Home >> Health >> Young women's health >> Drug effects, addiction and dependency

       Effects

• Drugs are substances that affect the way a person thinks, acts or feels. A lot of substances fall into this category, from coffee, paracetamol, cigarettes and alcohol to heroin or crack cocaine.  
• People use drugs for different reasons: for energy, to relax, out of curiosity, to have fun, to rebel, to escape or cope with difficulty and pain. 
• The trade-off is that there is usually a negative side effect or 'come down' that can impact your body and mind. 
• The legal consequences of getting caught with drugs are often more serious than many young people expect. A drug related conviction could send you to prison and limit your opportunities in life, such as travelling to certain countries or working in certain professions. Never buy drugs for friends or share them with friends. In law, this is seen as supply, and you face the same penalties as any drug dealer.
• It is difficult to predict how a drug will affect you. It will depend on many factors, including the type of drug you use, the way it is taken, how often and where you use it and your physical and mental state.
  
  Addiction and Dependence
  
• The regular use of some drugs will usually lead to the development of a tolerance, so that more and more is needed to get the same effect.
• When a person's whole life starts to revolve around the drug or when they depend on the drug to get them through the day, they have reached a state of dependence.
• An addiction can develop very slowly and unnoticeably in some people, while for others it can develop very quickly.  
• A person may experience unpleasant physical and psychological effects when they stop using, however they will pass with time.
• For more information about specific drugs, including their composition, effects and risks, have a look at the listed websites and contacts. 

   

 

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