How do drugs impact the quality of your life?
Quality of life is considered as one of the basic human desires, which is to live well and feel important. Several factors may cause impairment to this quality, including the issues that arise from the use of substances, which can consequently affect life satisfaction. Addiction not only destroys individuals’ quality of life (QoL) but also affects their family’s QoL too. Family QoL is anything that represents the family’s sense of being together, building common interests and the communication and fulfilment of their mutual needs. Numerous studies have confirmed reduced levels of the QoL in addicted individuals.
There is also a strong relationship between quality of life and social well-being. Social well-being could be anything relating to the financial status, reputation in the society, acceptability or the number of people we mingle with on a daily basis. Social well-being is especially important to navigate through tough times with the help of friends and acquaintances and spend merry time often with them by enjoying smooth and trustworthy relationships.
Deteriorated family QoL is the worst consequence of drug addiction. A deteriorated family QoL results because of the non-emotional availability of the addict, financial troubles due to absenteeism from work, legal issues caused by aggressiveness after substance abuse, social stigma of shame and guilt in the society, uncertainty and chronic illnesses of the addict that arise from addiction.
Why is QoL important?
Quality of life involves health, happiness, wealth and overall physical and emotional well-being of all the members of the family. All the aspects that interfere with such well-being are considered as menace to a person’s life. An understanding of all the factors that deteriorate the quality of life of an addict and his extended family is important to motivate drug users to remain abstinent. Because good QoL is a basic right of the families, not just the need of the addicts.
Impact of drug use on user’s QoL?
In terms of family
Drug users exhibit a compulsive behaviour around usage of drugs that becomes their full time activity. Eventually they do not have enough time to cater to the needs of their parents, spouse or children. They cannot attend the workplace because of chronic intoxication and its incapacitating effects. Financial losses are common in such scenarios. Lack of mutual emotional support between the spouses and the parents and children leads to impaired child development, learning and social developments among the children of the addicts. Loneliness will be the only constant.
Landing in criminal behaviour due to violence and aggression caused by abuse
Drugs alter the brain chemistry of the users over a period of time and induce aggressive behaviours in them. They cause either euphoria or depression in users depending on the kind of substance used both of which are capable of inducing criminal behaviour among the addicts. Most sexual abuses, homicides and suicides involve substance use either by the perpetrator or the victim. As a result, the user and his/her family are troubled with legal issues.
Foetal and child development issues in female users
Drug abuse impairs the healthy development of foetuses in pregnant women. Women who abuse drugs during pregnancy either go through an abortion or give birth to physically or mentally disabled children. Consequences often include retardation of foetal growth, foetal alcohol syndrome, neonatal withdrawal syndrome, and neonatal neurobehavioral effects.
Education issues in teenage drug abusers
Students who abuse drugs may develop cognitive and behavioural difficulties over a period of time. Issues range from missing classes; have increased psychosocial problems; or be indifferent to attending school or will eventually drop out of school. Additionally, violence becomes a norm while procuring money for the drugs.
Transmitted diseases from shared use
injection drug use is still the leading risk factor for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections globally. Drug and alcohol abuse heighten the risk of unsafe sexual behaviour and are important means of perinatal transmission of HIV. Off late, Tuberculosis (TB) rates have increased significantly among drug-using populations, especially drug-resistant TB in HIV-infected drug users.
Chronic illnesses that result from chronic drug abuse
Many forms of psychiatric and physical illnesses including psychosis, Schizophrenia, liver disorders, kidney failures, heart ailments result from chronic drug usage making the user immobile and prone to constant fatigue.
Getting help for addiction disorders in a good rehab helps improve the QoL of the abusers. Right from detoxification to customised treatment plans, rehabs are properly equipped with all the requisites of treatment to help addicts recover and lead a healthy life again. Contact Phoenix Rehab for further information on the addiction treatment programmes and procedures.
Wishing you a joyful and healthy holiday season and a Happy New Year 2021 – Team Phoenix
