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Personal dangers attributed to drug and alcohol abuse
include memory loss; seizures; lung and brain damage;
and death. Other dangers include loss of personal
self-esteem, productivity and relationships; and
psychological/emotional problems. Drug addiction is
expensive and often results in the commission of crimes
to support that habit. Use of drugs or alcohol in the
workplace may make individuals careless, destroy their
sense of time and space, cause lateness, absenteeism,
errors and accidents.
- ALCOHOL is the most commonly abused
drug. It causes thousands of deaths each
year from diseases, motor vehicle
accidents, and accidents at work and
home. Even moderate use greatly
increases the risk of a motor vehicle or
other accident.
- COCAINE is an addictive stimulant
with unpredictable effects. It may
produce changes in blood pressure, heart
and breathing rates. It may cause coma -
or even death. Severe weight loss and
liver damage may result from continued
use.
- MARIJUANA affects coordination,
short-term memory, visual tracking, and
heart rate. Regular use produces changes
in the reproductive system, damage to
lungs, and may affect the immune system.
- PRESCRIPTION DRUGS include
stimulants (uppers), depressants
(downers) and some narcotics. Used
illegally or improperly, they can cause
physical and mental dependence, heart
problems, malnutrition, even coma and
death.
- OTHER DRUGS such as Ecstasy, PCP,
LSD, heroin, mescaline, amphetamine and
morphine have a wide variety of negative
health effects - from hallucinations and
mental confusion to convulsions and
death.
- COMBINATIONS OF DRUGS make physical
and mental effects unpredictable and
often much more severe than if the same
drugs were taken separately. Combining
alcohol with depressants, cocaine or
marijuana can be especially dangerous.
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