The Effects of 5 Popular Drugs on Your Body and Brain

Drug Effects

Ever wonder why sipping a cocktail after a long day makes you feel relaxed, or why your eyes turn red after smoking a joint? We take a look at the physical and psychological effects of drugs on your body and brain.

Millions of people around the world consume drugs each and every day – from a cocktail after work to unwind, to a line of cocaine or a hit of ecstasy to keep up energy on the dance floor. But have you ever stopped to wonder what exactly these drugs are doing to your brain in order to create these desired effects? Aside from setting you up for drug addiction, substances are causing your mind and body to work in unnatural ways.

We take a look at the most commonly abused substances, and how they alter the brain and body with use.

1. Alcohol

Despite being legal (and widely consumed) in many countries around the world, studies have found that alcohol is actually the most dangerous drug on the market – even above heroin and cocaine. Over three million deaths are attributed to alcohol abuse each and every year. Alcohol is a depressant, and the effects on the mind and body include:

  • Increased levels of dopamine in the brain, giving you the impression that alcohol makes you feel better (happier, less stressed, etc.).
  • Slowed thinking, breathing and heart rate within minutes of consumption. This is one of the reasons that drinking too much can kill you.
  • Generally, your liver can only process the equivalent of 25ml (one shot) of alcohol per hour. Drinking at a rate faster than that can quickly and dangerously increase your blood alcohol content.
  • In those who drink heavily, 90% develop fatty liver disease which can cause fatigue, weight gain and pain.
  • Frequent consumption can cause damage to the links between neurons in your brain, which affects your ability to process information.
  • Alcohol can create a feeling of fearlessness which can lead to accidents, physical fights and injury.
  • Possibility of developing an addiction.

  • 2. Marijuana

    As the legalisation of marijuana is increasing around the globe, it is even more important to understand how this drug actually affects you, which is as follows:

    • Changes in the brain related to information processing
    • If you are familiar with weed, you are familiar with getting red eyes. Red eyes are caused by the expansion of blood vessels after using marijuana.
    • Increased appetite, or ‘the munchies’ because marijuana essentially flips a switch on the part of the brain that’s responsible for moderating appetite
    • Influences two brain areas which regulate balance, coordination, reaction time and posture
    • Feelings of euphoria caused by the release of dopamine in your brain
    • Sometimes causes hallucinations
    • Increases your heart rate by 20-50 beats per minute. This can last from 20 minutes to several hours.
    • Can cause feelings of anxiety or panic, especially in those already prone to anxiety and panic.
    • Possibility of developing an addiction

    3. Opioids

    Opioids include prescription pills such as OxyContin, Percocet, Vicodin, and fentanyl as well as the street drug heroin. All opioids have the following effects on the user, although the severity and presence of each symptoms depends on the amount taken and how it’s administered:

    • Constricted pupils
    • Slowed breathing – overdose can completely stop breathing causing brain damage, coma or death.
    • Stopping the drug causes severe withdrawal symptoms, which increases the risk and speed of developing an addiction.
    • Opioids bind to pain receptors, relieving the body of pain, both physically and mentally in many cases.
    • Opioids reduce the amount of GABA in the brain, which in turn increases the amount of dopamine in the brain.
    • Flushed, warm skin
    • Constipation and gastrointestinal issues
    • Effects last on average 4 to 12 hours.
    • Possibility of developing an addiction

    4. Cocaine

    Cocaine begins affecting the brain and body within seconds, in the following manner:

    • Dilated pupils as a side effect of increased serotonin levels in the brain
    • Increased heart rate and blood pressure
    • Snorting cocaine regularly can create holes in parts of the nose, often the septum.
    • Smoking cocaine can irritate the lungs, sometimes causing permanent lung damage.
    • Injecting cocaine can lead to damaged veins, and possibility of contracting blood-borne diseases when needles are shared.
    • Reduces the body’s ability to store fat, leading to weight loss at dangerous levels
    • Decreased appetite
    • Nosebleeds are common, especially in those who snort the drug
    • Blocks absorption of serotonin and dopamine, creating a feeling of intense euphoria
    • Feel more energetic or alert, but also frequently more irritable, anxious or paranoid
    • Cocaine constricts arteries, which can lead to heart attack.
    • Possibility of developing an addiction

    • 5. Ecstasy (Molly, MDMA)

      Whether in a tablet known as ecstasy, or a crystallized powder in a capsule known as Molly, the effects of MDMA are typically as follows:

