Long-Term Effects of Drugs on the Body and Brain
- Ben Pearson
- Feb 16, 2021
- 7 min read
Updated: Sep 22
Long-term drug and alcohol use can have a lasting impact on your physical and mental health. While the short-term effects of substance use might seem temporary, they often lead to serious, long-lasting consequences for your body and brain. Understanding the full scope of these effects is the first step toward seeking help and beginning your journey to recovery.
What are some of the long-term physical effects of drug abuse?
Long-term drug abuse can lead to serious health complications, including cardiovascular disease, liver disease, kidney damage, and respiratory problems. Other lasting effects can include scarring, as well as mouth and skin decay.
The effects of drug use go far beyond the initial "high," impacting your body and brain in ways you might not expect. To learn more about how substance use can affect your health in both the short and long term, and to discover effective treatment options, keep reading.
How Do Drugs and Alcohol Affect the Body and Brain?
An addiction to drugs can develop for a number of reasons. For some, a genetic predisposition to addiction may be possible, while others may have developed their drug use as a result of environmental factors. Some may have even begun their drug use due to an injury and were prescribed pain medication. Regardless, drugs are often used for their fast-acting effects on the body and mind.
However, as the “high” wanes, there are still other long-term effects of drug use on the body and mind, all of which can continue to affect an individual for years to come. Educating oneself on the long-term effects of drug abuse, the negative effects of drugs, as well as what the short-term side effects of drugs and alcohol include, can all help you understand the breadth of effects that these substances have on the mind and body, as well as inform you of the proper treatment for taking the first step towards healing.
Long-Term Effects of Drugs on the Body
There are several ways in which drugs can continue to affect a person through daily life, even when they are not being actively used. The body may take a long time to heal many of the long-term effects of substance abuse, even after the cessation of a particular drug or addictive substance, and it is possible that an individual may have to continue to deal with the lasting side-effects on the body for years to come. Some of these side effects include:
Cardiovascular Disease
Respiratory Problems
Kidney Damage
Scarring
Mouth and Skin Decay
Each of these individually is a major health complication that will need to be addressed. While not every person will necessarily develop all of these long-term effects, it is still crucial to take each of these side-effects seriously, as they can pose their own threats to one’s health and quality of life.
Long-Term Effects of Drugs on the Brain
Drugs affect the brain in a variety of ways, inducing the “high” that is being sought. However, there are also some lasting effects on the brain that can cause health detriments long after the immediate effects of the drug have worn off. Some of these consequences of long-term drug use are:
Impaired Cognitive Function
Changes in Forming or Recalling Memories
Altered Brain Connections
Death of Brain Cells
The long-term effects of drugs on the brain can make forming new memories or learning new things more difficult, which can inhibit the development of either personal or professional skills, as well as personal relationships.
Short-Term Effects of Drug Use
There are also various short-term effects that drugs and alcohol can have on the mind and body, each of which can also present its own health complications. Drugs will affect each individual differently, but some of the possible short-term side effects include:
Appetite: The use of drugs or alcohol can have a variety of effects on one’s appetite. Some may indulge themselves in excessive eating, while others may forego meals entirely while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. This leads to inconsistent eating habits.
Sleep Disruption: Sleep schedules may become irregular, leading to difficulty getting asleep or staying asleep, compromising the need for regular restful sleep.
Heart Rate: Increased heart rate is also common when using drugs or alcohol.
Speech and Cognitive Function: Slurred speech or delayed cognitive processing may occur, making it difficult to formulate and express coherent thoughts or ideas.
Temporary Euphoria: Euphoria can be an intense level of elation. However, this feeling is created through forcing chemical pathways open through the use of drugs, and as drugs subside, an individual can feel the “crash” involved as the euphoria fades away,
potentially creating periods of low mood, depression, or anxiety.
Impulsivity: Impaired cognitive function can also cause an individual to act on more impulsive thoughts, even at the expense of their own or others’ safety. Drugs and alcohol can also lead an individual to act against their own better judgment.
Hygiene: Regular hygiene routines can become disrupted, leading to a person skipping regular health practices, even showers, or taking care of one’s teeth. This can further accentuate many of the long-term physical effects of drugs on the body as proper hygiene and nutrition become neglected.
