FAQ. Everything you wanted to know about drugs and drug addiction, but were embarrassed to ask

Any narcotic substance is dangerous to human health. This is an indisputable fact that calls for thought to everyone who abuses stimulants. But addiction is a disease, so specialists from drug treatment clinics help fight it. Among them are narcologists, psychologists, psychotherapists, and addictologists. The treatment process is long and consists of different stages, each of which is aimed at solving the problem. The healing algorithm is built in such a way that the patient can give up drugs forever.

A comprehensive regimen includes drug therapy to cleanse the body and restore the functions of organs damaged by toxic substances. At the next stage, rehabilitation of patients is carried out, which involves psychological influence with the aim of instilling attitudes towards cessation of the use of psychotropic drugs. The advantage of going to a drug treatment center is the opportunity to receive lifelong support and adaptation assistance when the drug addict returns to normal life.

Harmful effects of different types of drugs

The harm that drugs cause to the body varies depending on the type of substance. Drugs containing drugs are divided into natural and synthetic substances. Natural stimulants are those produced from plant components, while synthetic ones have a combined or entire chemical composition. The consequences of natural opiates are not as destructive as those of synthetic ones, but long-term abuse of both completely destroys the body and psyche.

The detailed classification of narcotic substances is as shown in the table.

Social consequences of drug addiction

The social consequences of drugs are the loss of one's position in society. A person gradually loses professional skills, work and the ability to live an ordinary life. Often, those who use drugs begin to distribute them. This is done in order to get your free dose by distributing, for example, 10. Very often, a drug addict involves friends and family in his network. A minimal percentage of drug addicts quit using in prison, but most often their health is completely undermined there.

There is also a high percentage of crimes committed at the time of withdrawal or under the influence of prohibited substances. The most common are robberies of people or apartments, murders due to negligence. A harmful addiction leads a person to complete degradation of moral qualities.

HOW TO HELP A DRUG ADDICT IF HE DOESN'T WANT TO BE TREATED

Opiate group

The most popular and long-used drugs are opiates. They are natural, obtained from poppy seeds, and synthetic, which contain chemical compounds. This is the largest group of substances that cause euphoria and have a significant negative impact on health.

1. Poppy straw is crushed raw material obtained from poppy stems and pods. The poppy seeds themselves are not classified as stimulants, since they do not contain narcotic components.
2. Acetylated opium is a dark brown solution with a vinegar odor. It is obtained as a result of a combination of chemical compounds with plants and the reactions occurring in them. This is a ready-to-use drug.
3. Raw opium is juice from the poppy plant treated with special compounds; it is used as a basis for preparing an acetylated solution. The substance itself looks like a plasticine mass of different shades from white to brownish. Buy the mass in the form of balls.
4. Methadone is a synthetic substance of the opium group, potent and more dangerous than the previous three types. External forms are powder or solution. Procopsiphene and meperidine also fall into this category.
5. Semi-synthetic opiates are heroin, hydromorphine and codeine.
6. Desomorphine is a new and cheaper narcotic psychotropic than heroin. It is produced illegally in makeshift laboratories from codeine-containing medicines. It has a catastrophic effect on health and completely destroys the body in a short period of time.

Consequences of female dependence

Clinical experiments have shown that drug addiction in women develops 1.5-2.5 times faster than in men. And psychotropic drugs have the most powerful effect on a woman’s reproductive system:

• The menstrual cycle is disrupted.
• The fallopian tubes lose their functions.
• Pregnancy is interrupted or proceeds with severe pain and severe toxicosis.
• Physical and mental defects of the fetus develop.

What harm do opiates cause?

Of all the substances listed, the most popular among drug addicts is heroin. Addiction to it develops gradually, so it is possible to prevent the deep stages of heroin addiction if you start treatment on time. To do this, it is enough to contact a drug center, where such patients are helped in 98% of cases.

Opiates are characterized by the fact that they put a person into a state of euphoria. Drug addicts call this phenomenon a “high.” During this period they experience peace and self-satisfaction. These substances have the ability to be included in natural metabolism, which is a condition for the development of insurmountable mental and physical dependence. For many, it develops with one or two first doses.

Those who use opiates develop various pathologies and behavior changes:

• there is an increased desire to sleep at any time of the day;
• speech becomes drawn out, the thread of the conversation is not caught, the addict moves from one topic to another, sometimes expresses himself inadequately;
• the person becomes thoughtful and overly calm;
• he is not interested in surrounding events, he treats with reconciliation everything that outrages others;
• he can be helpful, but his mood can change and turn to aggression;
• the addict strives for solitude and can spend hours in the dark;
• the pupils narrow, they do not react to light, the look is half-crazy;
• thresholds of sensitivity and pain are reduced;
• vision decreases; in poor lighting, the addict has difficulty navigating in space.

The “arrival” lasts for half a day, for some it is less. The shortest period of action of the drug is 6 hours. After this, the addict requires a new dose.

Danger signals (memo for parents)

Unexplained absences.

The child withdraws from his parents, often disappears from home for a long time, or locks himself in his room. Questions, even the most delicate ones, cause him to burst into anger.

Friendship, communication.

The child’s social circle changes, old friends disappear, new ones appear, whom he does not invite home or introduce to his parents. The child often has strange conversations on the phone, does not speak openly in the presence of strangers, uses hints, jargon, and conventional “codes.”

Mode changes.

Late going to bed, waking up later, closer to lunch; fluctuations in appetite - either suppression or increase, with a preference for sweets, chocolate; the emergence of the habit of washing in the bathroom for a long time, sitting on the toilet;

Change in appearance.

A new, previously unusual way of dressing appears: wearing clothes with long sleeves even in hot weather, the desire to insulate yourself excessively;

The character of the child.

The child's character changes dramatically. He ceases to be interested in what used to matter: family, study, hobbies. Irritability, hot temper, capriciousness, selfishness, deceit, and secrecy appear. There is a sharp change in mood: now he is full of energy, cheerful, joking, now he becomes passive, lethargic, gloomy, whiny.

Theft. Concealment.

The child has financial problems. He often asks his parents for money, but cannot explain why he needs it. Money and things are gradually disappearing from the house. At first this may not be noticeable; disappearances in the family are explained by chance (lost, forgot where they put it). Then the disappearance (of video equipment, for example) is difficult to hide.

Child's personal room.

The bedroom is constantly cold, the room is often ventilated. There are signs of using incense, air fresheners, breath fresheners, perfume and cologne. The child tries not to let anyone into his room.

