Drugs | A.D.I.K. NO MORE!

Substances that alter a person's mental or physical condition are known as drugs. They can have an impact on how your brain functions, how you feel and behave, as well as your comprehension and perceptions. This makes them unpredictable and hazardous, particularly to children and teenagers. The effects of medicines fluctuate depending on the individual and the substance.

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EFFECTS OF DRUGS

A weakened immune system, increasing the risk of illness and infection
Heart conditions ranging from abnormal heart rates to heart attacks and collapsed veins and blood vessel infections from injected drugs
Nausea and abdominal pain, which can also lead to changes in appetite and weight loss
Increased strain on the liver, which puts the person at risk of significant liver damage or liver failure
Seizures, stroke, mental confusion and brain damage
Lung disease
Global effects of drugs on the body, such as breast development in men and increases in body temperature, which can lead to other health problems

On the Body

On Mental Health

Substance use disorders can lead to multiple behavioral problems, both in the short- and long-term, which can include:

Paranoia
Aggressiveness
Hallucinations
Impaired Judgement
Impulsiveness
Loss of Self-Control

On Relationships

Drug misuse may also have a negative impact on a person's personal connections. Drug addiction may take over a person's life, leaving them unable to maintain good connections with friends, family members, or even strangers. The addict may disappear for extended periods of time with no one knowing where he is. Alternatively, the individual may lie to hide their drug usage, resulting in the loss of confidence. In certain cases, the drug user and a partner, child, or sibling have a co-dependent or enabling connection, which is harmful to both parties. Many times, the only way to heal damaged relationships is via treatment and counseling.

On the Community

The ramifications are far-reaching and startling. For example, if there are more drug-related crimes, a town will need to fund more police officers, and jails will need to staff up due to an increase in the number of inmates. Courts can become overcrowded with drug cases, and victims (for example, a robbed or burglarized company) may face additional fees. If a city has a string of drug-related crimes, it may develop a reputation for having "bad" areas, resulting in a drop in property prices and sales tax income as people flee or avoid visiting or residing there.

References: https://www.gatewayfoundation.org/faqs/effects-of-drug-abuse/

New Psychoactive Substances

These new psychoactive substances (NPS) have been labeled as "designer drugs," "legal highs," "herbal highs," "bath salts," "research compounds," and "laboratory reagents" on the market. To promote clarity on this issue, the UNODC only uses the term "new psychoactive substances (NPS)," which are defined as "abuse substances, whether in pure form or as a preparation, that are not controlled by the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs or the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances, but that may pose a public health threat." The word "new" does not necessarily relate to new innovations (a number of NPS were originally synthesized over 40 years ago), but rather to chemicals that have just entered the market and are not listed in the aforementioned Conventions.

What are the risk of NPS?

NPS usage is frequently associated to health issues. NPS users have been admitted to hospitals with severe intoxications on a regular basis. There have also been a number of unsolved suicides linked to the usage of synthetic cannabis in the past (Spice). Furthermore, drugs like as 4-methylmethcathinone (mephedrone), methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV), and 4-methylamphetamine (4-MA) have been linked to death.

How many NPS are there?

More than 250 chemicals, including ketamine, were reported by governments and laboratories all around the world, according to UNODC research. This number is higher than the 234 compounds listed in the international drug treaties. Drug analysis laboratories identified five novel compounds in February 2013. The number of possible variants is technically limitless. Information on such compounds will remain inconsistent as long as there is no worldwide monitoring mechanism in place.

References: https://pdea.gov.ph/drug-trends/facts-about-drugs#new-psychoactive-substances

Some of the Most Known
New Psychoactive Substances

MARIJUANA

Is a plant material that came from the cannabis plant (Cannabis Sativa). The leaves, tops, stems, flowers and roots will be dried and prepared for smoking.