People use drugs for many different reasons. For some, drugs bring a sense of relief or take the edge off in times of need. For others, it’s the social aspect of drugs, and the high that they provide, that drives a person to use. While drugs might bring temporary fun and reprieve, the harsh reality is that drugs are also very dangerous. They put your health (and your life) at risk.
We know you’ve heard it before. Your parents told you that drugs are bad. Your friends told you to stop drinking so much. Maybe a doctor said that your substance use has taken a toll. You might even feel it in your hangovers, or during periods of withdrawal, but have you considered what drugs do to your body long-term?
Unfortunately, drug addiction is a persistent condition. Certain drugs cause chemical changes in your brain that make you reliant on them to function. Despite the harm that drugs cause to your body, and despite a desire to stop, their addictive nature re-programs your brain to actively need and seek more.
This makes you wonder: Exactly what do drugs do to your body and mind? Why do drugs make you feel the way you do, and why can’t you stop using so easily? Furthermore, what are the risks if you stop?
Let’s explore these questions in more depth below.
What Do Drugs Do to You?
Drugs can affect people in a myriad of ways, depending on their general health, size, gender, tolerance, mental state, as well as the type of drug they take. Substances fall into different categories and their effects can vary as such. Some drugs make people feel calm or numb, others cause bursts of energy, and several can alter a user’s perception of reality. These are just a few examples.
However, all drugs have the power to change your brain chemistry and the way your body works. Even seemingly “soft” drugs like marijuana or prescription Adderall can have lasting effects, over time. As explained by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), “Drug use can lead to dependence and addiction, injury and accidents, health problems, sleep issues, and more.”
It’s important to note, though, that not all drugs are detrimental. When prescription drugs are taken in the correct dose, as directed by a doctor, they can be very effective in treating ailments. It is the illicit use and abuse of these drugs (and other substances) that raise the concern.
The effects of drugs on the body can vary, depending on factors such as:
- Type of drug taken (and how it was administered)
- How much of the drug was taken
- How strong or pure the drug was (note: street drugs are not regulated, and therefore could be laced with other substances to heighten or alter their effects)
- Your body’s make-up and size
- Your physical health
- Your mental health and mood
- Your level of tolerance
- Whether you took other substances (like alcohol) alongside the drug
There is also a distinction between the short-term and long-term effects of drugs on the body. There are initial side effects that occur almost immediately after using a drug, and there are consequences that happen with prolonged and repeated use.
What are the Immediate Effects of Drugs on the Body and Brain?
When you take a drug, it enters your bloodstream and travels to the brain, causing a chemical reaction typically known as a “high” or “rush.” While the specific effects will vary depending on the type of drug, most drugs will trigger a surge of dopamine—a neurotransmitter in the brain that causes intense, yet temporary feelings of pleasure. It’s this chemical, specifically, that leads the brain and body to crave more of the drug.
Other hormones in the brain can be affected—and disrupted—by drugs, too, including serotonin (a mood regulator), GABA (a sedater), endorphins (pain relievers), glutamate (assists in learning), and norepinephrine (a first responder to stress).
In the short-term, these neurological disruptions will lead to short-term effects like euphoria, relaxation, alertness, or pain relief. Long-term, however, the unnatural fluctuations of these chemicals can create dependency and addiction, as well as a slew of cognitive issues. (More on that, soon.)
But let’s talk more about the immediate reactions our bodies can have to drugs. Once drugs enter the bloodstream and take effect in the brain, they can lead to a variety of physical effects. These will depend on the type of drugs used, but might include:
- Increased heart rate and blood pressure
- Vomiting and nausea
- Overheating and dehydration
- Sweating and shakiness
- Confusion and paranoia
- Seizures
- Altered perception of reality, delusions, and/or hallucinations
- Relaxation and happiness
- Increased energy and alertness
- Increased confidence
- Reduced pain
- Agitation and irritability
- Difficulty concentrating or functioning
- Respiratory failure
- Heart attack
- Nose bleeds
- Slurred speech
- Stroke
- Insomnia
- Overdose
As you recover from using drugs, you might also experience a “come down” period—in which your body recovers from using a drug and experiences negative, physical effects like tiredness, dizziness, nausea, irritability, anxiousness, headaches, and shakiness—kind of like a hangover.
If you use drugs for an extended period of time, you might begin to develop a dependence on the drug. Again, this is due to the changes in the brain, causing it to crave more of the euphoric, chemical effects. When a dependence or tolerance to drugs develop, a person might also experience physical symptoms during periods of withdrawal. Withdrawal occurs when a person is not under the influence of drugs, but the body is demanding more, leading to uncomfortable effects like:
- Fatigue or lethargy
- Muscle tension
- Clammy skin or sweatiness
- Agitation and irritability
- Insomnia and nightmares
- Slowness in activity
- Restlessness
- Disorientation and confusion
- Depression and anxiety
- Headaches and body aches
The clinical team at Turnbridge’s young adult drug treatment knows the physical effects of substance abuse well. And in our experience, we know that the short-term “high” that comes from drugs is never worth the havoc that drugs can have on the body. However, if you’re still wondering what drugs can do to your body, read on to learn about some of the longer-term effects.
