Different drugs have different effects on the body, but they all end up doing permanent damage that is similar after a long period of usage. As we explore the effects of drugs on the body, we need to keep in mind that much of the long-term damage will appear after years of use. Continue on to discover both the short-term and long-term effects of drugs on the body. It is time to find out how you can get substance abuse treatment.

Short-term Effects of Drugs on the Body

The short-term effects on your body will depend on what type of drug you use. Drugs that are considered stimulants will have you experiencing an increased heartbeat, higher blood pressure, a decrease in appetite, higher body temperature, and difficulty sleeping. Some people may experience hallucinations or psychosis. Larger doses can cause panic, stomach cramps, aggressive behavior, paranoia, and even heart attack or stroke if the dose is too high.

Drugs that are depressants cause the body to react differently. Short-term effects of drugs on the body include, inability to stay awake, lowered blood pressure, slower breathing, the inability to make quick decisions, dizziness, dilated pupils, slurred speech, and loss of coordination. 

Long-term Effects of Drugs on the Body

Your body works as one unit. That means that anything you put into it is considered the same as fuel in a car and will travel throughout all the major systems of your body. When you overcome an addiction, damage can remain in many of these organs. This can be especially true if you have taken drugs for a long time. Other things, including changes to the brain, may be able to show a reversal of the damage. Here are the major long-term effects of drugs on the body:

Heart disease/Stroke

With drugs either causing your heart to race or go abnormally slow, it puts extra pressure on the heart muscle. This damage includes all the blood vessels, which can become damaged and break, resulting in a stroke.

Premature Aging

You will notice your skin gaining more wrinkles and becoming drier, your hair may begin to grey at an early age, your immune system will become compromised, making things like illness and arthritis more common.  

Liver and kidney damage

Your liver and kidneys are tasked with ridding your body of anything considered an impurity. The more drugs you put into your body, the harder these organs have to work. 

Cancer

Many types of cancer have been contributed to poor health care and an ineffective immune system. 

HIV/AIDS

Drugs often put the user at risk of risky behavior. Shared needles and unprotected sex are just two of the behaviors that can result in HIV/AIDS. Doctors estimate that a full one-third of all cases of AIDS is in some way related to drug abuse.

Bone/Teeth damage

Malnutrition can lead to many things. One of the most common is a weakness in your bones. This is a result of low calcium levels.

Lung disease

This is more common in inhalant drugs. Lungs have a great capacity for healing, but continually abusing them can result in irreparable damage.

Brain damage

As the brain’s chemicals become altered, evidence has shown that the longer drug use is maintained, the more brain matter shrinks, leaving you with a faulty memory, the inability to make decisions, and other cognitive deficits.

Start Healing Now

At Bayview Recovery, we believe that healing takes place from the first day you entrust your rehabilitation journey to us. We can help overcome your addiction through different therapies such as:

• Recreational Therapy Program
• Mindfulness Meditation Therapy Program
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Program
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Program

Contact Bayview Recovery at 855.478.3650 if you have been spending your days and nights in the chains of addiction. As you travel your recovery journey, you will find yourself becoming healthier every day. Give your body, mind, and soul the gift of sobriety today.