Health Risks
Abuse of alcohol and use of drugs is harmful to one’s physical, mental and social well-being. Accidents and injuries are more likely to occur if alcohol and drugs are used. Alcohol and drug users can lose resistance to disease and destroy their health. Tolerance and psychological dependence can develop after sustained use of drugs.
More specifically, the major categories of drugs are listed below and include the significant health risks of each.
- Amphetamines: Physical dependency, heart problems, infections, malnutrition and death may result from continued high doses of amphetamines.
- Narcotics: Chronic use of narcotics can cause lung damage, convulsions, respiratory paralysis and death.
- Depressants: These drugs, such as tranquilizers and alcohol, can produce slowed reactions, slowed heart rate, damage to liver and heart, respiratory arrest, convulsions and accidental overdoses.
- Hallucinogens: may cause psychosis, convulsions, coma and psychological dependency.