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At Healthfully, we strive to deliver objective content that is accurate and up-to-date. Our team periodically reviews articles in order to ensure content quality. The sources cited below consist of evidence from peer-reviewed journals, prominent medical organizations, academic associations, and government data.
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism: Alcohol’s Effects on the Body
- Detoxification and Substance Abuse Treatments: SAMHSA/CSAT
- Detoxification and Substance Abuse Treatments: SAMHSA/CSAT
The information contained on this site is for informational purposes only, and should not be used as a substitute for the advice of a professional health care provider. Please check with the appropriate physician regarding health questions and concerns. Although we strive to deliver accurate and up-to-date information, no guarantee to that effect is made.
Effects of Drug Abuse on the Body
Legal or illegal, drug abuse results in medical consequences: cancers, cirrhosis of the liver, heart disease and stroke, HIV, hepatitis and lung disease, to name a few 9. According to the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, untreated addiction and risky use of drugs causes or contributes to more than 70 conditions requiring medical treatment 169. These effects of drug abuse are also responsible for 20 percent of all the deaths in the U.S.
If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately.
Brain Effects
Addictive drugs flood the brain’s reward center with the neurotransmitter dopamine in amounts that are 2 to 10 times greater than those released during pleasurable activities, reports the National Institute on Drug Abuse, or NIDA 345. With continued use, brain chemistry changes and more of the drug is needed to produce the same euphoric experience. With some drugs, more is needed just to feel normal. When not taking the drug, users commonly experience depression that leads to compulsive drug use. Long-term substance abuse affects brain functioning, causing memory loss, learning difficulties and impaired judgment. Marijuana causes short-term memory problems. Alcohol shrinks the brain over time and increases the risk for dementia. Inhalants damage brain cells faster than any of the other substances.
- Addictive drugs flood the brain’s reward center with the neurotransmitter dopamine in amounts that are 2 to 10 times greater than those released during pleasurable activities, reports the National Institute on Drug Abuse, or NIDA 3.
- With continued use, brain chemistry changes and more of the drug is needed to produce the same euphoric experience.
Respiratory Effects
The Effects of Methamphetamine on Arteries & Blood Vessels
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These substances cause coughing, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and worsen asthma. In addition, heroin, narcotic pain killers and sedatives disrupt the drive to breathe and may cause respiratory arrest. Most deaths from obstructive pulmonary diseases and lung cancer are linked to smoking tobacco. Use of inhalants can cause asphyxiation as the concentration of inhaled fumes replaces the oxygen in the lungs.
- These substances cause coughing, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and worsen asthma.
- In addition, heroin, narcotic pain killers and sedatives disrupt the drive to breathe and may cause respiratory arrest.
Digestive Effects
Alcohol causes a wide range of damaging digestive system effects, including acid reflux, liver cirrhosis and inflammation of the stomach and pancreas. Sixty percent of cases of pancreatitis result from excessive alcohol intake, reports the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Liver damage is common with use of heroin, inhalants, anabolic steroids and alcohol. Cocaine abuse can lead to painful gastric ulcers and damaging reductions in blood flow to the intestines due to powerful blood vessel constriction. Nausea and vomiting often occurs shortly after drug use, and is a symptom of heroin and prescription drug withdrawal.
- Alcohol causes a wide range of damaging digestive system effects, including acid reflux, liver cirrhosis and inflammation of the stomach and pancreas.
- Cocaine abuse can lead to painful gastric ulcers and damaging reductions in blood flow to the intestines due to powerful blood vessel constriction.
Cardiovascular Effects
The Effects of Smoking on Your Respiratory System
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Most abused substances have adverse effects on the cardiovascular system. Heroin and prescription drug use can slow or disrupt the heart rate to the point of death. Cocaine, methamphetamine, ecstasy and amphetamines can cause:
- life-threatening effects
- including an irregular heartbeat
- increased blood pressure
- stroke
- cardiac arrest
Tobacco smokers are 2 to 4 times more likely to develop coronary heart disease than nonsmokers, warns NIDA. The risk for heart attack, stroke, circulatory problems and aneurysms is also increased for smokers.
- Most abused substances have adverse effects on the cardiovascular system.
- Heroin and prescription drug use can slow or disrupt the heart rate to the point of death.
Other Health Effects
Other health issues due to injecting drugs are collapsed veins, infections of the heart and joints, and organ damage from reduced blood flow. Tobacco use accounts for 90 percent of all lung cancers, notes NIDA.
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References
- National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University: Untreated Addiction and Risky Use
- Unchain Your Brain; Daniel G. Amen, MD, David E. Smith, MD
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism: Alcohol’s Effects on the Body
- National Institute on Drug Abuse: Marijuana Abuse
- National Institute on Drug Abuse: What are the Short Term Effects of Cocaine Use?
- National Institute on Drug Abuse: The Science of Addiction
- National Institute on Drug Abuse: Inhalant Abuse
- National Institute on Drug Abuse: What are the Long-term Effects of Heroin Use?
- National Institute on Drug Abuse: What are the Medical Consequences of Tobacco Use?
- Detoxification and Substance Abuse Treatments: SAMHSA/CSAT
- McLellan AT. Substance Misuse and Substance use Disorders: Why do they Matter in Healthcare?. Trans Am Clin Climatol Assoc. 2017;128:112–130.
- Csete J, Kamarulzaman A, Kazatchkine M, et al. Public health and international drug policy. Lancet. 2016;387(10026):1427–1480. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(16)00619-X
- Baydala L. Inhalant abuse. Paediatr Child Health. 2010;15(7):443–454. Published September 2010.
- Lachenmeier DW, Rehm J. Comparative risk assessment of alcohol, tobacco, cannabis and other illicit drugs using the margin of exposure approach. Sci Rep. 2015;5:8126. Published 2015 Jan 30. doi:10.1038/srep08126
- Bergin JE, Kendler KS. Common psychiatric disorders and caffeine use, tolerance, and withdrawal: an examination of shared genetic and environmental effects. Twin Res Hum Genet. 2012;15(4):473–482. doi:10.1017/thg.2012.25
- Lipari, R. N., Park-Lee, E., and Van Horn, S. America’s need for and receipt of substance use treatment in 2015. The CBHSQ Report: September 29, 2016. Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Rockville, MD.
- John Hopkins Medicine Behavioral Pharmacology Research Unit. "Caffeine Dependence." Fact Sheet 2016
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. "Substance Use Disorders." Mental and Substance Use Disorders October 2015
- World Health Organization. "Substance abuse." Health Topics 2016
Writer Bio
Donna Pleis has been writing dental and health-related articles since 1991 when she began writing for a national publication called the “The Doctor’s Press.” She worked 18 years as a dental hygienist and many years in the insurance industry. Her education includes the University of Pittsburgh for dental hygiene and St. Joseph College for a degree in business administration.