Smit, Dirk A.2016-05-302016-05-302014Smit, D.A. (2014). "Substance and physical abuse: the effects on oral health". South African Dental Journal, 69 (1): 21029-4864http://hdl.handle.net/10566/2237Substance abuse is an escalating health problem. Apart from the serious consequences experienced by drug users, such abuse negatively affects the operational activities of law enforcement officers, teachers and health care workers. Adverse pharmacological and physiological effects predispose to permanent changes in neurological processes, to increasingly violent and high-risk sexual behaviour, to a higher susceptibility to HIV and to a detrimental effect on oral health with a consequent decrease in the quality of life.enThis file may be freely used for educational uses. No commercial reproduction or distribution of this file is permitted without written permission of the South African Dental Association (SADA). Note that the SADA retains all intellectual property rights in the article.Substance abusePhysical abuseOral healthArticle