Unusual condition of the child.

Often a child may appear to be intoxicated, but without the smell of alcohol. Coordination of movements and speech may be impaired, ridiculous laughter may appear, and pupils may be constricted or dilated. The smell of glue comes from the clothes.

The assumption that a child is using drugs causes strong negative emotions in parents, followed by hasty actions. This may make the situation worse.

Cannabinoid group

These drugs are obtained from hemp. The most common drugs in this group are marijuana, anasha and hashish. In the drug community they are called weed and plan. Weed is a mixture of hemp leaves, seeds and flower heads. Resin is obtained from the mature tops of the plant, which is hashish.

The most common way to consume cannabinoids is through inhalation through smoke while smoking. Marijuana in some countries is considered a non-hazardous psychostimulant. This is due to the fact that the first doses do not cause negative consequences. But this happens until a persistent addiction to weed has developed. And after addiction takes root, a person experiences the same problems as with stronger drugs.

Social aspects of drug addiction

Drug addiction is a destructive phenomenon for society because addicts:

• they hardly work, they “parasitize” financially on their relatives and the state;
• become part of the criminal infrastructure: they rob and kill, participate in the trafficking of prohibited substances;
• almost never form families. If they enter into an alliance, the use of psychotropic drugs and violence flourish in such a family. Children have congenital diseases, grow up in a dangerous atmosphere and live with mental disorders. And when they grow up and start their own families, a new cycle of addiction and violence begins.

According to Russian statistics, the majority of drug addicts are young people 20-39 years old, and for every 100 thousand people there are more than 2,200 drug addicts. This means that the country is experiencing psychophysical destruction of the most important layer of society - young people in full bloom, behind whom lies the future of the nation.

Harm from cannabinoids

The onset after a smoked dose begins half an hour or earlier; for some, this period is only 10 minutes. It is accompanied by feelings of life being full of events and one’s own need. Senses are heightened, the person sees the world in bright colors, his positive perception of music and art increases, and sexual arousal increases.

People like such phenomena and cannabinoids gradually become a vital necessity for the addict. However, intoxication from a large number of smoked mixtures sooner or later occurs, and the person experiences negative consequences and deterioration of the condition. Patients dependent on this group of psychostimulants often develop lung cancer.

You can identify a person who uses cannabinoids by the following signs:

• sweetish odor from clothing, hair, mouth and breath;
• causeless gaiety, constant or paroxysmal;
• exaggerated appetite;
• red eyes that look bloodshot.

3rd stage of use - 2nd stage of drug addiction

In the second stage of addiction, the addict begins to develop health problems. He is worried about withdrawal, discomfort after taking the drug, infectious diseases, hepatitis C and AIDS may appear.

Characteristics of the 2nd stage of drug addiction are:

• loss of control over one’s behavior (injuries, violent acts, criminal cases occur);
• promiscuity in sexual relations (leads to unwanted pregnancy in women, sexually transmitted diseases, and inevitable problems in relationships);
• scandals in the family;
• problems in school or work;
• material difficulties (debts, theft, taking things out of the house, constant search for money to buy drugs);
• change in social circle (the company consists of those who take drugs);
• conflicts with old friends;
• conflicts with law enforcement agencies.

At the 2nd stage of drug addiction, physical dependence on drugs occurs. Now drugs no longer bring the initial pleasant sensations, but are required to bring the body to a normal state.

Problems that arise as a result of a person’s drug addiction serve as an excuse for further drug use. And their use entails new problems. It turns out to be a vicious circle.

At this stage of the disease, it is almost impossible to stop taking drugs on your own. Only specialists can help. If the addict at this stage does not come to his senses and does not resort to medical help, then he will definitely move to the next stage of drug addiction.

The second stage of drug addiction begins when a person is unable to resist his destructive desires and tries new drugs to achieve pleasure. This is often ecstasy, LSD, etc. New sensations that these substances give are a surge of energy, dizziness, feelings of omnipotence, and even hallucinations. Often these drugs lead to loss of consciousness, but drug addicts even like it. The consequences that await them after waking up soon do not frighten them.

Young people, who in our time have already heard a lot about various drugs, use ecstasy and LSD in small doses to, for example, make the disco more vibrant. But it's not safe. It is impossible to walk on a razor's edge for a long time. Therefore, there is only one way out - either stop using these drugs, or suffer from an inevitable overdose.

Barbiturates - sedatives and hypnotics and harm from them

They potentiate each other’s effects and are used in different modes. For example, they are often taken in a single dose to produce euphoria or relaxation. Getting used to them causes negative changes in physical condition and psychological status.

The person becomes relaxed and his reactions to danger decrease. Motor activity becomes sluggish, attention is absent, drowsiness and passivity appear. These phenomena are replaced by excitement and anxiety, dizziness is observed. The main danger is that death may occur during sleep.

Content:

1. Drug addiction and crime
2. Proselytism as a social consequence of drug addiction
3. Traffic accidents, accidents and suicides
4. Codependency and family problems
5. What are the social consequences of drug addiction for medicine?
6. Drug addiction leads to a decrease in intellectual abilities and high mortality among adolescents and young people

Drug addiction is a bisocial disease that destroys not only the life of the patient, but also those around him. Gradually, a normal person turns into a sociopath, all interests are reduced solely to finding a new dose. Due to changes in life preferences, psycho-emotional and physical state, psychopathization develops and criminal tendencies appear.

What is cocaine and why is it harmful?

A natural drug obtained from coca. Its finished form is a powder that is inhaled or added to smoking tobacco. A more aggressive form of application is injections under the skin or into a vein. With an intravenous injection, euphoria occurs immediately, the acute high lasts up to half an hour.

Abuse leads first to mental dependence and then physical dependence. The period of development of persistent physical addiction lasts for one and a half years in adolescents and four years in adults. Psychological dependence occurs from the first dose.

The main harm from cocaine is the development of psychosis with delusions and hallucinations. All this often ends in depression and suicide attempts. Unpleasant changes also include persistent nasal discharge and sneezing; the person constantly sniffles and sniffles, causing disgust to others. In communication, he is sometimes talkative, sometimes aggressive and excited. An external sign is dilated pupils.

