ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The project title "Drugs and Alcohol Abuse" is

a point of my academic interest and my efforts
in collating this piece of information would not
have been possible without the kind support and
help of many of my mentors, as highlighted here
under.
I, V. Aravindan of class 12 (2023-24), would like
to thank my Principal, K Kishore Reddy Sir and
my school for giving me the opportunity to do
this Project on the topic of "Drugs and Alcohol
Abuse". I would also like to thank my Biology
teacher, Vhanmathi and Priya madam for
guiding me throughout this project.
The Impact of Drugs and Alcohol
Abuse Products on the Human
Body

Drugs and Alcohol Abuse

A social menace, drugs, and alcohol are
permeating very deep into the lives of innocent
youth, who fall prey to this. The harmful effects
of drugs and alcohol are far and many. They not
only spoil the health of the individual but also
slowly make people addicted to them, who turn
out to be anti-social with behavioural issues.
What are Drugs and What is Drug
Abuse?

A majority of the drugs are obtained from Plants,

which are again nothing but chemicals. Some of
these are opioids, coca alkaloids, cannabinoids, etc.
which are got from plants. Some other medical
formulations such as barbiturates, amphetamines,
benzodiazepines, etc. are also misused.
The drugs have an effect on the central nervous
system of the body. These chemicals react with the
body and put the whole body at risk. Drugs change
the way the body feels. The chemicals in the drugs
send the wrong signals and messages to different
parts of the body, thereby resulting in hallucinations
and/or seeing and hearing things that are real.
Sometimes certain actions are also committed by
individuals under the influence of drugs, which they
normally do not do. The ill effects that drugs have on
the body include a faster heartbeat, slow body
movements, dry throat, and fast or slow breathing,
etc. They also affect the different sensations of smell,
sight, hearing, feeling etc.
When drugs are taken in such a manner that they
impair the regular bodily functions, in terms of
physical, physiological and psychological terms, it is
called drug abuse. There is no safe limit for taking any
drug. The tolerance levels increase every time an
individual takes drugs and this becomes a vicious cycle
and the individual gets addicted to drugs.

Smoking and Alcohol

Even smoking tobacco products and drinking alcohol
are linked to many diseases. Tobacco has nicotine that
has a property to raise the blood pressure and
heartbeat. Smoking also causes immense harm to the
lungs that get filled with nicotine deposits. The carbon
monoxide content in the blood increases due to
smoking which results in lesser oxygen content in the
blood.
Drinking alcohol is again a very dangerous
phenomenon. These are things that the body gets
slowly addicted to and individuals find it hard to give
up. This slowly results in the gradual deterioration of
the body, till it gets to a point of no return. The organs
of the body get destroyed and slowly the person loses
health and becomes sick and ultimately dies.

Effects Of Alcohol and Drug Abuse

Proper knowledge, education as well as regular

guidance should be given so that youth can be
safeguarded against these evils. More
importantly, adolescence is an age, where
children are very susceptible to get influenced
by many things. But, they have to be
empowered with enough knowledge so as to
not become victims of alcohol and drug abuse.
The ill effects of alcohol, smoking, and drug
abuse can be of many types. One, they can
cause the individuals to become antisocial,
indulge in vandalism, rash and reckless
behaviour etc. On the other hand, they can
also cause lung cancer, respiratory failure,
heart failure, cerebral haemorrhage, damage to
the nervous system and liver, kidney
dysfunction etc.

The adverse effects of drug and alcohol abuse

are not just limited to the individual. Rather,
they cause great mental agony to the other
family members and friends. Drug abuse can
make individuals get into depression, anxiety,
rebellious nature, stealing and a whole lot of
unpleasant things.
Prevention and Control
By imparting the necessary life skills to
adolescents, and making them realize the
harmful effects of drug and alcohol abuse, a
lot can be prevented. Proper counselling,
education, not falling to peer pressure and
seeking professional help are some ways that
this menace can be controlled.
The Effects of Alcohol and Drug Abuse

According to the 2017 National Survey on Drug Use

and Health, an estimated 140 million Americans aged
12 or older were current drinkers. Just a few years
prior, in 2015, an estimated 86.4% of the adult
population had consumed alcohol at some point in
their lives, while 27% had engaged in binge drinking
within the prior month. Additionally, in 2017, 30.5
million people 12 or older used an illicit drug in the
past 30 days (which equates to current use), and
approximately 19.7 million people 12 or older had a
substance use disorder (SUD) connect to their use of
alcohol and/or illicit drugs.

