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After Effects of Drug Abuse

The effects of drug abuse are often long-term, and even after an addict kicks the habit, the lingering damage will remain with him. One of the reasons why drug abuse is such a problem is because its effects can remain for so long. Many former addicts still refer to themselves as "recovering," even when it's been decades since they last took any drugs. The process is often a lifelong one, and after-effects can linger regardless of the drug in question.

  1. Lingering Addiction

    • Overcoming drug abuse is not simply a matter of willpower. Over time, the addiction literally rewires the brain, increasing the compulsion to take the drug and affecting memory and pleasure centers as well. Some drugs, such as ecstacy, can also interfere with the brain's ability to regulate sleep or control pain. Behavioral therapy and certain kinds of safe medication can help reduce the cravings, but the risk of a relapse is always present and recovering addicts must understand the long-term effects on their brains if they wish to remain clean and sober.

    Poor Health

    • A number of illegal drugs, particularly heroin and heroin-based products, inflict long-term damage to the immune system. That increases the risk of diseases such as AIDS (which can be spread through unclean heroin needles) as well as complicating more common sicknesses and infections. It's vital to stop using the drug in order to curtail that process, but the long-term effects could continue to impact your health for some time to come.

    Heart Conditions

    • Cocaine, methamphetamines, heroin and similar drugs are known to cause heart damage over the long term, and cocaine and its derivatives can also damage the kidneys. In addition, seizures are not uncommon during the recovery process (though they diminish after a time).

    Flashbacks

    • With hallucinogens such as LSD, the possibility of hallucinations, paranoia and moodiness can crop up well after use of the drug has stopped. There is some evidence to suggest that chronic LSD use can increase the risk of psychosis in the mind as well, though such findings are hotly debated. "Flashbacks" are fairly rare--exaggerated by their recurring appearance in popular culture--and often much milder than the LSD trips themselves, but they can be triggered by any trace memory which evokes the period spent under the influence.

    Vitamin Deficiencies

    • The use of methamphetamines can lead to malnutrition and vitamin deficiencies. That can cause long-term skin problems, tooth decay and ulcers, as well as increase the risk of diseases caused by malnutrition.

    Expert Advice

    • Every drug user is different are there is no one after effect which universally plagues all of them. Some recovering addicts report no health problems at all, while others have their lives shortened by decades because of their drug abuse. An addiction to illegal drugs--and even legal ones such as alcohol or prescription pills--increases the chances of long-term after-effects, but the exact permutation depends on the type of drug, the length of the addiction and the individual involved.

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