The toxic effect of various substances on the human body. The effect of toxic substances on the human body. Questions for the seminar

The consequences of substance abuse can manifest themselves in different ways. It all depends on how long a person poisons his body in this way. The harm of substance abuse of any kind is that it causes serious disorders in the body of adolescents. At first, it is muscle pain, nausea, convulsions, headaches, insomnia. At the psychological level, severe depression, unconditional aggression, anger, irritability appear, it becomes difficult for a person to control himself.

If for several weeks and even months a person continues to inhale toxic substances, then chronic intoxication with inhalants develops. With prolonged substance abuse - for 1-2 years - irreversible changes occur in the brain and organs of the patient. Its development is accelerated if a person inhales substances for several hours. Teenage drug addicts become feeble-minded people.

Experience shows that inveterate drug addicts after 1-2 months of frequent use of toxic substances, malignant diseases can develop that adversely affect the human body.

Here are some of the diseases that can be found in drug addicts:

lung abscess

Lung abscess is called necrosis of the lung tissue, while a small cavity filled with pus forms in the lung. This disease occurs as a result of harmful substances entering the lungs that contribute to the melting of lung tissue.

Acute and chronic lung abscess can be distinguished. For drug addicts, bronchial infection is most characteristic. It occurs as a result of pieces of food, blood, vomit, etc. entering the bronchi.

Heart failure

Heart failure is divided into acute and chronic, left ventricular and right ventricular. Also, stagnation of blood can occur in the large and small circles of blood circulation.

With heart failure, there is a regular overload of the heart muscle, which contributes to the development of hypertrophy, the occurrence of overwork, metabolic disorders in the heart muscle, as well as impaired blood supply to the myocardium.

kidney tumor

As a result of the proliferation of renal tissue, the kidney loses its ability to function normally. A tumor can occur due to a decrease in immunity and a general weakening of the body.

Kidney tumors include:

- benign tumors of the renal parenchyma (adenoma, myoma, fibroma, osteoma, lipoma, angioma, dermoid, chondroma, lymphangioma);
- benign tumors of the renal pelvis (angioma, papilloma);
- malignant tumors of the renal parenchyma (sarcoma, cancer, Wilms' tumor);
- malignant tumors of the renal pelvis (sarcoma, cancer).

A kidney tumor usually occurs as a result of a hormonal imbalance, which in a situation of using toxic substances is not such a rare case. In its development, a malignant tumor goes through several stages. On the first, it is localized within the renal capsule, on the second it affects the perirenal fatty tissue or vascular pedicle, on the third - regional lymph nodes, on the fourth it can move to other organs.

Cirrhosis of the liver

Cirrhosis of the liver is a severe fatal liver disease, accompanied by an irreversible replacement of the parenchymal tissue of the liver with fibrous connective tissue, or stroma. The cirrhotic liver is enlarged or reduced in size, unusually dense, bumpy, rough. Death occurs, depending on various kinds of cases, within two to four years with severe pain and suffering of the patient in the terminal stage of the disease.

Enteritis

Enteritis is an inflammation of the small intestine. This disease occurs as a result of poisoning with any chemicals. In some cases, the disease spreads to the stomach and colon.

Enteritis can occur in acute and chronic form. This disease affects the process of absorption of nutrients, which leads to a violation of the secretory and motor function of the small intestine.

Anaphylactic shock

This disease is the most severe case of allergy manifestation. Occurs with regular intake of large amounts of toxic substances or with a single dose of a substance that caused an allergic reaction in the past.

The main symptoms of anaphylactic shock are edema, rash, cough, bronchospasm, dyspnea, shortness of breath, low blood pressure, and fainting.

As a rule, anaphylactic shock in drug addicts ends in death, since a favorable outcome can only be provided with immediate medical care.

The consequences of long-term smoking also negatively affect the human body, for example, with prolonged abuse of cigarettes, men may show signs of impotence. In addition, smoking directly harms the respiratory system: it contributes to the appearance of chronic bronchitis, causes spasms of the heart vessels.

Let's conclude - the consequences of substance abuse are terrible. In just a couple of months, a drug addict can develop diseases that are catastrophic for the body, which can lead, at a minimum, to complications and worsening of the condition, and, at a maximum, to disability, failure of vital organs, and, as a result, to death.

Substance abuse and drug addiction

The word "addiction" comes from the ancient Greek "parke", which means "unconsciousness", "numbness", "mania", i.e.

e. madness, madness. Drugs are a poison that has a depressing effect on all organs and tissues, and especially on the central nervous system. Unlike alcoholism, when a person continues to work, albeit with low productivity, drug addiction leads to rapid disability and death. The average life expectancy of drug addicts is 30 years.

There are a large number of substances (means) that can intoxicate a person. First of all, they include chemicals of synthetic and vegetable origin. Their action is to relieve pain, change mood, mental and physical tone, consciousness, which, due to the wrong behavior observed in a person during this period, is called a state of drug intoxication. All these substances that actively affect the human nervous system and psyche are combined under the name of psychoactive or intoxicating substances (drugs). As a result of drug use, drug addiction develops - a special serious disease, which consists in the formation of a persistent dependence of a person's condition, his physical and mental well-being on the presence or absence of a drug in the body.

Along with drugs, there are a large number of drugs, as well as household and industrial chemicals that can cause a state of intoxication due to their toxic (poisonous) effect on the brain. Such substances (means) are called toxicants, and the disease states caused by dependence on them are called substance abuse.

The formation of drug and substance abuse is characterized by the development of their three main features: mental dependence, physical dependence and tolerance.

Psychological dependence consists in a painful desire to continuously or periodically take drugs in order to experience certain sensations again and again, or to change one's mental state. Mental dependence occurs in all cases of systematic drug use, and often after a single dose.

Physical dependence consists in a special restructuring of the entire vital activity of the human body associated with chronic drug use. It is manifested by intense physical and mental disorders that develop immediately as soon as the effect of the drug stops. These disorders are called abstinence syndrome (abstinence - abstinence) or "fragile" (as drug addicts themselves call them). Withdrawal causes the patient long-term suffering. He experiences a painful physical malaise, severe physical weakness, chills. Loss of sleep and appetite, he is constantly disturbed by severe headaches, as well as pain and cramps throughout the body. Hands and the whole body tremble strongly, gait and coordination of movements are disturbed, vomiting, diarrhea, convulsive seizures with loss of consciousness develop. The patient falls into melancholy or apathy, becomes extremely irritable, he is continually seized by anxiety, malicious anxiety, fraught with aggression. Psychosis often develops when the perception of reality is disturbed, and hallucinations appear. As a result of all this, the patient rushes about, screams, commits ridiculous acts, is able to commit any crime or commit suicide. In its acute phase, this condition can last without treatment and the inability to take the drug again for up to several weeks.

