Effects of Drug/Alcohol Abuse:
i. Behavioral Changes: Immediate adverse effects of drug and alcohol abuse manifest as reckless behavior, vandalism, and violence.
ii. Coma/Death: Excessive drug doses may lead to coma or death due to respiratory, heart failure, or cerebral hemorrhage. Combining drugs with alcohol often results in overdose and fatalities.
iii. Social Changes: Warning signs of drug and alcohol abuse include academic decline, unexplained absences, poor hygiene, withdrawal, depression, aggression, strained relationships, and changes in sleep and eating patterns.
iv. Crimes: Desperation for money to buy substances can drive addicts to crime, causing mental and financial distress to their families and friends.
v. Adverse Health Effects/Diseases: Intravenous drug use increases the risk of serious infections like HIV and hepatitis B. Alcohol abuse leads to long-term effects like balance loss, liver cirrhosis, pancreatitis, and potential heavy drinking in adulthood. Chronic substance use damages the nervous system and liver, while substance use during pregnancy adversely affects the fetus.
vi. Misuse in Sports: Some athletes misuse drugs like narcotic analgesics, anabolic steroids, diuretics, and hormones to enhance performance, risking their health.
vii. Side-effects of Anabolic Steroid Use in Females: Masculinization, increased aggressiveness, mood swings, depression, abnormal menstrual cycles, excessive hair growth, clitoral enlargement, deepening of the voice.
viii. Side-effects of Anabolic Steroid Use in Males: Acne, increased aggressiveness, mood swings, depression, testicle size reduction, decreased sperm production, kidney/liver dysfunction, breast enlargement, premature baldness, prostate gland enlargement. Prolonged use may cause permanent effects.