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Health Risks of Drugs and Alcohol

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Alcohol and drug use can cause serious physical and emotional changes that may harm the body. The effects vary depending on the substance used and can impact multiple body systems.

Alcohol

Alcohol consumption can cause physical and emotional changes that may negatively affect the body. Long-term alcohol abuse can damage multiple body systems.

Effects on Body Systems

Long-term alcohol abuse can affect multiple body systems. The following sections describe some of the physical and emotional effects alcohol may have on the body.

Excretory System

The excretory system processes and eliminates waste from your body.

Excessive alcohol use can cause:

• Pancreatitis

• Hepatitis

• Jaundice

• Cirrhosis

• Hypoglycemia

• Liver cancer

 

Central Nervous System

The central nervous system receives and processes information and coordinates activities throughout the body.

Alcohol use and abuse can cause:

• Changes in behavior

• Slurred speech

• Coordination issues

• Balance and walking difficulties

• Difficulty thinking clearly

• Impaired impulse control

• Memory problems

• Dementia

• Brain damage

• Pain, numbness, and abnormal sensations

• Thiamine deficiency

• Paralysis of eye muscles 

 

Important Note

 The effects of alcohol withdrawal on the central nervous system may include nausea, anxiety, nervousness, tremors, confusion, hallucinations and seizures. Abrupt stoppage of alcohol can cause death.

Digestive System

Organs working together to convert food into energy and basic nutrients to feed the entire body.

Alcohol abuse can damage:

• Salivary glands

• Cause tooth decay and loss

• Ulcers in the esophagus and stomach

• Acid reflux

• Heartburn

• Gastritis

Alcoholics often suffer from malnutrition and face higher risk of:

• Mouth, throat and esophagus cancers

• Upper gastrointestinal cancers

• Colon cancer

• Nausea and vomiting

 

Circulatory System

Permits blood to circulate and transport nutrients to cells in the body to provide nourishment, help in fighting diseases, stabilize temperature and pH, and maintain balance.

Circulatory system complications include:

• Poisoning of the heart muscle cells (cardiomyopathy)

• Irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia)

• High blood pressure

• Stroke

• Heart attack

• Heart failure

 

Sexual and Reproductive Health

Erectile dysfunction is a common side effect of alcohol abuse in men. It can also inhibit hormone production, affect testicular function, and cause infertility.

Excessive drinking can cause:

• Increased risk of breast cancer

• Interrupt and stop menstruation

• Infertility, as well as increase the risk of miscarriage, premature delivery, and stillbirth.

 

Skeletal and Muscle Systems

Long-term alcohol use makes it harder for your body to produce new bone. Drinking puts you at an increased risk of osteoporosis (thinning bones) and bone fractures. Muscles become prone to weakness, cramps, and even atrophy.

Immune System

An immune system weakened by alcohol abuse has a hard time fighting off viruses, germs, and all types of illness. Heavy drinkers are more likely to get pneumonia or tuberculosis than the general population. Chronic alcohol use increases your risk of many forms of cancer.

 

Substances

The substances listed below can affect multiple body systems and may have both short-term and long-term health effects. The severity of these effects depends on factors such as the type of substance, amount used, frequency of use, and an individual's overall health.

Marijuana

The effects of marijuana on the body are immediate with impacts on multiple body systems including: excretory, central nervous, digestive, circulatory, reproductive, skeletal, muscle, and immune systems. 

Marijuana use causes an increased risk of:

• Bronchitis

• Lung infections

• Lung cancer

• Aggravates illness like asthma and cycstic fibrosis

Other effects include:

• Feelings of panic

• Anxiety and fear (paranoia)

• Hallucinations

• Increased heart rate

• Trouble concentrating

• Decreased ability to perform tasks that require coordination

• Decreased interest in completing tasks

When coming down from the high, users may feel depressed, extremely tired, heightened agitation, anxiety, insomnia and irritability.

 

Ecstasy (MDMA)

The effects of ecstasy on the body typically take effect within an hour and last several hours and include: nausea, chills, sweating, involuntary jaw clenching and teeth grinding, muscle cramping, blurred vision, marked rise in body temperature, dehydration, high blood pressure, heart failure, kidney failure, and arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat).

Effects occurring up to one week post usage include: anxiety, restlessness, irritability, sadness, impulsiveness, aggression, sleep disturbances, lack of appetite, thirst, reduced interest in and pleasure from sex, and significant reductions in mental abilities.