Another manifestation of physical dependence on the drug is the recurring and more and more uncontrollable urge to take it immediately, by all means. In addition, at the stage of development of physical dependence, the specific euphoric effect of the drug taken is gradually lost. And the patient is forced to use drugs not so much by the desire to experience euphoria (false joy), as by the desire to bring himself into at least a relative working state and avoid the pangs of withdrawal.

A sign of tolerance, i.e. addiction to drugs, manifests itself when, for the next administration of the same amount of a narcotic substance, an increasingly less pronounced reaction to its action is observed. Therefore, in order to achieve the same psychophysical effect, the patient needs a higher dose of the drug each time. As a result, the necessary dose of the drug is often hundreds of times higher than the initial one. And in accordance with the increased dose, its toxic, destructive effect on the body also increases.

There are three stages in the development of drug addiction:

I. It is characterized by a gradual, but rather rapid (on average for 1-2 months, and sometimes after 1-2 doses) development of mental dependence in relation to any intoxicating agent with a simultaneous increase in tolerance to it.

II. It is characterized by the formation of physical dependence on this drug with a steady increase and consolidation of the mental and physical consequences of the systematic toxic effects of this substance on the body: a violation of the psyche, behavior, as well as damage to all organs and systems of the body.

III. It is characterized by maximum manifestations of physical dependence, an increase in severe irreversible changes in the patient's body, leading to moral and ethical degradation, loss of working capacity, psychosis, dementia, decrepitude, and then death.

All patients in a short time develop severe medical consequences of chronic poisoning of the body: damage to internal organs, nervous system, brain. Hence a variety of mental disorders, increasing degradation, gradual complete disability, high mortality, often at a young age.

The death of patients is caused not only by complications of serious diseases caused by drugs, but also by drug overdose, accidents and suicides while intoxicated or during "withdrawal". Patients also die from blood poisoning when using dirty syringes, vascular thrombosis, HIV infection.

Substance abuse and drug addiction, in addition to extremely serious consequences for drug addicts themselves, bring additional social danger to society.

Drug addicts are characterized by such changes in the psyche as spiritual emptiness, callousness, coldness, deep egoism. In the course of the disease, all desires and needs fade away, except for the attraction to drugs, and hence the immorality of patients, their tendency to antisocial behavior, readiness for crimes. Thus, drug and substance abuse makes a person socially untenable.

Drug addiction represents a significant social danger as a factor that generates crime. First of all, drug addicts commit socially dangerous acts in connection with psychoses. Constant dependence on drugs, on the one hand, and high prices for them, on the other, push drug addicts to commit serious crimes (theft, robbery, murder). Finally, drug and substance abuse, spreading like an epidemic, affects various segments and groups of the population, especially young people who are involved in criminal activities for the manufacture, consumption, transportation and sale of drugs.

Use of drugs and toxic substances

A drug is a substance, the abuse of which, due to social danger, is officially recognized as such because of its ability to cause an attractive mental state with a single use, and with its systematic use - dependence on it. Drug addiction is a disease caused by the systematic use of substances included in the list of drugs, manifested by dependence on these substances - mental, and sometimes physical.

A psychoactive toxic substance may have the same properties as a drug, but the social danger of its abuse is not so high, therefore it is not officially recognized as a drug. Substance abuse is a disease that manifests itself in a similar mental, and sometimes physical, dependence on a substance that is not included in the official list of drugs.

With the course of the disease, drug addicts develop numerous deviations:

High mortality due to drug poisoning, accidents while intoxicated, suicidal tendencies.
Pronounced medical consequences of the use of narcotic drugs: somatic and neuralgic complications, gross degradation of the personality, early decrepitude and a significant reduction in average life expectancy.
High social "contagiousness" of drug addiction and substance abuse, which can spread quite quickly, especially among young people.
Pronounced criminogenic behavior, which is associated primarily with personality changes and moral and psychological degradation.

Cannabis is the most commonly used drug. Due to the fact that cannabis preparations are usually smoked, the lungs of patients suffer first of all - chronic bronchitis and lung cancer gradually develop. Cannabis alkaloids are very serious liver damage. They have a special effect on the brain, which begins to work in much the same way as it works in a patient with schizophrenia. These changes gradually accumulate, and even after stopping the use of the drug, a previously cheerful and energetic person turns into an apathetic, lethargic, slow-thinking, anxious subject for any reason, extremely painful for himself and for loved ones. He no longer wants to smoke cannabis, but, unfortunately, this condition is irreversible.

Cannabis reduces the production of growth hormones in young people, so they slow down both physical and mental development; the younger the cannabis lover, the more he lags behind his peers.

Opiate drugs (morphine, heroin, codeine, methadone, etc.) are currently the main cause of death and disability among drug addicts. They are usually administered intravenously, so that those who use them are at high risk of contracting three of the most dangerous diseases: AIDS, syphilis and hepatitis. Due to liver damage and reduced protein production, natural immunity and disease resistance are reduced. The degree of immune damage is almost the same as with AIDS. Opiate drugs permanently damage the structures of the brain, and even the smallest overdose of opiates leads to insufficient oxygen supply and destruction of brain cells. Opioids directly disrupt the calcium metabolism in the body, causing the bones to become soft (they become soft), and the teeth are destroyed.

The conditions in which opiate drugs are injected are never sterile, so blood poisoning (sepsis) in drug addicts is a fairly common and formidable complication. Their other formidable consequence is “shaking”, or a hyperthermic reaction associated with the fact that living and dead microorganisms enter the blood along with the drug. "Shaking" is accompanied by a sharp rise in temperature, chills, nausea, dizziness, weakness and other manifestations that can even end in death.

Typically, the average life expectancy of regular opiate users averages 7-10 years from the start of use.

All psychostimulants are doping that destroys the soul and body. They have two things in common: 1) dramatically increase heart rate and increase blood pressure; 2) excessively increase metabolism, including in the brain.

For all psychostimulants, an narcotization regime is characteristic, reminiscent of alcoholic binges. The patient begins to take the potion in increasing amounts at ever-decreasing intervals. At the end of the binge, the intervals between injections can be as little as 20 minutes (and so many injection marks appear on the patient's skin that they can easily be confused with a measles rash). Such a "binge" lasts for several days; all this time the patient does not sleep, the body's resources are inevitably depleted, and at one moment the next dose is no longer able to have a stimulating effect. The addict falls asleep for a day or two. Wakes up broken, lethargic, depressed and irritable. A few days he comes to his senses, and after that the cycle repeats again.

