Consequences of Drug Addiction on Physical and Mental Health
1Sameer Maqbool Wani and 2S. Allah Baksh
1,2Department of Sociology and Social Work, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar - 608002 (India) 1E-Mail; sameerwani6005@gmail.com, 2E-Mail; auallahbaksh@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
Drug addiction constitutes a significant socio-psychological issue that the contemporary society is facing. Many people take drugs because of various social, psychological, familial and environmental factors. By adopting the narrative review approach, the study examines the global phenomenon of drug addiction and its impact on physical and mental health. The study is based on secondary data collected through major databases, including PubMed, ResearchGate, and Google Scholar as well as various international organisations. The findings indicated that overdose represents the most acute risk that has led to increase in overdose deaths. Globally, illicit drug overdoses excluding tobacco and alcohol claim over 100,000 lives per year. The findings show that various physical health complications such as cerebral damage, circulatory system issues, cardiovascular illness, pulmonary carcinoma, sterility in men and infertility in women have been linked to drug addiction. It also shows that drug addiction leads to psychological health problems including serious depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, distrust and neurosis. In conclusion, drug addiction is a societal issue that impacts both individuals and the society at large. To get rid of this problem in society requires strong legislation, harm-reduction methods and initiatives to raise awareness