THE EFFECTS OF DRUG ABUSE ON HEALTH

Drug Effects

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.

Side effects of drug addiction may include:

  • 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

All drugs–nicotine, cocaine, marijuana and others–affect the brain’s “reward” circuit, which is part of the limbic system. This area of the brain affects instinct and mood. Drugs target this system, which causes large amounts of dopamine—a brain chemical that helps regulate emotions and feelings of pleasure—to flood the brain. This flood of dopamine is what causes a “high.” It’s one of the main causes of drug addiction.

Although initial drug use may be voluntary, drugs can alter brain chemistry. This can actually change how the brain performs and interfere with a person’s ability to make choices. It can lead to intense cravings and compulsive drug use. Over time, this behavior can turn into a substance dependency or drug and alcohol addiction.

Alcohol can have short- and long-term effects on the brain and disrupts the brain’s communication pathways. These can influence mood, behavior and other cognitive function.

Brain damage may also occur through alcohol-induced nutrition deficiencies, alcohol-induced seizures and liver disease. In pregnant women, alcohol exposure can impact the brains of unborn babies, resulting in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.

It is reported that alcohol-induced brain problems can often be corrected with proper treatment. Abstinence from alcohol for months or years can help partially repair thinking abilities, like memory skills.

Illicit drug use poses risks for pregnant women and their babies. Drugs may contain impurities that can be harmful to an unborn baby. Pregnant women who use drugs may be more likely to harm the fetus with risky behaviors and poor nutrition. Drug use can lead to premature birth or low birth weight. It can also cause the baby to have withdrawal symptoms (sometimes in the form of neonatal abstinence syndrome), birth defects or learning and behavioral problems later in life.

 

The Effects of Crystal Meth Use

Drug Effects

Methamphetamine is a highly addictive stimulant that can have long-lasting effects on your body. This is a man-made substance that, with the advent of other more efficacious prescription stimulants, now has limited therapeutic use and is only very rarely indicated for intractable ADHD and severe obesity.

The illicut drug crystal meth is methamphetamine in the form of a rock-like crystal that is usually a semi-transparent white or blue color. This substance is always illegal and has no other purpose than for abuse.

Crystal meth is mostly heated and then smoked in a glass pipe. Less frequently, the drug is crushed up to be snorted or injected. Smoking it speeds the delivery of the substance into the bloodstream, which further promotes the addictive nature of the substance.

Side Effects

Other side effects of crystal meth include:

  • Loss of appetite.
  • Significant weight loss.
  • Change in sleeping patterns.
  • Severe mood swings.
  • Unpredictable behavior.
  • Tremors or convulsions.
  • Hyperthermia.
  • Elevated blood pressure.
  • Rapid heart rate.
  • Irregular heart rhythm.

Consistent use of crystal meth can result in severe anxiety, paranoid and insomnia. Additionally, thoughts of suicide—or even homicide—have been noted in some meth abusers.

Some people take crystal meth to experience a specific set of stimulant side effects. This includes the decrease in appetite, increased energy levels, and increased metabolism that some users attempt to take advantage of to achieve weight-loss. The drug also tends to increase libido, leading to abuse of the drug for that purpose alone.

It’s safe to say that none of the perceived short-term benefits of a dangerous drug are worth the risk of developing a deadly dependency that comes with them.

Long-Term Effects

Taken over a long period of time, crystal meth can cause severe physical and psychological issues as the short-term effects grow in intensity and complexity. Signs of long-term cystal meth abuseinclude:

  • More persistent psychotic symptoms–including delusions, paranoia, and hallucinations.
  • Increased mental health issues like depression, anxiety and social isolation.
  • Confusion and odd behavior.
  • Feeling of bugs crawling on the skin.
  • Body sores from users picking at their skin.
  • Breathing problems associated with smoke inhalation.
  • Irreversible damage to blood vessels throughout the body, including the heart and brain.
  • Stroke.
  • Coma.

Severe crystal meth abuse can also cause outward signs of aging in users. Since the drug destroys tissues and blood vessels and hampers the body’s ability to heal, users often develop acne, and the skin takes on a dull look and loses its elasticity. The teeth can begin to decay and crack, resulting in a condition known as “meth mouth.”One of the most serious long-term side outcomes of crystal meth, however, is sudden death from cardiac arrest or stroke.

Crystal Meth Dependency

Crystal meth signals the brain to fire off an increased amount of dopamine, a chemical that causes a feeling of reward or pleasure.

The increased activity of dopamine is what scientists believe plays a large role in the development of addiction to certain drugs. It is thought that the positive feeling from dopamine is so strong—and intensely rewarding—that it reinforces the behavior that initiated its release.

As users become more tolerant of crystal meth, they will need more of the substance to achieve the desired high and will take ever-increasing amounts, placing themselves at risk for overdose and furthering fueling the body’s dependency on the drug.

Over time – after a period of persistent stimulant intoxication – dopamine receptor activity is severely impaired, which can cause perceptions of decreased happiness and pleasureand even lead to permanent cognitive impairments.