Though the short- and long-term impact of drug and

alcohol abuse may vary from person to person, many
people struggle with the ill-effects of abusing drugs
and alcohol every day. Factors that influence the
nature and severity of symptoms that are experienced
may depend on a person’s age, gender, individual
physiology, genetic make-up, and mental health
condition, as well as environmental factors related to
the family, school, and neighborhood.
And while some side effects are relatively mild, many
abused substances lend themselves to severe and life-
threatening outcomes, particularly as a person’s
pattern of use progresses. Addiction is a particularly
debilitating development associated with regular drug
or alcohol use that can lead to significant impairment
in many areas of a person’s life—from work to school
and interpersonal functioning.

What are the Short-Term Effects of

Substance Abuse?
Drugs and alcohol have various effects on both mental
and physical health. The short-term effects may
depend on the amount used, the potency of purity of
the substance, and whether it is mixed or used in
combination with any other mind-altering substances.
Drugs and alcohol can affect a person’s thinking,
mood, energy level, and perception. They may impair
motor functioning, interfere with decision-making and
problem-solving, and reduce inhibition, as well as
cause a host of physical health problems.
Some of the more common substances of abuse
include alcohol, hallucinogens, opioids,
benzodiazepines, and inhalants, each of which
produce their own unique short- and long-term
effects.

Side Effects of Alcohol Abuse

A few factors impact the speed at which alcohol’s effects
are felt. If someone consumes alcohol on an empty
stomach, he or she may feel the effects far quicker than
someone drinking after a large meal. Weight and body
composition also affect alcohol metabolism and intoxication
levels.
Depending on the amount of drinking taking place, the
short-term effects of acute alcohol intoxication can range
from mild to devastating. Potential effects include:
 Mood swings.
 Impaired judgment.
 Coordination issues.
 Trouble concentrating.
 Memory problems.
 Slurred speech.
 Uncontrolled eye movements.
 Stupor.
 Coma.
Find out more on alcohol abuse side effects
Relatively mild intoxication can result in increased sociability
and euphoria, while higher levels of consumption can result
in sedation and dangerously slowed pulse and breathing
rate. Drinking large amounts of alcohol can result in
blackouts, or amnesia for the events that occurred while
intoxicated.
Side Effects of Hallucinogen Abuse
Hallucinogens, such as DMT, LSD, psilocybin (magic
mushrooms), and peyote (mescaline), may all differ slightly
in terms of the duration and intensity of their psychoactive
and physiological effects, but there are some areas of
overlap in the character of such effects.
Possible short-term effects of hallucinogens may include:

 Hallucinations.
 Synesthesia, or mixing of senses.
 Intensified perceptions.
 Significant anxiety or depression.
 Increased heart rate.
 Heart palpitations.
 Dilated pupils.
 Blurred vision.
 Excessive sweating.
 Tremors.
 Paranoia.
  Impaired judgment.
 Impaired motor control.
Hallucinogen intoxication is commonly referred to as a
“trip,” and a negative experience is called a “bad trip.”
There have been some reports of an association between
certain hallucinogens and suicidality, although such
occurrences are very rare.

Side Effects of Opioid Abuse

Using opioids, such as heroin or misusing prescription
painkillers, like Vicodin, Percocet, and OxyContin, can be
particularly dangerous because of their risks for profound
respiratory depression and overdose. Heroin is commonly
injected or snorted (and sometimes smoked), while opioid
painkillers are most often taken orally, yet may also be
crushed and snorted, or mixed with liquid solution and
injected.
Some side effects typical of opioids include:
  Initial euphoric rush followed by apathy.