As a result of the abuse of any psychostimulants, a deficiency of the body's vital resources quickly sets in, flabbiness and aging of the skin, and general exhaustion are externally noted. The cardiovascular system is seriously affected, and very often death occurs from cardiac arrest. The psyche of those who use stimulants is exhausted, severe depression develops up to psychosis, and patients commit absurd, inexplicable and often tragic acts (for example, suicide). Other cases of psychosis are characterized by frequent mood swings, paranoid alertness and morbid suspicion, hallucinations and delusions. Sometimes, at the peak of intoxication, they think they can fly, and they really try to fly from the top floors of houses.

One of the most common drugs of this type is ephedron, which is homemade from ephedrine or medicines containing it. The impact of ephedron on the nervous system for several years leads to paralysis of the lower extremities, dementia develops, parkinsonism often occurs with impaired coordination of movements, facial expressions, speech, tremor (trembling) of the head and limbs.

The drug ecstasy, contrary to a widely known misconception, is not at all a "soft" drug. Ecstasy causes the need to constantly move, and intense physical activity leads to a rise in body temperature, but due to impaired thermoregulation, accompanied by a decrease in heat transfer, the body overheats and heat stroke occurs - most of the deaths caused by ecstasy are associated with overheating. Taking ecstasy often causes an increase in blood pressure up to a hypertensive crisis.

Half a hallucinogen, ecstasy, when used regularly or overdosed, causes relapsing psychoses similar to schizophrenia with hallucinations, fear and aggression.

The use of cocaine (its derivative - "crack") doctors call "fast killers" - "quick killers". It is very difficult to give up cocaine - its ability to cause addiction is not inferior to heroin. "Cocaine psychosis", which develops as a result of long-term use of cocaine, in addition to anxiety and fear, is complicated by visual, and even more often by auditory hallucinations. Excruciating skin itching appears.

Hallucinogenic drugs are extremely aggressive to the brain, and in fact, intoxication with any of them is an artificially induced psychosis. Thus, a single LSD intoxication can irreversibly damage the brain and permanently leave traces in the psyche that are indistinguishable from changes in schizophrenia. A small dose of it in an absolutely healthy person causes small consequences, but the damage progresses each time. Over time, the addict loses energy, cheerfulness and the ability to perform purposeful actions. Like a schizophrenic, he periodically has a state of panic, frightening hallucinations and uncontrolled aggressiveness. Other complications simply do not have time to develop - a person turns into a "vegetable".

The use of barbituric hypnotics is often combined with the use of opium drugs. Barbiturates, but in their intoxicating effect and in the complications that occur as a result of their abuse, are similar to alcohol, but the complications themselves caused by them arise faster and are more severe. Already after 1-3 months of regular intake of barbiturates, mental and physical dependence, persistent and prolonged insomnia are formed. After a short time, specific brain damage (encephalopathy) develops, which is clinically similar to epilepsy. Blood pressure from barbiturates rises sharply, especially during withdrawal, which in patients with barbituric addiction accounts for the bulk of heart attacks.

With prolonged (six months or more) abuse, barbshuromaniacs develop psychosis - either hallucinations, due to which they commit ridiculous, and often dangerous acts, or accompanied by delusions of persecution and jealousy. Due to the usual aggressiveness of patients, the consequences of psychoses are often tragic.

Barbiturates, like other drugs, cause liver dystrophy, but usually patients do not live to cirrhosis - they die due to encephalopathy, other complications and suicides: among barbituric addicts, the number of suicides exceeds the national average by 60 - 80 times!

Inhalants are toxic substances that a person inhales to achieve a state of euphoria. These substances include vapors of gasoline, acetone, benzene, etc. Most often they are used by teenagers.

Abuse of inhalants even once a week leads to the development of the following complications:

Cell death and toxic liver damage (dystrophy). The term of formation is about 8-10 months. Result: chronic liver failure, impaired blood clotting, reduced immunity, edema, and finally cirrhosis.
Brain cell death and encephalopathy. The term of formation is months. Result: mental retardation (possibly dementia), as well as sharp manifestations of irritability, irascibility, lack of restraint and aggressiveness.
Respiratory disorders and inflammation of the lungs (pneumonia), which can occur as early as the first months of abuse. Often the outcome of pneumonia is ineumosclerosis (replacement of lung tissue with scars).

In terms of toxicity and harm to the body, no drug can compare with inhalants. Observations conducted over 5-15 years on adolescents showed that 37% of adolescents who abuse inhalants developed alcoholism by the age of 23-32.

Fortunately, inhalants are usually fairly easy to quit, and teenagers tend to stay away from them for a long time.

Drug addiction and substance abuse: consequences of drug use

4. Substance abuse

Drug addiction (from the Greek toxikon - "poison" and mania - "madness, insanity") is a disease resulting from the regular use of psychoactive substances (chemical and herbal substances, drugs, etc.). Substance abuse is characterized by psychological and physical dependence, changes in the human psyche and various mental disorders that can lead to complete degradation of the individual.

Drug addicts often become children and adolescents from dysfunctional families. At an older age, substance abuse, as a rule, is not addicted. The street name for drug addicts is “sniffers”, as the name implies, various substances enter the human body by inhalation.

Most often, adolescents aged 10–16 become drug addicts. The reason for the formation of this bad habit is curiosity and the desire to experience unusual sensations. Often a teenager succumbs to the persuasion of peers who have already tried it.

Most drug addicts start using drugs sooner or later.

Toxic substances not only gradually destroy the body of a teenager, but also adversely affect his psyche. A teenager becomes inhibited, loses the ability to think logically and acquire new knowledge. It is because of this that many drug addicts drop out of school, they are simply not able to master the compulsory school curriculum.

A juvenile drug addict stops communicating with his peers, as he begins to lag behind them in mental development. Usually the circle of communication of such a teenager closes on the same as him, drug addicts or guys with a low level of intelligence. A teenager with substance abuse becomes angry and aggressive. He begins to provoke conflict situations with others and often ends up in the police for various offenses.

Toxic substances, as already mentioned, have an adverse effect on the psyche, which, among other things, is also irreversible. Under the influence of harmful substances, cells of the brain and central nervous system are destroyed, which can no longer recover and function normally. A drug addict will never become a full-fledged person; he can only slightly improve his mental and physical health and subsequently maintain it at the proper level.

Inhalation of toxic substances has an adverse effect on almost all internal organs and human systems. Even a single use of harmful vapors can cause irreparable harm to the body.

Most drug addicts take the easier route. Failing to become worthy people, they embark on a criminal path and prove their "importance" in such a dubious way. Probably, there is no drug addict in the world who would not have committed some kind of crime in his life. A teenager besotted with toxic substances ceases to control his actions and does not understand what he is doing.

