Introduction
Are you or any of your loved ones struggling with drug or alcohol abuse?
Are you searching for ways to motivate them or yourself to quit substance abuse?
When you are searching for reasons to quit any type of addiction and want to feel motivated, you should start searching for the bad effects the addiction is leaving on your health. Especially when you are suffering from drugs and alcohol addiction, the list of harmful health effects is really long.
More than 20 million people in the United States suffer from USD or substance abuse disorder. It is a particular mental health condition where the individual continues using alcohol and drugs despite knowing that they have a lot of bad habits.
When we are talking about substance abuse, we must tell the substances that lead to addiction. Here they are;
- Tobacco.
- Alcohol.
- Heroin.
- Cocaine.
- LSD.
- Methamphetamine.
- Prescription drugs or medications.
- Nitrous oxide.
- Marijuana.
If you are thinking of getting out of this addiction world, you should know the harmful effects of substance abuse, mostly drug and alcohol abuse. Then, you should opt for a reputed and expert detox center, where you will get the necessary treatment for drug or alcohol addiction.
When you start quitting all those substances you are addicted to, you will suffer from several withdrawal symptoms and also have to combat cravings. So, being under a medically passed treatment process is necessary. If you want high-quality treatment programs, then Ledgehill for Men and Women Treatment Center is perfect for you.
Apart from the withdrawal symptoms, alcohol and drug addiction also brings a lot of health issues. We will now discuss them.
Effects Of Drugs And Alcohol On Your Physical Health
When you are into drugs or alcohol abuse, you might suffer from some immediate physical effects. All the effects depend on some factors like which type of substances you are using, the amount of the substance, how long you are taking it, and also your health situation.
There are some drugs that leave effects with a single-use only. Here are some short-term physical effects of drugs and alcohol abuse.
- Fainting.
- Heart rate changes.
- Trouble speaking clearly.
- Vomiting and nausea.
- Appetite changes.
- Changes in alertness.
- Breathing changes.
- Coordination problems.
If an individual is into drugs and substance abuse for longer, they start developing some serious health issues, which last longer. Here they are;
- Seizures.
- Severe constipation.
- Breathing problems.
- Abdominal pain.
- Chest pain.
- Weight loss or gain.
- Severe muscle cramping.
Effects Of Drugs And Alcohol On Your Brain And Mental health
If you think that alcohol and drug abuse will only affect your physical health, you need to check the mental health issues or symptoms you might encounter. Let’s have a look at the short-term effects of alcohol and drug addiction on the brain and mental health.
- Perception of reality.
- Ability to relax.
- Ability to think clearly.
- Anxiety.
- Mood.
- Concentration.
You might not know that alcohol and drug abuse can actually cause permanent brain problems. Like;
- Poor decision-making.
- Memory difficulty.
- Dementia.
Apart from all these long-term effects, drug and alcohol use also alters the level of some particular chemicals, which are called neurotransmitters in the brain. Eventually, it can lead to several mental health challenges, for example, depression and anxiety.
In fact, people who are into drug or alcohol addiction are twice as likely to have anxiety and mood disorders.
Some health Issues Related To Drug And Alcohol Addiction
There are also some serious health issues, which can result from alcohol and drug abuse. Some of them are strokes, heart attacks, and some more.
For your reference, here are some of the health issues.
- Heart Problems
You might not know the heart and blood vessels problem you are suffering from is the result of your addiction issues. Eventually, this can lead to stroke, heart attack, irregular heartbeat, and even death.
- Lung Problems
If you are into inhaling drugs or smoking, you are actually damaging your lungs. You are also increasing the risk of several lung problems like lung cancer or bronchitis.
- Dental problems
Several different types of substances also cause particular dental problems. Tooth decay dry mouth are some of them.
- Infections
If you prefer injecting drugs, you are increasing the risk of developing infections, for example, heart infections, skin infections, and HIV. Drugs also weaken your immune system and make you vulnerable to infections, even Covid-19.
- Mental health Problems
From the above discussion, you might have developed an idea of how drug and alcohol abuse can affect your mental health and can make you suffer from mood and anxiety disorder. You also can add schizophrenia and depression to the same list.
- Liver Damage
We all know that drugs and alcohol cause damage to your liver, especially when you are combining them both.
- Kidney Damage
Particular types of drugs might damage your kidney, or if not fully damaged, they make your kidneys work harder than usual.
- Cancer
The most dangerous effect of drug and alcohol abuse is developing different forms of cancer. Most of the patients that are participating in different kidney cancer clinical trials have a history in abusing alcohol and drugs.
FAQs
When it comes to drug and alcohol addiction, we do not have enough knowledge, or no pieces of knowledge seem enough. So, here we are, answering some of the most common questions to help you with your queries.
Q1: What Are The 4 Main Effects Of Drugs?
As we have mentioned, drug abuse can actually alter the brain function and structure of an individual and result in long-term psychological effects. Some of them are;
- Hallucinations.
- Paranoia.
- Increased aggression.
- Panic disorder.
- Anxiety.
- Depression.
Q2: What Are The Harmful Effects Of Alcohol?
If you keep consuming excessive amounts of alcohol for a long time, it can lead to several health issues. For example;
- Different types of cancer.
- High blood pressure.
- Stroke.
- Heart disease.
- Irregular heartbeat.
- Digestive problems.
- Liver and kidney damages.
To Conclude…
We believe after reading this article; you got the answer you were searching for. Drug and alcohol abuse can be really dangerous for both the mental and physical health of an individual. This is why opting for a medical detox program is compulsory to visit RenownRX.com.
It will ensure a complete recovery and also help you handle withdrawal symptoms and come out healthier.