Chasing the high
Why the addicted brain is at risk of overdose
Drugs trick your mind and change your behaviour. The substances in drugs can affect the brain's “pleasure circuits” when it gets overwhelmed, resulting in addiction. This is when a person starts to crave for more of the substance causing them to repeat the behaviour again and again. Over time, drugs destroy a person's self-control and ability to resist, leading abusers on a downward spiral of despair.
DRUG ABUSE CAN LEAD TO
IRREVERSIBLE CONSEQUENCES
An overdose is a physical response to a toxic amount of drugs in the body.
Here's what happens to the body
during an overdose
The drug spreads around the body and the abuser experiences a “high”.
The “high” evens out the abuser's breathing and heart rate slows down.
If Stage 2 lasts more than several minutes, seizures, permanent brain damage, or even death could occur.
Even non-fatal overdoses can
harm your body
It can lead to:
Breathing problems lowering oxygen, risking brain damage or organ failure
Heart issues or increased risk of heart events such as a cardiac arrest
Nerve damage or limb paralysis (if the person stays in one position for too long)
Digestive issues from overdose-related distress
Lasting cognitive or memory problems from neurological disruptions
Worsening existing mental health challenges
Take a closer look and see
How drugs affect an abuser's body
Cannabis tampers with neurotransmitters in the brain, affecting cognitive function, memory and attention.
Heroin alters the prefrontal cortex and increases the likelihood of compulsive drug-seeking behaviour.
Ecstasy abuse leads to acute and chronic respiratory effects such as shortness of breath, increasing the risk of pulmonary hypertension.
Methamphetamine increases cardiac workload and oxygen demand. This increases the risk of heart failure, heart attack, and even sudden cardiac death.
Heroin abuse can lead to renal complications such as acute tubular necrosis, affecting the kidney's ability to maintain balance in the body.
Cannabis abuse causes renal dysfunctions such as glomerular hyperfiltration and proteinuria, damaging the kidney and affecting the body's ability to filter waste.
Drugs
harm more people than you think
Walk through to learn about the devastation that drugs can bring into homes through the accounts of real-life victims. The following stories are excerpts from “Waiting For You”, a collection of real victims stories compiled by the Singapore Prison Service.
How drugs harm
your loved ones at home
Though no fault of their own, victims of drug abuse are forced to live with unpredictable behaviour, domestic violence, financial strain, absent parents, social embarrassment and more. Here are some real-life stories from these victims.
“
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I was a little girl terrified of my own father
I remember my dad screaming at my mum for money. We never knew when he'd turn violent but when he did it was terrifying. When I was 11 he punched me and when I was 15 he tried to beat me with his belt. We all hated what drugs did to my dad. He was locked up for a lot of my childhood. I hope he can turn his life around.
Sue, 29
“
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Could I have done more to help my father?
When I was young, my father was kind and considerate. But as I got older, he turned into a violent person. He was so affected by drugs that one day he threatened me with a samurai sword! I know it wasn’t my fault, but I do feel guilty about everything. I often wonder if there was something I could have done or said to save my father from addiction.
Adam, 15
“
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My brother blamed me for his problems
I was very close to my brother when we were young. So when he got into drugs I felt very guilty about it. I put my life on hold for him when I stepped in and took care of his daughter but later, he threatened to take her away from me if I didn't give him money for drugs. It was crazy. I don't regret the sacrifices I've made but it's been really tough.