Literature:

1. Medical, social and economic consequences of drug addiction and alcoholism: [monograph] / E. A. Koshkina [et al.]; Ministry of Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation, Nat. scientific Center for Narcology [and others]. – Moscow: Per Se, 2008. – 287 p.
2. Socio-economic consequences of the spread of drug addiction in the region / A. A. Kuklin [et al.]; edited by A. A. Kuklina; Russian Academy of Sciences, Ural Department, Institute of Economics. – Ekaterinburg: Institute of Economics, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 2007. – 175 p.
3. Social consequences of drunkenness and drug addiction. Tasks of the permanent staff of educational institutions of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for the prevention and prevention of drunkenness and drug addiction in groups of cadets and students: educational manual / P. I. Ivakhov, A. M. Shcheglov. – Kaliningrad: Kaliningrad Law Institute of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, 2010. – 34 p.

Other types of drugs and their harmful effects

It is more convenient to summarize the characteristics of other types of narcotic substances in a table.

Based on the analysis presented, we can conclude that all drugs are dangerous. The consequences of their use and suffering are not comparable to the short moments of high.

Reasons for drug use.

Drug use has become a worldwide problem in recent years. Drug addiction mainly affects young people, teenagers, and girls. Adolescence is considered a particularly dangerous age for taking up drugs – the age of change and character breakdown. A teenager's changeable mood, with sharp fluctuations, and excessive vulnerability create conditions for his involvement in drugs and make him easy prey for criminal adults, drug dealers, and street “parties.”

The most common causes of drug use in adolescents are:

• Neglect, leaving the child to his own devices, indifference on the part of adults
• Excessive care throughout childhood, constant control by adults and pressure on the child, leading to the formation of low self-esteem
• The desire to be an adult and prove your independence
• The desire to be “like everyone else” in the group, the lack of one’s own opinion, the teenager’s inability to say “No!”
• The desire to be “bad” in response to constant pressure from parents, or, conversely, in order to attract attention.
• Curiosity (“you have to try everything”)
• Idleness, inability to occupy oneself, lack of interests, hobbies, etc.

Which organs are most affected by drugs?

It should be noted that the organs and systems considered vital are primarily affected by drug abuse.

• The cardiovascular system is subject to pathological processes due to changes in metabolism. Metabolic dysfunction is caused by intoxication of the blood flowing to the heart muscle. As a result, it becomes dystrophic and cannot perform its functions fully. The rhythm of heart contractions is disrupted, heart failure often occurs, and an attack can result in death.
• The nervous system is subjected to an aggressive attack by psychotropic substances. Irreversible changes occur in the brain, which lead to depletion of the entire central nervous system and personality degradation.
• The lungs suffer from both smoking mixtures and using opiates. They depress respiratory functions, which causes coma.
• The liver and gastrointestinal tract are destroyed intensively. The liver cannot cope with poisoning, and the mucous membrane of the digestive organs is destroyed under the influence of poisons.

What happens to the psyche

Mental abnormalities are expressed in depression, paranoia, and schizophrenia. Sanity and responsibility for one’s actions disappear in behavior; a person becomes dangerous to himself and others. Degradation can be complete; a return to normal life is only possible partially. For many, regaining lost personal qualities becomes an impossible task.

How does addiction occur?

The state of drug intoxication causes a feeling of euphoria in a person, allows you to “switch off”, forget about pressing problems and worries, relieve pain, stress, and psychological tension. Not only do you not want to return to a natural sober state, but sometimes it is simply impossible. All the thoughts of the addict are focused on searching for the drug and taking the next dose, that is, on returning to the state that they experience under the influence of the toxic substance.

Addicts will not use the services of doctors on their own; they need help from relatives or friends.

Unfortunately, most drugs very quickly cause not only psychological, but also physical dependence. When the effect of the substance ends, the drug addict begins to experience withdrawal - extremely unpleasant physical sensations, which can be eliminated in two ways - by taking another dose of the drug or by removing the drug from the body with the help of medications.

Drug addiction is a sensitive topic, so addicts never go to doctors voluntarily and try in every possible way to hide their addiction from loved ones and family members. With each subsequent dose, tolerance to the substance used increases, and you have to increase the dose to achieve the desired effect. At some point in the development of drug addiction, the harm to the body becomes critical - the person simply dies, as his organs and organ systems cease to function.

What happens during an overdose

An overdose of narcotic drugs is characterized by the following symptoms:

• the patient loses the ability to realize what is happening, he cannot see reality because his visual associations are impaired;
• he is overcome by drowsiness, consciousness periodically or completely turns off;
• he has an increase in body temperature;
• profuse sweating appears.

Unconsciousness can lead to a coma, from which only professionals in a drug treatment clinic can recover. If help is not provided in a timely manner, breathing will stop and death will occur.

Treatment costs

In addition to paid drug clinics, government offices, dispensaries, and hospitals deal with drug addiction problems. The funds allocated for the maintenance of these institutions are a heavy burden for the budget. An officially registered drug addict seeks help and undergoes inpatient treatment several times a year. Some patients stay in the drug department for about 200 days. The cost of their stay is very high.

Providing treatment for overdoses at poison control centers is even more expensive. It should also be taken into account that drug treatment patients try to infiltrate other departments in order to gain free access to medications, thereby depriving other patients of necessary medications.

The most harmful natural and synthetic drugs

The list of the TOP ten dangerous drugs looks like this:

1. Desomorphine is a type of analgesic called “crocodile”. It causes vascular atrophy and rotting alive.
2. Heroin - "gerych" contributes to the failure of internal organs - liver, heart, kidneys.
3. Acetylated opium – “nigella” – leads to the death of the addict three years after the start of use.
4. Methadone is a synthetic opiate that has the ability to accumulate in tissues and bones, which leads to destruction of the body.
5. Salts lead to severe intoxications that affect the brain; the patient forgets how to walk, talk, and perceive the world around him.
6. Spices have an unpredictable effect on the psyche, an insufficient amount of oxygen enters the brain, so its reactions become inadequate, behavior becomes uncontrollable, leading to crimes.
7. Cocaine destroys cartilage and mucous membranes of the nasopharynx and promotes negative mental changes.
8. Ketamine - taking it is fraught with poisoning and asphyxia.
9. Marijuana - "weed" - leads to intellectual degradation.
10. Speedball is a mixture of cocaine and heroin with the combined harmful effects of one and the other drug.

You can only be cured of addiction to any potion in a drug treatment clinic. Here they return to normal life and restore the health lost from drugs.

Why are synthetics worse?

Synthetic psychostimulants are more dangerous because they practically do not break down in the body and are poorly excreted naturally. Intoxication from them is high, the action of chemical compounds causes the greatest harm to organs and systems. Dependence can be physical and psychological, it develops quickly, and it is difficult to choose a treatment algorithm. Breakdowns after treatment are more common. The danger also lies in the fact that they are more affordable and are widespread among young people and teenagers.

