Drug abuse is a serious problem, which is capable of not only causing death to the one using it, but create a havoc in the lives of those who are associated with that person too. There have been plenty cases, whether it is Matthew Perry or the recent death of Liam Payne, which is in trial currently.

It is also a problem in the US and is emerging as one of the health concerns that could destroy families and society. One of the most alarming aspects of drug abuse is also its impact on public safety as well as increased crime rates. Drugs also take a heavy toll on healthcare systems as emergency departments frequently encounter cases of drug overdoses, which puts the burden on medical professional who have the strain the limited resources available.

There are also long-term health impact due to drug abuse, which includes organ damage, infectious disease, mental health disorders and rise in healthcare cost.

Are there any specific drugs which are most abused in US?

Yes. There are commonly used drugs, which also includes prescribed painkillers like oxycodone, hydrocodone, and fentanyl, as well as illicit substances like heroin. As per recent data, opioid abuse has also reached alarming levels which has affected millions of Americans.

Here are the most abused drugs in the US:

Stimulants

They are used to increase alertness, attention, and energy. They also have a high potential for abuse due to the euphoric and performance enhancing effects. Cocaine and methamphetamine are notable stimulants frequently abused in the US. As per 2019 data, 10.3 million people reported to misuse stimulants in the previous year.

Depressants

These substances are used to slow down brain activity and induce relaxation. Benzodiazepines is one of the commonly prescribed medicine. Around 4.8 million individuals in the US have misused this drug.

Other misused drugs and its affects on the health:

Opioids:

It could lead to slow breathing and heart rate. It can also increase the risk of overdose and respiratory failure, constipation and a weakened immune system.

Stimulants:

It can elevate heart rate and blood pressure. It could also increase body temperate and lead to an irregular heartbeat. Furthermore, one can experience loss of appetite and weight loss.

Cannabis:

This can alter perception and coordination. People who consume it often have red eyes and a dry mouth. This can increase appetite, sometimes the "munchies" can reach to a point of no return and it could impair memory and cognitive function.

Benzodiazepines:

It could lead to sedation and drowsiness and an impaired coordination and balance. There also could be memory problems and confusion, along with respiratory depression, when combined with other depressant substance.

Alcohol:

This could lead to slurred speech, impaired condition, poor judgment and decision-making, liver damage and cirrhosis and an increased risk of accidents and injuries, which is the 3rd most leading cause of death in the US.

Additional Negative Impact: Social and psychological

Substance abuse impairs job performance and reliability, leading to frequent absenteeism, reduced productivity, and even job loss. This further leads to financial instability, strained relationships, and a cycle of dependency.

The concept of self-medication in the case of a trivial ailment such as a headache or a small cut is generally considered responsible self-care. Nevertheless, it becomes a matter of public health concern when the process goes through two particular stages. The first of these stages is the “masking of chronic disease." When one uses over-the-counter (OTC) drugs to cover up symptoms of fatigue, acidity, or thirst, he or she ends up masking the symptoms of underlying chronic diseases, which could be type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure, for instance. By the time these symptoms are diagnosed, the condition may have caused irreparable damage to organs. Another health problem created due to self-medication is antimicrobial resistance, which poses a danger not only to the individual but also to society as a whole.

What are the risks of making a self-diagnosis?

Dr Vimal Pahuja, MD, Associate Director, Internal Medicine & Metabolic Physician, Diabetes & Weight Management Clinic, Dr LH Hiranandani Hospital, Powai, Mumbai, said, “The most serious complications include those that have no immediate effects and do not trigger pain signals. DILI is a growing concern in India and is a consequence of the persistent abuse of painkillers (NSAIDs) or even some of the herbal supplements available in the market. In the same way, ‘kidney compromise’ results from prolonged consumption of analgesics. Looking at things from the viewpoint of the endocrine system, the frequent consumption of over-the-counter steroids, which are also included in some ‘miracle’ skin creams and supplements, can affect hormones and lead to the development of secondary diabetes.”