      • High levels of serotonin and dopamine are released, causing users to feel extremely happy, more social, and experience an increased level of empathy towards others.
      • Cortisol, the ‘stress hormone’, is also released, causing difficulties in sleeping after taking the drug.
      • Enhanced sensory perception
      • Excessive sweating can cause serious dehydration.
      • Involuntary jaw clenching
      • Feelings of increased energy and the inability to sit still for long periods of time
      • Feelings of depression, irritability and fatigue the day after use due to lower levels of serotonin in the body
      • The effects last, on average, three to eight hours
      • Possibility of developing an addiction

Cocaine Abuse: Signs, Symptoms & Side Effects

Drug Effects

Cocaine can spell danger after a single use. Over time, this drug can destroy someone’s life in every imaginable way. There are no related health benefits to speak of, despite its early misguided use in elixirs and medicine. Identifying a cocaine habit in a friend or family member demands prompt attention in order to get them the help they need. If you know what to look for, spotting the signs of cocaine use early on can help you intervene before tragedy strikes. Cocaine abuse signs, symptoms and side effects will only become more apparent over time, but recognizing them means nothing unless you take action and get involved.

The first signs of cocaine abuse may be minor compared to more blatant cocaine addiction behavior. The physical and psychological symptoms inevitably escalate along with the behavioral signs and consequences. Getting a loved one to break free from cocaine abuse is easier in the early stages; once addiction takes over, reversing the damage can take months or even years. Worrisome signs may indicate a cocaine problem, if not a similarly dangerous issue, so early intervention can go a long way in resolving whatever the problem may be. Some basic signals that your loved one is abusing cocaine include.

Cocaine is not cheap. In order to fund a cocaine habit or addiction, many go to extreme lengths to pay for the next bump. This can mean repeatedly asking for money, stealing from friends or family members, taking on extra jobs, taking out loans, selling their possessions, or beginning to sell drugs themselves. It’s not uncommon for those who are addicted to cocaine to empty their savings accounts or retirement funds in the process of feeding their addiction. As cocaine misuse progresses, it can result in a series of life-altering outcomes that should be red flags and prompt immediate attention.

  • Quitting or getting kicked out of school
  • Leaving or getting fired from a job
  • Bankruptcy or serious debt
  • Lost friendships and relationships
  • Trouble with the law

On top of all this — and often simultaneously — cocaine addiction may cause physical and mental harm that can land someone in the emergency room at any moment. Cocaine has an enormous effect on a person’s well-being. The following are some of the tell-tale symptoms:

  • Paranoia
  • Emotional swings
  • Insomnia, followed by hypersomnia, or prolonged periods of sleep
  • Anxiety
  • Short attention span
  • Hyperstimulation and energy levels
  • Bursts of elevated mood and euphoria
  • Lethargy and introversion
  • Irritability
  • Hallucinations
  • Loss of appetite

A common thread among those who habitually misuse cocaine is the unpredictable and extreme variance in mood, caused by a chemical imbalance. A loved one who develops a cocaine addiction can become distant and unrecognizable from the person you used to know. This can make it difficult to observe minute details or confront the situation. The more these symptoms pile up, though, the more urgent the problem becomes.

The Harmful Effects of Drugs and Alcohol

Drug Effects

It should come as no surprise that drugs and alcohol can have negative effects on your life.
Although sometimes it may be difficult to imagine, the abuse of these substances can change everything from your body to your bank account. This can include anything from altered brain chemistry, health complications, infections, legal issues, financial problems, accidental injuries, and even death.

Sure, you may have already heard about these side effects of abusing drugs, but how much do you really know? Understanding the full effects that these substances can have could change your life for the better. You may think that your drinking habits aren’t destructive, or your drug use is “just for fun” but this usually isn’t the case.

The fact is, that while it may seem that drugs are making you feel better, they’re actually causing long-term damage, and you’re likely better off without it.

So before you reach for that bottle or that pipe, don’t forget about these harmful effects of alcohol and drugs.

The human brain is the most complex organ in the human body. Although it may weigh less than 3 pounds, it somewhat mysteriously controls both your thoughts and the physiological processes that keep you alive. Drugs and alcohol change the way you feel by altering the chemicals that keep your brain working smoothly.

Let’s get into the science of things. When you first use drugs, your brain releases a chemical called dopamine that makes you feel euphoric and want more of the drug. After all, it’s only natural to want more of the thing that makes you feel good right?