 Dysphoria, or unease.
 Nausea.
 Vomiting.
 Pinpoint pupils.
 Itching skin.
 Drowsiness.
 Memory impairments.
 Attention problems.
 Inattention to the environment.
 Slowed thinking and movements.
 Slurred speech.
 Coma.
The pronounced drowsiness and intermittent dosing off
exhibited by an opioid user is often called “being on the
nod.” The decreased breathing rate caused by opioid
intoxication can result in overdose associated respiratory
arrest, oxygen deprivation, and subsequent brain and vital
organ injury.
Side Effects of Benzodiazepines Abuse
Benzodiazepines are depressants that are prescribed in the
treatment of muscle spasms, tremors, acute seizures,
alcohol and drug withdrawal symptoms, anxiety, and
insomnia. Commonly prescribed benzodiazepines include
Xanax, Valium, Ativan, and Klonopin. Benzodiazepine misuse
may result in the following short-term effects:
 Drowsiness.
 Impacted physical coordination and balance.
 Impaired attention and memory.
 Depression.
 Vertigo.
 Tremors.
 Respiratory depression.
Benzodiazepines have a high potential for abuse based on
their sedative properties, especially when combined with
other depressants including alcohol and opioids

Side Effects of Inhalant Abuse

Inhalants are a diverse grouping of psychoactive substances,
with some examples including everyday household products,
such as cleaning fluids, spray paint, glue, and markers. Users
typically inhale the chemicals in through the mouth or nose,
either directly or from a soaked rag. Sometimes individuals
inhale the chemical from a plastic bag or balloon. These drugs
are often abused by children or adolescents because they are
so easily accessible. The short-term effects of many inhalants
are short-lived, only lasting a few minutes. The possible side
effects of inhalant abuse include:
 Euphoria.
 Apathy.
 Delusions
 Hallucinations.
 Slow movement and thought.
 Lethargy.
 Poor judgment.
 Dizziness.
 Nausea or vomiting.
 Slowed or delayed reflexes.
 Impaired coordination.
 Blurred vision.
 Slurred speech.
 Tremors.
 Stupor.
 Coma.
Even short-term use of inhalants can have fatal consequences,
though. People who inhale from a closed container, such as a
plastic bag, may experience unconsciousness, coma, and death.
There is also a condition called “sudden sniffing death” that
may occur shortly after inhalant use that is likely due to the
acute development of a fatal arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat)
or a heart attack.

What Are the Long-Term Effects of

Substance Use?
Chronic drug and alcohol abuse can have disastrous long-term
physical and mental health consequences. As the body adapts
to the presence of a substance, it requires increasing amounts
of it to experience the desired results, a process known as
tolerance. As use continues or escalates, physical dependence
may develop, which places people at risk of an often
unpleasant and sometimes deadly withdrawal syndrome when
use of the substance slows or stops.
While some degree of physical dependence may develop even
in situations of therapeutic drug use, it is often present in
addiction; chronic and persistent misuse may more quickly
drive the development of addiction to drugs or alcohol.
Addiction is characterized by compulsive use despite negative
consequences. People who suffer from an addiction are unable
to control their use and may experience significant impairment
in their daily lives.

Long-Term Side Effects of Alcohol

Abuse
Some of the potential long-term effects of alcohol abuse or
addiction include:
 Alcoholic hepatitis.
 Cirrhosis.
 Liver cancer.
 Pancreatitis.
 Cardiomyopathy (stretching and weakening of heart
muscle).
 Irregular heart rhythm.
 High blood pressure.
 Stroke.
 Mouth and throat cancer.
 Breast cancer.
 Weakened immune system.
 Increased risk of accidents, violence, suicide.
Long-Term Side Effects of
Hallucinogen Abuse
There is limited research available as to the long-term health
effects of hallucinogen abuse, but there are two conditions that
have been documented.
 Persistent psychosis: Chronic psychotic symptoms that
don’t dissipate once intoxication wears off. These
symptoms include paranoia, mood and visual
disturbances, and disorganized thought.
 Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder (HPPD):
Characterized by the re-experiencing of symptoms
experienced while under the influence of a hallucinogen
(i.e., “flashbacks”). These symptoms could include
hallucinations, intensified colors, and other visual
disturbances.
MDMA, or Ecstasy, is a unique hallucinogen that also possesses
stimulant qualities and can have a number of long-term
consequences. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fifth
Edition (DSM-5) reports effects associated with nervous system
toxicity, such as:
 Persistent memory impairments.
 Psychological dysfunction.
 Neuroendocrine changes.