Drug And Alcohol Abuse

            ) Many people often view the terms drug abuse and drug addiction as being the same. As put by the book, Psychology in Action, drug abuse generally refers to the consumption of a drug, which will harm an individual's mind and body. The use of the drug in this case is often uncontrollable and follows a powerful pattern. An example of an individual, who suffers from drug abuse, would be someone who would go to a party and participate in a harmful activity called binge drinking. In this case the victim is clearly powerfully overusing a drug, which will later lead to harm mentally or physically. .
             Drug addiction, which is frequently misconstrued with drug abuse, possesses a completely different meaning than what it is thought to have. Drug addiction, is when an individual processes the intense thought that they are unable to function properly, mentally (psychological dependence) or physically (physical dependence), without the use of a particular drug. Their mind and body develop a state of dependence for this drug. In many cases those who are dependent on a drug and are forced to quit for various reasons, may experience withdrawal. Within this circumstance, the individual may experience intense physical pain and overwhelming cravings. .
             2.) Short term and long term effects of ecstasy: According to http://www.brookes.ac.uk/health/libra/ecstasy.html, ecstasy is a very unpredictable drug. Its risks vary due to different pills containing different chemicals. Some short term effects that the article mentioned were, dilated pupils, dry mouth and throat, a rise in heart rate and blood pressure, they develop a tension in the jaw, sweating increases and appetite is suppressed. Many of these symptoms occur due to the effect that ecstasy has on the body's temperature regulating mechanism, causing the bodies temperature to increase to damaging levels. .
             Long-term effects of ecstasy are suggested to be brain damage and liver damage.