Abstract People consume drugs to alter the way, they feel, think, or behave. These kinds of substances are named psychoactive and cover alcohol and tobacco as well as natural and manufactured drugs. Drug abuse affects most countries in the world, both rich and poor. This drug menace crosses national, racial, religious and gender lines. Drug addicts vary from the homeless, to white-collar professionals, college students to rural farmers, street children to urban teenagers. Alcohol being a habit forming drug can be harmful in a number of ways, through both immediate effects and damage to health over time. Chronic use of alcohol affects cognitive development and short-term memory.