Consequences of Drug Use

July 9, 2008 by admin
Filed under Holidays

By Terri Maguire

After searching the Internet for a credible list of consequences to using drugs, I found so many it would take several reams of paper to list and properly cite them. So I decided to summarize the list and paraphrase it in my own words. Before using drugs (INCLUDING ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO), stop to think, “Is it worth it?” Once you read this list, you will hopefully see that it isn’t. Drug use consequences:

Alienation / loss of relationships such as your family, friends
Termination from your job
Inability to get another job
You could commit a crime you wouldn’t otherwise commit
You could be implicated in a crime you didn’t commit, because you were hanging with your friends who do drugs
Jail time
Hard, prison time
Loss of everything for love of the drug(s)
Legal expenses
Health problems
Heart rate increase/decrease
Bad hallucinations
Withdrawal effects when you can’t get the drug
Blood infections
Stroke
Respiratory failure
Liver damage
Permanent kidney damage
Blood clots
Skin abnormalities
Viral hepatitis
Hepatitis C
Tuberculosis
Cancer
HIV/AIDS
Other STD’s from reckless sexual behavior as a result of drug use
Possibility of overdose
Seizures
Coma
Loss of spirit and self respect
Dependence and/or addiction
DUI
Possible manslaughter charge or even murder charge (in many states)
Flunk out of school
Sexual impotence
Public embarrassment
Graduation to more illicit drugs
Despair, depression
Self mutilation
Suicide attempt(s)
Suicide success
Younger brother or sister start using because YOU are!
You lose your “true” self – you become the drug
You become paranoid
Unintended pregnancy
Miscarriage
Fetal addiction
Fetal abnormalities
Newborn retardation
Newborn death
You become responsible for child support payments
Total economic loss/failure
Homelessness
Drug poisoning
You are sexually abused / raped
Use of illicit drugs counteract medications you DO need
Brain Damage
Permanent memory loss
Death