Drug use is rapidly growing in Liberia, especially among youth. According to the United Nations Population Fund, “it is estimated that 2 in 10 youth in Liberia are users of narcotic substances,” which account for 20% of Liberian youth. President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, in his 2024 state of the nation address, declared the proliferation of drugs and substance abuse as National Health Emergency.
Explainer By: Ralitsa Massah, Intern Researcher
Economic hardships, peer pressure and lack of employment opportunity are key factors that interplay into drug addiction becoming an alarming issue, according to studies.
This explainer tells what drug addiction is and how it affects a person’s health.
What is Addiction?
Addiction is medically recognized as a chronic health condition. It is defined as a substance use disorder, where the body becomes dependent on a substance, impairing control and causing continued use despite harmful effects.
This means, a person’s body and mind get used to a drug so much that they can’t easily stop. Even when the substance is damaging their health, they still feel the strong need to use it.
For example, a young man may start smoking Kush just for fun with friends. Over time, his body begins to depend on it. Even when he notices that Kush is making him sick, wasting his money, and causing problems at home, he finds it very hard to stop.
Health Impacts of Drug Addiction
Drug addiction has severe negative impacts on individuals, harming their health in many ways. It damages the brain, weakens the body, and affects mental well-being. It is also linked to long-term health risks and can lead to premature death.
Impact on the Brain
Drug addiction significantly impacts the brain by weakening memory, judgment, and self-control. This is due to the way drugs affect neurotransmitter activity, which is crucial for these cognitive functions.
It was also proven by scientists that drugs can mimic or disrupt neurotransmitter activity, leading to mood alterations and cognitive impairments. For instance, stimulant drugs like cocaine increase dopamine signaling, resulting in heightened alertness and euphoria but can also lead to impulsivity and poor decision-making.
This happens because drugs disturb the brain’s natural messengers, which control how we think, feel, and act. Scientists have shown that drugs can copy or block these messengers, leading to mood swings and poor thinking.
For example, when someone uses cocaine or Kush, they may feel very active and happy for a short time. But later, it can make them act without thinking and make bad decisions, like spending all their money or getting into fights and even stop taking bath or wearing dirty clothes.
Impact of the Body
Drug addiction also impacts the liver, heart, lungs, kidneys and the immune system. It leads to conditions such as liver cirrhosis, heart attacks and chronic bronchitis, cognitive impairments, and weakened immunity. The liver is crucial for detoxifying the body, but excessive substance use, overwhelms this organ, leading to severe damage.
A drug like cocaine can significantly impact the heart by increasing heart rate and blood pressure, which can lead to severe cardiovascular issues. Smoking drugs like marijuana and cocaine can severely damage the respiratory system. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), drug use can suppress immune function, making individuals more vulnerable to infectious diseases like TB or malaria.
Simply put, drug addiction harms the whole body. It weakens the liver, heart, lungs, kidneys, and even the immune system that fights sickness. This can cause serious health problems like liver damage, heart attack, or long-lasting coughs.
For example, the liver is supposed to clean harmful substances from the body, but when someone uses drugs too much, the liver gets weak and may develop cirrhosis. Cocaine can strain the heart, raising blood pressure and leading to heart failure. Smoking drugs like kush or cocaine can badly damage the lungs, making breathing difficult.
Impact on Mental health
Information published by the U.S. National Institute on Drug Addiction proves that drug use and other mental illness often co-exist. With some drugs, like methamphetamine or hallucinogens, addicts experience intense paranoia, hallucinations, or delusions.
In some cases, mental disorders such as anxiety, depression, or schizophrenia may come before addiction. In other cases, drug use may trigger or worsen those mental health conditions, particularly in people with specific vulnerabilities. Some people with disorders like anxiety or depression may use drugs in an attempt to alleviate psychiatric symptoms.
For example, a young woman struggling with depression may start taking drugs to feel better. Instead of helping, the drugs will make her condition worse, she will become more anxious, confused, and sometimes paranoid.
Long-term Risk of Drug Addiction
Drug addiction can cause many negative long-term risks, like overdose, chronic illness and eventually early death. The World Health Organization (WHO) June 2024 report says that over 3 million annual deaths are due to alcohol and drug use, majority among men. Moreover drug use significantly increases the burden of chronic diseases, mental illness, and preventable deaths.
“Substance use severely harms individual health, increasing the risk of chronic diseases, mental health conditions, and tragically resulting in millions of preventable deaths every year. It places a heavy burden on families and communities, increasing exposure to accidents, injuries, and violence,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.
In another word, drug addiction has deadly long-term effects. It can cause overdose, serious illnesses, and even early death. The dangerous street drug known as “spark and die” has already taken many young lives, showing how deadly addiction can be.
Conclusion
Drug addiction goes far beyond dependence on drug, it deeply disrupts physical health, mental wellbeing, brain function, and elevates the risk of overdose and finally death. Prevention programs, education, and access to proper treatment are essential to saving lives and protecting Liberia’s future generations. The fight against drug in Liberia continues and in order to attack this problem head on, treatment strategies including medications, behavioral therapies, and support services are key pathways to recovery.
