Search
Close this search box.
Search
Close this search box.

How Addiction can Expose You to Other Health Issues

Health Issues

More often than not, substance abuse will be accompanied by one health issue or several. If it is not a physical health problem, then it can be mental. Even abusing prescribed drugs like Benzodiazepines can still have some adverse effects, such as impaired judgment. Continued use of substances weakens your body. Eventually, it will destroy your vital systems. When this happens, your body becomes weak and makes you vulnerable to diseases and infections. Here are some of the ways addiction affects your health.

Liver Damage

Besides nutrient metabolization, another role of your liver is detoxification. But if you are constantly using alcohol, at one point, your liver is going to get overwhelmed with its metabolic duties and start breaking down. Alcohol, steroids, and heroin can all damage the liver, causing hepatitis and cirrhosis. Alcohol can lead to various liver diseases, from something mild like alcoholic steatohepatitis to severe inflammation referred to as alcoholic hepatitis. Cirrhosis increases your chances of getting liver cancer.

Malnutrition

One of the side effects of addiction is that a user neglects a healthy diet. Most people who are addicts will choose to buy drugs over buying food. Poor nutrition combined with substance abuse starts interfering with normal body functions with time. Most addicts do not eat enough food as drugs can suppress their appetite. On the other hand, even if they are eating, they do not spend money on healthy foods but rather on junk most of the time. Another typical behavior of an addict is binge eating. As people come down from a high, they will have an insatiable appetite, leading to consuming large amounts of foods at once, which can be unhealthy.

Gastrointestinal Issues

Substances ingested orally, such as opioids or alcohol, can affect one’s digestive system. Opioids have been known to lead to chronic constipation. At the same time, other drugs can cause indigestion, stomach upset, nausea, or vomiting. Chronic indigestion associated with regular drinking is referred to as gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD), which damages your digestive system. Frequent vomiting because of substance use can also damage the esophagus. Methamphetamine and cocaine lead to gastrointestinal issues like mesenteric arterial vasospasm.

HIV/ AIDS

Substance-use disorder often impairs one’s judgment, causing them to make decisions they would not have if they were sober. One of the choices one is likely to make is engaging in unsafe sexual behavior. Because of this, contracting HIV becomes very easy. Besides sexual behavior, one can also contract diseases when sharing drug injection needles. Once you are infected with the virus, your body becomes susceptible to other health issues. Since HIV has no effective cure, you will stay with this condition for the rest of your life.

Kidney Damage

Because your kidneys also filter toxic materials out of your bloodstream, they can also get affected if the blood has large amounts of harmful substances. That is why most people addicted to alcohol have kidney issues like renal failure, which requires dialysis. Some drugs like opioids and heroin, which cause respiratory depression leading to a low amount of oxygen intake in the body, can also cause kidney damage.

Mental Health Issues

Using drugs for a long time causes some changes to your brain. Prolonged alcohol use eventually leads to depression. Drugs like cannabis, meth, cocaine, and benzodiazepines will affect how you sleep and relax. They can also lead to some anxiety disorders and depression. You should not let alcohol and drug use get to this point. Pinnacle Recovery Center suggests getting help for your addiction to manage both mental health issues and addiction.

Addiction can damage most organs in your body. To avoid that, abstain from addictive substances. If you are already an addict, find a recovery center that can help you become sober as that can undo some of the damage substances are causing to your body.

 


Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Related Articles

Top Trending

cicely yasin bernhard
Cicely Yasin Bernhard: An American Actress, Singer, and Voice Artist
NFTs in Real Estate
How NFTs Are Being Used in Real Estate and Property Ownership?
benny blanco net worth
Benny Blanco Net Worth: A Closer Look at His Wealth and Assets
Switch to Non-Toxic Cleaning Products
Beginner’s Guide to Switching to Non-Toxic Cleaning Products
Best Non-Toxic Cleaners for Grease, Mold, and Grime
The Best Non-Toxic Cleaners for Grease, Mold, and Grime

LIFESTYLE

summer birthday party ideas
Creative Summer Birthday Party Ideas for Kids in 2025
May 6 Zodiac
May 6 Zodiac: Positive Traits, Compatibility and More about Taurus
self storage solutions for life transitions
How Self Storage Can Help During Major Life Changes (Divorce, Moving, etc.)?
why is my poinsettia dying
Why Is My Poinsettia Dying? Tips To Revive Your Wilting Poinsettia Plant
crypto retirement plan strategies
7 Ways Crypto Can Reshape Your Retirement Plan for the Future

Entertainment

cicely yasin bernhard
Cicely Yasin Bernhard: An American Actress, Singer, and Voice Artist
benny blanco net worth
Benny Blanco Net Worth: A Closer Look at His Wealth and Assets
Trump Tariff on Foreign Films
Trump’s 100% Movie Tariff Plan Shakes Hollywood in 2025
Rihanna and A$AP Rocky Expecting Baby No
Rihanna and A$AP Rocky Expecting Baby No. 3, Confirmed at Met Gala
Lady gaga concert terror plot lgbtq targeted brazil
Foiled Terror Plot at Lady Gaga Concert Targeted LGBTQ+ Fans

GAMING

GTA 6 Release Date
GTA 6 Release Date Confirmed: Rockstar Sets May 2026 Launch
Common Mistakes New Streamers Should Avoid
10 Mistakes New Streamers Make (And How To Avoid Them)
Now.ggroblox
Play Roblox Online With Now.ggroblox Browser For An Ultimate Gaming Experience
Digital Ownership Lesson Gamers
The Digital Ownership Lesson Gamers Already Learned
h5firekirin
H5FireKirin Origins, Features, Gameplay Tips, and Rewards [Explained]

BUSINESS

How to Calculate Quarterly Tax Payments
How to Calculate Quarterly Tax Payments in 5 Easy Steps
credit suisse tax evasion
Credit Suisse Fined $511M for U.S. Offshore Tax Evasion Scheme
Trump Tariff on Foreign Films
Trump’s 100% Movie Tariff Plan Shakes Hollywood in 2025
executive finance education lbs cfo course
How London Business School’s CFO Course is Redefining Executive Finance Education?
keep wallet full beyond gift card limits
Keep Your Wallet Full When Gift Cards Fall Short

TECHNOLOGY

How Web3 Is Enabling Decentralized AI Networks
How Web3 Is Enabling Decentralized AI Networks
OpenAI Windsurf Acquisition
OpenAI Acquires Windsurf for $3B to Boost AI Coding Capabilities
How to Spot and Avoid Web3 Ponzi Schemes
How to Spot and Avoid Web3 Ponzi Schemes
Acer Predator Helios 500 17 AMD Laptop Review
Acer Predator Helios 500 17 AMD Laptop Review, Specs, Tests, and Prices
NFC Technology
What is NFC Technology?

HEALTH

Connection Between Hydration and Urinary Health
The Connection Between Hydration and Urinary Health
Neuralink Brain Implant Patient Regains Speech
Neuralink Brain Implant Helps ALS Patient Regain Speech with AI Support
Wegovy for Weight Loss
Wegovy for Weight Loss: Is It Worth Buying Online?
Role of Sperm DNA Fragmentation Testing in IVF
The Role of Sperm DNA Fragmentation Testing in IVF with ICSI Success
Online Yoga Certificate Course
Why an Online Yoga Certificate Course is the Key to Advancing Your Practice