Addiction advisor.co.uk is a leading online provider of free medical information about Drug Addiction.

This part of the website contains medical information on the words associated with drug addiction and drug treatment.

What is drug abuse?

Drug abuse is no longer defined by the World Health Organisation as a recognised current medical diagnosis. Instead, they have adopted substance abuse to include drug abuse and other things.

What are the physical effects of drug abuse?

Drug abuse can lead to many harmful effects on a range of body systems. The most well recognized adverse effect of drug abuse is liver damage, leading in severe cases to liver cirrhosis. However, drug abuse can damage almost any body system. Brain damage caused by drug abuse includes dementia and severe memory loss. Drug abuse increases the chances of heart attacks occurring and raises blood pressure. Drug abuse increases the chances of occurrence of many cancers of the gastro-intestinal tract, including stomach cancer. The pancreas can be severely damaged by drug abuse, as can the body’s nervous system.

What are the social effects of drug abuse?

Drug abuse is well recognized as a cause of deteriorating relationships. Drug abuse is also associated with increases in crime, violence and unemployment.
What are the psychological effects of drug abuse?

Drug is a depressant and drug abuse is a common cause of depression. Typically depression caused by drug abuse resolves by itself when the drug abuse ceases. Drug abuse can cause increased anxiety levels and panic attacks. Paranoia and mental confusion can occur in severe cases of drug abuse.

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