Your parents told you that drugs are bad. Your friends told you to stop drinking so much. Maybe a doctor has even said that your drug use has taken a toll. Not to mention, you know hangovers and come-downs quite well. Unfortunately, drug addiction is a persistent thing. And it makes you wonder, what do drugs do to your body, exactly? What are the risks if you keep using? Drugs change the way your body works. The truth is, any addictive drug, in any dosage, used for a prolonged period of time, can cause major damage to your physical health.
When you abuse drugs, you run the risk of respiratory depression, heart attack, coma, overdose, stroke, hypothermia, dehydration, blood disorders, gastric problems, panic attacks, and cognitive deficits. The list goes on. Drug use can make you look and feel weak, malnourished, and can 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 years-old, and have continued to do so without professional drug treatment , your life expectancy will not exceed age The clinical team at Turnbridge young adult drug treatment knows the physical effects of substance abuse well. Here is what we know drugs will do to the various parts of your body:. Substance use disorders can lead to multiple behavioral problems, both in the short- and long-term, which can include:.
These effects of drug abuse have serious consequences, like missed work, punishable offenses, accidents and injuries. In fact, alcohol and drugs are partly to blame in an estimated 80 percent of offenses leading to jail time in the U. These incidents include domestic violence, driving while intoxicated and offenses related to damaged property.
Legal and illegal drugs excluding alcohol are involved in about 16 percent of motor vehicle crashes. In the past year, almost 12 million people drove under the influence of illicit drugs, and almost 4, fatally injured drivers tested positive for drug involvement. Illicit drug use poses risks for pregnant women and their babies.
Drugs may contain impurities that can be harmful to an unborn baby. Pregnant women who use drugs may be more likely to harm the fetus with risky behaviors and poor nutrition.
Drug use can lead to premature birth or low birth weight. It can also cause the baby to have withdrawal symptoms sometimes in the form of neonatal abstinence syndrome , birth defects or learning and behavioral problems later in life. An estimated 14 percent of adults with an illicit substance use disorder reported receiving treatment in the past year.
At Gateway, we offer treatment programs for all levels of drug addiction. Give us a call at See why Newsweek Magazine named us as one of America's top addiction treatment centers for the second year in a row. Skip to content. Ask questions and insist on answers. Learn additional facts about how drug abuse puts your whole body at risk. Learn more about how to find reliable sources for health information on the Web.
Department of Health and Human Services. Skip to main content. Inhalants spread toxic chemicals throughout the body, and can cause blackouts and hearing loss as well as liver , kidney , and bone-marrow damage. Methamphetamine can cause cardiac damage , elevated heart rate , and convulsions , and can also lead to diseased gums and teeth, known as "meth mouth.
Drug abuse is linked to the top U. Header image credit:. Heads Up teacher site. All users are urged to always seek advice from a registered health care professional for diagnosis and answers to their medical questions and to ascertain whether the particular therapy, service, product or treatment described on the website is suitable in their circumstances. The State of Victoria and the Department of Health shall not bear any liability for reliance by any user on the materials contained on this website.
Skip to main content. Home Drugs. How drugs affect your body. Actions for this page Listen Print. Summary Read the full fact sheet. On this page. Different drugs, different effects Risk factors for drug-related harm Physical harms from drug use Effects of common drugs Effects of a 'come down' Where to get help.
Different drugs, different effects Drugs affect your body's central nervous system. The three main types are depressants, hallucinogens and stimulants: Depressants slow or 'depress' the function of the central nervous system. They slow the messages going to and from your brain. In small quantities depressants can cause a person to feel relaxed and less inhibited. In large amounts they may cause vomiting, unconsciousness and death.
Depressants affect your concentration and coordination, and slow your ability to respond to situations. It is important to not operate heavy machinery while taking depressants. Alcohol, cannabis, GHB, opiates heroin, morphine, codeine and benzodiazepines minor tranquillisers are examples of depressants. Hallucinogens distort your sense of reality. You may see or hear things that are not really there, or see things in a distorted way. Other effects can include emotional and psychological euphoria, jaw clenching, panic, paranoia, gastric upset and nausea.
Stimulants speed or 'stimulate' the central nervous system. They speed up messaging to and from the brain, making you feel more alert and confident. This can cause increased heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature, reduced appetite, agitation and sleeplessness.
In large amounts stimulants may cause anxiety, panic, seizures, stomach cramps and paranoia. Caffeine, nicotine, amphetamines speed and Ice , cocaine and ecstasy MDMA are examples of stimulants. Risk factors for drug-related harm The effects of a drug, and how long they last, depend on a number of factors: the type and strength of drugs that you use how the drug was made -- substances manufactured in home labs may contain bacteria, dangerous chemicals and other unsafe substances, and have an unknown strength.
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