Need to know about long term effect of drugs on human body & brain? This guide is for you.
When it comes to drug addiction, it has several long term effects on humans. When the drug addicts continue its usage for years, it affects the body as well as the brain negatively. It leads the person to become more addict of drugs. As time passes by, it becomes nearly impossible to stop using it. Many of drug effects are likely to be treated with proper treatment & quitting it. On the other hand, a few ones may become permanent.
However, quitting drugs & recovering from it is always a challenge. Long term & effective treatments can always make it possible for addicts to recover & re-adapt the happy & healthy living style again.
How drugs affect the brain?
It is not a surprising fact that drugs can badly damage the physical health. Drugs negatively affect each & every part of the body. A few damages to the body may last for several years. On the other hand, a few may last forever.
Cardiovascular system
Majority of drugs, for example, cocaine, are hard on heart especially. It negatively impacts the heart every time used & can lead to heart diseases, which are going to last forever. It doesn’t only cause infection but may cause heart failure as well.
Respiratory system
The lungs are definitely affected by the drugs which are smoked. The lung diseases one can experience may include lungs cancer, chronic bronchitis, & emphysema etc. One may also experience severe asthma issues with this.
Damage to kidneys & liver
Kidney damage due to drugs may lead to kidney failure that is definitely life-threatening. The major causes behind this are dehydration, muscle tissues breakdown & boosted body temperature.
Prescription opioids or heroine may severely damage the liver. When combines with alcohol, it can be life-threatening.
Damage to stomach
Stomach & intestine are badly affected by several drugs. It can lead a person to acid reflux, chronic pain & severe constipation issues as well.
How drugs affect the body?
The major reason behind the difficulty to get rid of drugs is that it changes the brain entirely. With the passage of time, the addicted person’s brain finds pleasure in more & more drugs. Consequently, it changes the brain permanently. Following are a few ways the brain may change with the long term drugs use.
Changes in memory
We often observe that the drug addicted person feels difficulty in memorizing & learning things more than often. The fact is that drug causes a lot of unhealthy changes in the mind that affects the person’s memory & learning power. The presence of cues in that specific person’s environment acts as triggers. It makes them crave for more, more & even more drugs.
Changes in connections of the brain
Along with the reward system, the other areas of the brain also get affected by drug usage. It means that the person experiences physical changes in the brain’s connections among neurons & brain cells. In a few cases, one may develop some more extraordinary connection. While others may lose some connection permanently.
Brain cells die
A lot of drugs are toxic & all of us know that. Despite a lot of harms to our body & brain, it kills the cells inside the brain. It is one of the damages that are permanent & can’t come back, even after recovery.
However, recovery from drugs can take a serious amount of time & commitment level from the addicted person. But, in the end, the addicted person can again become able to continue a normal & healthy life, without drugs. The sooner the patient starts treatment, the more chances of his/her fast recovery exist. Quitting drugs & getting proper treatment can lead the body & brain to recover around 85% or more.
