Substance abuse issues have been around for a long time. Some are able to “dabble” here and there, maybe in high school and college and after that, they leave the substances alone. For others, substance abuse is killing them.
People who abuse substances are at risk of dying prematurely, compared to individuals who do not abuse drugs and alcohol. (Remember, alcohol is a drug). There are several ways in which a person is injuring their body with substance abuse.
A person may expose themselves to a dangerous and potentially life-threatening disease while engaging in substance abuse. HIV, Hepatitis B and C, various sexually transmitted diseases and others; all are more prevalent in individuals with substance abuse problems. Drugs like Methamphetamines and Cocaine can lead to heart attacks and strokes.
Alcohol abuse can directly and adversely affect every organ in the body. Abusing alcohol can damage the heart, skin, brain, stomach, every organ (except the kidneys, interestingly).
And then there is the possibility, depending on the drug abused and the person’s overall condition; that drug abuse can result in death. Opiate painkillers for example, kill about 140 Americans each day. That is a horrible statistic!
What happens when somebody takes too many Opiates is that the person can stop breathing. Death follows shortly thereafter. Overdoses kill people in the prime of their lives. That is a horrible thing. No one wakes up one day and decides: “Hey, I’m gonna be a drug addict.” But is does happen.
The best way (of course), to avoid having dying from substance abuse, is to never start taking substances in the first place.
If you or someone you know needs help to quit abusing substances, or getting off Heroin or other Opiate drugs, call: The Drug and Alcohol Detox Clinic of South Mississippi @ 601.261.9101. Or on the web: www.TheDrugandAlcoholDetoxClinic.com. You can also like their Facebook page for more information. There’s Still Hope!
