Drug Addiction: Effects and Treatment

Drug Addiction

Most of the times we come across this term, Drug Addiction, or Drug Abuse, maybe someone you know, or someone really close to you, even you, could have faced the addiction of one or the other harmful substances. 

 

This term can be simplified as a complex neurobiological disease; neurobiological because it interferes with your brain cells. Drugs have an impact on your brain and the neurological system as they interfere with the working and structure of the brain. 

 

People often are not aware that they are addicted to any substance, and hence, they do not seek treatment. Addiction to Drugs makes progression with time, it is persistent, and when it is left untreated, it becomes fatal.

 

Individuals who struggle with the addiction to drugs possess a similarity, they generally feel that they can not function as usual without consuming their chosen drug. In the long run, this addiction leads to problems in relationships, work, and overall mental and physical health.

Most Commonly Used Prohibited Drugs

These drugs are banned by the regulating bodies as these have the potential to harm people and make them addictive.

  • Heroin
  • Marijuana
  • LSD or Lysergic acid diethylamide
  • Cocaine 
  • Methamphetamine
  • Ecstasy
  • Methadone
  • Mushroom
  • Bath Salts
  • PCP

Most Commonly Misused Prescription Drugs

Prescription Drugs, as their name suggests, are the drugs prescribed by doctors for medical reasons. They are often given to patients with severe health conditions to ease out their pain. The most commonly misused prescription drugs are:

  • Antidepressants
  • Opioid Painkillers
  • Anti-obsessive Agents
  • Stabilizers
  • Stimulants
  • Benzodiazepines

 

Alcohol Addiction

Maybe people don’t want to hear it or avoid it, but alcohol is a drug because it is addictive and it creates alterations in the mind. Though it is legal above a certain age, when mixed with other hard drugs, it can be deadly. Overdrinking and drinking for a noticeably long period of time affect the human liver and kidneys badly, due to which, people face various issues. 

Symptoms of Drug Addiction

Sometimes, it is really easy to spot a drug addict as they show very noticeable signs. However, not every addict shows symptoms very early, some take time to surface. Here are the most common symptoms that have been seen in drug addicts. 

 

  • Lack of control
  • A drastic drop in performance in work
  • Taking risks to consuming a drug
  • Losing interest in other day-to-day activities
  • Acting differently in relationships
  • Need to consume more quantity of drug in order to get the desired results
  • Serious and bad changes in physical appearance
  • Lack of resistance to drugs
  • Facing issues like nausea, fatigue, shakiness, or trembling while trying to get rid of drugs
  • Continuing the use of drugs despite bad aftereffects

How it affects Internal Organs

Apart from causing these changes and alterations in the mind, drugs also damage your internal organs. They cause the following problems in your body:

 

  • Irregularities in one’s heart rate, that can lead to heart attack
  • Cardiovascular diseases
  • Contraction of life-consuming diseases like Hepatitis and HIV
  • Invite breathing problems and can cause lung cancer
  • Constipation, diarrhea, pain in the abdomen, and vomiting are the most common side effects
  • Liver and Kidney damage
  • Can cause strokes
  • Malnutrition
  • Lack of sleep and even Insomnia in extreme cases
  • Permanent brain damage
  • Life long personality switch
  • Gastrointestinal issues
  • Pancreatitis
  • Lack of appetite 

Treatment of Addiction to Drugs

Although there is no set treatment for drug addiction, people do recover and get their lives back on track. Doctors make use of integrated treatment that involves all the resources to help the drug abused both physically and mentally.

 

Various physical exercises and treatment interventions are adopted by doctors and they are proven methods to have a lasting effect on the victims. Personalized training is the ideal way to deal with addiction to drugs as not everything works the same for everyone. Along with physical and mental interventions, spiritual interventions are also involved in the treatment.

 

However, it is the ultimate desire and effort of an individual to get rid of drugs and live a normal and healthy life. All these treatments are just catalysts to get the desired results, the cure and the treatment lie within the individual. 

 

Moreover, the family and friends of the individual can play a vital role in setting the victim back on the right track. It is the love, affection, and attachment of the individual with his family, friends, and loved ones that can make him realize that there is a life out of drugs. 

 

The victims of drug abuse need to be taken care of and handled with extreme patience because, at times, they are not in their senses, and in their cravings, they can even hurt their loved ones. It is always better to consult experts and treatment institutions to get effective and faster improvement in the affected individual.

DISCLAIMER : This and other personal blog posts are not reviewed, monitored or endorsed by Blogjab. The content is solely the view of the author and Blogjab is not responsible for the authenticity of content of this post in any way. Our curated content which is handpicked by our editorial team may be viewed here.

Sahaj Sharma

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