The document discusses the risks and consequences of substance dependence, focusing on commonly abused psychoactive drugs such as nicotine, alcohol, opioids, marijuana, and inhalants. It highlights the various physical and mental health issues caused by these substances, including liver damage, lung cancer, brain damage, and increased risk of infectious diseases. The document concludes that drug addiction can be prevented by refraining from drug abuse.

1. SUBSTANCE
DEPENDENCE
COMMONLY ABUSED
DRUGS RISKS AND
CONSEQUENCES
Imran Khan
Mental Health Counselor
J&K Police Drug De Addiction and Rehabilitation
Centre

2. Drug or Substance
Psychoactive drugs / substances.
Psychoactive drugs are generally defined as substances which
ALTER/CHANGE brain functioning causing change in :
 Mood.
 Cognition (thoughts, perception,)
 Consciousness
 Behaviour.

3. MOST COMMONLY
ABUSED
DRUGS/SUBSTANCES

4. NICOTINE

5. NICOTINE
What it does to your body, brain and
behavior
• depression
• lung cancer
• lung diseases
• heart disease
• skin becomes thinner and wrinkled

8. ALCOHOL

9. ALCOHOL AND THE LIVER
• The liver removes poisons – include
alcohol from the body
• People who drink regularly can have
serious liver damage and may even get
liver cancer
• If the liver is damaged badly enough, it
can stop working, causing the person to
die.

10. OPIUM/OPOIDS

11. HEROIN
• Processed from morphine – obtained
from opium poppy
• “downer” affects brain’s pleasure
systems – interferes with brains ability
to feel pain

12. HEROIN
• white to dark brown powder or tar-like
substance
• is cut with other drugs or substances
(sugar, starch, powdered milk)
• abusers don’t know actual strength of
drug or true contents = high chance of
overdose or death
• sharing needles and equipment cause
other diseases and problems for users

13. HEROIN
 leads to flushing of skin, dry mouth,
collapsed veins, liver disease
 additives don’t dissolve leading to clogs
in blood vessels that lead to lungs, liver,
kidney or brain
 tolerance develops with regular use –
user needs more heroin to achieve same
intensity

14. Iv ABUSE
About 13.1 percent
of those who inject
drugs are HIV
positive
About 50 percent
of those who inject
drugs are infected
with the hepatitis C
virus

16. MARIJUANA/CANNABIS

17. MARIJUANA
• Marijuana and cigarette smoke have
some of the same cancer-causing
substances.
• Benzopyrene (cancer-producing agent)
higher in marijuana
• 400 chemicals in marijuana smoke
affect lungs, throat and esophagus

18. MARIJUANA
Short Term Effects:
Increase in heart rate,
lead to anxiety and
paranoia
Distorted concept of
time and space
Decrease in
concentration skills,
short-term memory
capacity
Feeling tired after the
“high” wears off
Increase in appetite,
weight gain
 Long Term
Effects:
• Breathing problems
• Lung cancer
• Damage cells and
tissues in the body
that fight disease
• Lack of motivation
• Difficulty
processing new
information

20. VOLATILE SUBSTANCES

21. INHALANTS
Risks
• lack of coordination
• dizziness
• euphoria
• difficulty speaking
• brain damage
• organ damage
• death caused by choking
• high only lasts a few minutes, abusers inhale
repeatedly and can lose consciousness or
die

22. INHALANTS
Risks
• Long term users show weight loss, muscle
weakness, irritability, depression

24. Thank You
DRUG ADDICTION CAN BE PREVENTED IF ONE NEVER
ABUSES DRUGS