Abuse of Drugs in western society

Abuse of drugs has been a near constant since the down of civilization. Alcohol, of course, has been around for nearly six thousand years, and alcoholism has been around for just as long. Other drugs like tobacco, marijuana, cocaine and heroin are nearly as old.

The poppy, which grows best and originates from central asia (Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Krgyzistan and Uzbekistan are all massive poppy producers, as is Iran - which has the highest percentage of heroin addicts of any country in the industrialized world), is the basic component of heroin and opium and is in many ways the most dangerous starting point in the abuse of drugs. This isn't because poppy based narcotics are inherently any more dangerous than drugs like tobacco, alcohol and marijuana, but because along with heroin comes the added risk of transmitting HIV/AIDS through the use of hypodermic needles. Even in spite of this risk, heroin has such addictive properties that addicts will ignore the potential consequences and "pop skin", as the kids say, to get their fix.

Of course heroin abuse is well down the list in the race for most deaths caused by the abuse of drugs. Here in the Americas, far and away the greatest killers are alcohol and tobacco. The number one cause of death in the United States of America, Canada and Mexico is heart disease, which is caused and inflamed by smoking more than any other risk factor. Smoking tobacco causes fatty deposits to build up in your arteries and veins. These fatty deposits can then break off and travel down your arteries to your heart, causing a cardiac incident. Tobacco also, of course, increases your risk of suffering from stroke, diabets, arthritis and a whole host of other inflammatory diseases. Quite simply, smoking is the worst thing you can do to yourself if you want to live a long, healthy life.

Alcohol is nearly as bad. Prolonged alcohol abuse can lead to problems like high triglycerides, which itself can cause heart disease to become more acute and disabling. Then there are more direct consequences like scirossis of the liver, kidney failure, ulcers, colon cancer, acid reflux disease and a nearly endless list of other health complications. Unlike tobacco, though, alcohol can actually have beneficial effects when used in moderation. A glass of wine a day has been shown by many studies to improve blood circulation, meaning many folks with heart disease or diabetes are encouraged to indulge every now and again. The problem is when that glass of wine turns into three or four - this negates the positives and actually causes the negatives.

And this is without even mentioning deaths caused by drunk driving, one of the most obvious abuse of drugs out there. If you've had more than you should, please find a designated driver.