Does it help to ‘Google’ symptoms?

Internet searches usually generate confirmation bias, where patients only seek answers that align with what they want to hear. Health-related social media sites and influencers tend to oversimplify medical issues by encouraging bio-hacking. This results in unsafe practices, such as people prescribing themselves advanced metabolic and hormonal treatments without being aware of the contraindications or the need for clinical testing.

Dr Kirti Sabnis, Infectious Diseases Specialist, Fortis Hospital, Mulund & Kalyan, Mumbai, said, “With the growing emphasis on early and accessible diagnosis, more individuals are becoming proactive about understanding their symptoms and lab reports. This has led to a noticeable rise in what clinicians often refer to as ‘Google diagnosis,' where patients arrive with self-researched conclusions based on online information or AI-enabled report analyses.”

Why is accurate diagnosis important?

The expert went on to say that interpreting symptoms and investigations is rarely straightforward. Fever, for instance, is merely a symptom and can stem from a wide range of causes, from infections to non-infectious conditions such as thyroid disorders. While digital tools and AI platforms can analyse reports and suggest possible conditions, they typically rely on common algorithm-based differentials. In some cases, this may lead to alarming or misleading possibilities such as tuberculosis or even cancer, when the underlying issue could be far less serious.

Accurate diagnosis requires more than data interpretation; it demands clinical expertise, physical examination, and years of medical experience to connect symptoms, history, and test results. Over-reliance on online searches can sometimes lead to unnecessary anxiety, delayed diagnosis, or even self-medication, which may complicate the condition further.

The importance of taking time to explain the reasoning behind prescribed medication is essential, especially when informing a patient that an antibiotic cannot cure their flu.

When it comes to heatwave-like conditions, most people worry about the risk of dehydration and sunburn. But it turns out that the scorching heat could also take a toll on your skin—according to experts, extreme summer heat can increase the risk of skin infections. Heatwave-related skin infections can be triggered by high humidity, sweat, and bacteria trapped on the skin. Some of the other issues associated with heatwaves are folliculitis, heat rash, impetigo, and yeast infections.

What makes heatwaves conducive to increased skin infections?

Talking about it, Dr. Gitika Sanodia, Consultant Dermatologist at Dr. L H Hiranandani Hospital, Powai, answered some FAQs associated with heatwaves and consequent skin infections.

The expert said that when there is an increase in temperature, there is an increase in sweating, dehydration, and breakdown of the skin barrier, which creates an environment suitable for infection development, mainly in children, the elderly, diabetics, and obese individuals. Heatwaves also cause friction, which leads to skin infections. As a result, rashes can develop and cause a great deal of discomfort.

Can sweating too much increase the risk of infection?

During summer, because of the heat, one ends up sweating far more than normal, and if you are someone who often wears tight clothes, it can be even worse. Overproduction of sweat keeps the skin constantly wet. Such an environment provides perfect conditions for bacteria and fungi to multiply. Being trapped under breast tissue, between the thighs, and in folds around the neck and armpits causes conditions such as yeast infections or folliculitis.

What are the infections associated with heat?

During a heatwave, some skin infections are likely to develop silently. These include:

1. Fungal infections such as tinea and candidiasis
2. Bacterial infections such as folliculitis and boils
3. Heat rash resulting in miliaria

Who is at risk of skin infections during a heatwave?

At a time when temperatures are rising constantly, heatwave-related infections are likely to affect certain groups more than others. These high-risk groups are:

1. Children
2. The elderly
3. Overweight people
4. People with diabetes
5. People who wear tight or non-porous clothes during summer

How to prevent heatwave-related skin infections?