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Drug addiction
is a chronic, incurable, fatal and always progressive disease that affects and destroys all spheres of human life - the body, psyche, soul and social life of a person. Drug addiction is incurable in the sense that a person who has once lost control over the use of drugs and other chemical substances that alter a person’s consciousness will never regain this control, no matter how long the period of abstinence is.

Drug addiction is a disease. (By “disease” we mean an incurable addiction, the symptoms of which are the same for all people addicted to drugs. We do not intend the meaning of “disease” to have any medical meaning, it is not a conclusion or a diagnosis. We use the term “disease” as professional slang. It is easier to use in our activities, since we know what symptoms we are talking about). Drug addiction has long been included in medical reference books and catalogs of diseases, along with any other diseases. In terms of severity, painful addiction is equal to cancer, since it has a mortality rate of 96%. Experts consider drug addiction to be a disease that belongs to the group of addictions (diseases of addiction). In an active drug addict, addiction manifests itself in the use of chemical substances - drugs, of various forms and types. Drug addiction is often called chemical dependence, meaning a person dependent on any type of drug. A dependent person does not know how to control his body’s reaction to taking chemicals; he can only learn to live with his disease, subject to complete abstinence from the use of chemicals, as well as through changes in lifestyle, that is, in its vital areas: biological , mental, social and spiritual. The degree of the disease is determined by the level of destruction in all areas, and the quality of recovery is determined by the level of restoration of these areas.

Spheres of human life: 1. The body is a biological sphere. 2. The mind is the intellectual sphere. 3. Feelings - the emotional sphere. 4. The soul is the spiritual and moral sphere. 5. Relationships - social sphere.

The predisposition to addiction is determined by the tendency of the human psyche to return to balance at any cost.
The reasons why addiction is considered a disease: 1. It has symptoms and signs:
a) loss of control over use and inability to predict the consequences of drug use;
b) memory lapses; c) physical suffering (“withdrawal”, insomnia, lack of strength and appetite, etc.); d) concentration of thoughts and actions on a chemical substance (searching for money to use drugs); e) use to improve the condition (mental, physical, spiritual); g) problems in the environment (family, friends, acquaintances, colleagues). 2. Primary.
Chemical dependence is not a consequence of any other disease.
3. Chronic.
Doesn't go away over time.
It can be stopped, but not cured. The craving for drug use persists, regardless of the period of abstinence from use. 4. Progresses.
If development is not stopped, the symptoms will worsen over time.
5. Has a tendency to relapse.
Manifestation of the disease in acute form during relapses.
6. Kills.
The disease is fatal.
Up to 96% of the total number of chemically dependent people die. 7. Recovery is possible.
If, as a result of using a chemical substance, a person develops problems in any area of ​​his life, and if the person cannot stop using it on his own or stops, and then “breaks down” again, this is an addiction.

Biological aspect of drug addiction.

In the definition of drug addiction, 1/4 of the part is devoted to the biological aspect.
The biological component of drug addiction is something that is directly related to a person’s physical health. In fact, for an individual, the biological component of drug addiction can be more or less significant; some tolerate alcohol, drugs and their consequences of intoxication poorly, while others, on the contrary, do better. That is, there is some kind of individual sensitivity, predisposition, some biological constitutional factors that allow a person to consume large doses of substances foreign to the body and put himself into a state of chronic intoxication. Moreover, addicted people feel less comfortable in the absence of these poisons in their bodies.

The biological part of drug addiction is the physiological need of the body for the next dose of a narcotic substance. The drug enters the metabolic process in the human body, and if the drug stops flowing, the person experiences a severe condition - withdrawal. And the need for a drug (“withdrawal”) in its absence in this case does not in any way depend on the will of a person, on his character traits or the properties of his personality - just as, for example, the cough of a patient with tuberculosis does not depend on his desire. Why? Because it is a disease...You will get the answer to this question...More details... Due to the use of chemical substances, there is a sharp release of endorphins (euphoria occurs), the brain gradually gets used to the drug, due to the huge number of endorphin receptors. Over time, all organs get used to functioning only in the presence of the drug. Since the brain receives a huge amount of morphine from the outside (heroin) or gets used to constant strong stimulation (vintage, cocaine, alcohol), over time it stops producing its own endorphins. As soon as the chemicals stop flowing, a powerful malfunction occurs in the body. Organs cannot function normally, and empty receptors require a new dose. Since their own endorphins are not produced, a person finds himself in a very difficult state - pain, severe depression, lack of strength, a feeling of emptiness, meaninglessness, and so on (“withdrawal”). When you stop using chemicals, after some time the production of your own endorphins improves. The formation and functioning of the addiction mechanism has occurred, and the very first dose of the substance will cause an irreversible reaction. Since all chemical substances have a similar effect, it is impossible for a chemically dependent person to use any chemical substances without consequences in the form of addiction. Read more about the biological aspect and genetic predisposition at the end of the lecture!

Psychological aspect of drug addiction.

The withdrawal symptoms have been lifted, but for some reason the chemically dependent person begins to use drugs again, it would seem that he is physically healthy, there is no withdrawal symptoms, why does he start using again? Because in addition to physical dependence, a psychological one has already been formed by this time, such as the need to return to a state of drug intoxication; this is another manifestation of the disease, but not the habit, since it is impossible to overcome the addiction by willful effort. An addict cannot experience positive emotions without drugs, cannot communicate, cannot cope with painful situations. It is easier for him to solve all problems in an altered state of consciousness - painless perception... Read more... The need, and sometimes a strong irresistible desire to escape from reality, or change it around him (change the people around him, the desire to change the emotional background, the feelings that a drug addict experiences) is a symptom of addiction. The behavior of a chemically dependent person is determined and associated with his personal qualities and feelings - his emotional immaturity. A chemically dependent person does not know how to express his feelings constructively; he suppresses them through his use, and then, in a state of drug intoxication, tries to express them to others. No one taught him to talk about them and express them, much less not to succumb to their control in any everyday or everyday stressful situation. Emotional immaturity is not innate, it is, so to speak, acquired. Since childhood, a child diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity (more in the social sphere) - it is characteristic of many chemically dependent people, exhibiting hyperactive, aggressive, antisocial behavior, can become chemically dependent at any stage of age periodization, since he acts under the guidance of his feelings , scientists consider this behavior as an increased risk factor. Mental addiction is much more difficult to overcome than physical withdrawal. Like any disease, drug addiction has its own preconditions and manifestations.

