م.د. حارث عبدالرحمن أحمد – قسم البيئة

The new threat to society: drugs and all the damage they can do.

Drug addiction is one of the most horrific diseases afflicting modern cultures. It has become much more widespread recently, impacting the person's bodily and emotional well-being and altering his thought and behavior patterns. Drugs pose a threat since their negative effects don't just affect the user; they also affect their family and society at large—the pervasiveness of crime, violence, and moral decay. A class of compounds known as drugs poisons the nervous system and leads to addiction. A "drug" is defined as something that dulls the mind and contains substances that promote sleepiness, sleep, or unconsciousness. It might harm the body and mind, as well as create imbalanced behavioral patterns. After abusing these drugs repeatedly, one develops a compulsive need to take the drug or get it by any means possible, which tends to escalate abuse. Addiction results in physical and psychological dependence, as well as detrimental effects on the nervous system and the body as a whole. Addiction complications also cause cognitive and functional decline, loss of control over the addicted person, and other negative outcomes that will eventually cause family disintegration. This essay will delve into the harm that occurs to society Specifically due to drugs.

Do medications impact the body as a whole?

Addiction to drugs has far-reaching consequences that affect every part of the body, from the brain and nervous system to the immune system, and even mortality from illnesses like HIV. Different drugs have different impacts on different people's bodies because of factors including how the drug is taken, how long it has been used, how bad the addiction is, and the person's overall health. Cirrhosis, viral hepatitis, kidney failure (caused by certain drug types), hypertension, cardiovascular disease, lung disease, and other fatal complications can develop for an addiction's lifetime along with the dosage and duration of the drug's use. The development of lung cancer is a potential outcome. Also, coma or death might result from drugs or taking too much of them.

The impact of medications on the neurological system and mental well-being

Drug misuse mostly affects the brain and nervous system. Drug-induced alterations in the brain's functioning elicit a compelling and immediate want for drug use. This ultimately results in addiction, as well as the degeneration and harm of brain cells. Drug addiction alters brain chemistry, resulting in detrimental effects on an individual's psychological and mental well-being, as well as cognitive processes. Furthermore, individuals may have memory impairments and difficulties in acquiring and maintaining distinct cognitive abilities. The deleterious consequences of psychotropic medications include a multitude of issues and conditions, such as:

1. Anxiety and insomnia: Substance misuse may disrupt the levels of certain neurotransmitters in the brain, causing anxiety and difficulty sleeping.

2: Changes in brain chemistry can either cause depression or exacerbate symptoms in individuals already experiencing it.

3: Personality change is one of the enduring consequences of drug abuse. It entails permanent changes to an individual's character and conduct. The persistent craving for drugs, the brain changes that take place, and the accompanying feelings of depression and anxiety all influence the person's behavior in their everyday activities.

4: Psychosis: One of the detrimental consequences of drug use on the mind is the manifestation of psychotic symptoms, such as hallucinations (perceiving things that are not real) or delusions (holding false beliefs and concepts that are disconnected from reality).
5. Suicide: Drug misuse might potentially result in suicide due to the psychological issues it induces.

The impact of drugs on the individual

The detrimental effects of drugs extend beyond an individual's psychological and physical well-being. They also impact various aspects of life, including behavior and relationships with others. Additionally, drugs can have financial and moral consequences as individuals prioritize satisfying their overwhelming desire to use them. The person faces numerous hazards associated with drug usage and addiction, including:

1. Social isolation and profound solitude: Individuals struggling with addiction tend to distance themselves from their loved ones, resulting in a state of being alone and without guidance. This intensifies his involvement in substance misuse, worsens his feelings of melancholy, and leaves him devoid of assistance during times of need.
2. Substandard academic performance: The detrimental consequences of drug use include decreased educational attainment and disregard for one's academic responsibilities.
3: Unemployment: Substance misuse may lead to decreased work performance, reduced productivity, disregard for personal appearance, altered conduct, and ultimately result in job loss.

4: Financial issues are a common consequence of addiction. Individuals often have financial challenges as they allocate a significant portion of their resources toward sustaining their addiction. This may ultimately lead to a state of poverty and homelessness.
5: Breaking the law: Possession of drugs can lead to incarceration and increase the risk of violence and criminal activity.

The impact of drugs on both the family unit and society as a whole is significant.

The deleterious consequences of drugs extend beyond their negative impacts on a person's well-being and their immediate social network. They also have wide-ranging implications for the whole society, including economic, social, and security dimensions. Substance misuse has deleterious consequences on society, and include:

1. The addict's behavior causes embarrassment among family members, leading to their isolation and avoidance of friends.

2: There has been a rise in divorce rates, a decline in family unity and breakdown, as well as instances of neglect, abuse, and domestic violence, particularly when one of the parents is addicted to drugs.

3. Incidents, harm, and possibly fatalities caused by operating a vehicle while under the influence of drugs.

4: The act of theft and trespassing on someone else's property, together with violence and infringement against the rights of others, might potentially result in acts of rape or murder.

5. Escalated unemployment and homelessness, combined with financial hardships, may eventually result in destitution and insolvency, exacerbating societal and governmental obligations.

6: The drug trade's proliferation of corruption in society.

Ultimately, drugs have several deleterious consequences for a person's mental and physical well-being, as well as the familial and societal spheres. Hence, it is important to enhancesciousness about the perils of this epidemic and its proliferation among the younger generation of our community and enlighten those suffering from addiction about the significance of undergoing therapy and facilitate their access to it.