The Impact of Drugs on the Health and Intelligence of Adolescents

A report from the Monitoring the Future Study recently showed that apart from cocaine, ecstasy, and other illegal drugs, there are six drugs that teenagers abuse the most. These drugs include:

Marijuana (31.5 percent).
Vicodin (9.7 percent).
Amphetamines (8.1 percent).
Cough medicine (6.9 percent).
Tranquilizers and tranquilizers (6.6 percent each).
Recently, more and more young people are also addicted to alcohol and tobacco. In addition to the general negative impacts, drug use also has an impact on the health and intelligence of adolescents, including:

1. Infected with a contagious disease

Teenagers who use drugs with needles are also at high risk of contracting diseases that can be transmitted through blood. Examples include HIV, AIDS, and Hepatitis B and C.

Some types of drugs can also damage organs in the body, such as ecstasy which can cause heart failure and liver failure.

2. Dehydration

The next impact of drugs on health is to cause dehydration, especially the type of drug ecstasy. If you leave it without serious treatment, this condition can cause teenagers to experience seizures, panic attacks, hallucinations, chest pain, and aggressive behavior.

3. Confusion and memory loss

The drug contains gamma-hydroxybutyrate and rohypnol. These substances can cause confusion and memory loss. As a result, users can experience impaired coordination of body movements and decreased awareness.

4. Decreased achievement at school

Not only that, drugs can also affect the intelligence of teenagers. Because these drugs can damage long-term and short-term memory, so that eventually they will experience learning and memory problems in the future.

5. Impaired brain function

Drugs can also interfere with adolescent brain development. Young children’s brains are still growing and developing until they are in their mid-20s. This is especially true for the prefrontal cortex, which is used to make decisions.

You can also read about the dangers of drug addiction that damages brain function here: Drug Addiction Affects Brain Function, Really?

So, taking drugs when you are young can interfere with the developmental processes that occur in the brain. This can also affect their decision making. As a result, they may be more likely to do risky things, such as practicing unsafe sex and driving dangerously.

6. Serious mental health disorder

Drug use can also cause hallucinatory effects, increased blood pressure and pulse, anxiety disorders, and paranoia. In addition, the use of marijuana can cause mental disorders such as depression and anxiety.

The earlier young people start using drugs, the greater their risk of struggling with addiction later in life. In fact, they are also at risk of permanent brain damage and cannot recover. Drug abuse among adolescents can result in serious or permanent mental disorders.

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