Pharm. Mark Daniel
Research has shown that women are more vulnerable to the long term physical abuse on drugs. Some of the consequence associated with drugs abuse/misuse are as follows:
1. Changes in menstrual cycle: Tobacco and Alcohol abuse may alter a woman menstrual cycle and may result in lighter or heavier menstrual flow/periods and increased cramping. Heroin and Methadone may also lead to amenorrhea (absence of menstruation in some women)
2. Cancer: Women who abuse alcohol and other drugs may put themselves in a risky situations where they are more likely to contract STD, which depending on the infection may contribute to cancer. For example the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is linked to increased cervical cancer increase.
3. Premature aging: This is a common occurrence among those that smoke Marijuana. This people also experience hair loss of the skin.
4. Decreased resistance to diseases: Recreational use of some psychoactive substance such as Cocaine, Heroine, Alcohol and Nicotine from cigarette has been reported to affect the host immune resistance to fight common microorganisms.
5. Sexually transmitted infection: Intravenous drug use put women at risk of contracting infection and diseases transmitted through the blood including HIV/AIDS which could harm a woman’s fertility. Heavy Alcohol use is also linked to higher risk of contracting STDs which may damage the reproductive system and or hinder ability to get pregnant.
Women who abuse/ misuse drugs also have specific gender specific vulnerability to blood borne infections.
6. Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome: When a woman takes some drug e. g Caffeine, Cocaine and Alcohol during pregnancy, this can lead to the baby going through withdrawal after a birth (a condition known as Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome) where the newborn can develop some of these symptoms: Diarrhea, vomiting, blotchy skin coloring, seizures, trembling, rapid breathing, slow weight gain etc.
7. Increase in Cost: Generally economic burden are more for women who abuse/ misuse drugs than their male counterpart since they experience lower employment and income level. The cost of drug treatment may therefore act as a barrier to accessing treatment facilities when such are not provided by the government and when there are no health insurance scheme.
8. Other danger/ consequence associated with drugs abuse among females include:
1. Lung disease
2. Divorce
3. Impaired memory
4. Increased heart beat and blood pressure
5. Heart attack
6. Tolerance
7. Withdrawal Symptoms
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Source: GreenFlames09
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1. Changes in menstrual cycle: Tobacco and Alcohol abuse may alter a woman menstrual cycle and may result in lighter or heavier menstrual flow/periods and increased cramping. Heroin and Methadone may also lead to amenorrhea (absence of menstruation in some women)
2. Cancer: Women who abuse alcohol and other drugs may put themselves in a risky situations where they are more likely to contract STD, which depending on the infection may contribute to cancer. For example the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is linked to increased cervical cancer increase.
3. Premature aging: This is a common occurrence among those that smoke Marijuana. This people also experience hair loss of the skin.
4. Decreased resistance to diseases: Recreational use of some psychoactive substance such as Cocaine, Heroine, Alcohol and Nicotine from cigarette has been reported to affect the host immune resistance to fight common microorganisms.
5. Sexually transmitted infection: Intravenous drug use put women at risk of contracting infection and diseases transmitted through the blood including HIV/AIDS which could harm a woman’s fertility. Heavy Alcohol use is also linked to higher risk of contracting STDs which may damage the reproductive system and or hinder ability to get pregnant.
Women who abuse/ misuse drugs also have specific gender specific vulnerability to blood borne infections.
6. Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome: When a woman takes some drug e. g Caffeine, Cocaine and Alcohol during pregnancy, this can lead to the baby going through withdrawal after a birth (a condition known as Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome) where the newborn can develop some of these symptoms: Diarrhea, vomiting, blotchy skin coloring, seizures, trembling, rapid breathing, slow weight gain etc.
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| Source: Addiction by Kphotographer |
8. Other danger/ consequence associated with drugs abuse among females include:
1. Lung disease
2. Divorce
3. Impaired memory
4. Increased heart beat and blood pressure
5. Heart attack
6. Tolerance
7. Withdrawal Symptoms
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