drugs affect the body, mind, and personal lives of the people that use them. when you are addicted to something that is as harmful as a drug or alcohol, it can result in chronic problems that can stay with the person for the rest of their lives.
- heroin: highly addictive opiate. brain cells can become dependent on this drug to the extent that users need it in order to function in their daily routine. while heroin users starts out with a rush of pleasure, it leaves the user in a fog for many hours after the rush. users soon find that their sole purpose in life is to have more of the drug that their body has become dependant on.
- marijuana: the parts of the brain that control emotions, memory, and judgment are affected by marijuana. smoking it can not only weaken short-term memory, but can block information from making it into long term memory. it has also been shown to weaken problem solving ability.
- alcohol: alcohol is no safer than drugs. alcohol impairs judgment and leads to memory lapses. it can lead to black outs and also distorts vision, shortens coordination. in addition to the brain, it can damage every other organ in the body.
- inhalants: glue, gasoline, hair spray, and paint thinner are sniffed and the effect of the brain is almost immediate. and while some vapors leave the body quickly, others will remain for a long time. the fatty tissues protecting the nerve cells in the brain are destroyed by inhalant vapors. This slows down or even stops neural transmissions. Effects of inhalants include diminished ability to learn, remember, and solve problems.
- ectasy: extended use of this amphetamine causes difficulty differentiating reality and fantasy, and causes problems concentrating. studies have found that ecstasy destroys certain cells in the brain. while the cells may re-connect after discontinued use of the drug, they don’t re-connect normally. like most drugs, this one impairs memory and can cause paranoia, anxiety, and confusion.
http://www.drugabuse.gov/infofacts/
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