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You have perhaps read a lot about drug addiction, but
you might not know that new information about the damage done to
addicts is being made public all the time.
For example, new findings from
researchers state that “drug addiction harms the addict
physically, psychologically, spiritually and/or socially. It is now
possible to visualize areas of damage to the brain from many abused
substances. The use of ecstasy, for example, has been shown to cause
chronic defects in the brain with long-lasting impairment of the
mental functions. Family members and significant others are severely
affected and hurt by the addiction.”
The reason why it is so difficult
to treat drug addicts is because many of them truly suffer from
damage to the brain. All abused drugs eventually go to the brain
where the high is experienced. Drugs are chemicals and chemicals can
have very toxic effects on the brain. We now know that drug abuse
and addiction lead to long-term changes in the brain. These changes
cause addicted drug users to lose the ability to control their drug
use. The truth is that drug addiction is a disease. A disease that
is complicated to treat when the addict has been abusing his drugs
for a while.
For this reason, parents make a
potentially deadly mistake when they take lightly the drug use of
their children. Many parents wait, hope and pray that their children
will outgrow their habit (addiction). Some do stop, but those who do
not proceed to sink deeper and deeper into addiction.
Besides falling grades, dropping
out of school, stealing, disrespectful behavior, fighting and many
other misbehaviors, these youngsters continue to suffer brain
damage, some of which can have long-term negative effects. Some
studies indicate that certain drugs taken in substantial amounts can
even cause permanent changes in parts of the brain.
What I’m saying is that parents
who disregard the signs of drug usage are taking a dangerous risk of
exposing their loved ones to severe damage not just to the spiritual
and psychological makeup of their loved ones, but even to that vital
organ, the brain.
If you have problems about
drugs, alcohol and behavior/attitude call my office at 8206107 or
8251771 or e-mail me at gvcbuenca@vasia.com or write me at P.O. Box
2099 MCPO, Makati City.
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