Harmful Drug Facts

According to abovetheinfluence.com, in 2006, more than 19 percent of U.S. drivers 16 to 20 years old who died in automobile crashes had been consuming alcohol. In addition, harmful drugs such as cocaine and inhalants can kill an individual upon her first use. There are also more teens in treatment with marijuana being their primary drug of addiction.

Safety Issues

• Psychoactive drugs such as marijuana ecstasy, amphethamines, alcohol, heroin and cocaine can cause a decline in physical coordination and impair the senses or memory, judgment and attention span. Because of these adverse effects, an individual who drives or operates machinery while intoxicated can cause serious or even fatal accidents. This is often seen in drunk or drugged driving situations, or in workplace accidents. Due to a lack of coordination and judgment the intoxicated individual may also be prone to falling. She may not be aware of how intoxicated she is and may still attempt to drive a vehicle or operate machinery despite being under the influence.

Physical Hazzards

• Psychoactive drugs also have physical effects, which can destroy one's health. The result of smoking tobacco or marijuana is sometimes lung cancer; alcohol abusers can develop liver disease; intravenous drug users, who share needles, can contract hepatitis or HIV/AIDS; and individuals who sniff cocaine can sustain damage to the interior of the nose.

Mental Problems

• When an individual abuses drugs she runs the risk of developing mental health problems. Drug abuse can cause personality disruptions, memory loss and issues with learning. When stressed, some individuals seek comfort in drugs to avoid their anxiety or depression. They often grow to believe they cannot function effectively without drugs. Individuals who are mentally or emotionally unstable may use drugs to alleviate their uncomfortable feelings.

Physical Dependence

• When an individual's body becomes used to the drug, her body cannot operate normally if she does not use the drug. If she stops using the drug suddenly or reduce her dosage she may suffer a series of withdrawal symptoms, which can be mild to fatal. For example, cocaine withdrawal may cause depression or oversleeping. To avoid these withdrawal symptoms, the individual may continue to use drugs. Although not every drug causes a physical dependence, they are still susceptible to abuse because the individual may become psychologically dependent on it.

Overdose

• When overdose occurs, the drug user suffers severe and instant damage, mentally or physically. Depending on the drug and the dosage, an individual may or may not die. Individuals who have developed a tolerance for the drug's effects, who start using again after abstaining for a long period of time, or illegal drug users who are unsure of the purity level of what they are purchasing are more likely to experience an overdose.