Drug abuse is painful for the addict and their loved ones. The disorder leaves people vulnerable, puts their well-being at risk, and prevents them from leading an everyday life. The sad part is that most addicts struggle to get help even after realizing how poorly the disorder affects them. Their actions result from the stigma around addiction, but not seeking help for drug abuse leaves them worse off.
This blog will briefly address why people start using before exploring the dangers of not seeking the necessary help.
Why People Start Using Drugs
Several researchers have tried to understand what causes people to start taking drugs. Most adults understand the drawbacks of addiction, so it technically makes no sense for them to develop this habit. However, several studies have revealed a few factors that push people to try them.
- Peer Pressure
- Grief and Loss
- Pain Relief, Anxiety, or other Medication
- Boredom
- Thrill-Seeking Behavior
Younger drug users are the most likely to succumb to peer pressure, boredom, or thrill-seeking behavior. In contrast, medication and loss are more common factors for adults becoming addicted. However, these demographics are generalizations, and it is possible for any reason to apply, irrespective of age.
Dangers of Not Seeking Help for Drug Abuse
Unfortunately, ignoring drug abuse disorder is always detrimental to the addict and negatively affects their quality of life. Following are some of the most common problems of drug abuse:
1. Chronic Medical Conditions
Most drug addicts develop chronic medical conditions if the disorder goes untreated. Nausea, abdominal pain, and insomnia are common health issues for heroin addicts, and things can get substantially worse with time.
In several cases, long-term drug use led to severely compromised immunities or heart infections. These conditions can be fatal if the person contracts a terminal illness because the body isn’t healthy enough to fight off pathogens.
2. The Decline in Mental Health
Long-term addicts often get diagnosed with anxiety or major depression disorder despite not having these concerns before drug use. Stimulants, opioids, and other drugs affect the limbic system or enzyme secretion within the brain and often change the neurological structure.
Such changes can cause permanent damage and negatively affect the addict’s mental health.
3. Mental Health Disorders
Depression and anxiety are concerning disorders, but the problem doesn’t stop there. Some drugs can lead addicts to develop schizophrenia, antisocial personality disorder, or borderline personality disorder.
These mental health disorders, like depression and anxiety, are disruptive and can lead to behavioral changes in the patient. Depending on their severity, they can also make it challenging for the addict to live independently.
4. Worsening Substance Abuse
As expected, substance abuse worsens over time, especially since the body becomes immune to drugs. People use drugs to seek high stimulation, relaxation, and more. Unfortunately, the more they consume the drug, the less effective it is in creating the desired results, causing people to increase their intake.
The intake increases worsen the addiction and resulting health conditions, jeopardizing the addict’s safety and well-being.
5. Difficulty Maintaining Relationships
Maintaining social relationships is always challenging for people with drug abuse disorders for several reasons. Firstly, addiction causes psychological and behavioral changes, making it difficult for addicts to maintain consistent relationships. They struggle to communicate and express themselves and often become alienated from their social circles.
Secondly, addicts belong to different socioeconomic classes, and those with less affordability struggle to finance their addiction. This problem leads them to ask loved ones for money consistently or resort to stealing when they become desperate and people refuse to lend. Such behavior puts them at odds with their loved ones, straining their relationships.
6. Inability to Sustain Financially
Lastly, long-term drug addiction disorder is not feasible for most people because it eventually makes it challenging to maintain a normal lifestyle. Their cravings and health concerns often make it difficult for them to hold down jobs, making them financially insecure.
Unfortunately, the inability to afford drugs does not deter them from using once they develop the disorder, making them more vulnerable.
Wrapping Up
In a nutshell, not seeking help from drug abuse leaves the addicts vulnerable and often cut off from their loved ones. It is best to have courage and find suitable drug abuse rehabs to help recover from the addiction to put your life back on track.
