Drug abuse is characterized by the wrong use of substances that leads to adverse health effects, especially impacting teenagers through the misuse of prescription drugs and stimulants. Drug abuse is closely related to drug addiction, which causes extreme dependence on drugs and a pattern of abuse. This abuse can cause problems socially and academically, as well as withdrawal symptoms and tolerance. Different types of commonly abused drugs include alcohol, amphetamines, cannabis, caffeine, cocaine, hallucinogens, inhalants, nicotine, opiates, and antidepressants. Long term abuse of these substances can result in various health issues like infertility, organ failure, insomnia, anxiety, paranoia, respiratory arrest, and death. Drug abuse

1. Drug Abuse
Drug AbuseDrug abuse is characterized by wrong use of substance that leads to adverse
health effects. This mostly affects teenagers as they misuse prescription drugs and
stimulants. Drug abuse is closely related with drug addiction. However, drug addiction is
extreme dependence on drugs which forms a pattern of drug abuse. This causes problems
and complications such as withdrawal from the substance or tolerance to the substance.
This usually affects the user socially and academically if they are learners (Rehm et al.,
2009).Different types of drugs can be abused. Alcohol is legal but most people end up
abusing it through overconsumption or taking it during pregnancy. Alcoholism has negative
effects on the health of an individual including both physical and social health.
Secondly, amphetamines which include prescription drugs and other illegal drugs can as
well be abused. Overdose of prescription drugs such as concerta and Ritalin can result in
death as well as seizure.Cannabis or marijuana is also widely abused. This has multiple side
effects such as infertility, demotivation, and paranoia. On the other hand, bodybuilders and
athletes commonly abuse anabolic asteroids. These too lead to serious physical and
psychological effects such as infertility, organ failure and paranoia.Caffeine is common but if
consumed in excess amounts may be termed as abuse. This is found in tea, soda and coffee.
Abuse of this may result in insomnia, and anxiety. Cocaine, like caffeine stimulates the
nervous system and most people inject it in their bodies or sniff it in the form of powder.
This too has adverse effects.Hallucinogens such as LSD alter the user’ s perception. This
causes behavioral changes as the user will be a victim of hallucinations. Inhalants too are
easy to obtain and so highly abused. These are found in bleach, ammonia and different
household cleaning agents. These can result in brain damage as well as death. Nicotine
found in cigarettes leads to addiction and lung cancer. Similarly, opiates such as heroin
lower the functioning of the nervous system. If high intoxication occurs, they cause
respiratory arrest (Rehm et al., 2009).Oxycodone is a prescription pain reliever that is
abused highly. If used for a long time, it may result in fever, nausea and flu. Antidepressants
too if overconsumed may cause cardiac arrest and finally death since they function to
depress the nervous system.In conclusion, drug abuse impacts negatively on individuals and
can indirectly affect a whole nation. However, this can be conquered through counter-
treatments and therapies. Successful management of this leads to restoration of affected
individuals.ReferencesRehm, J., Mathers, C., Popova, S., Thavorncharoensap, M.,
Teerawattananon Y., Patra, J.(2009). Global burden of disease and injury and economic cost
attributable to alcoholuse and alcohol-use disorders. Lancet, 373(9682):2223– 2233, 2009.