In modern society, the prevention of substance abuse is becoming the most relevant. Recently, in most educational institutions, explanatory work has been carried out with adolescents. Every teenager should know what this bad habit can lead to. Prevention, in addition, should also include anti-alcohol and anti-drug propaganda, since the inhalation of toxic substances is often accompanied by the use of alcohol and drugs.

Substance abuse in most cases is of a group nature, which is why it is so important to be able to identify so-called activists among adolescents who attract more and more people to their ranks. It is necessary to explain to the teenager that one should stay away from such people, not listen to their talk about what pleasure inhaling ordinary glue can bring.

Parents should also be aware of the dangers of substance abuse and the symptoms of intoxication. This is necessary in order to help your child get rid of this addiction in time. Many parents are embarrassed to admit that their child is a drug addict, and do not seek help from a doctor, trying to treat it on their own. By doing this, they cause even more harm to the teenager. Only a qualified specialist can cure substance abuse. Treatment will take more than one month, so it is important to start it as early as possible. Every day of delay threatens with more and more negative consequences for the body.

Substance abuse is also dangerous because sooner or later a teenager will turn to drug use. This is due to the fact that over time the body becomes so accustomed to toxic substances that they simply cease to produce the desired effect. To experience euphoria, a teenager must either increase the dose each time, or switch to heavier substances, which are drugs.

The principle of action of toxic substances on the human body

Toxic substances that substance abusers inhale, like drugs, cause mental and physical dependence. Mental dependence begins after 2-3 days of inhalation of harmful substances. Subsequently, it is manifested by an irresistible desire to once again experience euphoria. A few days without such sensations lead the drug addict into a state of psychological discomfort, which can only be removed by the next dose.

In order to be in more or less psychological balance, a teenager is forced to regularly inhale toxic substances. Over time, all his behavior is aimed at searching for a toxic substance, moreover, inhaling harmful substances becomes the meaning of his life.

After a while, physical dependence on toxic substances begins to occur. It manifests itself in the appearance of a whole complex of mental and vegetative-neurological disorders that are observed in the body some time after the end of the intake of harmful substances. This severe condition is called withdrawal syndrome.

As a result of severe toxic poisoning, about 20 thousand nerve cells die.

Withdrawal syndrome is very difficult. It occurs, as a rule, within 1 day after taking the next dose. After 2-3 days, it reaches its peak. Withdrawal syndrome symptoms are dysphoria, anxiety, anxiety, progressive weakness, involuntary muscle twitches, hand and finger tremors, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, visual distortion, weight loss, a sharp drop in blood pressure, and joint pain.

In society, a clear line is drawn between drug addicts and drug addicts. For some reason, it is believed that drug addiction is a serious disease, and substance abuse is just a habit that is inherent in adolescents and is done out of stupidity, from a lack of life experience. There is no such division in medicine, doctors are accustomed to considering drug addicts and substance abusers as one group of patients who require serious treatment, without which they will simply die.

Many drug addicts claim to be able to control their hallucinations. In their opinion, after inhaling toxic substances, they can see whatever they want.

Substance abuse is characterized by the following features:

– psychological and physical dependence on certain substances;

- the inability to do without toxic substances for a long time;

- regular use of toxic substances;

- a tendency to a constant increase in a single dose of harmful substances;

- a strong need of the body for a certain toxic substance;

- irreversible consequences for the human body and psyche.

Hallucinations usually occur 5–7 minutes after inhalation of a toxic substance. At first, a person feels a slight dizziness, hears a whistle or rustle, a characteristic state of fog appears in the head, which gradually increases. Already after 1–2 minutes, the phase of vegetative-vestibular disorders begins, at which time the person gradually loses his sense of balance, the gait becomes clumsy, in some cases it is impossible to take a single step at all. This state lasts about 3 minutes.

After that, a person enters a phase of bliss, for which he, in fact, began to inhale toxic substances. Most of the surrounding objects begin to cause uncontrollable laughter. Unreasonable fun begins at one glance at the faces of other people. In this state, adolescents become uncontrollable, they scream, laugh, they can talk to themselves or with an invisible interlocutor.

After another 3-4 minutes, hallucinations begin. First, a person sees before his eyes multi-colored circles, a rainbow, incomprehensible figures, the color of which is constantly changing. The drug addict feels the presence of other people around him, whom he does not see, but hears their voices. Sometimes beautiful music is heard. A person sees in front of him overturning objects that slowly float through the air.

In this state, the drug addict can stay for about 10-15 minutes, while it seems to him that time begins to accelerate its course, while the sensation is almost physical. Having reached its peak, the state of euphoria begins to decline, at which time the teenager, in order to prolong the pleasant sensations, once again inhales the toxic substance. In one session, he can take up to 7-8 breaths of a harmful substance.

After the end of the session, the most difficult stage of the termination of the action of the substance begins. A teenager’s mood deteriorates sharply, a severe headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, an unpleasant taste in the mouth, etc., may occur.

This state is called withdrawal, or withdrawal. It disappears after taking the next dose or by itself after 4-5 days. In case of an overdose, the following symptoms are observed: dry mucous membranes, dilated pupils, facial hyperemia, increased breathing, strong heartbeat, blurred vision and coordination of movements.

Substance abusers consider toxic substances to be a good antidepressant. In their opinion, the state of euphoria completely erases all existing problems, a person forgets about his troubles and experiences only positive emotions.

After the cessation of the action of toxic substances, a person experiences a partial loss of memory. He forgets everything that happened to him from the moment of the first inhalation of the harmful substance until the appearance of the first hallucinations. As a rule, a drug addict remembers hallucinations very well, in great detail, and in the future seeks to repeat a similar effect.

After 2-3 days after taking toxic substances, negative consequences begin to appear: asthenia may occur, the development of catarrh of the upper respiratory tract and conjunctivitis.

The adaptation of the body to toxic substances occurs quite quickly. At first, the intervals between their doses are 3-4 days, then 1 day, and, in the end, the sessions become daily. Some drug addicts inhale harmful substances twice a day - in the morning and in the evening.

Single doses of the inhaled substance also gradually increase. Already after 1–2 months, a drug addict can increase his dose by 4–5 times. If before the sessions were episodic, now they are becoming systematic.

Over time, there is a transformation of the state of intoxication. After a few weeks, it is significantly shortened in time and is only 1-2 hours. External manifestations of poisoning of the body also weaken - a strong heartbeat, redness of the skin, jumps in blood pressure, etc.

