The Real World Health Effects Of Illegal Drug Abuse

According to the Drug Abuse Warning Network, cocaine was involved in over 380,000 emergency room visits in 2004 alone. Cocaine is a very powerful, whether taken in powder or crack form. Mild symptoms include increased heart rate, sleep disorders and seizures. Snort drugs can permanently damage the nasal tissue. Cocaine interferes with brain processes, can cause heart attacks, seizures and strokes. Even first time use can cause fatal heart attacks. For those who do not commit suicide, addiction can easily lead to habits that require one thousand U.S. dollars a week for support. Cocaine is also a severe impact on the unborn. It can start in malnourished children or pre-term labor to do abortion. Cocaine can cause placental wall tearing, loss of attachment to the uterus. It can kill both mother and child at birth if not detected early. If the child survives the birth, cocaine can lead to stroke, heart attack, urinary tract infection and heart damage. Although it seems many of the children exposed to cocaine in utero can recover at the end, it also seems that it doubles the chance of developmental delays.

According to the Drug Abuse Warning Network, heroin was involved in more than 160,000 emergency room visits in 2004 alone. Heroin suppresses the central nervous system, resulting in poor mental functioning, and can even suppress the autonomic functions to the point of respiratory failure. Chronic use damages the heart, liver and cardiovascular system and increases the risk of lung problems such as pneumonia. Heroin abusers generally use injections, associated with the risk of infections, including HIV. In addition, the drug is often mixed with other chemicals to allow the amount to give a result in more sales, so power is always unknown, and the poisons were used to stretch the supply of drugs. Children who are exposed to heroin before birth will go through the terrible symptoms after birth, and have ten times the chance to die of SIDS. Developmental retardation are also possible.

According to the Drug Abuse Warning Network, methamphetamine was involved in more than 70,000 emergency room visits in 2004 alone. Amphetamines, including ecstasy club drugs can cause psychotic behavior and brain damage. These include hallucinations, delusions, and paranoia and can lead to homicidal or suicidal thoughts. The physical effects are similar to Alzheimer's disease and stroke. Ecstasy in particular can lead to kidney damage and memory loss, although long-term human studies are still inconclusive. For the unborn, the risks include clubfoot, cleft palate, heart and limb defects, retarded growth and maternal hemorrhage. Babies can go through the symptoms, but long-term studies are still underway to identify long-term rates.