Many people struggle with crippling drug addictions on a daily basis. Anyone can end up having a substance use disorder. A person can become addicted to illicit hard drugs or even those that were medically prescribed to them to treat a specific medical condition.
Whatever the case, when you have a drug problem, it can manifest in a variety of ways. Drugs can affect your mind and body alike and drastically change your personality and how you live your day-to-day life. Some people may be able to tolerate a certain drug one way while the next person has a different experience and seems to struggle more. If you have a drug addiction, it’s important to know what kind of physical effects you might experience.
Physical Effects Depend on the Drug
As there are many different types of drugs that can be abused, the way they affect you depends on that specific drug. Additionally, the exact effects that are experienced can also vary depending on each person. In other words, the way one particular drug affects one person might affect the next in a completely different way.
There are other factors that determine how drugs can affect a person. Bodily size, weight and overall health play major parts in the way a drug can affect you. On the same token, one person might be able to better handle a certain amount of drugs in their system due to their body composition. Meanwhile, another might not tolerate it as well if they are much smaller and thinner. Regardless, having a drug addiction is dangerous, physically and psychologically.
What are the Different Types of Drugs?
Whether they are legally prescribed or illegally bought off the street, drugs have an effect on your central nervous system. This means they can affect the way you feel physically, psychologically, emotionally and mentally. They can also cause you to behave in ways that you otherwise would never consider behaving. The following are the main types of drugs:
• Depressants: Depressants are drugs that slow down the central nervous system. They are meant to have a calming effect by relaxing a person when taken in small doses, but larger amounts can lead to complications such as vomiting, respiratory arrest and even death. Examples of depressants include alcohol, marijuana, heroin, codeine and benzodiazepines.
• Hallucinogens: Hallucinogens are drugs that shift your sense of reality. You can experience a “trip” that involves seeing things that aren’t really there. They can also lead to a variety of unpleasant effects. Some examples of hallucinogenic drugs are LSD, PCP and magic mushrooms.
• Stimulants: Stimulants are drugs that speed up the central nervous system. Upon taking them, you might feel as thought you’re more energetic, confident and even invincible. However, stimulates can speed up your heart rate, increase your blood pressure, reduce your appetite and cause insomnia. Large doses of these drugs can cause even more side effects such as paranoia, anxiety and seizures. Some examples of stimulates are cocaine, amphetamines and ecstasy.
What are the Physical Effects of Drug Abuse?
When you have a substance use disorder involving drugs – even those that are legally prescribed by a doctor but are misused – you can experience a slew of physical effects. Some of the most common short-term physical effects include the following:
• Appetite changes
• Cognitive ability changes
• Insomnia or difficulty sleeping
• Increased heart rate
• Loss of coordination
• Slurred speech
Long-term physical effects can be very serious and even life-threatening. Individuals who struggle with drug abuse may experience the following:
• Acne or skin lesions
• Baldness
• Cancer
• Dental problems
• Heart disease
• Infectious diseases
• Kidney damage
• Liver disease
• Miscarriage
• Needle marks
• Overdose
• Respiratory problems
Different types of drugs can result in different effects. However, over time, when you have a serious drug addiction, you can experience multiple side effects, many of which can harm your health and threaten your life.
Sadly, even people who have even short-term drug addictions can suffer an overdose. Recognizing that you have a substance use disorder before things get too far gone can prevent some of these effects and save your life.
Ready to get help for your drug addiction? We’re here to help. Get started today by calling one of our specialists at 855-936-4435.