Physical dependence develops after 1-2 months of regular intake of toxic substances. Mental dependence is formed much faster.

Substances used by drug addicts

There are a large number of different substances used by drug addicts to achieve a state of euphoria. These include the following substances:

- industrial and household chemicals: gasoline, chloroform, toluene, volatile solvents, acetone, ether, kerosene, ethylene glycol, stain removers, synthetic adhesives, nitro paints, varnishes, deodorants, etc.;

- stimulants of the central nervous system, which do not belong to narcotic drugs - strong tea (extract), or chifir, caffeine, centedrin, etc.;

- sedative tranquilizers: relanium, seduxen, meprobamate, phenazepam, elenium, tazepam, phenibut, etc.;

- sleeping pills: eunoctin, bromural, radedorm, etc.;

- antihistamines: pipolfen, diphenhydramine, suprastin, etc .;

- anticholinergics: artan, cyclodol, nakom, romparkin, etc.

Means of industrial and household chemicals are the main component of the mixture inhaled by the drug addict. All other substances are used by drug addicts to enhance the desired effect of euphoria. Some components of gasoline and glue are strong poisons, which, when ingested, affect primarily the cells of the central and peripheral nervous system.

The composition of gasoline also includes substances that contribute to the disruption of biochemical processes in the nervous tissue. Dichloroethane adversely affects liver cells, disrupting its normal functioning, as well as protein and carbohydrate metabolism. As a result, the amount of underoxidized products increases in the blood, azotemia occurs and phenol breakdown products are formed. Almost all toxic substances, to a greater extent ethyl acetate, contribute to the disruption of the normal functioning of the cerebral cortex, which leads to the destruction of its protective function and contributes to the unhindered penetration of harmful substances into the brain.

Treatment of drug addicts begins with immediate hospitalization in a narcological dispensary, where the teenager is completely deprived of the opportunity to obtain toxic substances.

To achieve euphoria, drug addicts often use conventional stain removers. To do this, the fabric is impregnated with liquid and the mouth and nose are covered with it. To enhance the effect, ammonia is sometimes added. In this case, the probability of death increases several times.

Toluene is usually poured into a plastic bag and, putting it on the head, breathe for 1-2 minutes. In some cases, the state of euphoria begins suddenly and the teenager does not have time to remove the bag from his head. The result is death by poisoning and asphyxiation.

Gasoline, glue, nail polish remover, cleaners and detergents in most cases cause burns or other damage to the respiratory system. In addition, they adversely affect the brain. Inhalation of paint thinner fumes can lead to heart failure, resulting in instant death.

Toxic intoxication is very easy to confuse with alcohol. At first glance, the signs are almost the same.

Signs of toxic intoxication are noise in the head, increased salivation, sore throat, lacrimation, double vision, dizziness, slow reaction, sweet taste in the mouth, heaviness in the head, nausea, vomiting, impaired coordination of movements, arrhythmia, anxiety, slight pain all over the body, irritability, unreasonable laughter, importunity, talkativeness, hand trembling, thirst, etc.

Negative consequences

At first, the negative consequences of the use of toxic drugs do not appear in any way. The first signs of any disturbances in the body can be noticed not earlier than 1 month after regular sessions.

Most often, the work of the cardiovascular system is disrupted, problems with the liver begin, cirrhosis of the liver may occur. There are frequent cases of inflammation of the mucous membranes. Damage to the lungs can result in cancer.

lung abscess

Acute and chronic lung abscess can be distinguished. For drug addicts, bronchial infection is most characteristic. It occurs as a result of pieces of food, blood, vomit, etc. entering the bronchi.

With an unfavorable outcome, the abscess becomes chronic, which is characterized by the regular formation of a new purulent focus.

The main symptoms of the disease are fever, chills, fever, excessive sweating, chest pain, dry cough, shortness of breath, some puffiness of the face, changes in the shape of the nails, etc.

There are two stages in the course of the disease. At the first stage, necrosis of the lung and the formation of the abscess itself are observed. On the second, an abscess ruptures and pus is released.

The most common complications after a lung abscess are pneumosclerosis, pulmonary hemorrhage, amyloidosis of internal organs, chronic gastritis, etc.

Heart failure

Heart failure is divided into acute and chronic, left ventricular and right ventricular. Also, stagnation of blood can occur in the large and small circles of blood circulation.

Acute left ventricular failure often occurs against the background of myocardial infarction, hypertension, acute nephritis, atherosclerotic cardiosclerosis and aortic heart disease. Acute right ventricular failure is accompanied by lobar pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, paroxysmal tachycardia, atrial flutter, etc.

Chronic heart failure is characterized by a decrease in the rate of blood flow and the volume of blood ejected by the heart in 1 minute, as well as an increase in circulating blood.

The main symptoms of acute right ventricular heart failure are pain in the right hypochondrium, bloating, nausea, vomiting, cyanosis, shortness of breath, liver enlargement, and edema. The main symptoms of acute left ventricular heart failure are pulmonary edema, cardiac asthma, asthma attacks, cough, wheezing, cyanosis, thready pulse, fainting. The main symptoms of chronic heart failure are tachycardia, shortness of breath, weakness. The main symptoms of chronic left ventricular heart failure are shortness of breath, congestion in the pulmonary circulation, increased pressure, swelling of the veins in the neck, and edema.

In heart failure, shortness of breath occurs initially only after physical exertion, but as the disease progresses, it also appears at rest.

As already mentioned, cyanosis occurs with heart failure. In the early stages of the disease, it is localized on the nose, lips, fingers and toes. As the disease progresses, cyanosis spreads to other parts of the body. After some time, stagnation of blood in the lungs develops, subsequently stagnation in the liver and, as a result, cirrhosis of the liver can be added to this.

The most common complication after heart failure is cardiac cachexia.

kidney tumor

As a result of the proliferation of renal tissue, the kidney loses its ability to function normally. A tumor can occur due to a decrease in immunity and a general weakening of the body.

Kidney tumors include:

- benign tumors of the renal parenchyma (adenoma, myoma, fibroma, osteoma, lipoma, angioma, dermoid, chondroma, lymphangioma);

- benign tumors of the renal pelvis (angioma, papilloma);

- malignant tumors of the renal parenchyma (sarcoma, cancer, Wilms' tumor);

- malignant tumors of the renal pelvis (sarcoma, cancer).

In a section on a cancerous tumor, brown, yellow and red areas are visible, which arose as a result of multiple hemorrhages. Cystic cavities and necrotic areas can be found on the tumor.

During the development of the disease, the tumor gradually increases in size, growing into the renal vena cava. Over time, the tumor severely deforms the kidney, interfering with its normal functioning.