 

Cocaine

Cocaine is highly addictive. Depending on whether it is smoked, snorted or injected, cocaine can be quite rapidly acting and directly impacts the release of dopamine in the brain.

Short-term effects of cocaine use may include:

• Restlessness

• Irritability

• Anxiety

• Panic

• Paranoia

Other health effects may include:

• Heart attack

• Erratic and possibly violent behavior

• Tremors

• Muscle twitches or tics

• Paranoia

• Vertigo

• Constricted blood vessels

• Dilated pupils

• Increased heart rate

• Increased blood pressure

• Increased body temperature

• Decreased sexual function

 

Heroin

Heroin is highly addictive.

Short-Term Heroin Causes

Short-term heroin use can cause:

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Grogginess

• Confusion

• Dry mouth

• Itchy skin

• Miotic or constricted pupils

• Light sensitivity

• Lower than normal body temperature

• Slowed respiration

• Slowed heart rate

• Cyanotic (bluish) hands, feet, lips

Dangerously slow breathing, lack of oxygen to the brain, heart problems, coma, and death are also possible.

Long-Term Heroin Causes

Long-term heroin use may cause:

• Decreased dental health marked by damaged teeth and gum swelling

• Excoriated skin from scratching

• Severe constipation

• Increased susceptibility to disease from the diminished immune system

• Weakness and sedation

• Poor appetite and malnutrition

• Sleeping problems

• Decrease in sexual functioning

 

PCP/LSD/Mushrooms (Hallucinogens)

Hallucinogens work by temporarily interfering with the neurotransmitters or receptor sites responsible for the production of serotonin and other chemicals within the brain. Effects can last for weeks or years after ingestion.

The effects of hallucinogenic drugs vary depending on what drug is taken and can cause:

• Delusional thoughts

• Hallucinations

• Disconnection from reality

• Sensory overload

• Terrifying thoughts

• Feelings of despair or regret

• Extreme depression

• Panic

• Psychosis

• Impaired memory

• Permanent psychiatric illness

• Weight loss

• Raised body temperature

• Sleeplessness or insomnia

• Sweating

• Loss of nutrients, tremors, poisoning, nausea, vomiting, and dry mouth

 

Prescription Drugs (Opiates/Stimulants/Tranquilizers)

Prescription drug abuse, like many other drugs affect nearly all systems within the body.

Opiates

Examples:

• Codeine

• Vicodin

• Hydrocodone

• Morphine

• OxyContin

• Percocet

Abuse of opiates and painkillers may be equally distinguishable by the withdrawal symptoms a user experiences when they attempt to stop using the drugs. These symptoms indicate the potential for serious medical complications and should be taken very seriously: cold flashes, regardless of environment, involuntary leg movements (鈥渒icking鈥�), restlessness, sharp bone and muscle pains, vomiting, diarrhea, cardiac arrest, seizures, and shortness of breath.

Stimulants

Examples:

• Adderall

• Ritalin

Abuse of stimulants may affect the body in the following ways: extreme agitation or irritability, irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, elevated body temperatures, seizures, cardiovascular failure, increasing hostility, feelings of paranoia, insomnia, and unexplained weight loss.

Tranquilizers

Examples:

• Xanax

• Ativan

Abuse of tranquilizers may affect the body in the following ways: drowsy or intoxicated appearance, confusion about surroundings or time, unsteady movements and/or mannerisms, involuntary gestures, movements or tics, rapid, involuntary eye movement, poor judgment and decision-making, and difficulty with memory.

Steroids

Short-Term Causes

Short-term effects of steroid use include acne, mood swings, fatigue, restlessness/ agitation, decreased appetite, trouble sleeping, decreased sperm count, and impotence.

Since anabolic steroids are synthetic forms of testosterone, they will influence many of the characteristics of gender in the person abusing the substance including shrinking of the testicles, excessive hair growth and deepening of the voice in women, growth of breast tissue in men, fertility issues, heart problems, elevated blood pressure, rapid mood swings, mania, stroke, and menstrual irregularities for women.

Sleeping Pills

Examples:

• Lunesta

• Sonata

• Ambien

• Rozerem

• Halcion

Side Effects

Common side effects of prescription sleeping pills include:

• Burning or tingling in the hands, arms, feet, or legs

• Changes in appetite

• Constipation

• Diarrhea

• Difficulty keeping balance

• Dizziness

• Daytime drowsiness

• Dry mouth or throat

• Headache

• Heartburn

• Mental slowing

• Problems with attention or memory, stomach

• Tenderness

• Uncontrollable shaking of a part of the body

• Unusual dreams

• Over-all weakness.