While the immediate results of substance abuse are often obvious, some long term health problems can’t be detected. Substance abuse, particularly any use of injection drugs, often leads to the contraction of infectious diseases that can cause serious health problems and lead to death.
HIV Is Often Transmitted Through Drug Paraphernalia and Sex
According to the Mayo Clinic, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is commonly transmitted between drug users who share needles, rinse water, cookers or even cotton balls or tissues.HIV can also be passed from person to person when a substance abuser has unprotected sex with an HIV infected partner.
Because individuals who use illegal drugs regularly are unlikely to see a doctor on a regular basis, are often infected with HIV for years before they are aware of the problem. In most cases, they don’t seek help until their illness has progressed to full-blown AIDS, with its accompanying health problems. According to the Centers for Disease Control, one fourth of all U.S. residents who are infected with HIV aren’t aware of it. The rate is even higher within the substance abuse community, where infection can spread rapidly.
Hepatitis Threatens Substance Abusers
Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and tuberculosis are also frequently passed from one substance abuser to another. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, over two thirds of chronic drug users contract Hepatitis C within three years of beginning injection drug use. This is a staggering number of people who are at risk for complications such as liver inflammation, cirrhosis, or liver cancer. Most of these individuals have passed Hepatitis C on to several other people before they are diagnosed. Even tuberculosis, a chronic lung disease, is more prevalent in substance abusers who use needles.
It’s clear that addiction can lead to serious, life threatening illnesses. The high rate of infection and rapid spread of disease through drug addicted populations is one more reason anyone with a substance abuse problem should seek help in overcoming addiction.
While the immediate results of substance abuse are often obvious, some long term health problems can’t be detected. Substance abuse, particularly any use of injection drugs, often leads to the contraction of infectious diseases that can cause serious health problems and lead to death.
HIV Is Often Transmitted Through Drug Paraphernalia and Sex
According to the Mayo Clinic, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is commonly transmitted between drug users who share needles, rinse water, cookers or even cotton balls or tissues.HIV can also be passed from person to person when a substance abuser has unprotected sex with an HIV infected partner.
Because individuals who use illegal drugs regularly are unlikely to see a doctor on a regular basis, are often infected with HIV for years before they are aware of the problem. In most cases, they don’t seek help until their illness has progressed to full-blown AIDS, with its accompanying health problems. According to the Centers for Disease Control, one fourth of all U.S. residents who are infected with HIV aren’t aware of it. The rate is even higher within the substance abuse community, where infection can spread rapidly.
Hepatitis Threatens Substance Abusers
Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and tuberculosis are also frequently passed from one substance abuser to another. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, over two thirds of chronic drug users contract Hepatitis C within three years of beginning injection drug use. This is a staggering number of people who are at risk for complications such as liver inflammation, cirrhosis, or liver cancer. Most of these individuals have passed Hepatitis C on to several other people before they are diagnosed. Even tuberculosis, a chronic lung disease, is more prevalent in substance abusers who use needles.
It’s clear that addiction can lead to serious, life threatening illnesses. The high rate of infection and rapid spread of disease through drug addicted populations is one more reason anyone with a substance abuse problem should seek help in overcoming addiction.
Substance Abuse Can Lead to Life Threatening Illnesses
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