Some psychological prerequisites for the disease:

• Low or, conversely, high self-esteem.
• Difficulties in communication.
• Psychological complexes.
• Inability to cope with your feelings.
• High level of internal tension.
• Tendency to risky situations.

Manifestations of the disease at the psychological level:

• Tunnel vision – all thoughts are directly or indirectly focused on consumption.
• Selective memory - good things are remembered, bad things are forgotten.
• A jumping emotional state - from insensibility to extremely intense feelings.
• Obsessive desire to use.
• Blackouts, memory impairment.
• Mental suffering in the absence of a drug.
• Denial of problems associated with use, the disease itself.
• The cause-and-effect relationship is broken.
• Inability to adequately perceive reality.
• A lie - even where it is easier to tell the truth.

Even after withdrawal, problems and destruction at the mental level remain, and ignoring this area invariably leads to relapse.
Social aspect of drug addiction

Man is a social being, his life is connected with society, it is difficult for a person to live alone without communicating with other people. Society is family, friends, colleagues, neighbors and the entire environment of a person, country, city, culture, traditions, as well as the media. Read more... The development of the risk of chemical dependence in a person is significantly influenced by two important factors (in addition to a person’s genetic predisposition): 1) his family in which he lives, customs, values, traditions, culture of parental relations, rights and principles of the family, and Of particular importance is the attention on the part of parents to the child, or rather its form and social status of the family. From childhood, a child is instilled in his own family with an attitude and importance towards alcohol and drugs, and the child also becomes aware of the cultural model of alcohol consumption of his parents. It has been proven that a large percentage of addiction will occur in those children whose parents have problems with alcohol or drug use. Attention is one of the manifestations of love for their child by parents. If it is little or not at all, or not in the form in which the child would like to receive it, it is expressed, if the child is not given the right to make his own choice, if the child’s parents forbid the child to express his feelings (joy, sadness, anger, fear) and he may , does not know how to express them because his parents do not do this, then the risk increases, since he begins to look for consolation, understanding and trust on the street. Diagnosis:

Doctors and psychotherapists diagnose Attention Deficit Syndrome with Hyperactivity due to the lack of attention of parents to their child.
A small amount of love given by parents to their child will result in the child subsequently not feeling part of the family, he will not accept himself, he will feel lonely in his family, he will have to suppress his feelings within himself. Such a child will not tell his parents about his painful feelings, because he will not trust them with them. Such a child will be unhappy. He will also seek and confirm his own importance among others like him. Another factor that influences the risk of chemical dependency is the indoctrination by parents in their child of spiritual values ​​that are inherent in the parents themselves. Parents are a child's role model. A child who has been instilled with spiritual values, culture, guidelines and priorities is not afraid of peer pressure, the pressure of foundations, rules, concepts of the society in which he is located, since the child himself chooses where and with whom he is comfortable to be. He accepts himself as he is, and he has no need to adapt to others or meet other people's expectations. He makes his own choices. The child imprints a limited choice of cultural elements, and the learned stereotypes of the behavior of his parents, as a result of this, in the subconscious he copies his parents, even if he realizes this, he still repeats the norms and customs of the parental home in his life. Bottom line:
The risk of addiction occurs when parents completely lack control over their child. Thanks to this, a child’s passion for pleasure is formed. With hypercontrol of parents, when decisions are made for the child and limit the freedom of their own choice, there is no sense of responsibility. Among other things, the risk arises when there is no or insufficient attention and love for the child, when the relationship between the parent and the child is not built. And with dysfunction in the family. 2) the society in which he is located, the customs, ideas of this society about alcoholism and drug addiction, the culture of this society and attitude towards addiction.

Prerequisites and manifestations of drug addiction at the social level:
Some social prerequisites:

• The use of chemical substances (alcohol, tobacco) is traditional and legal. Consumption is a social norm; it is not normal not to use.
• Single-parent family, unhealthy atmosphere in the family (even complete ones).
• Frequent moves.
• Addiction in the family.
• Availability of substances.
• Fashion.
• Advertising is not only direct advertising of alcoholic beverages, but also indirect, for example, advertising of painkillers - a pill for pain.
• Lack of clear life guidelines, broken generations.
• There is no positive adult - a healthy model of behavior.

Social manifestations:

• Changing your social circle.
• Society rejects drug addicts and fears them.
• Society is uninteresting and unnecessary.
• Relationships “you give me - I give you”, manipulation, deception
• Insulation.
• Loss of social skills.
• The surrounding world is perceived as hostile.
• Loss of friends, trust.
• Destruction of family relationships.
• Loss of work, study.
• Crimes.

All this also needs to be restored. And this is a very long and difficult process, which is practically impossible to go through with a sick psyche, but without help.

The spiritual aspect of drug addiction.

Education is the first spiritual world of a person. Through the prism of the spirituality of the parents, the child receives an upbringing, becomes cultured, educated, and also has spiritual values ​​and needs. Spiritual need (unselfishness) is a type of social need for others, often to the detriment of oneself and one’s interests. If there are no prohibitions and rules in the family, then the child will become an egocentrist (he will think that he is the only one, everyone owes him something, everything around him is about him, and he is in the center). If in a family there is love without punishment, freedom and permissiveness, the child will be a dissolute egocentrist who does not bear or feel responsible for his life.

By combining rules, spiritual principles, punishment for disobedience, a culture of communication and relationships between parents and children, you can be sure that the child can be a full-fledged, spiritually healthy and strong person.
Since in this case the child has values, he has no reason to change them and escape from reality. Life is the most important value for a person. A person addicted to chemicals lacks this value, just like self-love. Spirituality can be understood as a person’s attitude towards himself, the world around him and people, which is associated with the quality of participation in life. It is a reflection of emotional activity and the nature of relationships with someone (what) who is most important to us; it concerns values ​​and goals, the meaning of life, and determines the desire to live. Drug addiction is a disease of the mind, soul and body. As the disease progresses, drugs become the focus of the addict's life and are the most important factor in life. If a person’s spiritual well was empty, then it was filled with what was, and not with what could be. With the help of drugs, attempts are made to cope with fear, anxiety, self-pity, loneliness and despair, satisfying the need for intimacy and trust, a sense of significance and self-worth, and the purpose, meaning, and value of the addict’s life. Drugs fill this well for a time or for life - people choose. The main thing is for the person himself to notice this, which in many cases does not happen. Significant people, things and values ​​are crowded out by drugs and other chemicals, preventing the natural talents and gifts with which a person is endowed from birth from manifesting. But if the addict refuses to use drugs, then there is an opportunity to fill this bottomless well with spirituality, and this means to be free from active addiction, to be happy, to love and accept yourself as you are, and to give people what you have acquired from simple desire, because the person himself has this love in abundance. Spiritual needs:

• the need to believe in a miracle, in the existence of the unknown, in the presence of a higher mind;
• the need for unity and involvement in something larger;
• the need to follow the voice of conscience;
• the need for meaning in life and the values ​​that determine it;
• the need for moral standards;
• the need for selflessness;
• need for creative activity;
• need for beauty.

