The short-term and long-term effects of drug abuse depend on the drug that a person uses and their overall health. Learn about the possible effects here.
The effects of drug abuse vary. It may be short-term or long-term. The short-term effects of drug -abuse include:
Increased heart rate
Change in appetite
Sleeplessness
Slurred speech
Insomnia
Loss of coordination
Persons who abuse drugs may also experience relationship problems,Guest Posting inability to stop using a drug, poor performance, increased risk-taking behavior, loss of interest, and difficulty in maintaining good hygiene.
Drug abuse over a long period can have numerous negative effects. It can alter the brain structure and function of a person. The effects can include:
Depression
Paranoia
Hallucination
Aggression
Anxiety
Memory loss
Loss of concentration
The long-term effect of a drug varies depending on the type of drug used and the duration of usage. Medical experts have linked extended drug use to health conditions such as:
Cardiovascular disease: Stimulants like cocaine and methamphetamines can damage the heart and lead to heart attack, arrhythmia, and coronary artery disease.
Respiratory problem: Drug abuse can lead to respiratory diseases and infections. Drugs can slow a person’s breathing and if they are taken in large quantities they can lead to death.
Kidney damage: The abuse of drugs like ketamine, heroin, and cocaine can damage the kidney.
Liver disease: Drug abuse can damage the liver. It can lead to scarring or inflammation.
The effects of drug abuse can be short-term or long-term. It can affect a person physically or mentally. The physical effects of drugs in the short-term include:
Rapid heart rate
Shallow breathing
Increased blood pressure
Drowsiness
Elevated body temperature
Insomnia
Change in appetite
Loss of coordination
Drug abuse can lead to dependence in the short term. Persons tend to need a large amount of the substance to maintain the same level of “high”. Persons who use drugs in the short term also experience withdrawal symptoms when they want to stop using the drug. These symptoms can include tremors, excessive breathing, difficulty in breathing, fatigue, and irritability.
Drug abuse can have short-term mental effects such as:
Aggression
Difficulty concentrating
Irritability
Hallucinations
Lack of inhibition
Drug abuse can have negative effects on the body if it is used for extended periods. The most common physical effects of drug abuse are:
Kidney damage
Liver damage
Lung damage
Cardiovascular problem
Cancer
Tooth decay
Skin damage
Seizure
Stroke
Infertility
Death
The effects of drug abuse in the long-term include:
Memory loss
Depression
Cognitive decline
Paranoia
Anxiety
Psychosis
SIGNS OF DRUG ADDICTION
The signs of drug abuse include:
Mood swings
Aggression
Secretiveness
Changes in performance
Relationship problems
Sudden weight gain or weight loss
Bad smells on the clothing or body
The behavioral and psychosocial changes that drug abusers exhibit include:
Being unable to quit the drug
Having a strong desire to use the drug
Spending time and resources to get or use the drug
Lack of interest in social, occupational, and recreational activities due to drug abuse
Consistent use of the drug even with the knowledge of its negative effects
Becoming secretive and suspicion
Lying to loved ones
Spending exorbitantly
Going into debt
TREATMENT OF DRUG ADDICTION
How drug addiction can be treated include:
Psychotherapy: This is a form of treating drug abuse that involves talking with a psychologist, psychiatrist, or mental health provider. Psychotherapy can help drug abusers understand their moods, feelings, behaviors, and thoughts.
Medication: Medications like naltrexone, methadone, and bupropion can help ease the withdrawal symptoms of persons that abuse drugs
Behavioral therapy: This form of treatment involves providing positive reinforcement to drug abusers and helping them to build their coping skills.
Hospitalization: Some persons need to be hospitalized so that their bodies can be detoxified and learn to cope without drugs.
Support groups: Support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous can help persons with addiction by providing them with support and accountability.
Addictions put strain and stress on the body. Drug abuse can turn persons into shadows of their former selves. A major danger that drug abusers face is tolerance. Tolerance is dangerous as it causes a person to need more quantities of a drug if they are to achieve the euphoric state that they desire. Tolerance puts a person at risk of overdose or death. You can contact a medical professional or commercial testing laboratory if you want to know more about the physical and mental effects of drug abuse.