Living with the Long Term Effects of Addiction

Moving past an addiction can be powerful. The former user is committing to a new beginning, one that can have a profound impact on their life as well as the lives of those around them such as family and close friends. As they move from their addiction into a life of sobriety, most are aware it will always be a struggle. The addict will have to remain constantly vigilant of the power the addiction held over their life, staying strong on their recovery plan and maintaining their positive life changes. However, through it all, there may be some serious physical damages to their body caused by long term use of their preferred substance. Understanding these potential life-long side effects can help the recovering addict be prepared to face the effects and still remain committed to recovery.

Cocaine

Repeated exposure to cocaine causes significant adaptations in the brain. Pathways and connectors in the brain that conduct rewards will, overtime, become less responsive to any type of natural reinforcement and more responsive to the actual drug. Ultimately, this causes the user to need more and more of the drug to receive the same effects. Long term usage can cause permanent changes in how the brain functions. It can also cause significant loss of appetite which, in turn, causes the user to struggle with the effects of extreme weight loss. Additionally, depending on the method of administration, users may also struggle with other long term physical effects. For those who choose to snort their cocaine, they may lose their sense of smell and battle small nosebleeds. They may also damage their nasal septum causing chronic runny noses as well as hoarseness and difficulty swallowing. Those users who choose to inject their cocaine will have residual track marks, usually in their forearms that will typically remain visible throughout their life.

Crack Cocaine

This drug, similar in effects to cocaine, is simply the solid form of its sister drug that is usually smoked by the user. Similar to cocaine, crack cocaine alters the brain’s receptors. Long term use will modify the way the brain produces dopamine, it could potentially rely on the drug to make any form of the necessary chemical. This reality may make the user feel as if they cannot ever be happy unless they are taking the drug. The road to recovery can help retrain the receptors in the brain to function properly, but they may never fully reform. Because the most common form of ingestion of crack cocaine is smoking, users may always struggle with injury to the lungs. The lungs can be permanently scarred or damaged from long term use of the drug.

Heroin

One of the fastest acting drugs and also one of the most addictive is heroin. It can easily break through to the brain and be converted to morphine, providing the user with an intense rush of pleasure. Long term usage of the drug can quickly lead to an addiction that may be hard to break; however, once the user is on the road to recovery, they may still battle other physical issues. Because heroin is most often injected, the user’s veins may become extremely fragile and collapse easily. The body may also easily become infected which can affect the linings of the heart as well as the valves. Liver damage is also a potential lifelong effect.

Alcohol

Usually ingested through drinking, alcohol works as a depressant in the body. It easily lowers the users inhibitions and greatly affects the central nervous system. For a long term alcoholic, they may continue to battle lifelong physical effects. Extensive alcohol use may cause damage, scarring and swelling to the liver which can result in alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis. The long term user may also suffer from pancreatic damage which can impact metabolism and digestive proteins. Heart damage and high blood pressure may put the user in a situation where heart disease or heart attack may be a strong possibility.

Xanax

Like many other drugs, the longer a user remains on Xanax, the greater their addiction can be. Prolonged use also means a longer list of long-term side effects they may battle. In more extreme cases, where the user has extended use of the drug, life-long problems are likely to arise. Even when the user is clean they may still struggle with anemia, low liver function, and chronic headaches as well as other effects that may mimic intoxication such as slurred speech and impaired vision. Finally, former Xanax users may continue to have difficulty with depression and depression like symptoms. Intervention from a doctor may help these symptoms lessen overtime though they might always be present in some form.

Dealing with the aftermath of a long term addiction may be difficult. However, the more aware of potential lifelong side effects the user is, the better their ability to handle issues as they arise. Commitment to recovery is best when the recovering addict has all of facts ahead of time. Even though the road may be long and difficult, success is possible.