The basis of spirituality is freedom and love, but spirituality itself is manifested in beliefs, views, worldview, spiritual principles and in human actions. (link to website www.uralcoc.ru) Spiritual hunger, like any other, requires satisfaction. Surrogates that fill the spiritual vacuum:

• drugs, alcohol, psychoactive substances;
• food (compulsive overeating);
• sex;
• gambling and computer games;
• money and things;
• power, prestige, ambition;
• relationships (codependency);
• activity (workaholism).

Prerequisites for drug addiction on a spiritual level:

• One thing is declared, but in reality it is another. “Double standard”, resulting in moral disorientation.
• The position of adults in relation to the child is “when you grow up...you go to work.... and so on” - that’s when life begins. There is no life in the present.
• Feeling of life's meaninglessness.
• Lack of contact with the Higher Power (H.S.).
• Distortion of the image of V.S.
• No place in the world, lost.
• Spiritual emptiness.
• Boredom.

Spiritual consequences of drug addiction:

• Self-destruction.
• Suicidal thoughts or attempts.
• Loss of interest in life.
• Anger at God.
• Loss of moral values, personality degradation.
• Self-deprecation.

Drug addiction is incurable in the sense that no person is able to completely get rid of all his problems: psychological, physical and spiritual. But it is these problems that are the causes of diseases, including drug addiction. That is, it is impossible to recover, but it is possible to recover.

Welcome!

Basic text of Narcotics Anonymous. Chapter 1, page 9 “Who is a drug addict?”

“Our disease is incurable and is called drug addiction. This disease is chronic, progressive and fatal. However, our disease is treatable. We believe that each of us must answer the question: “Am I really a drug addict?” It doesn’t matter to us how we acquired this disease. We are interested in recovery. We begin to treat our illness by stopping using...” If you want to stop using drugs and other chemical substances, but don’t know how, come to us, we will help you

Addiction.

Biological aspect. Genetic predisposition. (some concepts from the field of neurophysiology and biochemistry to understand and understand the mechanism of drug addiction at the physiological level of a person)

Biological aspect.
Neuron and nervous system
It is clear that all the effects of drugs that interest us are associated with their action on the nervous system.
The nervous system is made up of cells called neurons. Neurons are little powerhouses that can produce electrical impulses. Neurons can be in a quiet state when the number of impulses per minute is low, and can be excited when the number of impulses per minute is high. The state of neurons changes due to their influence on each other through the same impulses, as well as when neurons are exposed to special substances - hormones. For simplicity of explanation, we will take as an example two neurons A and B. Let's say they are in the limbic system of the brain (the limbic system is the structure responsible for emotions). Let's also assume that neuron A transmits an impulse from which neuron B is excited and euphoria occurs. Of course, this is a very crude approach (euphoria can be associated with different states of different neurons), but it’s suitable for us. In neurons we are interested in the following structures: body, processes (dendrites and axons), synapses. Synapse
A synapse is like a contact between neurons, a place where an impulse passes from one neuron to another.
The process of momentum transfer is chemical. A synapse consists of membranes on the processes of a neuron; on one of these membranes there are vesicles with mediators, on the other there are receptors. Mediator and types of mediators
A mediator is a substance with the help of which a signal inside a synapse is transmitted from one neuron to another.
Mediators are released from the vesicles of one membrane and act on the receptors of another. Mediators include: Adrenaline, norepinephrine, serotonin, dopamine and there are a lot of others). The last two are responsible, among other things, for mood. Adrenaline and norepinephrine are “activity hormones” (needed in order to escape, defend, act). Receptor
A receptor is a special protein.
It has a special shape to which the pick fits like a key to a lock. When a receptor is exposed to any mediator, the receptor changes its properties and causes the general state of the neuron to change. An impulse arises that is transmitted further along the process. Receptors can be located not only in synapses, but also on the entire surface of cells. Hormone and types of hormones
Hormones are substances like neurotransmitters that can also act on receptors. They differ from neurotransmitters in that they are not located in synapses, but in the blood. Hormones are needed to maintain a cell in a certain state for a long time. Hormones can be the same norepinephrine, adrenaline, serotonin, etc. In addition, there are substances called “endorphins”, which are also hormones. Endorphins are similar in structure to opiate drugs and elevate mood, reduce pain, and help with depression. All hormones (and endorphins too) are produced by the body itself. Endorphins are “hormones of happiness.” In our case, we will adhere to the concept that endorphins act on receptors that cause neuron A to release more transmitter and therefore excite neuron B.

Homeostasis.

Homeostasis is the dynamic balance of all indicators of the body: pulse, pressure, temperature, etc. With regard to the level of activity (excitation or inhibition) of neurons, homeostasis is also maintained. For example, the process of hormone production has a feedback mechanism: the lower the concentration of hormones, the more of them are produced. Homeostasis is also maintained for the transmitter/receptor ratio. Let us assume that normally at the synapse neuron A releases 50 transmitter molecules once per second, and for them there are 100 receptors. This ratio ensures the normal state of the neuron. If you introduce a drug, 2 times 50 molecules of the transmitter will be released, neuron B will be overexcited and euphoria will occur. However, the nervous system will strive to maintain homeostasis and develop protection that will reduce the excitation of neuron B. Endorphins cause an increase in the release of the transmitter. If there is a lot of drug (opiate-like substances), then the cells try to adapt to their increased concentration.

