Student Health Risks of Drug Abuse

There are so many dangerous and illegal drugs available to college students today. The problem with these myriads of different drugs is that they are appealing in allowing students to have a wonderful time or to feel good. The fact is that all of these so called recreational drugs have harmful, and potentially life threatening, consequences. Understanding the dangerous nature of addictive drugs can help students to steer clear of this alluring, but destructive, pitfall.

Drugs are substances which alter the way that the human body works. When a college student takes them into his or her body, either by inhaling, swallowing, or injecting them, these chemicals make their way through the bloodstream. Here they are carried to the person’s vital organs, such as his or her brain. Once they reach the brain, such dangerous substances either work to dull or to heighten the individual’s senses, diminish physical pain, or alter the person’s senses of awareness and alertness.

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Drugs’ effects range widely. They are dependant on the type of drugs taken in, the frequency with which they are used, the quantity of them which are taken, how fast they reach the person’s brain, and what other drugs, substances, or foods are ingested along with them. An individual’s chemistry, body shape, and size also impact the severity of the effects experienced. It can be argued that the results of drugs are typically pleasant feelings and sensations, but in the end they wreak a lot damage on the person’s body and brain. They certainly interfere with an individual’s capability of making wise decisions and good choices.

There are a variety of reasons why college students start taking drugs. Many times the reason is as simple as that a friend told them that it would help them to relax or feel better. Other times, college aged students feel like they can not cope with their problems or the stress of their classes and schedules. Still other individuals are depressed and want to escape from their pain and perceived problems. In reality, drugs never solved any person’s problems or eliminated their suffering. All that they do is hide them for a while. After the drug wears off, the problems and ill feelings from before the drug are still present, and probably have become worse. It is no exaggeration that drugs are capable of completely ruining every aspect and prospect of a college person’s life.

Amphetamines

When snorted or swallowed, amphetamines cause users to experience a quick high, which makes them feel that they are energized, alert, and powerful. These uppers increase the rate of breathing, the heart beat, and the blood pressure. On top of this, they are capable of causing headaches, shaking, sweating, blurry vision, and sleeplessness. Continuing to use them over time will lead to intense paranoia and hallucinations.

Crack and Cocaine

Cocaine increases breathing rates, heart rates, body temperatures, and blood pressure. Injecting these drugs can lead to hepatitis, or even AIDS, if needles are shared. Snorting them can cause a hole to form in the person’s nose lining. It is possible for first time users of either crack or cocaine to simply stop breathing or suffer a potentially fatal heart attack. Only one try of either drug is all that is required to kill a person.

Cold and Cough Medicines

While smaller dosages help to control coughing, bigger doses lead to impaired judgment, confusion, fevers, dizziness, blurry vision, excessive sweating, paranoia, nausea and vomiting, slurred speech, irregular heartbeat, abdominal pain, high blood pressure, lethargy, headaches, red face, itchy and dry skin, finger and toe numbness, seizures, loss of consciousness, brain damage, and sometimes even death.

Depressants

Depressants abused in larger than prescribed doses cause tremors, un-coordination, slurred speech, and confusion. Extremely large doses lead to individuals’ stopping breathing, and can cause death. When alcohol and depressants are mixed, this dangerous possibility is substantially increased.

Ecstacy

Ecstacy creates a stimulant mixed with hallucinogenic effect that exaggerates all emotions. It leads to confusion, anxiety, paranoia, and depression, which can become permanent through continued use. Ecstacy has a tendency to increase the body’s temperature. This has occasionally resulted in either the damage of organs throughout the body or sometimes death.

GHB

GHB has a variety of negative side effects, including but not limited to seizures, diminished heart rate, problems breathing, and intense nausea. It is often utilized in date rapes, since it is both odorless and colorless. Overdosing on GHB can lead to a stopping of breathing and comas, which sometimes cause death. Mixed with alcohol, GHB easily has the potential to kill the person on only one occasion.

Heroin

Although heroin commonly provides users with a burst of highly euphoric sensations, it also leads to vomiting, stomach cramps, nausea, and drowsiness. Heroin destroys the body with continuous use. Collapsed veins, inflammation of the heart lining, and breathing problems commonly result from its continued utilization.

Inhalants

Inhalants are appealing as they are cheap and easy to obtain, found in even common glue. Long time users suffer from nosebleeds, headaches, and possibly permanent loss of smell and hearing sensations. These commonly available drugs can easily lead to serious toxic reactions which on one use can kill a person.

LSD

LSD causes hallucinations. These can last for even twelve hours or more. Bad trips on LSD cause frightening delusions, depression, confusion, and panic attacks. Other physical side effects include mangled speech, sleeplessness, convulsions, heart rate increases, and even comas.

Marijuana

Marijuana remains the most heavily and popularly abused drug in America. Its effects include raised blood pressure and heart rate, paranoia, and hallucination. It also destroys the lungs every bit as badly as do cigarettes, leading to wheezing, coughing, and commonplace colds.

Methamphetamine

Methamphetamines are powerful stimulants. They provide a rush of euphoria. Continued use of them can lead to severe delusions, aggressive behavior, psychosis, and even brain damage.