A drug is a substance that harms the nervous system and the body. They can have a wide range of side effects, and long-term health impacts are amongst several. In some instances, they’ll persist even after an individual has discontinued using the drug.
Ingestion, inhalation, and injection are all methods of consuming substances. The way you administer a drug can have an impact on its health consequences. Injecting the drug into the blood provides an instant effect, whereas oral intake has a delayed reaction.
However, all abused medications have some impact on the central nervous system (CNS). A chemical called dopamine floods the brain, producing a “high” feeling since the chemical helps control our motivation, emotions, and sensations of pleasure. In the long run, drugs can affect how well the brain functions, making it more difficult for individuals to make rational decisions, leading to severe cravings and excessive drug usage. This pattern of behavior, if left unchecked, can lead to drug dependence and addiction.
Illegal drug usage causes one in every four deaths, which affects more than 7 million individuals today.
Health Effects on the Lungs
Several respiratory issues might arise due to drug usage. For instance, researchers have shown that smoking causes lung cancer, emphysema, and bronchitis, in addition to other health problems. There have been metal particles, cancer-causing agents, and toxins found in e-cigarette aerosol and liquids, so it’s uncertain what kind of health threat they present to the lungs over time.
Laboratory studies comparing the characteristics of e-cigarettes with regular ones suggest that the former has a lower cancer-causing profile. Vaping nicotine with marijuana has also been linked to significant lung diseases and fatalities. Vitamin E acetate, a common addition in many foods, has been related to various conditions, and the government keeps the people informed regularly.
Social Consequences
Addiction’s societal ramifications receive the most significant attention. Leaving school, losing a career, being hospitalized, having legal issues (possession charges, DUI, etc.), experiencing jail, having strained relationships, and being an abuser or a victim are all social effects of substance abuse. Addicts might not experience any of these issues at all for long periods.
They might still have the ability to keep a job, complete a degree program, and keep up their social life. This makes it more challenging to identify addiction and encourages people to remain in denial about their problem. In any case, addiction is a disease that progresses over time, and even somebody who is functionally addicted will ultimately have social issues if they refuse to seek rehabilitation treatment.
Effects on the Heart and Blood vessels
According to research, nearly all medications have the potential to negatively impact cardiovascular health, with side effects spanning from an abnormally high heart rate to an actual cardiac arrest. When you smoke, you put yourself at greater risk of cardiovascular disease such as stroke, myocardial infarction, and peripheral arterial disease, among other things.
According to new studies, chronic lung illnesses such as COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), emphysema, bronchitis, and asthma are on the rise due to the usage of e-cigarettes. Drug injection usage can potentially cause cardiovascular issues such as ruptured veins and infectious diseases of the heart valves and blood vessels.
Cancer
The most considerable avoidable incidence of cancer in the US is smoking cigarettes. Studies have associated cigarette smoking with various cancers, including the lungs, stomach, throat, and mouth. Those who are non-smokers, but exposed to secondhand smoking, have an increased risk of lung cancer and other medical conditions.
Males in their 20s and 30s who started using marijuana in their teens are more likely to develop an especially severe type of testicular cancer in the future. Researchers are still uncertain if vaping products containing THC or nicotine increase a person’s cancer risk. Vaping exposes individuals to several of the same compounds present in marijuana and tobacco without exposing them to carcinogens associated with burning tobacco. Moreover, it also exposes them to fumes from electrically heated wires used to produce the vapor.
Mental Consequences
The most frequent psychological side effects include psychosis, mood changes, anxiety, and depression. Even when a person doesn’t use drugs, symptoms like psychosis might still develop as an effect indirectly or directly. These symptoms can last for years even after the individual discontinues substance use. A person is said to have a dual diagnosis if they suffer from a mental health problem and addiction, which the former might have started pre or post-drug use. In many situations, the most successful treatment is a combination of the two diagnoses.
Final Thoughts
Drug addiction has a variety of effects on people. To one individual, something minor and unimportant might seem like complete chaos. Treatment, continuing encouragement, and a purpose in life can help people overcome addiction regardless of their differences.