To this end:

1) The number of receptors for mediators increases and other mechanisms of impulse transmission change 2) There is a decrease and, over time, a cessation of the production of one’s own endorphins 3) The number of receptors for them increases

All this happens due to the fact that “dormant genes” are activated.
Once they become active, they do not return to an inactive state. Although they may not give the command to produce receptors, they are always ready. This dynamic explains tolerance for mood changes during use. Factors from a biological point of view:
But not only the concentration of endorphins is important, but also the ratio of the number of endorphins and their receptors. If the amount of endorphins is normal, but the number of receptors is too large, a relative deficiency of endorphins occurs, and this affects mood and well-being. From here it is clear what biological defects can serve as factors predisposing to drug addiction:

1. insufficient amount of endorphins or their absence subsequently 2. insufficient amount of mediators 3. violation of the number of receptors

In fact, any of these factors breaks down into several subfactors (for example, increased activity of the MAO enzyme). Since the mechanisms are very complex, they can very easily be disrupted for reasons not related to drug use.

Genetic predisposition.

Today there is every reason to believe that there are certain biological prerequisites for the emergence of chemical dependence.
Even at the everyday level, we talk about a certain “genetic predisposition” to alcoholism and drug addiction. Biologists and geneticists talk about the existence of certain genetic determinants that determine the formation of addiction, although specific genes and regions have not been identified. At the same time, there are certain loci (objects of attention) that are the subject of discussion among specialists. Why do some people become drug addicts and others not? This is also partly due to genes. Imagine that in some people the ratio of receptors and hormones, receptors and mediators is disturbed. That is, for example, there is a normal number of receptors on neurons, but the concentration of endorphins has been low since childhood. Or, conversely, everything is fine with endorphins, but the number of receptors is increased (see above, in the section “Factors from a biological point of view”). In addition to the connection with genes, the mental state of a person in childhood is important. The anxiety that the child experiences is important. Causes of anxiety: parents’ actions that are incomprehensible to him, fear of not being able to cope with the demands, lack of communication with parents, loneliness when the child’s interests are not taken into account (understanding, sympathy, love, trust, freedom of choice for the child). Anxiety (loneliness) means an increase in endorphin receptors. A child who feels lonely has a need for endorphins. Until he starts using drugs, the body itself begins to produce a large amount of them, and in response, the need for them increases even more. He tries in some way to increase the intensity of mediator excitation (for example, by taking risks), which leads to the development of risky behavior (addictive behavior). There is reason to believe that the same process continues into adulthood. If a person feels rejected, the opiate receptor/endorphin ratio will be disrupted and an “opiate hunger” will be felt. And if he is in a friendly atmosphere and tries to fight his anxiety and feelings of alienation, the ratio will normalize. Other predisposing factors (besides genetic):
Physiological:

1. brain hypoxia (lack of oxygen) can be due to difficult childbirth, colds of the child’s mother) 2. head injury; 3. playing sports (the level of endorphins increases during intense exercise); 4. drinking alcohol and smoking in childhood. THIQ – tetrahydroisoquinoline. Was discovered in the brain tissue of addicts. THIQ is a heroin-like compound that remains at the molecular level in the central nervous system for life, even in conditions of abstinence from alcohol or drugs. This tells us that drug addiction is incurable at the biological level; we cannot change the composition of the addict’s blood. We also find in this an explanation for the desire to use drugs (craving), even during long periods of abstinence. Similarities between THIQ and the morphine core. Possibility of condensation of acetaldehyde and tryptamine ring in THIQ. The presence of THIQ is also in tobacco smoke. Effects of THIQ - internal activity, blocking of endorphin receptors, accumulation.

Social:

A short excursion into epidemiology based on environmental pressure. Conclusion: changes in reactivity to drugs and pathobiochemical-pathomorphological disorders. For medicine, there are no answers yet to questions about correcting such innate metabolic features in the human body. We cannot eliminate the biological factors that create addiction. This means that today this disease is incurable; curing addiction means making a person able to use chemical substances without becoming dependent on them. General conclusion: in this case we can say that there is no reason to consider drug addicts “to blame” for their illness. At the same time, if they want to recover, they must take into account that changes in the biology of neurons will not disappear immediately.

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How does a drug addict's personality change over time?

Under the influence of drugs, everyone begins a personal crisis, their worldview changes, and they become tolerant of taking stimulants. His life principles become radically different. He admits the possibility of crime in order to obtain a new dose.

His only goal is the desire to feel a buzz; everything else is uninteresting to him. In severe cases, degradation is irreversible. A person develops serious mental illnesses, such as psychosis, delirium, schizophrenia, paranoia. That is, he becomes lost to society and calling him a human being is a stretch.

Stage 1 of drug use

It is characterized by curiosity, especially characteristic of young people. They want to try the drugs that are talked about so much and experience a previously unknown “high”.

There are quite a few reasons that push a person to use drugs for the first time. Sometimes this is a weakness of character and the inability to refuse what is offered. Sometimes it’s a reluctance to be known as a “mama’s boy” or to become a “black sheep” in the company of friends. In many cases, the first use of drugs is associated with the desire to escape from the difficulties of life - consciously or unconsciously.

Many young people show immaturity and indifference to their own lives. Their worldview can be called “don’t care” in slang. If to this is added ignorance of the effect of drugs on a person’s psyche and physical health, then drugs find a new victim.

Even “advanced” young people often resort to using drugs, trying to make their lives more eventful, interesting, and open up new sensations and possibilities for their thinking.

Drugs, of course, force the body to mobilize its own resources, but at what cost?

The condition called a “high” is characterized by an unusual peak of sensations, as the first doses of the drug cause a sharp disruption in the neurochemical balance in the brain. This forces the body to more actively use its capabilities, as a result of which a person experiences great physical pleasure.

A person is allotted a certain supply of pleasures throughout his life. He can use them little by little throughout his life, or he can “scavenge” a whole armful of pleasant sensations from this stock. But after such an expenditure of internal resources caused by the effect of the drug, the body takes a very long time to come to its senses.

After the first use of drugs, there are two outcomes: either the person no longer returns to the drug (50% of those who try this potion for the first time do so), or he continues to use it and dooms himself to develop addiction.

Drug addiction usually starts with weed. The most popular of the herbs is marijuana. Both teenagers and adults indulge in it. After smoking marijuana, a “blackout” occurs, and the person does not perceive anything from the outside world, and nothing can bother him.

For beginning drug addicts, this state of weightlessness and unconsciousness is especially valuable and pleasant, and they get used to pleasant things very quickly. Therefore, it is very difficult to get off the drug hook. It's good if it doesn't go beyond marijuana, but usually it's much worse. People tend to seek new sensations, and drugs provide them, and instantly. Only a few drug addicts stick to marijuana, and even fewer give it up completely.

