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by: DavidBSmith
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Word Count: 607

Drug addiction is not something that just affects the person who is dependent. It has consequences beyond what one can expect. It affects the families of the drug user, his employer, schools, relationships and societies at large. It also has a direct impression on the health of the immediate family of the drug dependant.

The effects of drugs cover a wide spectrum of experiences from the first high to the lows of when the outcome of the drug starts to wear out. For instance, taking cocaine, the former is exhilarating while the latter results in disquiet, exhaustion, downheartedness and a yearning for more drugs to get back to the high from the effects wearing out. Marijuana and alcohol influence the central nervous system and are the causes of many car accidents. Marijuana and other mood-altering drugs cause flash backs, much after the effects have worn out, even after a few weeks of usage.

Chances of HIV contamination caused by multiple uses of intravenous needles are high as is hepatitis. Increased sexual activity among addicts raises the risk of addicts contracting AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.

Many addicts indulge in lawless activities such as theft and prostitution to raise funds to feed their addiction. Some substances like alcohol induce violent deeds. Over 10,000 fatalities per year due to drug abuse are recorded in the USA. Substances most cited are cocaine, heroin and morphine reasonably often in combination with liquor or other drugs.

The drug dependant's addiction on the substance, added to its impact on emotions and physical reactions, often leads to conjugal disagreement and poor performance at work resultant in dismissal. Family life is often disturbed and, out of love or fear or both, family members or the husband enable the drug abuser in his obsession through destructive behaviors of codependency. They deny that there is a difficulty, or cover up for the addict and provide him with money to feed the problem.

Babies born to drug takers tend to be much lower in weight than the average due to the mother being under fed or of a neglected constitution. Fetuses in the wombs of addicts get disturbed by the drugs used by the parent, by a process called crossing the placental wall, and suffer from taking out symptoms immediately after its birth. This is mainly so in the case of abusers of crack and heroin. The fetal liquor syndrome, due to the liquor consumed during pregnancy, affects offspring of alcohol dependant mothers. Infants obtain AIDS virus through the intravenous injections of drugs that the mothers take.

Society pays a very high penalty due to the frequency of addictions of any kind. Work- man-days are lost in the workplace, involving cost over runs. Drug takers are more inclined than non-abusers to cause accidents endangering themselves and their workmates. More than fifty percent of all road accidents in the United States are caused directly or secondarily by liquor abuse.

Turf wars and other sadistic crimes between drug dealers cause mayhem in neighborhoods. Residents are constantly under menace and there are crimes among the addicts themselves. Some areas state that young children are recruited to be lookouts and helpers as youthful offenders get lighter punishments. Teenagers as well as younger children armed with handguns have become rather common. Among the destitute, most ache from drug or liquor craving or mental disorder, and often from all three circumstances.

Since drug dependence has such a serious effect on the drug abuser, families and society as a whole, the need to take charge is vital and immediate. Otherwise, the effects of drug craving can have far-reaching consequences and the addict may never get a opportunity to convalesce from his syndrome.

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For more information on The Effects of Addiction to Drugs visit http://www.drug-abuse-and-treatment.com

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