5 Ways to Avoid Addiction Relapse

Drug Effects

Science and research now tell us that addiction is a chronic illness. Like any other chronic disease—asthma, diabetes, hypertension—it must be treated over the long-term, and relapse is always a possibility. Relapse rates for substance use disorders are between 40 and 60 percent, which is comparable to chronic, medical conditions.

Because relapse is common does not mean that you shouldn’t work hard to prevent it. A drug or alcohol relapse not only undoes a lot of hard work, it can also be deadly. Relapsing can lead to a serious binge that causes an overdose. There are steps you, or someone you care about who is struggling, can take to prevent a relapse and its consequences.

1. Engage in Long-Term Addiction Treatment.

As with any chronic disease, recovery from substance use disorder is not a quick fix. One medication or one month of therapy is not enough to guarantee you won’t start using again. For a better long-term outcome and the tools you need to prevent a relapse, you must get involved with intensive treatment for an adequate period of time, followed by ongoing support.

Studies support the idea that engagement and participation in treatment help reduce the risk of relapse. For instance, astudy with over a thousand substance use disorder patients found that sustained recovery from drug use increased for every nine weeks an individual participated in treatment. Relapse rates also decreased in the study for patients who continued treatment with aftercare, including support group participation.

2. Identify and Know How to Manage Triggers.

A good treatment plan will teach you how to recognize triggers. These are the things that make you think about, crave, and ultimately use drugs or alcohol. Triggers can be very general, such as being around people who are using; this is one of the most common factors that trigger almost all people in recovery. Triggers are also specific and may include certain people or places. Emotions can be triggers, especially if you once used a substance as a coping mechanism for uncomfortable feelings or moods.

Therapy sessions can help you identify your exact triggers. A therapist can also train you in ways to better cope with these factors so that you don’t turn to drugs or alcohol if faced with something or someone that triggers a craving.

3. Build a New, Healthier Lifestyle.

The modern model of relapse prevention was developed in the 1980s by psychologists G. Alan Marlatt and Judith Gordon. Since then, there has been plenty of evidence from research to back up its basic ideas, including managing triggers to prevent relapse. The model also includes what are called global strategies, making big changes over the long-term in order to live a life that is healthier and free of substance use.

This is a long-term process, but when you work toward making big lifestyle changes, you reduce the risk of relapse. Positive changes include learning and using healthy coping strategies for stress and other negative emotions, identifying and managing mental illnesses, and developing positive activities such as exercise, meditation, or art.

4. Use Medications When Appropriate.

As addiction research evolves, medications have been developed that can help some patients manage cravings and avoid relapse. This is especially true for those struggling with opioid use disorder. Medications like methadone and buprenorphine, when used with supervision, can reduce cravings and urges to relapse. Naltrexone can be used to make taking an opioid pointless, as it blocks the effects of these drugs. For some people medications play an important role in recovery and relapse prevention.

5. Rely on Others for Support and Care.

Finally, it is important to recognize that going through it alone does not produce the best outcomes in recovery. Surround yourself with supportive friends and family, people who do not use drugs or alcohol, and those who really care about you. Take advantage of support groups for people in recovery, aftercare programs offered by the facility that provided you treatment, and even rehab alumni programs. Social support is a crucial factor that helps people resist relapsing and in recovering faster if a relapse does occur.

If you are in treatment or recovery from a substance use disorder, be realistic and know that a relapse may occur but also that you can take concrete steps to prevent it. In addition to these steps, make sure you have worked with your therapist or counselor to develop a relapse plan. This will tell you what to do if you do experience a relapse, so you can minimize the negative consequences.

ICE AND THE BRAIN

Drug Effects

Ice (crystal methamphetamine) triggers the release of two chemicals in the brain, called dopamine and noradrenaline. These chemicals are also released during pleasant activities – like eating and sex – and they are responsible for making us feel alert and excited. But flooding the brain with these chemicals can cause an ‘overload’ in the system which is why some people can’t sleep for days or experience symptoms of psychosisafter taking ice.

Ice also stops the brain from reabsorbing these chemicals which lowers their supply in the brain. This is why people often feel low or irritable for 2-3 days after taking ice.

Over the long term, regular use of ice can damage or destroy dopamine receptors in the brain — sometimes to a point where users no longer feel normal without having ice in their system. Even after people have stopped using ice it can take up to a year before these brain changes return to normal.

The initial effects of ice often last for between 4 and 12 hours depending on how much ice is consumed. Although the effects of ice are usually felt quickly (within minutes if it is smoked or injected, or about 30 minutes if snorted or swallowed), it can take 1 to 2 days to entirely leave the body.

A ‘comedown’ phase or ‘crash’ is often experienced by ice users as the drug starts to wear off. These feelings can last a few days and symptoms can include:

  • Feeling down or depressed
  • Decreased appetite
  • Exhaustion
  • Increased need for sleep
  • Irritability
  • Feeling anxious.

Withdrawals refer to unpleasant symptoms experienced by users who are dependenton ice. These symptoms can last for several days or many weeks, depending on the severity of use. With drawal symptoms can include:

  • Headaches
  • Anxiety
  • Aggression
  • Restlessness
  • Cramps
  • Vomiting.

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
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