate
relationships suffering through drug
addiction can lead to cheating or
seeking other forms of satisfaction
outside the relationship by the
addict, who then justifies their
actions. Your loved one may
sympathise with you, however this
is purely manipulation and excuses
on your part to justify you
destructive behaviour.
The effects of drugs on your family may lead to
separation or divorce with your spouse or partner. It
can cause an unstable environment for your
children, causing emotional and psychological
damage. You may suffer serious financing
difficulties. Your health may even begin to
deteriorate.
• The impact of drug addiction is only causing
damage in your life and the lives of your loved
ones. It is time to seek help and start your
recovery, for not only yourself but for your
family as well.
EFFECT OF DRUGSTO
WAR D S TH E

Community
Drug addiction is a major public health
problem. It results to disease, crime,
accidents, child abuse, domestic
violence, homelessness and lost wages.
Alcohol abuse, smoking and illegal
drug use causes one in four deaths and
many other serious economic and
social consequences.
Crimes related to drug abuse include stealing to
obtain money needed to buy drugs, buying or
selling drugs and offences related to the lifestyle
of drug abusers that results in illegal activities.
Half of those arrested for serious crimes
including murder, robbery and assault were
under the influence of illegal drugs.
 The economic
The economic consequences of
impact of drug abuse drug abuse severely
on businesses whose burden federal,
employees abuse state, and local
drugs can be government
resources and,
significant. While
ultimately, the
many drug abusers
taxpayer. This
are unable to attain
effect is most
or hold full-time
evident with
employment, those methamphetamine.
who do work put Clandestine
others at risk, methamphetamine
particularly when laboratories
employed in jeopardise the
positions where even safety of citizens
a minor degree of and adversely affect
impairment could be the environment.
catastrophic; airline
 Drugs kill the
DRUGS TAKE pain
YOU TO And the joy
And the hope
HELL, And the body
DISGUISED And the brain
AS HEAVEN And finally,
-DONALD LYN FROST the soul.