Reference no: EM133302352

Assignment: I chose two articles that explain the effects of drug abuse in the first one "effects from drug abuse by Natahsa Tracy gets more into the effects of drug abuse on the body. "An individual who abuses drugs may not realize they have a problem until pronounced side effects are seen," according to Tracy (3). The article discusses how drugs can affect the body, as well as the negative side effects, like abnormal vital signs like respiration, heart rate, and blood pressure as well as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain. They may feel cool and sweaty or hot and dry depending on whether you are injecting. You can contract hepatitis B or C, HIV, or other diseases from needle sharing. The following section of the article discusses how psychological drug abuse makes a person obsessed with obtaining drugs. Tracy mentions the effects of drug abuse include being preoccupied with where the drug can be obtained, how to get money for the drug, and when and where the drug can be used. "A drug abuser may also experience aggressiveness, irritability, selfishness, and hopelessness due to psychological effects." (Tracy) Some people are more affected by drug abuse than others because if you are homeless and are spending all your money on drugs, you will never be able to buy food for yourself, and that will be deadly. A person abusing drugs affects both his or her mind and body, as well as many people around them. In this article Tracy also explains how Drug addiction is part drug abuse and part drug dependence, "both considered to be a mental illness" (Tracy) and how having a good support system is needed for recovery Drug addicts, then, can receive drug addiction support through medical and mental health resources. A professional drug addiction support service like psychotherapy may require payment, whereas a doctor's appointment may be covered by insurance. Community-based drug addiction support can also be suggested by professional drug addiction support people. One of the most frequent drug addictions supports used after a person has completed formal treatment for their addiction is drug addiction support groups." Often drug addiction support groups are part of treatment and are designed to continue into recovery for as long as is needed."(Tracy) Attending drug addiction support groups indefinitely can prevent relapse in times of stress for some addicts. An addict in recovery who is in a drug addiction support group often has a sponsor who helps him or her maintain their recovery.

"The physical and mental effects of abuse." In this article, there is more information about how drugs affect the brain and body, and how they can lead to addiction. Different drugs have different effects on the body. The effects of drugs can be long-term and permanent, even after a person stops taking the substance. As with the first article, this article has a lot of information about how drugs affect different people depending on their health history. "The effects of drugs on the body can depend on how the drug is delivered. For example, injecting drugs directly into the bloodstream has an immediate impact, while ingestion has a delayed effect. But all misused drugs affect the brain." (Gateway) Similarly to my first article about the effects of drug abuse, this one includes information about the resources available to help with drug abuse. "If someone wants to conquer their drug addiction, they should seek help from a professional, as their chances of successful sobriety increase. A relative or a friend can be a great person to talk to about your problems. However, the resources and expertise that the staff at our facilities have are bounds greater and more effective in healing." (Gateway) My first article discusses the effects of drug abuse more than my second one on drug abuse addiction; however, my second article discusses the mental health effects of drug abuse and how it should be treated.