How Does Substance Abuse Really Affect The User?

The effects of substance abuse on the human body can be permanent or temporary. Damage may worsen over a longer duration with increased frequency, up to and including overdose and death. Diminished regard to personal hygiene, financial troubles, domestic violence and depression may also come about as a result from continued use habits.

Substance Abuse Statistics

According to recent studies, more that 8% of Americans ages 12+ have dabbled with illegal substances within the past year. A 2007 survey conducted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse reported that 14.8% of students ages 13 – 18 had engaged in some type of recreational drug use within the previous 30 days. Though addiction is often defined as a mental health issue, the effects it can take on the body are rather extensive.

Substance Abuse Effects On Brain And Body

Substance abuse effects the body in a variety of ways, including changes in brain functionality, organ damage and skin infections.

Pregnant women with addiction issues impose enhanced risks to their unborn children, including behavioral disorders, developmental delays, low birth weight and premature birth.

The effects of substance abuse on mental health include personality disorders, lapses in memory, violence, depression and irrational behavior.

How Quickly Do Negative Effects Start After Using Drugs?

The negative effects of substance abuse can begin taking shape after only one use or many. Substances that are smoked or inhaled, such as marijuana, may cause increased appetite and high blood pressure. Cocaine and other narcotics have been known to cause heart attack following overdose.

Perhaps the most common effect of substance abuse is addiction. Over a long enough use period, addicts may begin to experience withdrawal symptoms when the substance is not readily available. These symptoms can last anywhere from several days to a year or more depending on use history, amount and frequency.

Prevention And Treatment For Substance Abuse

Abstinence is key to the prevention of substance abuse effects. Recognizing when casual use upgrades to abuse is another crucial factor. Treatment centers for alcohol and narcotic addiction often prove useful in minimizing and managing the effects of the abuse by way of replacing the addictive substance with prescription alternatives. Support groups and counseling also play a vital role in the recovery process by helping patients deal with their addictions in a positive and healthy manner.

Symptoms & Signs of Drug & Alcohol Abuse

Symptoms and signs of drug and alcohol abuse are quite similar. In some cases, they may prove difficult to spot. More often than not, they are fairly obvious, yet can also be mistaken for mental illness. Though different substances may offer different symptoms, if you know what to look for, determining an issue is rarely any trouble.

Physical Signs

Alcohol and drugs affect both the body and mind. Common signs of alcohol and drug abuse are difficulty sleeping, delayed reaction time, slowed speech, dental issues, nosebleeds and persistent cough.

Emotional and Mental Signs

Alcohol and drug abuse also affects users in emotional and mental ways. Symptoms and signs include irritability, calmness, agitation, hallucinations, apathy, paranoia and erratic behavior.

Tolerance

Another symptom of drug or alcohol abuse is an escalating tolerance to the substance in question. When an individual abuses alcohol or drugs, they must use the substance more regularly and in higher amounts to achieve the desired effect. 

Withdrawals

Withdrawal is yet another symptom associated with alcohol and drug abuse. When an individual abuses alcohol or drugs and is unable to acquire it, they may show signs of withdrawal, including excessive sleeping, sleeping difficulties, agitation, hallucinations, chills, aches and shakes.

Warnings

Addicts often boast as to their ability to quit anytime they like. They may say that they have quit on their own in the past and could easily do so again if they so choose. It is important to remember that the most crucial key to recovery is sobriety maintenance. An addict who is currently using is obviously not addressing their problem properly.

Recovery

Most addicts require professional help in order to quit using. Some need inpatient treatment, while others seek out local NA and AA meetings for support. Whether the individual in question is struggling with alcoholism or narcotics addiction, professional aid is often vital to the success and longevity of the recovery at hand.  

The Opiate Agonist

Opiate agonists provide patients with the same sensation experienced via endorphin, a natural compound found in the body. The brain’s opiate receptors receive the agonist, resulting in an opioid effect, or high, even though one isn’t actually occurring.

Nitty Gritty

Opiate agonists are designed to bind to opiate receptors. However, unlike actual opiates, they are not derived from opium. These agonists are molecules, synthetic or natural, that are close enough to opioids that they can bind to opiate receptors in the brain. Various opiate agonists exist, each providing a unique effect. “Full agonists” are able to mimic the full effects of opiate use to a “t”. “Partial agonists” mimic opiate effects to a lesser extent, ranging from just below complete receptor activation to none at all.

Addiction Treatment 

Opiate agonists are often utilized in treatment for opiate addicts. When patients choose to stop using opiates (heroin, methadone, morphine) their bodies experience withdrawal symptoms. Agonists are provided to these patients to help alleviate the withdrawal symptoms without the aid of the actual drug from which the addiction stems.

Long-Term Use 

Users with chronic opiate addictions are sometimes provided opiate agonists on a long-term basis.

Federal Guidelines

Federal guidelines exist regarding use of methadone as an opiate agonist as defined by the 1974 National Addict Treatment Act. This act allows both short- (30 days or less) and long-term (31 – 180 days) methadone treatment as designated by physician.

Side Effects

Patients using opiate agonists may experience a variety of side effects including:

- Profuse sweating

- Nervousness

- Sexual dysfunction

Need Help?

Looking for drug abuse help? Pick up the phone and call Above it All treatment center today!

  

Skin Health & Heroin Abuse

Heroin – a derivative of morphine - is an extremely addictive and dangerous substance. Because heroin is a depressant, the drug works to inhibit the body’s functionality while providing a lowered sense of anxiety and heightened relaxation. In addition to organ damage, heroin has a detrimental effect on the human body, including an array of skin issues.

Bruising

As a result of a decreased appetite, heroin addict often suffer a loss of essential vitamins, including Vitamins C and A – both of which are used to promote healthy skin. This lack of proper nutrition can also result in a heightened risk of bruising. Addicts who inject the drug will often be seen with bruises surrounding the injection site. This is typically caused by aggressive pressing of the needle to the skin, or simply dull needles. 

Itching

Many addicts often experience a short-term crawling or itching sensation on the skin’s surface. Heroin and other opiates work to release histamines, causing itchiness and skin inflammation. Scabs and cuts on the skin’s surface are quite common for heroin addicts due to excessive picking and scratching. Lack of proper nutrition will also cause dehydration, resulting in itchy, dry skin.

Scars

When heroin is injected, scars can appear. These particular scars are often referred to as “tracks”. Chronic heroin addiction will ultimately result in increased dose frequency in an effort to achieve the same effect as before. After enough time has passed, toxins can build up underneath the skin. In addition, the excessive skin puncturing will inevitably result in collapsed veins, causing dark, permanent scars.

Infection

Heroin addiction can often result in skin issues, such as cellulitis – a bacterial skin infection. Repeated injections will ultimately cause inflammation and skin pain. Injections, especially where dirty needles are concerned, can result in abscesses or boils, seen as deep, pimple-esq lumps. These types of boils will fill with puss, swell, and cause intense pain to the user. If left untreated, these types of injections can result in death.