The Positive and Negative Side of Drugs
Positive Effects of Drugs
For many individuals that engage in drugs, the drugs serve as either as a crutch or a means to escape reality. So what are the other positive effects of drugs? Here are some of them.
- Drugs help people to socialize.
People with social anxiety may find it stressful to be in social situations. Doing drugs can help them because drugs lower a person’s inhibitions, making them less self-conscious and feel more comfortable in situations that would typically cause anxiety.
- Drugs help people forget their problems.
Many people use drugs as a means to escape a life situation that may be causing them emotional or mental distress. Also, a person may want to avoid dealing with a traumatic or hurtful event in their life, so they may do drugs to numb their senses.
- Drugs makes people less tired.
There are cases wherein people may do drugs to give them energy. Sometimes getting through the day takes so much energy, so some people take drugs to help them do their daily tasks.
Negatives Effects of Drugs
Here are the negative effects related to drug use:
- Physical health: The most obvious negative effect of drugs is the physical damage it can do to the body. These could be in the form of organ damage, cancer, hormone imbalances, and many other health issues. These medical issues may have long-lasting consequences and may even cause death.
- Finances: Addiction almost always causes financial distress. To be able to support their addiction, people will spend all their money and resources to obtain their drug of choice. When this happens, they may go into debt or lose their job. These can have devastating consequences not only to the individual but also to the family.
- Relationships: When there is addiction involved, relationships suffer and eventually fail. It may be with a family member of friends or significant other. Addicted individuals usually would end up isolated or their social interaction are limited to other substance users.
- Legal problems: Since drugs are mostly illegal, substance abusers would likely be in trouble with the law.
When people recognize their unhealthy ways of dealing with stress, anxiety, and other issues in life, they open themselves to healthy coping skills instead of making drugs as a way to avoid stresses in life.