Substance abuse is a dangerous undertaking that can affect every area of a person’s life. At first, using drugs or alcohol may seem harmless but the hidden consequences may already be at work. Research has shown that abusing drugs may alter gene expression, which may cause the development of disease. Drug abuse affects brain transmission circuitry, which can alter behavior. If substance abuse turns into addiction, the body will be mentally and physically affected, and the addict will have no control over his addiction. Putting chemicals into your body without knowing how they are affecting you internally is not a smart idea. Just because you can’t see what is happening inside your body doesn’t mean that problems are not developing.

Substance Abuse Consequences

There are many areas of a person’s mental, physical, financial and social life that may be affected by substance abuse. Changes in brain chemistry may alter the ability to make sound judgments and decisions, and perception and cognition may be skewed. Below is a list of some of the consequences of substance abuse:

  1. Affecting mental health: anxiety, euphoria, delusions, paranoia, risky behavior, depression, blackouts, memory loss, irritability, anger, aggression, mood swings, psychosis, hallucinations, and hyperactivity.
  2. Developing infectious diseases: HIV/AIDS, gonorrhea, syphilis (from unsafe sex or rape), hepatitis and tuberculosis.
  3. Physical effects: addiction, cravings, prenatal and fertility issues, withdrawal, kidney or liver damage, cancer, nausea, vomiting, gastrointestinal problems, respiratory depression, muscle weakness, increased blood pressure, malnutrition, heart attack, stroke, seizures, convulsions, coma and death by overdose.
  4. Social problems: estrangement from family and friends, loss of employment, criminal activity, incarceration, poverty, homelessness, physical altercations and accidents.

Substance abuse dramatically impacts children and families. Living with someone who abuses drugs or alcohol may cause many disturbances within the family unit. Family members may become frightened, worried, anxious, guilty, fearful, insecure, angry, bitter, ashamed and a host of other concerns and emotions when they are faced with substance abuse in the family. The family dynamic will also suffer and each family member will treat the abuser in their own unique way. Some may feel sorry for the abuser and enable him to continue in his abuse because they don’t want him to suffer withdrawal or cravings. Others may treat the abuser with anger, accusations, hostility and resentment. And some may simply be in denial that a problem even exists. All these behaviors may affect the abuser in a negative way and accomplish nothing in terms of helping him. Family counseling is designed to address all the issues that a family faces when one of their own is abusing drugs or alcohol.

Denial of Addiction

People who abuse substances are, most often, in denial about having a problem. They believe that they can stop using whenever they want. What they don’t realize is that substance abuse is a chronic mental disorder that is controlling them. Eventually, the abuser may begin to shirk his responsibilities to work, go to school or perform family chores and duties. He may begin to drain his financial resources and that of his family. He may begin to isolate himself from his family and friends to spend more time taking drugs or alcohol. Many abusers find themselves isolated, lonely, fearful and without hope as they continue in their habit.

The abuser’s life will center on obtaining, using and recovering from drugs or alcohol, and they may not be able to stop the vicious cycle of abuse until they get professional help. They could wind up sick, alone, addicted and homeless. What may have started out as a fun adventure has now become a hellish nightmare. The consequences of substance abuse are that the abuser stands to lose everything, maybe even his life. Minneapolis Drug Rehab Centers can help you start your recovery journey. Just give us a call today at (612) 426-7156 for information.