Long Term Consequences Of Drug Abuse

Drug abuse is defined as the excessive usage of drugs. Drug abuse affects more than just the abuser. It can seriously damage any number of personal and professional relationships. Drug abuse affects all aspects of an abusers life. This can lead to loss of jobs, families being torn apart through violence or divorce, prison, and death for some. All of these have far reaching consequences. The drug abuser who receives no rehabilitation can be doomed to a life of low self-esteem and crime. It is like a cancer on our society and worthy of serious consideration. Drug usage and abuse is considered a social problem in many ways. A growing number of people in today 's society are worried that drug use and abuse warrants grave public concern, and that
There are worse effects when taken in large doses including sedation, desire to sleep, rambling incoherent speech, giddiness, silliness, difficulty thinking, slurred speech, passing out, and death.

These drugs emerged a few years ago as "date rape" drugs. Because of concern about their abuse, Congress passed the "Drug-Induced Rape Prevention and Punishment Act of 1996" in October 1996. This legislation increased Federal penalties for use of any controlled substance to aid in sexual assault.

Since about 1990, GHB (gamma hydroxybutyrate) has been abused in the U.S. for euphoric, sedative, and anabolic (body building) effects. It is a central nervous system depressant that was widely available over-the-counter in health food stores during the 1980s and until 1992. It was purchased largely by body builders to aid fat reduction and muscle building. Street names include Liquid Ecstasy, Soap, Easy Lay, and Georgia Home Boy. Even though GHB may be difficult to distinguish from water, it has appeared in law enforcement indicators, including seizures of large amounts in Minneapolis/St. Paul and
Combining use with other drugs such as alcohol can result in nausea and difficulty breathing. GHB may also produce withdrawal effects, including insomnia, anxiety, tremors, and sweating.

GHB and two of its precursors, gamma butyrolactone (GBL) and 1,4 butanediol (BD) have been involved in poisonings, overdoses, date rapes, and deaths. These products, obtainable over the internet and sometimes still sold in health food stores, are also available at some gyms, raves, nightclubs, gay male parties, college campuses, and the street. They are commonly mixed with alcohol (which may cause unconsciousness), have a short duration of action, and are not easily detectable on routine hospital toxicology screens.

GHB emergency room mentions increased from 55 in 1994 to 2,973 in 1999. In 1999, GHB accounted for 32 percent of illicit drug-related poison center calls in Boston. In Chicago and San Francisco, GHB use is reportedly low compared with MDMA, although GHB overdoses seem frequent compared with overdoses related to other club