Planning and Management Techniques: The influence of drugs or alcohol can also compromise one’s planning or time management techniques. This can cause an individual to begin neglecting personal or professional responsibilities, and poor time-management can further disrupt regular routines or sleep schedules. This can affect a person’s health, as well as any professional goals or responsibilities.
Some of these short-term effects can even continue while not actively under the influence of an addictive substance and may persist and become long-term effects of one’s substance use.
When Drug Use Turns Into Abuse or Addiction
Managing one’s drug use is important for maintaining a healthy body and mind. However, drug use can turn into abuse when it begins to impede the individual’s ability to accomplish other responsibilities, or begins to damage other aspects of the individual’s life, such as relationships or workplace performance and attendance.
One’s drug use can further develop into addiction as the individual has issues ceasing their use of a particular substance, or finds they are having many intrusive thoughts or impulses to act on an addictive substance when it is not around, further affecting the individual’s focus, routines, and responsibilities.
Long-Term Effects of Drugs on Body and Brain: Treatment Options
Not all individuals will address their use of drugs or alcohol in the same way, and multiple approaches to recovery are necessary to find a plan that works for each person. A combination of the following treatment options may be necessary to effectively address the short- and long-term effects of drugs on the brain and body:
Detox
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
Medication-Assisted Treatment
Movement Therapy
Meditation
These are just a few things to consider when beginning one’s journey to sobriety that can help address the various short- and long-term effects of drug use. Each of these approaches can be further customized to fit into one’s personal needs and goals, effectively creating an impactful recovery plan that is unique to each person.
It is crucial to remain open-minded about various therapeutic approaches to address the complex long-term effects on the brain and body, as doing so can increase the chances for a successful recovery and implementation of coping techniques.
Frequently Asked Questions
• What are some of the long-term effects of drug use on the brain?
Long-term drug use can cause impaired cognitive function, changes in how you form or recall memories, and can even lead to the death of brain cells.
• Can short-term effects of drug use become long-term problems?
Yes, some short-term effects like sleep disruption, poor hygiene, and impulsive behavior can persist and become long-term issues even after you stop using drugs.
• What are some of the short-term effects of drugs and alcohol?
Short-term effects can include changes in appetite, sleep disruption, increased heart rate, slurred speech, and impaired cognitive function.
• When does drug use turn into drug abuse?
Drug use can turn into abuse when it starts to negatively affect your ability to handle responsibilities or damages your relationships and work performance.
• What are some effective treatment options for drug addiction?
Effective treatment often involves a combination of approaches, such as detox, group support, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), and others like movement or art therapy.
If you or a loved one are struggling with the long-term effects of substance abuse on the body and mind, we want you to know that you are not alone. Our team at Chateau Health and Wellness is committed to providing compassionate care and personalized treatment plans to help you heal. We understand that recovery is a journey, and we are here to walk it with you, offering a safe and supportive environment where you can rebuild your health and well-being. Please, reach out to us at (435) 222-5225; we are here to help you take the first step toward a healthier future.
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About The Author
Ben Pearson, LCSW - Clinical Director
With 19 years of experience, Ben Pearson specializes in adolescent and family therapy, de-escalation, and high-risk interventions. As a former Clinical Director of an intensive outpatient program, he played a key role in clinical interventions and group therapy. With 15+ years in wilderness treatment and over a decade as a clinician, Ben has helped countless individuals and families navigate mental health and recovery challenges.
Danny Warner, CEO of Chateau Health and Wellness
Brings a wealth of experience in business operations, strategic alliances, and turnaround management, with prior leadership roles at Mediconnect Global, Klever Marketing, and WO Investing, Inc. A graduate of Brigham Young University in Economics and History, Danny has a proven track record of delivering results across diverse industries. His most transformative role, however, was as a trail walker and counselor for troubled teens at the Anasazi Foundation, where he directly impacted young lives, a personal commitment to transformation that now drives his leadership at Chateau.
Austin Pederson, Executive Director of Chateau Health and Wellness
Brings over eight years of experience revolutionizing mental health and substance abuse treatment through compassionate care and innovative business strategies. Inspired by his own recovery journey, Austin has developed impactful programs tailored to individuals facing trauma and stress while fostering comprehensive support systems that prioritize holistic wellness. His empathetic leadership extends to educating and assisting families, ensuring lasting recovery for clients and their loved ones.
