Drug and alcohol addiction can result in numerous dangerous long-term health consequences. While many are aware that these substances can cause immediate physical health issues, such as respiratory depression and liver damage, as well as overdoses and fatalities, the mental effects often receive less attention. Some drugs and alcohol can lead to significant mental health problems, and evidence suggests that these issues may persist even after achieving sobriety.
Substance use can have debilitating effects on mental functioning, particularly when initiated during adolescence or even in utero. Prenatal exposure and adolescent drug use are linked to alterations in brain structure and function, and since the brain continues to develop until around age 25, these effects may be permanent.
The abuse of substances like heroin, cocaine, and alcohol poses various short-term health risks, but many people underestimate the seriousness of the long-term consequences of such substance abuse. Cognitive impairments associated with these drugs can last for months, years, or even a lifetime.
Effects of Drugs on the Brain
Many substances can have harmful effects on the brain. Drug use can ultimately lead to addiction due to the influence of dopamine on the brain’s reward system. When drugs are used, dopamine levels increase, producing the feelings of euphoria that many users seek. In response to these overwhelming surges, the brain adjusts by reducing its own dopamine production or decreasing the number of receptors available for this chemical. Consequently, the dopamine’s effect on the reward circuit diminishes, limiting the individual’s ability to experience pleasure.
Individuals who abuse drugs may eventually feel apathetic and unable to derive enjoyment from activities they once found pleasurable. This leads them to consume more drugs repeatedly, merely to restore dopamine function to a semblance of normalcy, exacerbating the problem. This creates a cycle that drives the addiction into increasingly perilous territory.
While many are aware that prolonged and excessive drug use can lead to various physical health issues, addiction is also known to cause significant mental health problems and impair cognitive abilities, even after achieving sobriety.
Methamphetamine
Methamphetamine is a potent and highly addictive stimulant that impacts the central nervous system. Individuals addicted to methamphetamine may experience various psychotic symptoms, including paranoia, visual and auditory hallucinations, and delusions. These symptoms can persist for months or even years after the individual has stopped using the drug.
Abuse of methamphetamine is also associated with detrimental effects on non-neuronal brain cells known as microglia. These cells play a crucial role in protecting the brain from infections and removing damaged neurons. However, heightened activity of microglia can lead to the damage of healthy neurons.
According to a report by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, “a study using brain imaging found more than double the levels of microglial cells in former methamphetamine abusers compared to individuals with no history of methamphetamine use.”
Heroin
Research indicates that repeated heroin use alters both the physical structure and physiology of the brain, resulting in long-term imbalances in its neurological and hormonal systems. Many of these changes are difficult to reverse.
Studies have shown that chronic heroin dependence is associated with significant disruption of white matter in the brain, particularly in the anterior and superior regions. This deterioration can impair decision-making abilities, behavioral regulation, and responses to stress.
Additionally, heroin use has been linked to a reduction in gray matter in certain areas of the brain, such as the frontal lobe. Gray matter in the frontal lobe is critical for motor function, problem-solving, and memory.
Cocaine
Cocaine is one of the substances that can lead to a depressive state in chronic users when they are not under its influence, primarily due to dopamine imbalances in the body. Additionally, cocaine use can result in cognitive impairments.
Research suggests that cocaine diminishes functioning in the orbitofrontal cortex, which may contribute to the poor decision-making and lack of self-awareness often observed in individuals addicted to the drug.
Regular cocaine use can also cause significant damage to white matter in the brain, which appears to be linked to heightened impulsivity and reduced cognitive control. However, there is conflicting evidence regarding long-term cognitive deficits, with some studies indicating insufficient evidence to support a broad decline in cognitive functioning associated with cocaine use.
Opioids
Opioid dependence has become a significant health crisis in the United States, with prescription opioids contributing to the deaths of tens of thousands of Americans annually. Most research on opioid effects has focused on illicit substances like heroin, rather than prescription medications.
However, one study found that individuals dependent on prescription opioids exhibited “white matter tract abnormalities and alterations to functional connectivity” compared to a control group. Prescription opioid dependence was also linked to a reduction in amygdala volume, a brain region responsible for regulating emotions, judgment, and decision-making.
With the rise of prescription opioid use since the 1990s, it is crucial to understand the full extent of its impact on the population. Further research is needed to explore not only the short-term but also the long-term effects of opioid use on health.
“The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance.” — Alan Watts.
Alcohol
Long-term, heavy alcohol consumption can pose serious risks to brain health. Alcohol can damage the brain directly, as well as indirectly through poor health and severe liver disease, both of which are associated with excessive alcohol use. Ongoing research continues to explore how alcohol affects the brain and the potential for reversing these effects.
