Drug taking has many effects upon a person´s life. Some are obvious in the immediate, others take time to show themselves. Both are ultimately destructive to a person´s physical, mental, social and economic well being. We begin with the individual. As outlined in the section ´Drugs and Health´ drug taking has a negative effect on a person´s physical and mental well-being. This can lead to all kinds of health problems and even early death. Often, drug taking leads to a lack of personal care and ultimately a loss of self-respect. In the end the drug becomes more important to that person than life itself. Drug taking seriously damages an individual´s personality. This, in turn, leads to problems with relationships. Relationships are affected on every level. Family relations are put under strain. Drug taking by and large involves some sort of deception and secrecy. This obviously causes tension. In addition, a lot of drugs cause people to suffer from paranoia and mood swings. This aggravates the tension which already exists. A sense of alienation easily results Friendships are similarly affected. Paranoia, secrecy and mood swings affect friendships in the same way. In addition, the drug becomes increasingly important to that individual. If a friend does not share the habit, or the physical or psychological addiction, if a friend does not want to take party drugs for kicks, then it is usually the friend that is put aside rather than the desire for the drug. True loving relationships suffer. Drug takers are often not in control of their own actions. This means that casual sex often occurs. Often this is unprotected, which can result in unwanted pregnancies, or the contracting of sexually transmitted infections. These often have long-term consequences, even proving fatal. Sometimes they can result in infertility, meaning a person cannot have children in later life. Drug taking affects the individual as a member of the wider community. Essentially, taking drugs is an illegal activity. In addition, under the influence of drugs, crimes are often committed. Violence, vandalism, robbery can all result from drug taking. This can lead to arrest, court cases, fines and even imprisonment. A person´s personal safety is under threat whilst under the influence of drugs. Not only from the drugs themselves, but also because that person is not fully in control of themselves. They are therefore vulnerable to accident and injury. In addition, they may drive whilst under the influence of drugs. This not only endangers themselves, but also the community at large. If they are caught, again this may lead to conviction, loss of licence, and has implications for employment and insurance in the future. It is typical of a drug user to lose interest in other things. Schoolwork often suffers through lack of concentration and motivation. This affects a young person´s future and opportunities. Drug users often have difficulty in holding down employment of any kind, even unskilled work, due to the effects of the drugs upon them. Drug users often find themselves with money problems. This is due to several factors, some of which are outlined above. The cost of drugs is probably the primary factor. Then, what begins as a small recreational habit, becomes perhaps an all consuming one. People get into debt. This can lead to crime. The knock-on effects of this, again, are strain on relationship and perhaps imprisonment. Of course, all these scenarios do not happen to every drug user, but some happen to most of them to a greater or lesser degree. Whichever way you look at it, it does not read as a catalogue of positive events leading to ultimate happiness and success. Rather does it show that drug taking, in most cases, leads towards a downward spiral with destructive effect on every aspect of life. It takes a great strength of character and determination to withstand the negative pull of this lifestyle.