anxiety and addiction

Using any type of drug will have a negative impact on your health, often both physically and mentally. How exactly a drug will affect you depends on your personal health and the drug in question. Factors such as your size, family health history, and other substances used alongside drugs all play into how your body reacts.

Understanding the Impact of Drug Use

Avoiding harmful side effects of drugs is only done through sobriety, but achieving this takes time and it’s important to know what to expect if you’re currently engaged in drug use. Most drugs have immediate and long-term effects that differ in severity based on the dosage and strength of the drug.

Even similar drugs can have different reactions due to illicit substances being unregulated, meaning a normal dose can actually be much stronger and lead to a potential overdose. Overdose prevention starts with education, even if you don’t feel you need rehab at this point.

Prolonged Usage Leads to Tolerance

Using drugs tends to be done to achieve a “high” or a feeling of euphoria. The more often you do so, the higher your tolerance for that drug becomes. A strong tolerance for a drug means higher doses are needed to feel the same effects, further increasing your risk of overdose.

Depending on the drug, it can take over a month for your body’s tolerance to drop back down. Attempting to stop drug use abruptly due to tolerance concerns is often met with side effects known as withdrawal symptoms.

These side effects are one of the main reasons individuals fail to end drug use due to withdrawal symptoms potentially being painful or even lethal. More short-term effects of drug use include:

  • Insomnia
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Risky behavior
  • Frequent colds and flu-like conditions
  • Oral health issues such as gum disease and cavities
  • Diseases obtained from sharing needles
  • Liver, heart, and kidney problems
  • Financial struggles
  • Problems at work and home
  • Relationship strain

The Solution Is Addiction Treatment

Drug abuse can be stopped on your own if caught early, but seeking out professional treatment is always the best route to take. Not only will you get help achieving sobriety, but you’ll learn how to change the way you approach certain situations to make drugs less appealing.

We encourage you to take a moment and reach out to America’s Rehab Campus for a free, no-obligation consultation. With free transportation and a network of accepted insurance providers, starting treatment at ARC has never been easier.