The rate at which drug addiction is penetrating society today is alarming. In fact, about 21 million Americans have experienced some form of drug addiction in their lifetime.
Last year, the American economy lost $600 billion in healthcare expenses, workplace productivity, and crime-related costs due to drug abuse. But on a smaller scale, drugs continue to be a menace in society and individuals’ lives. These are some of the ways in which drug abuse impacts society, especially local communities.
Broken Relationships
Drugs affect the way people think and they begin to live in conflict with others. As a young teen living with their parents, consistent use of drugs and trying to hide it can cause friction, and in some cases, even break the family apart.
Furthermore, those with families tend to get more violent with their spouses and children when they come home high on drugs. This leads to broken marriages as some spouses can no longer tolerate drug use, and they choose to leave.
In general, drug users develop a defensive mindset that impacts the way they relate with others daily.
Financial Pressures and Increased Debt
Drugs don’t come cheap, and maintaining a lifestyle of drug abuse can become costly in the long run. This is why many drug addicts get into serious financial trouble since they can even borrow money or take a loan to finance their drug use.
Some may even sell household items, leaving their families stranded. In the end, most drug users turn to a life of crime to satisfy their monetary needs to purchase drugs. The cost of rehabilitating these people also doesn’t come cheap, and families normally have to dig into their savings.
Sexual Effects
It’s no secret that drugs affect the human reproductive system. Most drugs are widely marketed as sexual stimulants and aphrodisiacs – drugs that make one be in a prolonged state of sexual arousal.
However, the truth is that almost all types of drugs negatively impact the human reproductive system. For example, long-term cannabis users usually have low sperm counts and can have trouble conceiving.
Different drugs impact locals’ sexuality in different ways, and some end up with permanent reproductive problems, as a result.
Health Complications
The last and perhaps most deadly impact drugs have on local communities is that they alter and damage the body systems of users. Take a look at alcohol, for example, which prolonged use could cause liver damage. The same goes for almost every other drug you can think of except the damage to the body is different.
Furthermore, due to drug use, substance abusers usually develop weak immunity and become more susceptible to communicable diseases. Last but not least is the effect drugs have on your brain long-term. Long-term marijuana use, for example, could impair learning attention and cause memory loss.
No matter the type of drug you use, the effects on health are almost always the same, and the drug might end up killing you.
Stop Your Recovery Today
Drugs affect individuals and those individuals impact society at large. In recent years, drugs have become an uncontrollable menace, so the only option is to educate people of all ages in each community on how drug abuse impacts society. If you or someone you know suffers from drug addiction, contact us to get the help you deserve today.