The main symptoms of a kidney tumor are general weakness, lack of appetite, sudden loss of body weight, fever up to 39 ° C, chills, fever, pain in the kidney area, varicocele, hemoptysis. In the absence of treatment, the patient dies from intoxication of the body.

Enteritis

Enteritis is an inflammation of the small intestine. This disease occurs as a result of poisoning with any chemicals. In some cases, the disease spreads to the stomach and colon.

Enteritis can occur in acute and chronic form. This disease affects the process of absorption of nutrients, which leads to a violation of the secretory and motor function of the small intestine.

In the treatment of enteritis, special attention is paid to proper nutrition. It also shows the intake of vitamins, antibiotics and sulfonamides.

The main symptoms of enteritis are lack of appetite, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, bloating, abdominal pain, lowering blood pressure, fever, gradual weight loss and pallor of the skin. The most common complications are malnutrition, anemia and hypovitaminosis.

Anaphylactic shock

The main symptoms of anaphylactic shock are edema, rash, cough, bronchospasm, dyspnea, shortness of breath, low blood pressure, and fainting.

As a rule, anaphylactic shock in drug addicts ends in death, since a favorable outcome can only be provided with immediate medical care.

Dangerous consequences of the development of substance abuse

Drug addiction is a serious mental disorder, which is expressed in the dependence of the patient on a certain substance. It is not customary for narcologists to separate drug addiction and substance abuse, but to single out dependence in the inhalation of narcotic substances into a form of drug addiction.

Substance abuse is a type of drug addiction

Toxicological consequences and what is substance abuse

It is not unexpected news for anyone that in our country the problem of drug addiction is the most acute. This issue is especially relevant among young people from 8 to 15 years old in the transition period. If at such a moment you do not keep track of the child, then a bad company can lead to disastrous consequences.

Features of addiction

Substance abuse is a type of drug addiction that can lead to death. Every year this dependence in our country is “getting younger”, and the view of the general availability of narcotic substances (drug addicts most often use household chemicals) becomes a real problem.

During the formation of a teenager's personality, it is very important to pay attention not only to the child's academic performance at school, but also to his behavior and the companies with which he communicates. Most often, a teenager's first experience with drugs is in the company of older children or adults, so keep a close eye on your child's social circle.

Substance abuse is a subspecies of drug addiction, which consists in taking drugs through the respiratory or digestive organs. Addict teens inhale toxic chemicals from a bag, causing:

Slight confusion of mind. The addict loses the ability to navigate in space.
There is dizziness.
When inhaling the vapors of chemicals, the drug addict shows signs of intoxication of the body - nausea, vomiting, asthenic condition.
In rare cases, seizures and coma may occur.

When inhaling toxic chemicals, a slight clouding of the mind occurs

signs

With prolonged substance abuse, it is quite simple to determine the dependence; a person has characteristic signs of substance abuse:

Bronchitis and runny nose. These are the first signs of destruction of the mucous membranes under the influence of toxic fumes. A drug addict is diagnosed with chronic symptoms.
Sunken eyes, sickly complexion and obvious signs of anemia.
Developmental delay and isolation. The impact of drugs entails the death of brain cells, and as a result, the teenager shows clear signs of lagging behind normal development.
A striking sign of substance abuse in adolescents is the craving for various kinds of perversions.
Constant uncontrollable mood swings.

Types of disease

Substance abuse, like any addiction, has its varieties. Types of substance abuse differ in the severity of harm to health and the drugs used.

Drug addiction

The use of psychotropic tranquilizers, as well as oral antihistamines, is one of the severe forms of substance abuse. Long-term use of drugs can cause serious damage to health. If you refuse tranquilizers, a patient with substance abuse may experience:

Insomnia, both complete and partial.
Mental disorder. The appearance of panic attacks and a state of perpetual persecution.
If the patient sleeps, then he is haunted by constant nightmares. Against the background of refusal to take drugs, acute psychoses can develop.
Convulsions and epileptic seizures.

Drug dependence occurs as a result of long-term use of psychotropic drugs-tranquilizers.

coffeemania

The modern pace of life requires a person to be in a constant state of combat readiness, but if there is not enough strength, you can cheer up with coffee. But few people know that dependence on constant drinking of coffee is also a form of substance abuse. With a pronounced coffee addiction, a person lacks 10 cups of coffee a day, and not infrequently this form of substance abuse leads to the fact that in search of energy a person consumes coffee that is no longer diluted with a large amount of water, but takes “coffee jelly” with a small part of water.

Therefore, the habit of drinking too much coffee can also cause irreparable harm to health.

Chefir

Types of substance abuse are so diverse that sometimes bad habits are difficult to distinguish from drug addiction. Drinking a lot of tea is a drug habit. In the early stages, the patient is satisfied with the use of tea leaves in small doses diluted with water, but then, the water becomes less and less, and its strength increases. When using chefir in large quantities, a person feels an increase in energy in the body, which quickly passes and can provoke the appearance of:

Arrhythmias and dysfunctions of the heart.
Cause irritation of the digestive system and provoke gastritis.
Disrupt mental state. Manifestations of mental instability, its complete disorder, and the appearance of aggression are possible.

Smoking is one of the manifestations of drug addiction

Smoking

Smoking is another form of drug addiction. In modern conditions, smoking is a real problem, it is almost impossible to eradicate it. This habit came to us from afar and firmly settled in the human mind.

Smoking can provoke irreparable changes in the human body and disrupt the functioning of many of its systems.

Nicotine, which is contained in tobacco smoke, affects not only the brain (killing its cells and inhibiting the overall perception of reality), but also the respiratory system of the body (with prolonged use of nicotine in the form of cigarettes, the smoker coughs and develops bronchitis).

Petrol and gas

The most terrible form of drug addiction is gasoline or gas addiction. When inhaling gasoline or gas vapors, the destruction of brain cells occurs instantly, and the damage caused to the respiratory system is irreparable. The consequences of substance abuse with gasoline are the most terrible, after this type of drug addiction, a person does not receive any satisfaction from other chemicals and the habit of getting euphoria makes the addict switch to heroin.

Inhalation of gasoline vapors and gas addiction can provoke not only lung cancer, but also necrosis of internal organs. Inhaled vapors poison the body as a whole, settling in the liver and kidneys, the substances are not excreted and have a long-term toxic effect.

Drug addicts use household chemicals

Chemicals

Commonly available means that drug addicts use most often are household chemicals. There are frequent cases of the use of varnishes and paints as toxic drugs. The effect of such inhalation does not last long and causes a general persistent intoxication of the body.

