We continue to struggle with the opioid epidemic and the COVID-19 pandemic is making people more susceptible to drug abuse to control their stress. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention discovered there were 81,000 overdose deaths between June 2019 and May 2020. By being aware of which addictive drugs have the potential to kill you, you have the power to stay away from them or to go to treatment right away to avoid an overdose.
The Dangers of Alcohol
Alcohol abuse affects your body on the outside and inside. Just because you are not able to see what is happening to your organs does not mean it should be ignored. The short-term effects can be memory loss and coordination and drinking alcohol for long periods can change the communication pathways of the brain such as your motor skills and emotional responses.
Alcohol can also weaken your heart which impacts how oxygen and nutrients are delivered to other vital organs. Increasing triglyceride levels can lead to the risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, and even going into cardiac arrest. Drinking can also overwhelm the metabolism process and lead to a buildup of bad fats in the liver, leading to liver failure. Alcohol is also dangerous when combined with benzodiazepines and many other drugs.
The Dangers of Cocaine
Cocaine is a highly addictive central nervous system stimulant that can increase your blood pressure, body temperature, and develop an abnormal heart rate. Cocaine abuse leads to less sleep, eating less, and having more energy than before. The health risks of cocaine abuse include contracting an infectious disease like HIV, hepatitis B, or hepatitis C. Mental illnesses symptoms may increase as well as developing long-term health problems like heart disease, organ failure, respiratory distress, anorexia, and seizures. Your brain can be affected by cocaine so that your memory, reaction time, and attention span can be permanently affected.
The Dangers of Heroin
Heroin is also a nervous system stimulant that affects the body’s central nervous system immediately after you use it. Short-term effects could be “cloudy” mental function where you breathe at a slower rate than normal with the possibility of respiratory failure. Long-term effects can be an infection of the heart lining and valves, liver and kidney disease, pulmonary complications, and skin infections. By going into treatment for drug addiction, you can live a healthier life and avoid these complications.
At Alta Loma Transformational Living, you will meet knowledgeable, compassionate professionals that understand addiction in all its forms. Alta Loma uses an integrative and holistic approach to treat addiction and mental health issues. No treatment is one-size-fits-all, where you will have a team of experts prepared to create your customized treatment plan. We offer care for your mind, body, and spirit, so that you can heal from the inside out and look forward to a lifetime of sobriety and wellness. If you are ready to take the first step in your recovery, please call us at 866-457-3843.
