How Drug Addiction Hurts You and Those Around You

A lot of drug addicts don’t realize how dangerous the addiction can be for themselves and for the people they love and care about. In order to prevent and overcome addiction, you must realize the dangers so you can better understand the consequences of addiction and quit alcohol or drug abuse. Knowing is half the battle. Here are some of the major disadvantages of substance addiction you must know.

It Hurts You Physically:

First and foremost, alcohol or drug addiction is literally harmful to your body. Depending on the type of drug or alcohol, addiction can cause a weakened immune system, cardiovascular, kidneys, lungs and liver disorders, stroke, and various types of cancers. Alcohol or drug influence can cause you to engage in unsafe sex practices that put you at higher risk of sexually transmitted diseases like HIV/AIDS. Unfortunately, these consequences don’t just come from long term use of drugs, using just once or few times can also result in a fatal overdose, brain damage or infect the user with a disease that he will suffer for the rest of his life. 

It Hurts Your Mental Health:

In addition to impacting your physical health, it also affects your mental health. Anxiety, depression, hallucination, paranoia, delusions, and insomnia can stem from alcohol or drug addiction. If a person already had mental problems before the drug use, those often get worse by drug addiction or abuse. In some cases, these mental health issues can’t be treated even if the person discontinues the use of drugs. 

It Hurts Your Legal Status:

Alcohol or drug addiction can also result in serious legal consequences that you will deal with for the rest of your life. Many employers require you to go through medical screening which also involves drug test, and some of them also conduct random drug tests even during the employment. If your test reveals that you are a drug or alcohol addict, you will fail to get the job and can even be expelled if you don’t give up alcoholism or drugs. Moreover, drugs cause impaired judgment and sleeplessness that affects your job performance. In the long run, desperation from addiction can lead to poor performance, absenteeism, stealing, lying, and other behaviors that are unacceptable by the employer. If you are unable to give up drugs or alcohol addiction despite your best efforts, seek the help of authentic alcohol rehab centers.  

Driving under the effect of drugs or alcohol can cause a suspended driver’s license. You’ll be charged with heavy fines and may have to spend some time in jail.  

It Hurts Your Family Relationships:

The more an addict abuses drugs or alcohol, the more his priorities shift towards the drug of his choice. He does not engage with his family most of the time and becomes negligent of his responsibilities. He starts prioritizing drugs over his loved ones which leads to self-alienation and broken family relationships. 

It Hurts Your Finances:

Alcohol and drugs cost money. The more you drink alcohol or use a drug, the more of it you need to get the same effect and pleasure. Therefore, you will spend more money on drugs. Persisting with addiction can seriously impact your finances and will lead you to use more of your money on drugs rather than on fulfilling important needs and obligations. 

It Hurts Your Friendships:

Addicts often engage in dishonesty and deceitful behaviors that make them untrustworthy. Such behaviors seriously affect their friendships. The addict may also experience unfavorable personality changes like lack of patience, short temper, and decreased interest in others that can badly hurt your close friends and can even force them to leave you.
​