Drug abuse may exacerbate mental disorders
Nicole Barreca
Issue date: 3/5/10 Section: Features
The Federal Government's Household Survey on Drug Abuse, which is conducted annually, reported about 12.7 million people have used some illegal drug in the last month and around 30 -40 million have used some illegal drug within the last year. Of the 12.7 million who used illegal drugs in the last month, about 10 million are presumed to be casual drug users, and about 2.7 million are addicts, according to druglibrary.org.
"I think people who steal drugs and other medications are kind of pathetic. They don't realize all the people they hurt, much less themselves," Gabby Detrick, English sophomore, said. "People know when they have a problem; they are just so dependent on it that they don't want to admit it."
The quickest way for a drug to affect a person's brain is by putting it in their bloodstream. Drugs that are inserted directly into the bloodstream have a faster effect than those that are swallowed.
IV injection will have a greater and faster affect because the drug is immediately available to the brain. What the drug is also plays a great factor.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, "Individuals who suffer from addiction often have one or more accompanying medical issues, including lung and cardiovascular disease, stroke, cancer, and mental disorders. Imaging scans, chest x-rays, and blood tests show the damaging effects of drug abuse throughout the body."
Drinking alcohol on an empty stomach will result in the alcohol entering the bloodstream faster than if the same drinks were had with a full stomach. There is a blood-brain barrier that keeps many substances out of the brain, but the drugs of concern are able to go through that barrier with little difficulty.
"Drug abuse and metal disorders often co-exist," according to the NIDA. "In some cases, mental diseases may precede addiction; in other cases, drug abuse may trigger or exacerbate mental disorders, particularly in individuals with specific vulnerabilities."
Each person deals with mental illness differently. Some may self medicate by using left over prescription medications or even stealing medications whenever a person can get a hold of them. Others may deny the fact that they have a problem and just continue with their normal behavior.
"I think people who steal drugs and other medications are kind of pathetic. They don't realize all the people they hurt, much less themselves," Gabby Detrick, English sophomore, said. "People know when they have a problem; they are just so dependent on it that they don't want to admit it."
The quickest way for a drug to affect a person's brain is by putting it in their bloodstream. Drugs that are inserted directly into the bloodstream have a faster effect than those that are swallowed.
IV injection will have a greater and faster affect because the drug is immediately available to the brain. What the drug is also plays a great factor.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, "Individuals who suffer from addiction often have one or more accompanying medical issues, including lung and cardiovascular disease, stroke, cancer, and mental disorders. Imaging scans, chest x-rays, and blood tests show the damaging effects of drug abuse throughout the body."
Drinking alcohol on an empty stomach will result in the alcohol entering the bloodstream faster than if the same drinks were had with a full stomach. There is a blood-brain barrier that keeps many substances out of the brain, but the drugs of concern are able to go through that barrier with little difficulty.
"Drug abuse and metal disorders often co-exist," according to the NIDA. "In some cases, mental diseases may precede addiction; in other cases, drug abuse may trigger or exacerbate mental disorders, particularly in individuals with specific vulnerabilities."
Each person deals with mental illness differently. Some may self medicate by using left over prescription medications or even stealing medications whenever a person can get a hold of them. Others may deny the fact that they have a problem and just continue with their normal behavior.
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