An addiction is a compulsive need for a particular substance or activity. People who are addicted depend on these things to get along in their daily lives. They give in, day after day, to a very strong craving that needs to be satisfied. An uncontrollable urge for sugar is a labeled as a “sweet tooth”, and a serious need for caffeine is disguised as a pleasant “ coffee break”. Millions of people remain addicted to nicotine, even as they openly acknowledge the serious risk that cigarette smoking presents to health. Addictions of any sort are destructive in that they deprive the addict of the ability to exercise control over life. By definition, an addiction offers no choice to the addict and often is the direct cause of serious disruption in the person’s health or lifestyle. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration recognizes some 100 separate illicit sub

Alcohol effects men and women differently. When you compare men and women of the same height, weight and build, men tend to have more muscle and less fat than women do. The reason for this is because muscle tissue has more water than fat tissue, a given dose or amount of alcohol will be diluted more in a man than in a woman. Therefore, the blood alcohol concentration resulting from that dose will be higher in a woman than in a man and the woman will feel the effects of that dose of alcohol sooner than the man will. . With the continued exposure to alcohol, the human body will respond or adapt. The level of the liver's enzymes that are used to break down alcohol increases. This means that a person must drink more alcohol to experience the same effects as before, which leads to more drinking and contributes to addiction. When alcohol is withdrawn, and makes it difficult to overcome alcohol abuse and dependence. Stomach and intestinal ulcers can form because the constant alcohol use irritates and degrades the linings of these organs. Blood pressure increases as the heart compensates for the initially reduced blood pressure caused by alcohol. Male sex cell (sperm) production decreases because of decreased sex-hormone secretion from the hypothalamus/pituitary and, possibly, direct effects of alcohol on the testes. Poor nutrition decreases levels of iron and vitamin B, leading anemia. Because alcoholics lose balance and fall more often, they suffer more often from bruises and broken bones; this is especially true as they get older. Alcohol abuse and dependence can cause emotional and social problems as well. Because alcohol affects emotional centers in the limbic system, alcoholics can become anxious, depressed and even suicidal. The emotional and physical effects of alcohol can contribute to marital and family problems, including domestic violence, as well as work-related problems, such as excessive absences and poor performance. According to Ari Kiev Drug addiction may for example, be used as evidence against someone who commits a crime, thereby reinforcing a process of social labeling of individuals as criminal behavior (p99).

For various types of beverages, the ethanol concentration (by volume) is as follows:

In conclusion, according to Sidney Cohen 1969 actually, it does not matter too much which chemical is abused; when it becomes a way of life the dangers multiply (p72).

These drugs distort the senses. Then there is (4) Cannabis, these include marijuana and hashish. Marijuana A.K.A ("grass"; "pot"; "Mary Jane"; "dweebidge"; "reefer"; "joint"; "hashish"; "cannabis"). An estimated 50 million Americans have used marijuana at least once. Next to tobacco, and alcohol in some areas, marijuana is the most popular substance chosen by young people for regular use. The source of marijuana is the hemp plant (cannabis sativa) and its content of THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) and other cannabis found in the leaves and flowering shoots of the plant. The drug dose delivered from any particular preparation of marijuana greatly varies; the concentration of THC may vary as much as a hundred fold, due to diluents or contaminants in the sample. The effects of marijuana may be noted within seconds to several minutes after inhaling the smoke (from a joint or a pipe) or within 30 to 60 minutes after ingestion (eating foods containing marijuana such as brownies). Because the smoker feels the effects almost immediately, further inhalation can be stopped at any time and the effect therefore regulated. In contrast, those ingesting marijuana experience effects that are slower to develop, cumulative, longer lasting, and more variable, making unpleasant reactions more likely with this method of administration. The primary effects of marijuana are behavioral, because the drug affects the central nervous system (CNS). Popular use of marijuana has arisen from its effects of euphoria, sense of relaxation, increased visual, auditory, and taste pe

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