Affects of drugs on your appearance

Before & After Alcohol

Before & After Cocaine

Before & After Crack cocaine

Before & After crystal Meth

Before & After Heroin

Before & After Steroids

Educate youself

We need to educate ourselves. Here's an interesting article:

Pictured: The young woman ravaged by GBL - the legal party drug the Government won't ban

By LIZ HULL

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1215733/Pictured-The-devastating-effects-legal-party-drug-GBL.html#ixzz1qKUfep7b

Causes of Drug Abuse

There are various groups of people who developed an addiction to drugs, the most relevant articles I've discovered can be summarized as follows:

There are certain common factors that are associated with the cause of drug abuse. They are-
1. Biological Factors:
 Family history, genetic predisposition
 Preexisting psychiatric or personality disorder, or a medical disorder.
 Reinforcing effects of drugs.
 Withdrawal effects and craving.
 Biochemical factors
2. Psychological Factors:
 Curiosity.
 As a novelty.
 Social rebelliousness.
 Early initiation
 Poor control.
 Sensation seeking. (Feeling high).
 Low self-esteem (Anomie).
 Poor stress management.
 Childhood loss or trauma.
 As a relief from fatigue or boredom.
 To escape reality.
 No interest in conventional goals.
 Psychological distress.

Read more: Causes of Drug Abuse | Medindia http://www.medindia.net/patients/patientinfo/DrugAbuse_Causes.htm#ixzz1qKH5RyAA

Teen Drug Abuse: (based on an article by Steve Thompson)

http://www.life123.com/parenting/tweens-teens/drug-abuse/causes-of-teenage-drug-abuse.shtml

Certain circumstances have been identified as risk factors for developing a drug habit at an early age, which means that the teenagers who exhibit those risk factors are far more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol.

Lack of Supervision

Children and teenagers who are left alone for long periods of time or who are allowed to come and go as they please will have more opportunities for exposure to drugs. Alcohol remains the drug of choice. Don't be one of those "cool" parents who hosts parties where alcohol is served. You're sending a dangerous message that you find drinking acceptable, and you're exposing yourself to legal liability.

Availability

If there is alcohol in your home and your teenager has access to it when you are away or not paying attention, you're leaving the door open to abuse. Methamphetamine, hallucinogens and psychoactive drugs can be found at so-called "pharm parties." Many of the drugs found at these gatherings are obtained from teen's own homes.f retailers sell alcohol and cigarettes to minors, they are contributing to the problem. Most communities have programs in place to make sure that customers present ID to buy alcohol and cigarettes, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't be vigilant. If you see or hear about local retailers providing alcohol or cigarettes to minors, let your community licensing board know about it.

Lack of Communication

If teenagers know the specific dangers of drugs and alcohol, they will be more likely to avoid them. Vague explanations will probably not be effective in this situation.Some teens may abuse drugs because they think their parents don't care. Communication solves this problem. Talk to your teen daily about her life, finding out how her friendships and schoolwork are going. Be there as much as you can

Tolerance at School
It is widely known that one of the causes of teenage drug abuse is finding drugs, alcohol and cigarettes available at school.Every school should have a zero tolerance policy for drug use, including suspensions for intoxicated students and mandatory treatment programs for repeat offenders.

Stereotyping
One of the most grievous causes of teenage drug abuse is stereotyping, which is linked to parental supervision and communication. Many parents assume that their children are not at risk for drug or alcohol abuse and that they therefore shouldn't worry. Don't make assumptions! Education is the easiest way to prevent a destructive addiction from forming.

Middle to old age drug addiction: 

Various intergrated rehabilitation programs catering to these specific people can be found at:
www.causesofdrugabuse.com


Boomers

Baby boomers’ generational influences included pervasive drug and alcohol use, psychedelic icons and seismic cultural shifts. A legacy for many is the continued or increased use of drugs and/or alcohol.

www.causesofdrugabuse.com

Older Adults

While growing older can be enjoyable for some, many older adults are filled with loneliness, uncertainty and anxiety. They frequently struggle in silence with chemical addiction and the loss of their autonomy.

www.causesofdrugabuse.com

Women

Our society and culture expects and facilitates roles for women that put them at the forefront of caring for and nurturing others, often at the expense of their own needs. In addition, a high percentage of women who suffer from addiction have experienced physical or mental abuse. As a result, too many women today turn to drugs and alcohol to help them cope with the guilt, shame, loneliness and helplessness they so often come to feel. 

www.causesofdrugabuse.com

Men

From an early age, men typically have a harder time admitting a problem and tend to exaggerate the importance of their success and dreams. They prefer to have targets and goals to motivate themselves. When deprived of their basic emotional needs and life structure, these unfettered circumstances can lead men to comfort themselves with alcohol and drugs. For some, that initial feeling of drug-induced well-being becomes aphysical addiction.

www.causesofdrugabuse.com

Hi,

Over the past few weeks I have been working on a project involving copious amounts of information regarding this topic, what are the causes of drug abuse? what are the signs of drug abuse? what are the effects of drug abuse? what can you do if someone you love is addicted to drugs? what are drugs? what is the difference between illegal and legal drug abuse?

There is so much information on this topic and I'd like to channel some of it so that is easier to understand as well as provided sources and various helpful references to anyone in need.  

The term "drug abuse" does not exclude dependency, but is otherwise used in a similar manner in nonmedical contexts. The terms have a huge range of definitions related to taking a psychoactive drug or performance enhancing drug for a non-therapeutic or non-medical effect. All of these definitions imply a negative judgment of the drug use in question (compare with the term responsible drug use for alternative views). Some of the drugs most often associated with this term include alcohol, amphetamines, barbiturates, benzodiazepines (particularly temazepam, nimetazepam, and flunitrazepam), cocaine, methaqualone, and opioids. Use of these drugs may lead to criminal penalty in addition to possible physical, social, and psychological harm, both strongly depending on local jurisdiction.

Substance abuse, 
Also known as drug abuse, refers to a maladaptive pattern of use of a substance (drug) that is not considered dependent.^[Substance abuse/drug abuse is not limited to mood-altering or psycho-active drugs. Activity is also considered substance abuse when inappropriately used (as in steroids for performance enhancement in sports). Therefore, mood-altering and psychoactive substances are not the only drugs of abuse. Substance abuse often includes problems with impulse control and impulsivity.