Mechanisms of addiction development

After inhalation of a poisonous drug, signs of drug intoxication appear, which are accompanied by symptoms:

Noise in the ears and incoordination of the body.
A person cannot adequately respond to external stimuli, the stage of fun begins.
Three minutes after taking the drug (by mouth or by inhalation), a short-term euphoria occurs.
The general state of drug intoxication lasts about a minute and sharply decreases.

In order to prolong the sensation of euphoria and re-experience it, the addict may use drugs repeatedly or perform inhalation sessions up to several dozen times.

Teenagers quickly get used to getting high and try to experience euphoria more and more often. Patients do not remember the unpleasant sensations from the use of the drug, but only remember the very state of euphoria that makes them re-use the drug.

That is why it is important to monitor your child and his environment and prevent the habit from forming.

Effects

The consequences of substance abuse are very detrimental to the body, not only of a teenager, but of any person. The harm of substance abuse lies in the constant use of toxic drugs, which, by their effect, cause a state of euphoria.

The habit of using toxic drugs is incurable, it is a serious mental disorder. Therefore, those people who did not die from exposure to toxic substances most often become drug addicts, which ultimately leads to death.

The dangers of substance abuse are:

Respiratory burns. As a result of inhalation of gasoline vapors or paints and varnishes that can provoke a chemical burn.
Lung cancer is a constant companion of all patients with substance abuse. Quite often it does not come to lung cancer, patients die more often from an abscess or complete necrosis.
Cirrhosis of the liver. Toxic substances accumulate in the liver, causing it to rot.
All kinds of pathologies of the cardiac system, which begin with arrhythmias.
Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, which are accompanied by acute inflammatory processes.

The consequences of such a habit are disastrous not only for the addict himself, but also for society. Therefore, carefully monitor your relatives and friends, and if you find the first signs, contact the specialists.

Poison can be any substance that has entered the human body in a toxic dose (ordinary table salt or even oxygen - at a pressure exceeding 1 atm. (For example, when immersed under water), which has a toxic effect on the human lungs and central nervous system). However, poisons, as a rule, include substances that exhibit a harmful effect under normal conditions and in relatively small quantities.

Chemical substances (organic, inorganic, element-organic), depending on their possible negative (toxic) effects on humans and the environment in practical use, are divided into:

industrial poisons used in production: organic solvents (dichloroethane), fuels (propane, butane), dyes (aniline), etc.;
pesticides used in agriculture : pesticides (hexachloran), insecticides (karbofos), etc.;
medicines ;
household chemicals used in the form of food additives (acetic acid), sanitation, personal care, cosmetics, etc.;
biological plant and animal poisons : in plants and fungi (aconite, hemlock), in animals and insects (venom of snakes, bees, scorpions);
toxic substances (including combat): sarin, mustard gas, phosgene, etc.

The toxic effect largely depends on the way the poison enters the human body.

A large group of chemicals and compounds found in production as raw materials, intermediates or finished products refers to industrial poisons . They can enter the body through the respiratory system (mainly), the gastrointestinal tract and intact skin. These poisons can cause a decrease in the resistance (resistance) of the organism and its increased morbidity.

When poison enters the gastrointestinal tract, more often occur household poisoning (toxic chemicals, household chemicals and medicines).

If the poison enters directly into the bloodstream (with snake or insect bites or with intravenous administration of substances), severe acute poisoning is possible.

In terms of toxicity, substances are divided into: extremely toxic, highly toxic, moderately toxic and low toxicity.

Toxicity criteria for harmful substances are quantitative indicators of the toxicity and danger of harmful substances. The toxic effect under the action of various doses and concentrations of poisons can manifest itself as functional and structural (pathomorphological) changes or death of the organism. In the first case, toxicity is usually expressed in the form of active, threshold and inactive doses and concentrations, in the second - in the form of lethal concentrations.

Lethal or lethal doses %%(DL)%% when introduced into the stomach or into the body by other routes, or lethal concentrations %%(CL)%% can cause single cases of death (minimal fatal) or death of all organisms (absolutely fatal).

As toxicity indicators enjoy lethal doses and concentrations(indicators of absolute toxicity):

lethal concentration of a substance in the air %%CL_(50)%% . - this is the concentration of the substance that causes the death of 50% of experimental animals with a 2-4-hour inhalation exposure (mg / m 3);
median lethal dose when injected into the stomach (mg/kg) is denoted as %%DL_(50)%%. mean lethal dose when applied to the skin- %%DL_(50)^K%%.

Degree of toxicity substances is defined as the ratio

$$ ( \frac (1) ( DL_(50))) and ( \frac (1) ( CL_(50))), $$

the lower the toxicity values %%DL_(50)%% and %%CL_(50)%%, the higher the degree of toxicity.

The danger of poisons can also be judged by the values of the thresholds of harmful action (single, chronic) and the threshold of specific action.

Harm threshold (single or chronic) - this is the minimum (threshold) concentration (dose) of a substance, under the influence of which changes in biological parameters at the organismic level occur in the body that go beyond adaptive reactions, or latent (temporarily compensated) pathology.

The single action threshold is designated %%Lim_(ac)%%, the chronic threshold is %%Lim_(ch)%%, the specific threshold is %%Lim_(sp)%%.

The effect of the toxic action of various substances depends on the amount of the substance that has entered the body, its physical properties, the duration of intake, the chemistry of interaction with biological media (blood, enzymes). In addition, the effect depends on sex, age, individual sensitivity, routes of entry and excretion, distribution in the body, as well as meteorological conditions and other associated environmental factors.

Manifestations of the action of toxic substances on the human body can be very diverse, since the pathological processes that occur when exposed to poison are determined not only by the properties of the active substances, but also by the response of the human body to this effect. Industrial poisons, having a versatile and complex effect on the body, can cause any of the known pathological processes: inflammation, dystrophy, allergic conditions, fibrotic changes in organs, damage to the hereditary cell apparatus, impaired embryogenesis, development of a tumor process, etc. Despite the diversity and the complexity of the processes caused by various poisons, each toxic substance has the ability to cause a combination of effects characteristic of a given poison.

Depending on the totality of the manifestations of the action of poisons and on the organs and systems predominantly affected by the poison, industrial poisons can be grouped into the following groups:

1) irritating substances;
2) neurotropic poisons;
3) hepatotropic;
4) blood poisons;
5) industrial allergens;
6) kidney poisons.

Such a division is very conditional, it characterizes only one of the directions of action of poisons and does not exclude the polytropic nature of their action.