Over time, your mind gets so used to the extra dopamine that you can’t function normally without it. Everything about you will begin to change, including your personality, memory, and bodily processes that you might currently take for granted.

Drug and alcohol use impacts nearly every part of your body from your heart to your bowels. Substance abuse can lead to abnormal heart rates and heart attacks, and injecting drugs can result in collapsed veins and infections in your heart valves.

Some drugs can also stop your bones from growing properly, while others result in severe muscle cramping and general weakness. Using drugs over a long period of time will also eventually damage your kidneys and your liver.

When you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol, you may forget to engage in safe sex practices. Having unprotected sex increases your chances of contracting a sexually transmitted disease. Sharing the needles used to inject certain drugs can give you diseases like hepatitis C, hepatitis B, and HIV. You can also spread common colds, the flu, and mono from sharing pipes and bongs.

Drug and alcohol abuse not only has negative effects on your health but can also have legal consequences that you’ll have to deal with for the rest of your life. Many employers require that you take a drug test before offering you a job—many of them even conduct random drug tests even after you become an employee. Refusing to give up drugs could end up making you unemployed, which comes with even more issues.

Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol can lead to a suspended driver’s license, usually for 6 months to 2 years. You’ll also need to pay heavy fines and may even spend some time in jail.

Drugs and alcohol are expensive, especially when you’re using a lot and constantly. Substance abuse also impacts your productivity and success at work and in school. The time spent searching for, using and recuperating from drugs can be better spent learning new skills to advance your career.

The legal issues tied to drug use will increase your bills as well. Your car and health insurance rates may increase and you will have to find a way to pay for arrest warrants, DUIs, and legal counsel.

If you use drugs and alcohol, you’re more likely to experience physical injury or be involved in car accidents. Even worse, you also have an increased risk of death through both suicide and homicide.

These drug-related deaths are on the rise, doubling since the early 1980s. Alcohol specifically results in 5.2 million accidental injuries and 1.8 million deaths each year. It’s estimated that 1 out of every 4 deaths is caused by drugs and alcohol, according to the World Health Organization.

How drugs affect your mental health

Drug Effects

Mental health means different things to different people. You may think of control, happiness, contentment, order – but good mental health is usually a sign of a positive way of life. Mental ill health is the opposite of this – it causes problems and creates barriers to being happy. Your frame of mind may vary between the two as mental health can change. It can be affected by external influences, and one of these is drugs.

Drugs that are psychoactive, such as cannabis, alcohol, ecstasy and heroin, have the ability to affect your mood. They can arouse certain emotions or dampen down others. This may be why you use them. The changes in your mood or behaviour caused by drugs are the result of changes to your brain. This is also the part of you that controls your mental health.

Drugs interfere with the chemicals in your brain. This affects the messages those chemicals are trying to send. You need to weigh up both the short-term and long-term effects that drugs can have on your mental health.

The short-term effects may well be something you enjoy – but probably only if they happen like you expect them to. You may also have unwanted short-term drug-induced side effects, such as acting or feeling strange. These are short-term because they pass as the drug leaves your system.

Drugs can have a longer-lasting impact on your mental health too, and you need to think seriously about your own strengths and vulnerabilities. Consider whether you use drugs to make bad feelings go away and whether you are in control of your use. Even if you start using drugs with a clear mind they may still affect your mental health. Drugs can simply expose bad feelings you never knew you had.

Unwanted effects may stay with you because you have a pre-existing mental health condition you were not aware of. Or you may get the dose very wrong and permanently disrupt a chemical balance in your brain.

Short-term effects of drugs on mental health

All psychoactive drugs may cause mental health problems while you are taking them and as you clear the drug from your body. These can include anxiety, mood swings, depression, sleep problems and psychosis (see below).

Drug-induced anxiety disorder

You may have panic attacks – periods of very severe anxiety when your heart rate increases, with trembling, sweats, shortness of breath, and a fear of losing control. You may also feel like your surroundings are strange and unreal, or that you are losing your personal identity and sense of reality.

Drug-induced psychosis

Psychoactive drugs can cause delusions – you believe things that aren’t true, or hallucinations – you see or hear things that are not there.

Drug-induced mood disorder

You may have times when you feel depressed – sad, restless, irritable, tired, loss of pleasure, or manic – elevated mood, delusions, impulsive behaviour, racing thoughts. This is called mood disorder and may be caused by drugs such as cocaine, amphetamines, heroin and methadone, to name a few.

