Everyone knows that those men and women who suffer from addiction see their lives and good health at stake every day. But fewer people know the specific dangers associated with various drug addictions and substance abuse problems. Those suffering from addiction, or even young people thinking about trying drugs recreationally should consider the following vital information.
Dangers of Alcoholism
Individuals who become addicted to alcohol are at risk for a number of serious health problems, including:
- Liver disease
- Heart disease
- High blood pressure
- Pancreatitis
- Cancer
Long term alcoholism effects can also lead to brain damage and a shrinkage of the brain – which impacts cognitive functioning, memory and mood.
What are the Dangers of Cocaine Addiction?
Cocaine is not as physically addictive as other drugs, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a very risky drug in terms of an individual’s health.
Some cocaine addiction health risks include:
- Damage to brain cells and brain cell receptors
- Loss of sense of smell
- Chronic nosebleeds
- Difficulty swallowing
- Gangrene of the bowels
- Lung disease (in the case of smoking crack cocaine)
Cocaine addiction can also lead to serious financial problems. This is an expensive drug (when in powder form) and can quickly cause individuals to clean out their bank accounts in order to obtain more. During the drug’s heyday in the 1980’s, many people lost everything “up their nose” as a result of cocaine addiction.
The Dangers of Inhalant Addiction
Huffing and inhalant addiction are among the most dangerous drug-related practices engaged in by teens around the country. There are numerous health risks associated with inhalant addiction, including:
- Severe dementia
- Cognitive impairment
- Loss of coordination and motor skills
- Loss of hearing
- Loss of vision
- Heart, liver and kidney damage
Inhalants are simply some of the most dangerous substances in the world. Birth defects have also been linked to mothers who were addicted to inhalants or huffing while they were pregnant.
Heroin Addiction Dangers
When it comes to dangerous drugs, few are more damaging than heroin. Whether the individual snorts, smokes or injects the drug, heroin addiction can cause long-term health problems in so many ways.
Heroin addiction risks include:
- Contacting HIV/AIDS (when injected using shared or dirty needles)
- Collapsed veins
- Bacterial infections of the blood
- Infection of the heart valves
- Liver disease
- Kidney disease
- Lung problems
In addition to these problems, heroin addiction also features the constant risk of overdose. Many individuals have died as a result of receiving too strong a dose of the drug – or heroin mixed with toxic substances.
Prescription Painkiller Dangers
One of the fastest growing drug problems in the United States, prescription drug addiction can cause serious health problems – even for those who began taking Vicodin or OxyContin for legitimate reasons.
Prescription drug addiction dangers include:
- Physical dependence
- Liver damage or liver failure
Individuals may also develop a tolerance to opiate painkillers – meaning that it takes more and more of them over time to produce the desired euphoric effects. Serious prescription drug addictions can lead to overdose – as the individual will ingest too many pills in too short of a time for their body to handle.
Marijuana Addiction Dangers
Many people will claim that marijuana is a harmless drug (or that it should not be classified as a harmful controlled substance at all). One look at the following long term marijuana addiction dangers should be enough to change the mind of most naysayers concerning the risks of marijuana addiction use.
- Chronic cough
- Fatigue
- Bronchitis
- Emphysema
- Lung cancer and other forms of cancer
The best way to avoid these many drug addiction risks is not to use these substances at all. But for those who have developed serious addictions already, professional drug rehab can help break the cycle of dependence and help men and women live healthy, drug-free lives.
