III. A Description of the Health Risks Associated with the Use of Illicit Drugs and the Abuse of Alcohol

Illicit Drugs

Marijuana is addictive and can cause impaired short-term memory, visual tracking, heart rate, slowed reaction time/poor coordination, lung disease and damage to reproductive functions.

Cocaine and Crack are highly addictive and may cause impaired judgment, short attention span, irritability, depression, mood swings, malnutrition, severe weight loss and liver damage, coma, seizure and heart attack.

PCP, LSD, Heroin, Mescaline and Morphine have a wide variety of negative health effects which may include hallucinations, mental confusion and/or permanent loss of mental function, addiction, convulsions, coma or death.

Prescription Drugs are too often used to reduce stress and are not safe unless they are taken as prescribed. If abused, they can lead to malnutrition, sluggishness or hyperactivity, impaired reflexes, addiction and brain damage, coma, or death.

Alcohol is the most commonly abused drug and can cause loss of concentration, poor judgment and coordination, impaired memory, drowsiness and mood swings, liver damage/cirrhosis of the liver, high blood pressure and heart attack, pancreatitis, various cancers and heart disease.