The Risks of Taking Drugs

This health information page discusses the risks of taking drugs and why do young people take drugs.

opioid addiction

Why do young people take drugs?

Most parents do not understand why children might want to take drugs and question themselves. They usually believe that because their child is using drugs or tried drugs that they must be having problems at school or home.

There are many reasons why a child may take drugs, perhaps they enjoy the short-term effects, their friends use them, curiosity or just as a part of growing up. They want to break the rules and think it will be fun, without realising the consequences.

What are the different types of drugs available?

A drug is basically something that changes the way you think or feel. Drugs include alcohol, tobacco, caffeine and medical drugs. Drugs can be divided into the following groups:-

Analgesics – drugs which kill pain e.g. heroin.
Depressants – drugs which slow everything down e.g. alcohol, gases, glues and aerosols.
Hallucinogens – drugs which act on the mind, altering the way the user sees and hears things e.g. cannabis, L.S.D. and magic mushrooms.
Stimulants – drugs which make everything seem as if they’re going faster e.g. cocaine, crack, ecstasy, poppers, speed and tobacco.

What are some of the risks of taking drugs?

All drugs carry risks and drugs affect different people in different ways, but the major risks involved with taking illegal drugs are as follows : –

The user may never know exactly what it is they are taking. What is bought is unlikely to be pure and you can never be sure what it has been mixed with.
You can never be sure what effect a drug might have, even if it has been taken before.
If drugs are injected and shared around you are then at risk of catching a dangerous infection such as H.I.V. or hepatitis B and C.
If you mix different drugs this can be very dangerous and that includes mixing alcohol with a drug.
Women who take drugs may experience heavier periods and some women’s periods have been known to stop.

If the drug you wish to test for is not listed, then please contact us and let us know which drug you would like to test for, as we have only listed the most common drug tests.

The amount of time drugs stay in your body depends on many factors such as, the amount of the drug taken, its strength, purity, your body weight and rate of metabolism and whether you are a casual user or a long-term user.