Associated Risks
Alcohol
Aocohol consumption causes several changes in behavior and physicology. Low doses significantly impair judgment, coordination, and abstract mental functioning. Statistics show that low alcohol use is involved in most violent behaviors on college campuses, including aquaintance rape, vandalism, fights, and incidents of drinking and driving. Continued abuse may lead to dependency, which often causes permanent damage to vital organs and deterioration of a healthy lifestyle.
Possible long-term effects: Bleeding from the intestinal tract, damage to nerves and the brain, psychotic behavior, loss of memory and coordination, damage to the liver often resulting in cirrhosis impotence, severe inflamation of the pancreas, and damage to the bone marrow, heart, testes, ovaries, and muscles.
Cannabis (Marijuana, Hashish)
The use of marijuana may impair or reduce short-term memory and comprehension, alter sense of time, and reduce coordination and energy levels. users often have a lowered immune system and an increased risk of lung cancer. The active ingredient in marijuana, THC, is stored in the fatty tissues of the brain and reproductive system for a minumum of 28-30 days.
Possible long-term effects: Regular use can lead to physical dependence and withdrawl following discontinuation as well as a mental addiction or dependence.
Hallucinogens (Lysergic acid/ LSD, mescaline, and psilocybin/ msuhrooms)
The use of hallucinogens may cause illusions and hallucinations. The user may experience panic, confusion, suspicion, anxiety, and loss of control. Delayed effects, or flashbacks, can occur even when use has ceased. Phencyclidine (PCP) affetcs the section of the brain that controls the intellect and keeps instincts in check. Because the Drug blocks pain receptors, violent PCP episodes may result in self-inflicted injuries.
Possible long-term effects: Respiratory depression, coma, convulsions, seizures, flashbacks, and death.
Cocaine/Crack
Cocaine users often have a stuffy, runny nose and may have a perforated nasal septum. The immediate effects of cocaine use include dialate pupils and elevated blood pressure, heart rate, and body temperature, followed by depression. Crack, or freebase rock cocaine, is etremely addictive ad can cause delirium, hallucinations, blurred vision, severe chest pains, muscle spasms, convulsions, and even death.
Possible long-term effects: Agitation, hostility, panic, aggression, and suicidal or homicidal tendencies. Paranoia is sometimes accompanied by both auditory and visual hallucinations.
Ampethamines (Speed, methamphetamine and some diet pills)
Amphetamine use can cause rapid or irregular heartbeat, tremors, loss of coordination, repuced appetite, irritability, panic, and paranoia. Heavy Users are prone to violence, and psychotic behavior.
Possible long-term effetcs: Agitation, hostility, panic, aggression, and suicidal or homicidal tendencies. Paranoia is sometimes accompanied by both auditory and visual hallucinations.
Opiates (Codeine, Heroin, Morphine, and other opioid apin relievers)
Opiate use can cause the body to have diminishd pain reactions, drowsiness, respiratory depression and arrest, nausea, confusion, constipation, and possible coma or death.
Possible long-term effects: Restlessness, irritability, loss of appetite, nausea, tremors, drug craving, severe depression, vomiting, blood pressure, and chills alternating with increased heart rate, flushing, and excessive sweating.
MDMA (Ecstasy)
Short-term use of MDMA can cause increased tacticle sensitivity, enhanced self-confidence, energy bursts, feelings, of peacfulness, acceptance, and closeness with others, loss of inhibition, confusion, hallucinations, muscle tension, increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, incresed body temperature, dehydration, involuntary teeth clenching, nausea, blurred vision, rapid eye movement, faintness, chills and sweating, impaired memory, and learning.
Possible long-term effects: Depression, sleep problems, liver and kidney damage, drug cravings, severe anxiety, permenantly impaired memory, and ability to learn. Effects also include agitation, hostility, panic, aggression, and suicidal or homicidal tendencies. paranoia is sometimes accompanied by both auditory and visual hallucinations.
Anabolic Steroids
Sterroid users often experience hypertension, cholesterol changes, livers cysts and cancer, kidney cancer, hostility and aggression, acne, premature stoppage of growth, and reproductive side effects for both sexes.
Possible long-term effects: High cholesterol levels, which may increase the risk of coronary artery disease, strokes, and heart attacks.
Information on this web page should not be used as a substitute for talking with a professional in the field of alcohol and drugs or for consulting a medical professional. Individual differences often influence the body's reaction to a drug and should always be considered. Although every effort is made to keep the information on these pages current, new findings are made frequently, so checking the latest research is reccommended. The legal information provided is a general nature and should not be used in place of speaking with an attorney in the case of warrants.
Please visit Drugs of Abuse, a DEA resource guide, to find more information on the associated health risks of drug and alcohol use and abuse.