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Alcohol & Drugs ~ Introduction

Alcohol & Drugs

Alcohol:

Alcohol abuse cause over thousands of deaths in the United States each year.  It is the most commonly abused drug by children of ages 17 and up.  Most deaths from motor vehicle accidents are related to alcohol.  People who drink alcohol are more likely to engage in sexual behavior, have poor grades and job performance, use tobacco products, and experiment with illegal drugs.
 
When you have an alcohol problem, it usually affects your health and daily living.  Any dependence on Alcohol is a sign of Alcoholism, which can affect you physically or emotionally.  Drinking Alcohol for a long period of time could damage your liver, nervous system, heart, and brain.  It also causes high blood pressure, stomach problems, medication interactions, sexual problems, osteoporosis, and cancer.  Alcohol can also lead to violence, accidents, social isolation, and difficulties at work and home.

Drugs:

Some people use drugs to get a “high” or to relieve stress and emotional problems.  Drugs abuse is the use of illegal drugs such as marijuana, methamphetamines, cocaine, heroin, or other “street drugs” and the abuse of legal prescription and nonprescription drugs.  Drug addition occurs when you develop a physical or emotional need for a drug.  Some people may take more than one illegal substance at a time to get that extra high feeling, which may cause a possible overdose. Sometimes you’re unable to control the use of drugs once you have used it a couple of times.  This will allow you to depend on the drug, which will eventually cause problems in the future. 

Symptoms of Alcohol & Drugs

The withdrawal of Alcohol and Drugs can cause uncomfortable and sometimes dangerous symptoms after you decrease or stop drinking or using drugs for a long period of time.

Alcohol withdrawal:

This may start from 4 to 12 hours after you cut down or stop drinking, or as long as several days after the last drink, and can last a few days.

Mild symptoms

• Sweating
  
  
• Shakiness
  
  
• Intense worry
  
  
• Nausea or vomiting

Severe symptoms

• Confusion and irritability
  
  
• Feeling things on their bodies that don’t exist
  
  
• Seeing or hearing things that don’t exist
  
  
• Severe agitation
  
  
• Severe trembling
  
  
• Delirium tremens

Drug withdrawal

• Abdominal pain
  
  
• Nausea and vomiting
  
  
• Drenching sweats
  
  
• Nervousness and shaking
  
  
• Seizures
  
  
• Death

Treatment

• Going to rehabilitation facility for help
  
  
• Reduce alcohol and drug dosage until you can completely stop

Additional Information