Addiction has negative effects on physical and mental health, relationships, finances, and legal consequences. Physical effects include damage to organs, malnutrition, and reduced immunity. Mental effects include altered brain chemistry and unusual behaviors. Social effects include violent outbursts, secrecy, and alienation from loved ones. Economic effects include job loss and gambling losses. Legal consequences include fines and jail time.
Addiction can impact nearly every aspect of a person’s life. Addiction to drugs and alcohol, for example, will often have detrimental effects on a person’s physical and mental health and could lead to serious medical conditions. Other effects of addiction include strained relationships, financial hardship, and problems with the law.
Physical problems caused by drug or alcohol addiction usually include damage to most of the body’s major organs, including the heart, lungs, and brain. An addict who uses needles to inject a drug is also at a higher risk of contracting HIV or AIDS. Also, an alcoholic who has been drinking for many years has a high risk of developing cirrhosis of the liver. Other physical effects of addiction include malnutrition, weight loss or gain, and reduced immunity.
Addictions also affect a person’s mental capacity in many cases. As the addiction progresses, especially with drugs and alcohol, an addict will need more drugs or alcohol to be satisfied. Some studies also show that prolonged use of alcohol and drugs can alter a person’s brain chemistry, leading to unusual behaviors.
The violent outbursts that many addicts experience while under the influence or when going through withdrawal often lead to the negative social effects of addiction. Some addicts can also be extremely secretive, trying to hide their addiction from loved ones. This behavior can lead to family and friends feeling alienated or suspicious. Other times, an addict may constantly borrow money, or even steal money from her loved ones.
The economic effects of addiction can also be very serious. For example, a gambling addiction can cause a person to lose large amounts of money at one time. Many drugs can also cause the user to have difficulty concentrating, or could cause him to lose his job. Poor job performance could lead to layoffs, leading to an even worse economic situation.
In addition to many of the other negative effects of addiction, jail time and heavy fines are also possible consequences. For example, driving under the influence of alcohol often results in expensive fines and even jail time. Getting caught under the influence of illegal drugs or even possessing illegal drugs can result in the same circumstances. A drug record also usually prevents a person from getting a good job or other desired position.
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