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What’s the deal with drugs?There's a lot of "information" floating around the Web about drugs and even some misinformation that spreads by word-of-mouth. The movies, music and other media don't always accurately portray the risks of use either. With all the hype around drugs, you may not realize that most college students choose not to use them.
There is a complicated list of reasons why people try or use drugs. Some people do it to change the way they feel, but by taking drugs, they haven't changed the situation. They've only distorted it for a little while. And since many drugs are depressants, the "escape" of drug use isn't happy and can be quite unpleasant. Former users often say that drugs ended up isolating them from friends and family and made them feel more alone.
Remember no one "plans" to become a drug addict, and every one of the millions of people with drug dependency started out thinking they had it "under control."
The truth is drugs affect people in different ways -- and you just never know how a drug is going to affect YOU. Reality Check:
Marijuana is addictive. More teens are in treatment with a primary diagnosis of marijuana dependence than for all other illicit drugs combined.
Inhalants can kill you the very first time you use them.
Crystal Meth can damage blood vessels in the brain leading, to strokes (which can produce irreversible damage).
Cocaine and crack use can cause heart attacks and strokes. They can also make you stop breathing.
Mixing alcohol and cocaine increases your risk of sudden death.
Even limited use of ecstasy can cause increased heart rate, involuntary teeth clenching, nausea, blurred vision, chills or sweating.
Some side effects of steroid use include liver tumors and cancer, jaundice, fluid retention, high blood pressure, kidney tumors and trembling.
Hallucinogens can cause flashbacks. Effects of hallucinogenic drugs can occur weeks, months, even years after use.
Heroin abuse is associated with serious health conditions including HIV/AIDS and hepatitis, particularly in users who inject the drug.
Because you don't feel any pain while high on ketamine, you can seriously injure yourself without knowing it.
Short-term effects of prescription painkillers include inability to concentrate, lack of energy, constipation, nausea, vomiting, and respiratory depression.
Physical side effects of abusing prescription stimulants include collapse, increased heart and respiratory rates; elevated blood pressure; tremors; chest pain with palpitations; vomiting; and psychological side effects include aggression, panic, and paranoia.
Smoking cigarettes can kill you. Smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States. Smoking puts your family and friends at risk.
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