Irritating substances include chlorine, ammonia, sulfur dioxide, phosgene, dimethyl sulfate, nitrogen oxides, etc. Changes in the activity of the nervous system are characteristic of most toxic substances, but in a narrower sense, mercury, manganese, carbon disulfide, lead can be attributed to neurotropic poisons. Hepatotropic industrial poisons are chlorinated hydrocarbons (chloroform, dichloroethane, carbon tetrachloride, chloronaphthalenes), nitro compounds of benzene and its homologues, styrene, arsenic, phosphorus compounds, phosphorus and organochlorine pesticides, etc.

Benzene, arsenic hydrogen, phenylhydrazine can be classified as blood poisons. Changes in the blood system are also caused by lead, trinitrotoluene, xylene, toluene, carbon monoxide, etc.

In recent years, ideas about the effect of toxic substances on immunobiological processes have significantly expanded. Allergic properties have chromium, beryllium, formaldehyde and many other substances. Among the substances that have an impact on the functional state of the kidneys, one can name. arsenic hydrogen, ethylene glycol, sublimate, fluorine compounds, cadmium and its compounds, etc. The development of pathological processes when exposed to toxic substances is the result of these substances disrupting the activity of many body systems. As mentioned above, these disorders are associated primarily with damage to biochemical structures by poisons and, first of all, damage to the receptor apparatus of cells, the state of their membranes and the activity of enzyme systems localized in certain intracellular structures, followed by changes in intracellular and organ metabolism.

As a general preventive measure to prevent the development of chronic intoxication for chemicals used in industry, maximum allowable concentrations (MACs) are established. In table. Table 2 shows MPCs for some of the most common industrial chemicals.

MPC of harmful substances in the air of the working area - concentrations that, during daily (except weekends) work for 8 hours or for other durations, but not more than 41 hours per week, during the entire working time cannot cause diseases or deviations in the state of health discovered by modern methods of research in the course of labor activity or in the remote periods of life of the present and subsequent ones; generations.

Scientific substantiation and strict observance of hygienic standards, the introduction into production of technological processes and equipment that are more advanced from a hygienic point of view, contributed to the improvement of labor and a significant reduction in occupational diseases. Thus, in many chemical industries, due to the implementation of hygienic and technological recommendations, ensuring the continuity of processes and the tightness of equipment, remote control and other measures, the concentration of harmful substances in the air of the working area has been reduced to the maximum permissible level, cases of acute poisoning and severe forms of chronic intoxication have almost disappeared by many toxic substances.

A chemical introduced into the body from the outside exhibits the properties of a poison and causes poisoning only under certain conditions, knowledge of which is necessary for an expert to correctly understand the occurrence, course and outcome of poisoning. The main of these conditions are the following.

Dose (amount) and concentration of a chemical. The effect of the poison depends on its amount introduced into the body. In some doses, the administered substance has a therapeutic effect (therapeutic dose), in others - a toxic effect (toxic dose) or leads to death (lethal, or lethal, dose). The indicated doses for many toxic substances can be very different depending on the route of administration of the poison. So, for example, therapeutic doses when administered through can become lethal when the poison enters directly into the blood.

The same amount of a substance, but in different concentrations, can have different effects on the body. So, for example, 100 ml of 96% alcohol will cause a faster and deeper intoxication than the same amount of alcohol administered in the form of 40% alcohol (vodka) or 6% alcohol (beer).

The physical state of a substance and its solubility in body media are essential. Toxic substances can be in solid, liquid and gaseous states. Solid chemicals introduced into the body act only after they are dissolved and absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract, so poisoning with them occurs much more slowly than with poisoning with gaseous and liquid substances.

Some chemicals that are toxic to the body, when taken, do not have their effect due to their insolubility in body media (water, lipids, fats). So, for example, barium sulfate, which is a very toxic substance for the human body, is widely used in the gastrointestinal tract. However, it is insoluble in gastric juice and therefore does not exert its toxic effect. When barium carbonate or chloride (soluble salts) enters the body, poisoning occurs.

The speed of absorption and excretion of the poison from the body determines the amount (concentration) of the poison in the body at a particular moment of poisoning. Therefore, the ratio of these processes largely determines the degree of intoxication.

Accompanying substances, as well as chemical impurities introduced into the body together with the poison, can both enhance and weaken the effect of the latter on the human body. So, for example, impurities of fusel oils contained in ethyl alcohol can not only increase ethanol intoxication, but also play a decisive role in the onset of death.

The ways and conditions of the introduction of poison determine the speed of its impact on the body and the degree of intoxication. Absorption of poison leads to entry into the blood. Therefore, the same concentration of a substance, when injected under the skin, can have a therapeutic effect, and when injected under the skin into the bloodstream, it can cause severe intoxication and even death.

A number of substances have a cumulative property, that is, they are able to accumulate in the body, - salts of heavy metals, many drugs. Cumulation is inherent in substances that are slowly metabolized or poorly excreted from the body. So, FOS retain the effect of action in sublethal doses for up to 2 days, strychnine, arsenic, methyl alcohol - for several days, heavy metals - for several months, and silver and gold - for several years.

The state of the body and its features during the introduction of poisons into the body. Different people may react differently to the same toxic chemical.

The type and state of the central nervous system, age, activity of enzyme systems, gender differences, body weight, hormonal activity, diet, presence of diseases, physical stress, etc.

Repeated exposure to substances can lead to the development of biological dependence, sensitization and the occurrence of allergic reactions. Biological dependence is manifested in the fact that with prolonged use of any drug, the patient develops a need to continue taking it without medical indications. The cessation of taking such substances may be accompanied by the development of severe physical disorders (withdrawal syndrome). Such dependence can develop when taking many drugs - morphine, barbiturates, etc. It has been established that addiction to many drugs is associated with their ability to accelerate the overall metabolism, causing a kind of "induction". This applies to (luminal), hexobarbital, meprobamate (meprotan), etc.

An allergic reaction to poison occurs in cases where the body has been previously sensitized by this or a substance close to it in chemical structure. With repeated exposure, an antigen-antibody reaction occurs, which manifests itself in the form of typical allergic syndromes. With drug allergies, there is no relationship between the dose of the substance and the degree of manifestation of the allergic reaction. Even the smallest amount of the drug can cause a severe reaction in a sensitized organism. Idiosyncrasy, a genetically determined reaction of the body to a certain drug, must be distinguished from allergies. The idiosyncratic effect, like the toxic effect, depends on the dose of the poison. In practice, it is not always easy to make a differential diagnosis of intoxication (toxic effect from the use of poisons in high doses, idiosyncrasy and allergies).

Various environmental factors (cold, overheating, noise, ionizing radiation, repeated exposure to chemicals, changes in barometric pressure, etc.) can to a certain extent affect the course of intoxication. These and other factors can affect the metabolic rate - stimulating or, conversely, inhibiting it.