Side Effects of Drugs

◦ Drugs are chemicals that affect the body and brain. Different drugs can have different effects. Some
effects of drugs include health consequences that are long-lasting and permanent. They can even
continue after a person has stopped taking the substance.

◦ There are a few ways a person can take drugs, including injection, inhalation and ingestion. The
effects of the drug on the body can depend on how the drug is delivered. For example, the injection of
drugs directly into the bloodstream has an immediate impact, while ingestion has a delayed effect.
But all misused drugs affect the brain. They cause large amounts of dopamine, a neurotransmitter
that helps regulate our emotions, motivation and feelings of pleasure, to flood the brain and produce
a “high.” Eventually, drugs can change how the brain works and interfere with a person’s ability to
make choices, leading to intense cravings and compulsive drug use. Over time, this behavior can turn
into a substance dependency, or drug addiction.

◦ Today, more than 7 million people suffer from an illicit drug disorder, and one in four deaths results
from illicit drug use. In fact, more deaths, illnesses and disabilities are associated with drug abuse than
any other preventable health condition. People suffering from drug and alcohol addiction also have a
higher risk of unintentional injuries, accidents and domestic violence incidents.

THE EFFECTS OF DRUG ABUSE ON

HEALTH
 Substance use disorders are associated with a wide range of short- and long-term health effects. They
can vary depending on the type of drug, how much and how often it’s taken and the person’s general
health. Overall, the effects of drug abuse and dependence can be far-reaching. They can impact
almost every organ in the human body.

◦ Side effects of drug addiction may include:

• A weakened immune system, increasing the risk of illness and infection

• Heart conditions ranging from abnormal heart rates to heart attacks and collapsed veins and blood
vessel infections from injected drugs

• Nausea and abdominal pain, which can also lead to changes in appetite and weight loss

• Increased strain on the liver, which puts the person at risk of significant liver damage or liver failure

• Seizures, stroke, mental confusion and brain damage

• Lung disease

• Problems with memory, attention and decision-making, which make daily living more difficult
 • Global effects of drugs on the body, such as breast development in men and increases in body
temperature, which can lead to other health problems.

DRUG EFFECTS ON BEHAVIOR

◦ Substance use disorders can lead to multiple behavioral problems, both in the short- and long-term,
which can include:

◦ 1PARANOIA

◦ 2AGGRESSIVENESS

◦ 3HALLUCINATIONS

◦ 4ADDICTION

◦ 5IMPAIRED JUDGMENT

◦ 6IMPULSIVENESS

◦ 7LOSS OF SELF-CONTROL

◦ 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.S. 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 4,000 fatally injured drivers tested positive for
drug involvement.

EFFECTS OF DRUG ADDICTION ON THE

BRAIN
◦ All drugs–nicotine, cocaine, marijuana and others–affect the brain’s “reward” circuit, which is part of
the limbic system. This area of the brain affects instinct and mood. Drugs target this system, which
causes large amounts of dopamine—a brain chemical that helps regulate emotions and feelings of
pleasure—to flood the brain. This flood of dopamine is what causes a “high.” It’s one of the main
causes of drug addiction.

◦ Although initial drug use may be voluntary, drugs can alter brain chemistry. This can actually change
how the brain performs and interfere with a person’s ability to make choices. It can lead to intense
 cravings and compulsive drug use. Over time, this behavior can turn into a substance dependency or
drug and alcohol addiction

◦ Alcohol can have short- and long-term effects on the brain and disrupts the brain’s communication
pathways. These can influence mood, behavior and other cognitive function.

◦ Brain damage may also occur through alcohol-induced nutrition deficiencies, alcohol-induced seizures
and liver disease. In pregnant women, alcohol exposure can impact the brains of unborn babies,
resulting in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.

◦ It is reported that alcohol-induced brain problems can often be corrected with proper treatment.
Abstinence from alcohol for months or years can help partially repair thinking abilities, like memory
skills.

EFFECTS OF DRUG ABUSE ON

UNBORN BABIES
◦ 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.