Many people consider smoking weed harmless, but this is already the first stage of drug addiction. Marijuana becomes a habit that leads to changes in the chemical composition of the body. Mixtures of narcotic herbs destroy the human psyche. 10 days after smoking they affect the brain, so these are real, dangerous drugs.

What happens to the social life of a drug addict?

A dependent person is an inferior member of society and family. At work, he loses authority, his social status is assessed as the lowest. His family refuses to trust him, and he is often expelled from the family if he refuses treatment. Loneliness is not the only tragedy of a drug addict. To this is added loss of legal capacity and alienation of property rights.

All this can be avoided if you end up in a rehabilitation center. Here they help you return to a normal life without drugs, help you find a job, and assist you in returning to your family. Legal advice is provided to restore property rights.

Who is predisposed to drug addiction?

People who are prone to a particularly risky lifestyle are predisposed to drug addiction:

• Often in conflict with people around them (in public places, at home, at work);
• Those who do not know how to gain trusting, warm relationships with other people, with their own family;
• Autistic, withdrawn;
• Neglecting their own health;
• With a weak immune system;
• Prone to painful memories, the return of painful emotions associated with the past. If such people get a drug during the period of the most acutely experienced painful emotion of the past, they receive a strong and deep experience of compensation for this emotion and become dependent;
• Without noble life values.

What happens to the reproductive function of a drug addict?

The drug addict's sexual desire decreases, and persistent impotence or loss of libido develops. Some drugs affect the chromosomal sequence and make pathological changes to the genetic code of the body. This is fraught with the birth of unhealthy offspring in several generations. Such drugs include LSD, ecstasy and other mutagens.

For a pregnant woman, drug use is doubly harmful. She harms her health and the health of her child. Children of drug addicts are born with withdrawal syndrome and suffer from withdrawal symptoms due to the fault of the mother. They cry constantly and their breathing and heart function may be impaired.

Intellectual underdevelopment and high mortality at a young age

Drug addiction leads to the cessation of mental development of the main drug population - adolescents. Delayed development becomes the reason for their inability to obtain an education, profession, or professional growth. On a national scale, the social usefulness of a generation is under threat.

Drug addiction causes high rates of early mortality. In addition to personal tragedy, deaths among young people are the social consequences of drug addiction and are of national importance. After all, the able-bodied layer of people, who bear the main burden of maintaining the life support of the state, medicine, education, pensions, and defense capabilities, is dying.

Lethal outcomes in drug addicts are caused by:

• overdose,
• complications from internal organs,
• psychoses,
• suicides. The death rate among addicts is 350 times higher than among the healthy category.

The overall mortality rate when taking surfactants is 30 times higher than in other people. The average life expectancy of patients ranges from 5-10 years of drug addiction experience, regardless of what age category they are in.

Drug addiction mortality statistics

Official statistics according to the Federal Drug Control Service of the Russian Federation present the following data:

• 70,000 people die from drug addiction in Russia every year;
• 86,000 people become drug addicts;
• the average age of a drug addict is 28 years old, that is, this is the age to which drug addicts live;
• 70% of dead drug addicts are teenagers and young adults.

These figures indicate that the situation has long become threatening, so the organization of drug treatment needs to be given increased attention at the state level. Our clinic is a certified institution, we operate under a license and participate in all government anti-drug programs.

How dangerous is substance abuse?

Teenage substance abuse has become a particularly acute problem in Russia. According to statistics, the average age of first use of inhalants is 8-14 years.

The main danger of substance abuse is accessibility. Schoolchildren can easily buy and find glue, gasoline, acetone or paint at home. Moreover, children and adolescents share their impressions with each other and attract friends to their harmful activity. And the difficulties of adolescence, problems in communicating with peers and parents only increase the desire for a new dose.

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Drug addiction treatment here

We treat patients with drug addiction according to a proven scheme, including a drug course for detoxification and restoration of health. Then we transfer the patient to a rehabilitation center with the aim of introducing into his consciousness the attitude of completely abstaining from drugs. This is done in a comfortable environment using the 12-step methodology and other methods of psychological influence.

Our institution has the necessary equipment for diagnostics and procedures, and a trained team works. Doctors know how to use the world's best technologies for treating drug addiction and have their own developments in this area. Patients have access to anonymous treatment and are provided with services based on tolerance, understanding of problems and confidentiality.

The advantage of our center is free re-rehabilitation after a breakdown and lifelong support for the drug addict. After completing the full course of treatment, our addictologists and psychologists help everyone return to society, promote employment and help restore their families.

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Consequences of drug addiction for the individual

The use of illegal drugs completely destroys one's personality. A person is no longer interested in his hobby, work, development, family. The life of a drug addict goes in a circle: searching for a drug, getting high, searching for a drug. However, it no longer has any brake lights. Drug addicts are capable of stealing even the last toys or clothes from their own children and parents.

At the same time, any drug addict is capable of lying, looking straight into the eyes. You may hear thousands of tragic stories, but the addict is unable to empathize with others. As a rule, a person begins to show special love and tenderness when he needs money. Conclusion - a drug addict almost never tells the truth, he does not think about anyone but himself. Therefore, appealing to his conscience is useless.

Consequences of drug use: harm to health

As mentioned above, drug use affects all systems of the body. Here is just a small list of the consequences of taking it:

• The gastrointestinal tract organs practically stop working. Since natural cleansing does not occur, the addict emits an unpleasant odor, hence the painful gray color of the skin. Wanting to somehow remove toxins, the sweat glands begin to work more actively;
• Opiates completely block the cough center of the brain. The result is the accumulation of sputum and the development of pneumonia;
• Bones and teeth are gradually destroyed , since the addict practically does not consume calcium. Drugs wash away all useful microelements from the body;
• The most terrible diseases of drug addicts are AIDS, HIV, hepatitis and sepsis. Since immunity almost completely declines, tuberculosis, herpes, and syphilis can often be added to this list. The body is not able to overcome even a common cold;
• The blood vessels and heart are gradually destroyed. A heart attack is a common consequence of drug use. In addition, the veins are gradually burned when it comes to injections.
• If the drug is smoked or snorted, the mucous membranes are also destroyed. Nosebleeds, dry mouth and nose, painful wounds - all these symptoms accompany those who like to “sniff” and “blow”;

Promiscuous sex life leads to infection with sexually transmitted diseases. Even infections that can be treated can lead to serious sexual complications in a drug addict - infertility, impotence, inability to achieve sexual intimacy, cervical cancer in women.