What Do Drugs Do to Your Body and Brain Long-Term?
When you abuse drugs, you don’t just feel short-term disturbances. You also run the risk of respiratory depression, heart attack, coma, overdose, stroke, hypothermia, dehydration, blood disorders, gastric problems, panic attacks, and cognitive deficits—which can affect you for the long-haul.
Drug use can also make you look and feel weak, malnourished, and destroy your immune system over time. Studies show that individuals who do not seek treatment for their drug problems only have a life expectancy of 15 to 20 years after the onset of their drug addiction. This means that if you started using drugs at 18-years-old, and do not get professional help, your life expectancy might not exceed age 40.
Here’s a look at what drugs do to different parts of your body over time:
Your Brain
The way our brains are wired is that, if you do something pleasurable, your brain will tell you to do it again and again. This is true for activities like eating and also for drug abuse. All addictive drugs activate the brain’s pleasure circuit. If you use a drug regularly, your brain will get used to that high level of dopamine. Over time, the drug will actually re-wire the chemicals in your brain, changing how they work and respond to pleasure. Your brain may start requiring a higher dosage of drugs to feel the euphoric effects. If you’ve developed a tolerance, your brain might require more drugs for you to feel normal. And when you stop taking the drugs, you may experience significant, often painful, withdrawal symptoms in other parts of your body. These are tell-tale signs of a substance use disorder.
Long-term drug use also affects brain functioning, causing memory loss, difficulty learning, impaired judgement, and other cognitive deficits like trouble regulating emotions or mood. Certain drugs have more severe brain effects: For example, alcohol puts users at risk for dementia. Inhalants damage brain cells faster than other substances. Marijuana causes short-term memory problems and a decreased IQ over time. Some drugs have been linked to the development of mental health disorders, like schizophrenia and anxiety disorder.
Your Lungs
When you think of lung damage, you may think immediately of smoking. It is true that smoking marijuana (in addition to cigarettes) can cause respiratory diseases and lung infection. But did you know many illicit drugs, including prescription painkillers, can put you at serious risk for respiratory depression? Opiate drugs such as heroin and OxyContin can suppress your breathing and limit the amount of oxygen entering the brain. This can cause a coma or permanent brain damage. In fact, most opiate overdoses are caused by respiratory depression.
Your Liver
Most drugs are toxic. So if you take a drug like heroin, or even binge drink alcohol, your liver has to work extra hard to break it down. This can lead to decreased liver function and long-term liver damage. Heroin, steroids, and inhalants, especially paired with alcohol, pose the most risk.
Your Kidneys
Some drugs interfere with our bodies’ ability to regulate temperature. Use of MDMA drugs, for example, can cause body temperature to spike (Hypothermia) and can lead to severe dehydration, muscle breakdown, and long-term kidney damage or failure.
Your Heart
Most drugs can damage your cardiovascular system in some way, whether that means heart attack or abnormal heart rates. Cocaine, for example, is known to cause strokes, heart attacks, and cardiac arrest in users, which can all lead to sudden death. Injecting drugs can also lead to collapsed veins and bacterial infections in the bloodstream and heart valves.
Your Gut
Short-term nausea and vomiting are typical after a night of drinking or a stint of drug use. But certain drugs have other effects on your gastrointestinal system. Cocaine, for example, can cause bowel tissue decay. Opioid use can cause acid reflux and gastric ulcers. Many illicit drugs can cause a loss of appetite, leading to malnourishment and sudden weight loss.
Your Muscles & Bones
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, steroids use during your teen years can stop bone growth earlier than normal, leading to a short stature. Other drugs can cause severe muscle cramping, weakness, and muscle breakdown.
Your Overall Appearance
Drugs do not just cause internal deficits, they can also damage what’s on the outside. Drug use can lead to problems with your skin, for example, such as acne and dullness (or grey-looking). This is because your skin is not receiving the proper nutrients and vitamins. Drugs also diminish your energy, making you look and feel weak and tired. Some drugs, such as meth, can lead to rotten teeth, gum disease, and bad breath, while others can lead to yellowed and sunken looking eyes.
What Do Drugs Do to You? The Effects Aren’t Worth It
The question, “what do drugs do to your body?” comes with many answers, and each answer is as significant as the last. Your body deserves the best. You deserve to be healthy, happy, and to lead a positive, productive life. Don’t let your drug use get in the way of that. Don’t put your life at risk because of a desire or compulsion to use. Get the physical, mental, and emotional help you need to heal.
Call Turnbridge today at 877-581-1793 to start your recovery plan. Or, visit our website to learn more about our Young Men’s and Young Women’s addiction treatment programs.