Addiction isn’t just a disease that affects one person. It also takes a toll on the entire family. Since addiction leads to irresistible cravings and urges to drink or use to avoid experiencing withdrawal symptoms, people who are addicted make substances their priority. They no longer have a choice in the matter.

Early exposure to a home divided by drug use can cause a child to feel emotionally and physically neglected and unsafe. As a result, they can become more mentally and emotionally unstable. Children may develop extreme guilt and self-blame for a parent’s substance abuse.

Dependence on drugs can create a number of dangerous and damaging complications, including:

• Getting a communicable disease.
• Other health problems.
• Accidents.
• Suicide.
• Family problems.
• Work issues.
• Problems at school.
• Legal issues.

One, they can cause the individuals to become antisocial, indulge in vandalism, rash and reckless behaviour etc. On the other hand, they can also cause lung cancer, respiratory failure, heart failure, cerebral haemorrhage, damage to the nervous system and liver, kidney dysfunction etc.

Family and friends may encounter a host of negative mindsets and emotions as a result of their loved one’s substance abuse or addiction. They may begin to blame themselves in a capacity that erodes their sense of self-worth or self-love.

What problems can teen substance use cause? Substance use can lead to serious problems such as poor schoolwork, loss of friends, problems at home, and lasting legal problems. Alcohol and drug use is a leading cause of teen death or injury related to car crashes, suicides, violence, and drowning.

Studies show that drug use increases your risk of mental health issues such as anxiety, depression and psychosis. People with mental health issues also have a higher rate of drug use problems.

Pleasure is an obvious part of drug use and the short-term physical benefits are well known. Drugs can produce a “high”, give people energy, make them feel good, reduce stress and aid sleep. The social benefits of drug use are more complex to quantify.

It is observed that both drug addiction, as well as alcoholism, lead to a person’s irresponsible behavior and their increased inclination to take unnecessary risks. Also, while under the influence of drugs and alcohol, people may fall into criminal traps and often commit acts that are socially or legally unacceptable.

A weakened immune system,increasing the risk of illness and infection

Some of the most common long-term effects of drug abuse that you should be aware of include major depression, early-onset Alzheimer’s, schizophrenia, hallucinating, being paranoid, having stomach issues, and much more. These long-term effects of drug abuse are dangerous to the body and the mind.

Drug use can also have indirect effects on both the people who are taking drugs and on those around them. This can include affecting a person’s nutrition; sleep; decision-making and impulsivity; and risk for trauma, violence, injury, and communicable diseases. Drug use can also affect babies born to women who use drugs while pregnant.

The cause of drug abuse is not fully known but likely include genetic predisposition, co-occurring conditions and environmental circumstances. Drug use and experimentation is common in pre-adolescents and adolescents, but only a small percentage of those users will go on to abuse drugs.