DRUGS

Drug addiction diseases

- A drug is any chemical you take that affects the way our bodyworks.

- A drug is substance alters the body’s function either physically and/or

psychologically. Drugs may be legal (e.G. Alcohol and caffeine….) or illegal (e.G.
cocaine and heroin…).

- Heroin, alcohol, ecstasy, caffeine and nicotine are all forms of drugs.

A. INTRODUCTION: what is a drug?

 B. Type of drug
addiction diseases

PHYSICALL
MENTAL Y

BRAI
N
HEALT HEART
H
I. PHYSICALLY
1- BRAIN
What happens to
your brain if you
keep taking
drugs?
Drug addiction is a brain disease because the
abuse of drugs leads to changes in the structure
and function of the brain. The brain adjusts to
the overwhelming surges in dopamine (and
other neurotransmitters) by producing less
dopamine or by reducing the number of
receptors that can receive signals.
Drugs can alter important brain areas that are
necessary for life-sustaining functions and can
drive the compulsive drug abuse that marks
addiction. BRAI
N
Brain areas affected by drug abuse
include:
• The brain stem
• The cerebral cortex
• The limbic system
 Your Brain After Drugs

Normal

Cocaine Abuser (10 days)

Cocaine Abuser (100 days)

2-HEART DISEASES
 Throat
Larynx (voice box) Mouth
Esophagus

Lung Blood (leukemia)

Stomach
Kidney
Pancreas
Bladder
Cervix

drug produces both Which may cause a toxic life, such as heart rate,
stimulant and mind reaction such as heart breathing, and sleeping.
altering effects. It can attacks, seizures, and It also increases heart rate,
increase body respiratory arrest can harm the lungs, and can
temperature, heart rate, For example; The brain increase the risk in those
blood pressure, and heart- stem, which controls basic with an underlying
wall stress. MDMA may functions critical to vulnerability.
also be toxic to nerve
cells.
What are the consequences of drug
addiction on the health?

• People who suffer from
addiction often have one or
more accompanying medical
issues, which may include lung
or cardiovascular disease,
stroke and cancer.
• Imaging scans, chest x-rays,
and blood tests show the
damaging effects of long-term
drug abuse throughout the
body.
• For example, research has shown that
cocaine causes cancer of the mouth,
throat, larynx, blood, lungs, stomach,
pancreas, kidney, bladder, and cervix.
• In addition, some drugs of abuse, such as
inhalants, are toxic to nerve cells and may
damage or destroy them.
5
AGeS
20
SIDE
VIEW
TOP
VIEW
Blue represents maturing of brain areas.
THE MOST IMPACT OF
ADDICTION CAN BE FAR-
REACHING:
• CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE
• STROKE
• HIV/AIDS
• HEPATITIS B AND C
• LUG DISEASE
Healthy METH Abuser METH Abuser

Person 1 month 14 month

abstinence abstinence
II. MENTAL
• Drug abuse and mental illness often co-exist. In some
cases, mental disorders such as anxiety, depression, or
schizophrenia may precede addiction; in other cases,
drug abuse may trigger or exacerbate those mental
disorders, particularly in people with specific
vulnerabilities.
• The drug impairs short-term memory and learning, the
ability to focus attention, and coordination. addicted are
at risk for unplanned pregnancies, violence, and
infectious diseases. They abuse drugs often have
problems thinking clearly, remembering, and paying
attention.
 C. MEDICATIONS USED TO TREAT
DRUG ADDICTION
1-Tobacco Addiction 3- Alcohol and Drug Addiction
• Nicotine replacement therapies (available • Naltrexone
as a patch, inhaler, or gum) • Disulfiram
• Bupropion • Acamprosate
• Varenicline
2-Opioid Addiction
• Methadone
• Buprenorphine
• Naltrexone
 D. MEDICAL CONSEQUENCES
• What are the medical consequences of drug
addiction?
Substance abuse still remains one of the
major problems in the world today, with
millions of people abusing legal and illegal
drugs. In addition, a billion people may also
be infected with one or more infections. Both
drugs of abuse and infections are associated
with enormous burden of social, economic,
and health consequences.
This project briefly discusses a few medical consequences of
drugs of abuse and infections such as human immunodeficiency
virus, hepatitis C virus, psychiatric complications in hepatitis C
infection, pharmacokinetic drug-drug interactions among
medications used in the treatment of addiction and infections,
and new drugs in development for the treatment of infections.

RESEARCH IS ENCOURAGED TO STUDY

INTERACTIONS BETWEEN INFECTIONS, DRUGS OF
ABUSE, AND UNDERLYING PATHOPHYSIOLOGIC AND
MOLECULAR/GENETIC MECHANISMS OF THESE
INTERACTIONS.
E. CONCLUSION