Long-term effects of drugs on mental health

Psychoactive drugs may cause you ongoing mental health problems. It is not clear why this happens to some people and not others.  It may be that using a drug has triggered a mental illness you didn’t know you had, or the drug changes the way a certain chemical affects your brain functions. Here are some of the ways that different drugs can affect your mental health:

Ecstasy and depression

Ecstasy is an amphetamine that causes hallucinations. It works by making serotonin more available and gives you a sense of euphoria when you take it. Serotonin is a chemical naturally found in your brain which regulates your mood. It is sometimes called the ‘happy hormone’. Ecstasy causes your brain to release a much higher amount of serotonin than usual. Over time your natural stores of serotonin may drop so much that you may never have the same levels as you had before you started using drugs. If lots of serotonin means euphoria than lack of serotonin means depression. You may experience short-term depression in the days after you use ecstasy but we need more research about the long term effects.

Cannabis and schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a severe mental illness which may cause you to hear voices in your head and believe that other people are trying to control or harm you. Research shows a link between cannabis and people with schizophrenia. It is possible that if you have a pre-existing risk which you may not be aware of, there is a higher chance that using cannabis will trigger an episode of schizophrenia. These risks are also greater in younger people who use cannabis and those that smoke it more regularly.

Using cannabis as a teenager may be a risk to many aspects of your mental health. One of the compounds in cannabis – THC (tetrahydrocannabinoid) – gets you ‘high’. THC is very similar to endocannabinoids which are naturally found in your brain. These regulate other chemicals that control many aspects of your brain function and behaviour. Because THC is so similar, it can mimic the effects of these natural compounds and take over these aspects of your brain function. The long-term effects of using cannabis in your teens may be caused by the influence of THC on your brain’s chemical systems at a time when your brain is still developing.

Living with a dual diagnosis

A dual diagnosis is when you have two separate conditions – a mental health problem and a drug addiction. This means that health services need to work together to best provide care.

When trying to deal with both an addiction and a mental health disorder it is hard to know where one ends and the other begins. It may not be clear which came first. People with mental health problems sometimes use drugs to cope with the chaos, the bad emotions and the stigma of conditions such as depression or schizophrenia. But turning to drugs to cope with mental health problems can lead to complications of the illness and interfere with prescribed medication you are taking.

The mental health problems that most often occur with drug misuse are depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder

Effects of drug abuse and addiction

Drug Effects

Drugs are chemicals that affect the body and brain. Different drugs can have different effects. Some effects of drugs include health consequences that are long-lasting and permanent. They can even continue after a person has stopped taking the substance.

There are a few ways a person can take drugs, including injection, inhalation and ingestion. The effects of the drug on the body can depend on how the drug is delivered. For example, the injection of drugs directly into the bloodstream has an immediate impact, while ingestion has a delayed effect. But all misused drugs affect the brain. They cause large amounts of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that helps regulate our emotions, motivation and feelings of pleasure, to flood the brain and produce a “high.” Eventually, drugs can change how the brain works and interfere with a person’s ability to make choices, leading to intense cravings and compulsive drug use. Over time, this behavior can turn into a substance dependency, or drug addiction.

Today, more than 7 million people suffer from an illicit drug disorder, and one in four deaths results from illicit drug use. In fact, more deaths, illnesses and disabilities are associated with drug abuse than any other preventable health condition. People suffering from drug and alcohol addiction also have a higher risk of unintentional injuries, accidents and domestic violence incidents.

Substance use disorders are associated with a wide range of short- and long-term health effects. They can vary depending on the type of drug, how much and how often it’s taken and the person’s general health. Overall, the effects of drug abuse and dependence can be far-reaching. They can impact almost every organ in the human body.

  • A weakened immune system, increasing the risk of illness and infection
  • Heart conditions ranging from abnormal heart rates to heart attacks and collapsed veins and blood vessel infections from injected drugs
  • Nausea and abdominal pain, which can also lead to changes in appetite and weight loss
  • Increased strain on the liver, which puts the person at risk of significant liver damage or liver failure
  • Seizures, stroke, mental confusion and brain damage
  • Lung disease
  • Problems with memory, attention and decision-making, which make daily living more difficult
  • Global effects of drugs on the body, such as breast development in men and increases in body temperature, which can lead to other health problems
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