Drug craving is not something that just affects the person who is hooked. It has consequences beyond what one can expect. It affects the families of the addict, his employer, schools, friendships and societies at large. It also has a direct influence on the health of the immediate family of the drug user.



The effects of drugs cover a wide spectrum of experiences from the initial high to the lows of when the result of the drug starts to wear out. For example, taking cocaine, the former is electrifying while the latter causes angst, fatigue, despair and a yearning for more drugs to get back to the high from the effects wearing out. Marijuana and alcohol change the central nervous system and are the results in of many car accidents. Marijuana and other psychedelic drugs cause flash backs, much after the effects have worn out, even after a few weeks of usage.

Chances of HIV contamination caused by multiple uses of intravenous needles are high as is hepatitis. Increased sexual activity among addicts raises the risk of addicts contracting AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.

Many addicts indulge in lawless activities such as theft and prostitution to raise funds to feed their addiction. Some substances like alcohol induce violent deeds. Over 10,000 fatalities per year due to drug abuse are recorded in the USA. Substances most cited are cocaine, heroin and morphine reasonably often in combination with liquor or other drugs.

The drug dependant's dependence on the substance, further to its consequence on emotions and physical reactions, often leads to conjugal discord and poor performance at work resulting in dismissal. Family life is often unbalanced and, out of love or fear or both, family members or the spouse enable the drug user in his dependency through destructive behaviors of codependency. They deny that there is a difficulty, or cover up for the drug dependant and supply him with funds to feed the obsession.

Babies born to drug abusers tend to be much lower in weight than the average due to the mother being under nourished or of a mistreated constitution. Fetuses in the wombs of addicts get affected by the drugs taken by the mother, by a process called crossing the placental wall, and agonize from revocation symptoms directly after being born. This is mainly so in the case of users of crack and heroin. The fetal liquor syndrome, due to the alcohol abused during pregnancy, affects offspring of alcoholic mothers. Infants develop AIDS virus through the intravenous injections of drugs that the mothers take.

Society pays a very high penalty due to the frequency of addictions of any kind. Work- man-days are lost in the workplace, involving cost over runs. Drug users are more susceptible than non-takers to cause accidents endangering themselves and their workmates. More than fifty percent of all road accidents in the United States are caused diametrically or implicitly by alcohol abuse.

Turf wars and other sadistic crimes between drug dealers cause mayhem in neighborhoods. Residents are constantly under menace and there are crimes among the addicts themselves. Some areas state that young children are recruited to be lookouts and helpers as youthful offenders get lighter punishments. Teenagers as well as younger children armed with handguns have become rather common. Among the destitute, most ache from drug or liquor craving or mental disorder, and often from all three circumstances.

Since drug dependence has such a serious effect on the drug dependant, families and culture in general, the need to take charge is pressing and immediate. Otherwise, the effects of drug craving can have far-reaching consequences and the drug user may never get a opportunity to make progress from his disease.