Posts Tagged effects of drug abuse

Drug Abuse and Irreversible Brain Damage

Posted by DrugFreeHomes in Alcohol Abuse, Drug Addiction, Prescription Drug Abuse, Steroid Abuse, Tobacco Abuse on December 22nd, 2009

In our lives, it is a well-known and sometimes unaccepted fact that all things change. While the good parts in life may not last as much as we would like them to, be relieved that the opposite also applies: the bad things in life don’t last forever either. With this in mind, we must stand resilient against life’s challenges and find ways to move forward.

brainThis nugget of wisdom may be true, but in the context of brain damage caused by drug abuse, it’s a different story altogether. You may think that the process is reversible, but it is actually not. Most are probably thinking that our brain can just go back to the way it used to be if we have absolutely no contact with drugs for a prolonged period of time after a few episodes with drugs – just like getting some sleep to relieve yourself of fatigue or recovering from a dreadful hangover. Well, most are wrong.

If it were that easy, then it will be perfectly okay for everybody to do drugs and be heedless of the consequences of the act. However, our brain’s neurons do not restore themselves the way the rest of our body does. Anything that adversely affects our mental capacity and physical state is dangerous for our brain, and drugs are especially guilty in this case.

So before you even think about getting your fix or trying drugs for the first time, consider the long-term effects first. Is it really worth losing your mind over? Is it really worth wasting your life for?

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Behavioral Symptoms of Drug Abuse According to Drug Type

Posted by DrugFreeHomes in Drug Addiction on November 19th, 2009

Perhaps the greatest effect of drug abuse lies in the various adverse changes that it gives to the brain, and this can affect the way the individual thinks and acts within social situations. The behavioral changes attributed to drug use can vary according to the type of drugs taken.

So, what are the things that you need to watch out for if you think that your friend or loved one is using drugs?

STIMULANTS
If the individual used stimulants such as cocaine and meth, he may experience an episode of restlessness since stimulants give an artificial feeling of “being energized”. This restlessness can manifest itself through being overly cheerful, talkative, and being too excited over even the smallest of things.

drug abuseDEPRESSANTS
Depressants such as marijuana have the opposite effect on the body, and the user may become more lethargic when he is high. If the individual shows signs of being too placid, or if his responsiveness and attention span wanes, chances are that he may be taking depressants. Depression is also another side-effect of this type of drug, and the individual can also show signs of voluntary self-isolation because of it.

HALLUCINOGENS
Hallucinogens have the most unusual effect on the body, since it allows the user to experience hallucinations. If taken in high doses, the drug can cause a feeling of hallucinating that may persist even long after the user has taken it, and this can compromise his relationships with the people around him. The user can also show signs of preferring to be in his make-believe world rather than deal with reality itself.

While drugs may have a general effect on the body, the behavioral changes can vary according to the type of drug taken. Stimulants, depressants, and hallucinogens may each have their corresponding consequences, but this does not make any less dangerous than the other.

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Join Me to Create a Drug Free World

Posted by DrugFreeHomes in Drug Addiction, Drug Rehabilitation, Prescription Drug Abuse on July 11th, 2009

Hi, my name is Deb. I work as a volunteer in a homeless shelter in Ohio. As per a statistical update released in the year 2006 by the department of Housing and Urban Development, the number of homeless in US was around 700,000. It may seem unbelievable to you but I guess the actual figure can be even higher.

Out of all the people I meet each day a whopping 50-55 percent has a history of drug abuse. My colleagues in the shelter often discuss about the menace of drug abuse and how it has become rampant in last few decades.

I’ve been working with drug addicts with more than 15 years now and during the course of my professional journey, I’ve treated multiple drug abusers and helped them get back to normal life. I’ve worked with people of all ages, especially teens and young adults. It always sickens me to see how our younger generation falls prey to drugs and drug abuse and I’ve dedicated my life and career to treat them and get them back to the mainstream of life.

Now that I’ve spent a considerable amount of time working with people addicted to drugs, I feel it is time now to I made others aware of this killing habit by expanding my horizon. That is why I chose to publish my blog on the Internet. The Internet reaches far and wide and I hope my blog will make people aware of the dangerous effects of drug abuse and help them in some way or the other. While I’m writing this first entry in my blog, I can visualize all those desperate people who have come to me all these years and the immense pain they have gone through during the course of their rehab treatment. But, I salute their determination and spirit, as I know how difficult it is to get out of the addiction. Sustained abuse make permanent changes in the brain cell structure that drives a person to take more drugs.

Drug addiction is a problem that has been plaguing us for a long time. It usually starts at a young age and can take anyone under its fold. Let us take a pledge today to do anything and everything for making our homes drug free. I would love to see my readers come up with their share of experience, valuable tips, and suggestion to help these hapless friends.

Through this blog, I appeal to one and all to stop taking drugs and help people who have fallen prey to this deadly habit. I sincerely hope that more and more people will read my blogs and contribute so that together we spread awareness and make this a drug free world.

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