Adverse consequences for substances typically include which of the following?

Adverse consequences for substances typically include which of the following?

• A. Only legal trouble
• B. Injuries or illness
• C. No health effects
• D. Economic costs only

Answer: (B)

Substance use most often harms physical health, so injuries and illness are the typical adverse consequences. When someone uses or is dependent on substances, their coordination, judgment, and reaction time can be impaired, increasing the likelihood of accidents and injuries. At the same time, substances can cause direct damage to organs and body systems, leading to illnesses such as liver or heart disease, respiratory problems, or infections from certain routes of use. Over time, health problems may be accompanied by withdrawal symptoms and worsened mental health, but the foundational harm is the direct health impact—injury and illness. While legal trouble or economic costs can occur, they don’t capture the direct, common health harms that substances can cause, and some substances do carry health risks even when legal and financial consequences are not the focus.

Substance use most often harms physical health, so injuries and illness are the typical adverse consequences. When someone uses or is dependent on substances, their coordination, judgment, and reaction time can be impaired, increasing the likelihood of accidents and injuries. At the same time, substances can cause direct damage to organs and body systems, leading to illnesses such as liver or heart disease, respiratory problems, or infections from certain routes of use. Over time, health problems may be accompanied by withdrawal symptoms and worsened mental health, but the foundational harm is the direct health impact—injury and illness. While legal trouble or economic costs can occur, they don’t capture the direct, common health harms that substances can cause, and some substances do carry health risks even when legal and financial consequences are not the focus.