The Impact of Drugs and Alcohol on Your Body
Analgesics (Pills)
Examples:
Tylenol® (acetaminophen), ibuprofen
Function:
Block pain receptors in the brain and nervous system
Benefits:
Reduce pain; help with sleep
Risks:
Can cause liver damage
Steroids (Vial + Syringe)
Examples:
Testosterone, nandrolone
Function:
Mimic hormones produced by the endocrine system
Benefits:
Help correct hormone imbalances; increase muscle mass and blood amounts
Risks:
Can damage the heart and cardiovascular system when overused
Antibiotics (Pills)
Examples:
Penicillin, amoxicillin
Function:
Work with the immune system to destroy bacteria
Benefits:
Kill disease-causing bacteria
Risks:
Also kill helpful bacteria; can have side effects; can lead to bacterial resistance (more dangerous bacteria) when overused
Chemotherapy (Hospital IV)
Examples:
Irinotecan, oxaliplatin
Function:
Works with the immune system to target and kill cancer cells
Benefits:
Reduces or eliminates cancer in the body
Risks:
Also kills healthy cells; can lead to intense sickness and pain and can have severe side effects
Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) Tests
BAC (blood alcohol concentration) tests measure the amount of alcohol in your bloodstream. They are sometimes used during DUI checks.
Alcohol and Pregnancy
Alcohol consumption during pregnancy can cause serious damage to a fetus or even be fatal. Binge drinking is also extremely dangerous.
Effects of Alcohol on Body Systems
Nervous System (Brain and Nerves)
Short-Term Effects:
- Slurred speech
- Blurry vision
- Loss of balance
- Slow reaction time
- Difficulty concentrating
- Loss of inhibitions
- Alcohol poisoning and possible death
Long-Term Effects:
- Destruction of brain cells
- Dementia (memory loss)
Urinary System (Kidney and Bladder)
Short-Term Effects:
- Frequent urination
- Dehydration
- Headaches and dizziness
Long-Term Effects:
- Kidney failure
Digestive System (Liver, Stomach, Small Intestine, Large Intestine)
Short-Term Effects:
- Nausea and vomiting
Long-Term Effects:
- Stomach ulcers
- Stomach cancer
- Hepatitis
- Cirrhosis (scarring of the liver)
- Liver cancer
- Malnutrition
Cardiovascular System (Heart and Blood Vessels)
Short-Term Effects:
- Increased heart rate
- Flushed skin
Long-Term Effects:
- High blood pressure
- Stroke
- Damaged heart muscle
Reproductive Systems
Female Reproductive System:
- Delays in starting the first menstrual cycle
- Irregular periods
- Interference with breast development
Male Reproductive System:
- Reduction in testes size
- Slow muscle development
- Slow voice deepening
- Reduction in facial and body hair
- Reduction in blood flow to sex organs
Effects of Smoking on Body Systems
Nervous System and Behavior
Short-Term Effects:
- Fatigue
- Stress
- Irritability
- Schedule driven by the need to smoke
Long-Term Effects:
- Addiction to nicotine; cravings
- Cataracts and poor eyesight
Respiratory System (Lungs)
Short-Term Effects:
- Respiratory infections
- Cough
- Toxic buildup
Long-Term Effects:
- Emphysema (destruction of the air sacs in the lungs)
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD or inelastic lungs)
- Lung cancer
Digestive System
Short-Term Effects:
- Gum disease
- Suppressed appetite
Long-Term Effects:
- Stomach ulcers
- Stomach cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
- Mouth or oral cancer (particularly for smokeless tobacco)
- Malnutrition
Integumentary System (Skin, Hair, Nails)
- Skin discoloration
- Wrinkles
- Premature aging
- Yellowing
Cardiovascular System
Short- and Long-Term Effects:
- High blood pressure
- Increase in bad cholesterol (LDL), which can clog arteries and harden them
- Decrease in good cholesterol (HDL), which is believed to help remove LDL cholesterol from arteries
- Restricted blood flow
- Stroke
- Coronary heart disease
- Heart attacks
- Leukemia (blood cancer)
Female Reproductive System (Ovaries, Uterus)
- Early onset of menopause
- Cervical cancer
Effects of Various Drugs on the Brain and Body
Marijuana
Description:
A drug made from the dried, shredded flowers and leaves of the hemp plant and containing the active chemical THC (tetrahydrocannabinol)
Effect on the Brain:
THC changes how sensory information gets into and is processed by the hippocampus, a part of the brain.
Short-Term Effects:
Memory loss and learning difficulties
Long-Term Effects:
Problems with body development; damage to lung tissue and immune cells; lower sperm counts
Note: Some states have now legalized marijuana. The laws are changing quickly. Many states are deciding on this issue.
Stimulants
Description:
Addictive drugs that speed up the body’s functions
Examples:
Methamphetamine and cocaine
Effect on the Brain:
While stimulants speed up bodily functions (and dangerously so), they actually decrease brain activity.
Short-Term Effects:
Increased heart and breathing rates and blood pressure; anxiety, insomnia, panic, and paranoia
Long-Term Effects:
Aggressiveness, mental illness, stroke, heart attack, brain seizures, and death
Depressants
Examples:
Rohypnol; tranquilizers
Description:
Addictive drugs that slow down the body’s functions
Effect on the Brain:
Depressants change the activity of neurotransmitters.
Short-Term Effects:
Fatigue; slowed breathing; confusion; impaired coordination, memory, and judgment
Long-Term Effect:
Death
Narcotics
Description:
Highly addictive drugs derived from the poppy plant that relieve pain and dull senses
Examples:
Heroin
Effect on the Brain:
Narcotics change the flow of brain chemicals.
Short-Term Effects:
Nausea, constipation, confusion, slowed or stopped breathing, and unconsciousness
Long-Term Effects:
Damage to lungs, kidneys, liver, and brain; death
Steroids
Description:
Drugs derived from the male sex hormone testosterone that are used to build muscle mass or reduce body fat
Effect on the Brain:
Steroids influence moods in the limbic system, a part of the brain.
Short-Term Effects:
Females: Severe acne, smaller breasts, deepening of voice, irregular periods, excessive facial and body hair, depression, paranoia, and fits of anger
Males: Hair loss, shrunken testicles, reduced sperm count, and growth of breasts
Long-Term Effects:
Liver tumors, heart attack, stroke, and weakened immune system
Inhalants
Examples:
Paint thinner, cleaning chemicals
Description:
Toxic chemicals in household products that are inhaled through the nose (sniffing) or mouth (huffing)
Effect on the Brain:
Inhalants depress the central nervous system. Inhalant vapors react with fatty tissue in the brain and dissolve it.
Short-Term Effects:
Nausea, dizziness, cramps, mental confusion, and disturbance in heart rhythm (“sudden sniffing death syndrome”)
Long-Term Effects:
Lung, liver, and kidney damage; muscle wasting; leukemia; paralysis; deafness; permanent loss of ability to walk, talk, and think
Hallucinogens
Examples:
PCP, psilocybin (mushrooms), LSD (acid), ketamine, and ecstasy
Description:
Drugs that produce images and sounds that do not exist outside the mind
Effect on the Brain:
Hallucinogens change the activity of brain chemicals.
Short-Term Effects:
Decreased ability to regulate emotion, memory, sleep, and pain, creating depression, anxiety, problems with immune system, numbness, weakness, nausea, increased heart rate, sweating, lack of appetite, and sleeplessness
Long-Term Effects:
Permanent changes to brain chemistry leading to memory loss, depression, and lack of ability to learn