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Be careful…drugs are harmful, killing …and Medical view is:
Drugs are a big evil and
liver, like other organs, is greatly affected by drug use. Liver is
responsible for discharging toxins from the body and blood purification is
done through it against all harms. However, liver cells cant stand for long
in front of the severe toxins that will destroy it and some types of the
drugs are:
Morphine: it leads to
severe constriction in the gallbladder opening that connects between liver
and duodenum. This leads to occlusion of biliary fluid and retrieval to the
liver.
Reoccurrence of this for a
long time will destroy the small gallbladder channels in the liver and it
appears on the patient jaundice skin and sclera and itchy skin.
Cocaine: this narcotic
substance leads to breakdown of the Liver cells especially in the area
close to portal vein. This breakdown may not lead to remarkable signs at
first but with continuous use of this drug, the destruction of liver cells
increase and their functions are impaired. Then fibrosis tissues are formed
in place of the damaged cells, which, if they increase, will cause liver
fibrosis.
Amphetamine: this substance
is not narcotic but it is a nervous system stimulant and causes
malfunction. Therefore it is considered among the prohibited substances and
drugs. They are the main formulating substances of “Al-Qat” plant. This
substance increases the liver enzymes, which is an indirect indication of
liver tissues damage. However, the most serious danger is the severe
inflammation in liver cells, which becomes obvious in liver cell biopsy.
Heroin: it has serious
dangers on liver. In addition to the direct effect on liver cells which may
lead to its damage, especially for those who drink, it leads to liver
cirrhosis and fibrosis in shorter time because both of them help the other
cause harm and once fibrosis occurs, the affected person will be involved
in successive troubles.
In conclusion, the most
serious and dangerous injuries caused by drugs is transmitting of liver
viruses particularly Hepatitis (B), Hepatitis(c) which reach liver through
blood in case of using contaminated syringes whatever the drug is. These
drugs will be contaminated whatever precautions are made,, first because it
is used for more than one person and is contaminated with an affected
person blood and transmit viruses to a healthy person,, second, because the
narcotics used are contaminated and third because the skin is not clean.
The dangers of liver viruses
are known to all, such as severe infection of liver to chronic infection
and fibrosis leading to Gastroenterology tract bleeding and ascites, liver
coma and finally total liver failure accompanied by liver tumors.
Therefore why are we
endangering ourselves while Allah gave us a brain to distinguish between
good and harmful things? I wish Allah will treat all patients and protect
us from the harms of drugs.
By
Abdulrahman bin Abdullah Al-Jomah
Consultant, Gastroenterology and
liver diseases, Liver Transplant
King Fahad Hospital
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