A person’s vulnerability to alcohol-related brain damage may be influenced by factors such as age, gender, drinking history, and nutrition. Approximately half of the nearly 20 million alcoholics in the United States do not experience cognitive impairments, while the other half face neuropsychological challenges. Up to 2 million alcoholics develop permanent conditions that require lifelong care.
One common brain disorder among alcoholics is Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, which manifests with symptoms such as mental confusion, paralysis of the eye nerves, and coordination difficulties. This syndrome can ultimately lead to significant learning and memory issues.
Evidence suggests that most alcoholics with cognitive impairments show at least some improvement in brain function within a year of abstaining from alcohol, although for some individuals, recovery may take longer.
Marijuana
Marijuana is the most widely used illicit drug in the United States, making it essential to understand its effects on brain activity and cognitive functioning. According to the National Institutes of Health, there is conflicting evidence regarding whether marijuana exposure, even during developmental stages, leads to long-term or permanent changes in the brain.
Some studies indicate that adolescent marijuana use may result in altered connectivity and reduced volume in brain regions responsible for memory, learning, and impulse control. However, other research has found no significant differences between the brains of marijuana users and non-users.
Drug Use and the Developing Brain
Babies exposed to drugs or alcohol in the womb, as well as adolescents who experiment with these substances, can face severe and lasting consequences.
During pregnancy, the brain is still developing, and even after birth, it continues to mature. It is widely accepted that the brain is not fully formed until around age 25. Consequently, exposure to harmful substances can cause damage that affects both the structure and function of the brain, potentially resulting in permanent impairments.
Prenatal Exposure
Prenatal exposure to drugs can lead to serious consequences. For instance, exposure to alcohol during pregnancy is one of the leading causes of intellectual disabilities in the United States.
However, the risks are not limited to alcohol; prenatal exposure to substances such as cocaine and opioids has been linked to issues with language skills, impulse control, and visual attention. Children exposed to alcohol or marijuana in utero also face a heightened risk of memory deficits.
Research indicates that prenatal exposure to methamphetamine is associated with cognitive deficits and altered brain structure. One study found that children aged 3 to 16 who were exposed to methamphetamine exhibited shorter attention spans and delayed memory compared to a control group.
Tobacco exposure during pregnancy is particularly concerning due to its prevalence, with estimates suggesting that over 10 percent of expectant mothers use tobacco. Some studies indicate that tobacco smoke exposure can reduce intelligence, with a reported 12-point IQ gap between adolescents who were exposed and those who were not.
Since the rise of the opioid crisis in the United States, there has been an increase in cases of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), where infants are born exhibiting withdrawal symptoms due to prenatal opioid exposure.
Furthermore, exposure to alcohol and drugs during pregnancy increases an individual’s risk of developing substance abuse issues later in life.
Adolescent Exposure
Adolescence is not only a high-risk period for substance abuse, but it can also have detrimental effects on brain development, as significant growth occurs during this time.
While further research is needed on the effects of adolescent exposure to drugs and alcohol, chronic use of these substances undeniably impacts the brain.
There is substantial evidence indicating that substance abuse—such as alcohol and cannabis—can disrupt cognitive function. One study found that marijuana and alcohol users had smaller volumes in the prefrontal cortex compared to non-drinkers. This region, part of the frontal lobe, is essential for planning, inhibition, emotional regulation, and decision-making.
Additionally, a study showed that adolescents recovering from alcohol dependence exhibited poorer memory abilities compared to a control group. Evidence also suggests that substance abuse can negatively affect attention, information processing, and overall functioning. Overall, heavy drinking during adolescence is associated with a decreased ability to meet age-appropriate expectations.
In Conclusion
Individuals who abuse drugs or alcohol not only risk their short-term health—facing issues such as respiratory depression, organ failure, and even death—but they must also consider the long-term effects these substances can have on their mental health. Many drugs can impair brain function, and chronic use can lead to problems that may persist for months or years, or even become permanent. However, achieving sobriety can significantly reduce the negative impacts of drug use.
At Sunrise Recovery in Clarksville Indiana, we offer the expertise and resources needed to support you or a loved one on the journey to recovery. Our dedicated staff provides personalized care, utilizing therapy and support groups to educate and create a strong sober support network essential for maintaining long-term sobriety. Please contact our admissions team to learn more about Sunrise Recovery Reviews your path to recovery through our alcohol and drug rehabilitation programs.
