Everyone knows that misusing drugs is dangerous. The news is often filled with stories about overdoses and car accidents that are related to substance abuse. While some of the immediate consequences of using drugs are well-known, people sometimes underestimate the danger of continuing to use them for a long time. Talking about the risks of continuing to feed a drug addiction gives you and your loved one a starting point for understanding why it is important to seek treatment before drugs take a larger toll on their health and happiness.
What Are the Long-Term Health Risks of Drug Abuse?
The effects of drugs on the body are easily noticed from the very first moment that a person uses them. Behavioral changes, red eyes and a rapid heartbeat are just a few symptoms that people feel when they engage in drug use. Your loved one might also notice withdrawal symptoms within a few hours or days after using drugs. While these are all temporary, feeding a drug addiction leads to long-term changes in your loved one’s health that are harder to bounce back from. These are just a few of the potential health issues that long-term drug users face.
- liver disease
- strokes and heart attacks
- tooth decay
- damaged nose cartilage
- lowered immune system
- malnutrition
Many of these long-term health risks occur slowly, which means that they can reach serious levels before a person starts to notice a difference in how they feel. Cardiovascular disease is often undetected until a person has their first heart attack. Liver disease is also slow-going in many cases. The risk of having irreversible damage also goes up the longer a person uses drugs. Fortunately, many people experience a full recovery once they get help for their addiction. Even in cases where the damage is permanent, getting sober can help to stop the health issues from progressing.
What Other Risks Come With Using Drugs?
The risks of feeding a drug addiction also include other issues that impact your loved one’s life. Many people who use drugs on a frequent basis often begin to discover that they can no longer remain functional at home or in the workplace. Job loss is common when people are in the height of their addiction. Someone who is addicted drugs may find it hard to avoid using them while they are at work. This can lead to accidents, a lack of productivity and even having their drug use be noticed by their supervisors and coworkers. Losing a job can send someone spiraling further into their addiction. It can also lead to financial issues, evictions and public embarrassment that all make it harder for your loved one to get their life back on track.
The risk of drug addiction extends to a person’s relationships. They may eventually withdraw from their family and friends and begin to isolate themselves from people who care the most about them. You may also find it hard to maintain your relationship with someone who is constantly asking you for money to buy drugs or that leaves you worrying about their wellbeing. As drug abuse erodes family relationships, your loved one may turn to negative influences for socialization while thinking that they are too far gone into their addiction to have hope for recovering.
How Do You Stop Feeding a Drug Addiction?
When you stop feeding a drug addiction, you begin the process of ending the vicious cycle that takes a toll on your loved one’s health, happiness and relationships. Most people find that doing this requires making a commitment to do whatever it takes to get their loved one into treatment. Convincing someone to get help isn’t easy. You might find that your loved one resists your offers for help at first. They may even get angry when you refuse to give them money or tell them that they can no longer stay in your home while they engage in drug abuse. Try to remember that they are only reacting out of the fear that comes from realizing that they are no longer able to control their behavior. With compassion and support, your loved one will likely accept the need for treatment.
Giving your loved one options for addiction treatment is the best way to convince them to seek help. Do you need assistance with finding a rehab center for your loved one? If so, give us a call, and we’ll help you find one that supports a full recovery that restores your loved one’s wellbeing. Call us at 855-936-4435.
