Drug abuse is a condition in which an individual, often a youngster, takes drugs of addiction which he or she then cannot do without.
‘Drugs’ can include all sorts of substances-from prescribed medications to alcohol, cigarettes and glue-but here we will talk about the drugs that are used illegally. This includes LSD, heroin, cocaine, amphetamines, barbiturates and cannabis.
Drug-taking starts young, often in the teens. Most youngsters start on drugs in much the same way as they start to smoke-to keep in with their friends. Some like the risks involved and others probably do it as part of their general adolescent rebellion against their parents. Others take drugs because they are depressed, unhappy at home, bored, don’t like school, and so on. Sometimes starting on drugs is a cry for help or attention from parents who seem to have no time or inclination to care. It is not easy to tell whether or not your child is taking drugs but here are a few signs that might help. Remember that just because a youngster shows any or even most of these signs it does not necessarily mean that he or she is taking drugs.
• Sudden mood changes.
• Irritability or aggression.
• Poor appetite.
• No interests in hobbies, friends or school.
• Drowsiness and sleepiness.
• Shifty and furtive behaviour.
• Unusual smells, stains or marks on the body or clothes.
• The disappearance of money or belongings from around the home (to pay for the drugs).
None of these things is particularly hazardous, of course, but drug abuse can lead to three which are. First, accidental overdose is an ever present problem with any form of drug addiction, and can lead to unconsciousness and even death. Many users of illegal drugs mix them and this can render the dosage totally unpredictable. Drug overdose is now a major cause of death in the under 25s in New York State and there are signs that things are going the same way in the UK. The second hazard of drug abuse is the increased risk of accident. Accidents of all kinds are more common in those taking illegal drugs. Some, such as road accidents, can easily be fatal to the drug-taker or to an innocent party.
Finally, addiction or dependence is the most worrying problem for parents because they see their child trapped in a habit that is extremely difficult to get out of.
On a day-to-day basis drugs can make the youngster confused and have hallucinations, and can cause serious emotional and psychological disturbances. First-time heroin users may be sick, and regular users become constipated. Girls stop having periods. Eventually more serious emotional and physical disorders set in.
The injection of drugs can cause hepatitis (a potentially lethal infection of the liver), sores, abscesses, blood poisoning and jaundice. The social consequences are equally horrifying as the individual becomes desperate for the next fix and steals and resorts to all kinds of other crimes to fund the habit.
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