Abuse of Legal Substances
Drug abuse occurs when a person's use of a drug interferes with his or her daily life. Usually people use drugs to treat medicial conditions. However, drug abusers do not use drugs as medince but as a way of coping with loneliness, boredom, or other nonmedicial problems. Drug abuse can lead to physicial dependence, or psychology depence. Although many people abuse illegal drugs such as cocaine or heroin, most drug abuse in the U.S occurs with legal drugs such as alcohol, nicotine, inhalants, and prescription drugs.
Alcohol is a drug that slows down the central neveous system. It interferes with thinking and movement.
Tobacco contains nicotine, a stimulant that smokers find pleasent and realxing. However, nicotine is highly addictive. Tobacco can cause lung cancer, heart dieases, and other illnesses.
People who abuse inhalents sniff substances such as glue or cleaning fluids. A person inhalents feels giddy. Inhalents can coat the lining of the lungs, resulting in coma or even death.
Prescription drugs are drugs ordered by the doctors's command.
Drug abuse can result in poor school or job performance.
Also see: Drug abuse
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