Effects of Drug/Alcohol Abuse

Drug and alcohol abuse does not only harm the person consuming them — the effects ripple outward, damaging relationships, families, and society. The immediate and long-term consequences are severe, and the textbook lays them out clearly.

Immediate adverse effects

The first signs of drug or alcohol abuse are behavioural. A person may become reckless, engage in vandalism, or show violence. At higher doses, the consequences turn life-threatening: coma and death can result from respiratory failure, heart failure, or cerebral haemorrhage. Mixing different drugs, or taking drugs along with alcohol, is especially dangerous — it often leads to overdosing and can be fatal.

Warning signs in youth

The textbook lists the most common warning signs that a young person may be abusing drugs or alcohol:

• Drop in academic performance
• Unexplained absence from school or college
• Lack of interest in personal hygiene
• Withdrawal and isolation
• Depression and fatigue
• Aggressive and rebellious behaviour
• Deteriorating relationships with family and friends
• Loss of interest in hobbies
• Changes in sleeping and eating habits
• Fluctuations in weight and appetite

Far-reaching social and financial implications

The damage is not limited to the abuser. If an addict cannot afford drugs or alcohol, they may turn to stealing. The entire family and circle of friends often suffer mental and financial distress because of the addict's behaviour.

Risks of intravenous drug use

People who inject drugs directly into a vein (using a needle and syringe) face a much higher risk of acquiring serious infections like AIDS and Hepatitis B. These viruses are transferred when infected needles and syringes are shared. Both diseases are chronic, ultimately fatal, and can also be transmitted through sexual contact or infected blood.

Long-term effects of alcohol during adolescence

Drinking alcohol during adolescence can have lasting consequences. It may lead to heavy drinking in adulthood. Chronic use of drugs and alcohol damages the nervous system and the liver, causing cirrhosis. Use during pregnancy is known to adversely affect the foetus.

Performance-enhancing drug misuse in sports

Some sportspersons misuse drugs to boost athletic performance. They take narcotic analgesics, anabolic steroids, diuretics, and certain hormones to increase muscle strength and bulk, promote aggressiveness, and improve performance.

In females, the side-effects include:

• Masculinisation (development of male-like features)
• Increased aggressiveness
• Mood swings and depression
• Abnormal menstrual cycles
• Excessive hair growth on face and body
• Enlargement of the clitoris …