In order to prevent heatwave-related skin infections, you need not make major changes to your lifestyle or wardrobe. Rather, some simple, cost-free methods can also do the trick. Here are some expert-recommended tips to beat the heat:

1. Keep your skin dry, especially skin folds
2. Wear loose-fitting cotton clothes
3. Bathe after sweating
4. Do not share towels or undergarments with anyone
5. Use an antifungal dusting powder on susceptible areas
6. Keep yourself hydrated

With the increasing number of heatwaves, these problems have become more than just seasonal. However, with the right choices in terms of diet, lifestyle, and clothing, you may be able to avoid skin infections during a heatwave.

Persistent back pain in young adults is often dismissed as poor posture, long hours at a desk, or muscle strain. But doctors are warning that in some cases, it could be a sign of ankylosing spondylitis — a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease that affects the spine and can silently progress for years before diagnosis.

In India, 16.5 lakh people suffer from the condition, with an average diagnostic gap of nearly seven years from the time symptoms first appear. During that window, the disease continues to silently progress, and the burden is far from small.

“Ankylosing Spondylitis is one of the most underdiagnosed conditions we encounter in clinical practice, and the consequences of that delay are real,” Dr. Arvind Mehra, Senior Director and HOD - Orthopaedics at Paras Health Gurugram, told HealthandMe.

Moreover, “It takes several years of pain and stiffness before people seek treatment, and by then, the diagnosis comes too late, and there has already been damage to the spine,” added Dr. Ashish Tomar, Director - Orthopaedics & Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery at Sarvodaya Hospital, Faridabad.

What Is Ankylosing Spondylitis?

Ankylosing spondylitis, also known as axial spondyloarthritis, is a type of arthritis that primarily targets the spine but can also affect other joints. The term “ankylosing” means stiff or rigid, “spondyl” refers to the spine, and “itis” indicates inflammation.

The inflammatory disease causes some of the bones in the spine to fuse over time. This fusing not only makes the spine less flexible but can also cause issues while breathing.

Ankylosing spondylitis leads to inflammation in the spine and large joints, causing stiffness and pain. It can also impact the joint between the spine and the hipbone, potentially resulting in additional symptoms such as digestive issues, rashes, and weight loss.

Not Your Typical Back Pain

What makes ankylosing spondylitis difficult to spot is that it often feels like ordinary back pain — but there are warning signs that set it apart.

According to experts, ankylosing spondylitis-related pain typically:

• Causes maximum stiffness early in the morning
• Gets worse after long periods of rest
• Improves with physical activity or exercise
• Persists for months rather than days or weeks
• Often begins in young adults, especially in their 20s and 30s

This pattern is very different from mechanical back pain, which usually worsens with movement and improves with rest.

Pain Beyond The Spine

Dr. Tomar told HealthandMe that ankylosing spondylitis is not simply a musculoskeletal problem — it is an autoimmune disease, where the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissues, particularly around the spine and joints.

“Ankylosing spondylitis is not just another musculoskeletal disease. It requires the attention given to autoimmune disorders because it may affect the chest, hips, shoulders, and even the eyes, while also causing severe posture problems in advanced stages,” he said.

Beyond the spine, the disease may affect:

• Chest joints
• Hip joints
• Shoulders
• Eyes
• Posture, causing severe problems in the advanced stages

Who Is At Most Risk? How To Treat?

Young adults, typically in their twenties, are more likely to experience this condition because people often overlook its existence or mistakenly identify it as something else.

The combination of early diagnosis, structured physiotherapy, and suitable medications allows for effective disease progression control.

“When a young adult presents with inflammatory back pain, especially in the gluteal area, that persists beyond three months, the reflex should not be to prescribe a painkiller and wait. It should be investigated further. That shift in approach can make an extraordinary difference to someone’s long-term quality of life,” Dr. Tomar said.

Common treatments for ankylosing spondylitis include:

• Regular physical activity can reduce stiffness and prevent worsening of ankylosing spondylitis
• Over-the-counter painkillers for pain and inflammation
• Biologic DMARDs to reduce inflammation and pain, potentially halting disease progression.
• Corticosteroids are prescription anti-inflammatory medications
• Surgery is rarely suggested for severe symptoms unresponsive to other treatments.