Prescription drug misuse and illegal substances
A drug is a chemical substance that affects the processes of the mind or body.
Some drugs are legal and can be bought in shops and supermarkets such as alcohol, cigarettes and mild painkillers.
Others are medicines, prescribed by doctors to treat illnesses.
Illegal drugs are banned by the government.
Illegal drugs
There is a huge range of illegal drugs that change the user’s state of mind. Some induce euphoria and confidence, others dull pain or cause hallucinations.
The best-known illegal drugs include cocaine, heroin and MDMA — which is also known as ‘ecstasy’.
Different drugs affect health in different ways, but there are some problems common to them all.
- More illnesses, deaths, and disabilities are caused by substance abuse than from any other preventable health condition
- Drugs weaken the immune system, leaving people open to infections
- Some drugs can cause nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain
- Some drugs can cause heart disease; this may be an abnormal heartbeat, but it could escalate to a heart attack
- Injected drugs, such as heroin, can cause veins to collapse and infections in the circulatory system
- Seizures, strokes and other types of brain damage can be caused by some types of drugs. This may leave a person with long-term memory and cognitive problems. Others can cause mental illness such as depression or schizophrenia
- Many drugs are addictive, which means that users are compelled to use the drug whether they really want to or not. This can lead to financial and social problems as the user prioritises the drug over other aspects of their life
- Some drugs can kill through overdose
Causes: why might young people use drugs?
- Curiosity and experimentation — trying drugs just to see what they’re like
- Peer pressure — friends may encourage drug use
- Coping with stress, anxiety, or depression — using drugs to escape problems
- Influence from media and music — some songs and movies make drug use seem glamorous
- Family or environment — if drugs are common in the household, young people might be more likely to try them
Types of drug use and their impact
Misusing legal prescription drugs eg painkillers, ADHD medication or anti-anxiety pills
Consequences and impact:
- Overdose risk, especially if mixed with alcohol or other substances
- Addiction and dependence, making it hard to function without them
- Damage to organs like the liver, heart and brain
- Mood swings, paranoia or depression
Using illegal substances eg marijuana, cocaine, ecstasy, heroin
Consequences and impact:
- Impaired thinking, memory loss and poor academic performance
- Increased risk of addiction and long-term health issues
- Legal trouble, which can affect future opportunities (further education, jobs)
- Mental health issues like paranoia, depression and anxiety
- Overdose risk, which can be life-threatening
All three of these choices — alcohol, smoking and drugs — can have serious consequences, especially for teenagers whose bodies and brains are still developing.
A healthy lifestyle means making positive choices that benefit both physical and mental well-being.
