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Drugs are an addictive substance, that when you start you have to keep taking more to get the feel as your tolerence goes up

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Drugs are an addictive substance, that when you start you have to keep taking more to get the feel as your tolerence goes up

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What causes addiction, and why is it so hard to treat? - Judy Grisel

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How do different drugs affect the brain and mental health?

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How do different drugs affect the brain and mental health?

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What are the short-term and long-term physical effects of drug use on the body?

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What are the short-term and long-term physical effects of drug use on the body?

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How does drug use impact families and communities?

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How does drug use impact families and communities?

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46% of american familys have a family member who suffers or suffered with an drug addiction

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46% of american familys have a family member who suffers or suffered with an drug addiction

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When you take drugs u excrete endorphine in the brain and that gives you the pleasure u feel when u take drugs. This makes it where when u dont have it you feel like you need it.

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When you take drugs u excrete endorphine in the brain and that gives you the pleasure u feel when u take drugs. This makes it where when u dont have it you feel like you need it.

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What are effective strategies for drug abuse prevention?

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What are effective strategies for drug abuse prevention?

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Methamphetamine | National Institute on Drug Abuse

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Learn more about the health effects of the stimulant drug methamphetamine.

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Physical and mental effects of drug abuse — Medical News Today

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The short-term and long-term effects of drug misuse depend on the drug that a person uses and their overall health. Learn about the possible effects here.

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Understanding Self-Medication: Drugs, Alcohol, and Mental Health

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Drugs, alcohol, and mental health

This information looks at the links between alcohol, drugs and mental health, and how you can get help for these things. It is for people affected by mental illness in England who are 18 or over.

Frequently asked Qs

Key words

On this page, ' drugs ' means recreational drugs, or street drugs. This includes prescription drugs used in a way that was not intended by the prescriber of them.

You might live with a mental illness and use drugs or drink a lot. Doctors call this ' dual diagnosis.'

What are the key facts?

There are many reasons why you might use drugs and alcohol.

Some people use them to try and deal with their symptoms of their mental illness. This is called 'self-medication'.

Drugs and alcohol can make the symptoms of your mental illness worse.

Some drugs may make it more likely for you to get a mental illness, and they may make it harder to treat.

Mental health, and drug and alcohol services should work together to give you the support you need.

If you have any problems getting help, there are things you can do.

How can drugs and alcohol affect my mental health?

People use drugs and drink alcohol for lots of different reasons. Whatever your reason, using drugs or drinking a lot of alcohol regularly may have a long-term negative effect on you.

The possible long-term effects include the following.

Needing to take more to get the same effect.

High blood pressure and strokes.

Problems with your liver and pancreas.

Development of certain cancers e.g. liver cancer, bowel cancer and mouth cancer.

Difficulty obtaining or maintaining an erection.

Problems with orgasms.

Difficulties becoming pregnant.

Feeling like you must use the drug or alcohol. This is known as being dependent.

Withdrawal symptoms including feeling sick, cold, sweaty or shaky when you don't take them.

Having sudden mood changes.

Having a negative outlook on life.

Loss of motivation.

Depression.

Anxiety.

Problems with relationships.

Being secretive.

Having episodes of drug-induced psychosis.

If you use alcohol or drugs for a long time, it can cause serious issues for your mental wellbeing. Drugs can make you more unwell and more likely to try and harm yourself or take your own life.

There is also some evidence that using some drugs may cause mental illness for the first time. For example, research has shown that cannabis can increase your chances of developing psychosis or a psychotic disorder.

For more information, see our webpage on Cannabis and mental health .

What is psychosis?

Psychosis is a medical term. If you have psychosis, you will process the world around you differently to other people. This can include how you experience, believe or view things.

You might see or hear things that others do not. Or believe things other people do not.

It can be a symptom of mental illness and can also be a short-term effect of some drugs.

For more information, see our webpage on Psychosis .

Which substances can affect my mental health?

In this section we have listed some of the different types of substances that could have an impact on your mental health. There could be others that might affect you too.

Taking any substances can be dangerous. They can also have bad interactions with any medications or other substances you might use.

For more information on different substances, you can visit the Talk to Frank website

Cannabis

Also known as: bud, bhang, dope, draw, ganja, grass, hash, herb, marijuana, pot, skunk, weed

Cannabis is one of the most used drugs in England.

According to one study, 1 in 13 people aged 16-59 had used it in the last year. Young people aged 16-24 are more likely to use cannabis. The same study shows that just under 1 in 5 young people had used cannabis between 2018 and 2019.

Some people take cannabis because it makes them feel relaxed or happy, but it can also make you feel anxious or feel paranoid. Some people may experience things that are not real. This is a sign of drug-induced psychosis.

Some studies have shown that the risk of psychosis may be higher if you:

use cannabis for a long time,

use it frequently, and

use 'high strength' cannabis, like skunk.

If you have been using cannabis and you feel that it is affecting your health, make an appointment to see your GP as soon as you can. Your doctor should not judge you and should not tell other people you use drugs.

Alcohol

Adults. It is safest to not drink more than 14 units a week. If you drink 14 units a week, spread this evenly over 3 days or more.

If you are pregnant. Do not drink alcohol at all.

Young people. An alcohol-free childhood is the healthiest and safest option.

You can find more about What is an alcohol unit? from Drinkaware here

You might drink moderately. Maybe with a meal, over a chat with friends or to celebrate. But you might drink a lot regularly, and that can make your mental and physical health worse.

If you experience mental health issues, you might drink to deal with symptoms or difficult feelings. This can be known as self-medicating.

This can lead some people who live with mental illness to develop issues with alcohol.

Also, if you drink a lot, it might lead you to develop mental and physical health issues.

low mood or depression,

feelings of anxiety, even though it might lessen them to begin with,

suicidal thoughts, and

psychosis, if you suddenly stop drinking.

There can be long term physical health effects of regularly drink a lot too. They might include high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, cancer, liver, pancreas, or brain damage. ,

You can watch this useful 1 min 10 seconds video on Alcohol and mental health from Drinkaware

You can read more information from the following links:

For more information see our webpages on the following:

We will soon be publishing new information on our website called Clozapine and alcohol - the risks at www.rethink.org

It is very important you:

discuss alcohol use with your doctor, and

carefully read your medication patient information leaflet to see what it says about alcohol use. The box your medication comes in should include a patient information leaflet

You may need to limit your alcohol intake or avoid it altogether. You can find this out by checking the patient information leaflet that comes with your medication.

A person's death might be put down to SUDAM if:

they have a history of drinking a lot of alcohol regularly, or they have alcoholic liver disease,

the death is sudden, and

the post-mortem examination does not find another cause of death.

There might not be a dangerous level of alcohol in the body at the time of death.

A post-mortem examination is a medical procedure that looks at a dead body to find out the cause of death.

People who live with severe mental illness are more likely to have issues with alcohol. And to die because of SUDAM.

There are about 1,000 deaths put down to SUDAM in England and Wales in a year.

New psychoactive substances (NPS)

Also known as: PlantFood, NPS, Mdat, Eric 3, dimethocaine and bath salts.

These are drugs that produce effects that are like cocaine, cannabis and ecstasy.

Some of the drugs classed as NPS used to be known as 'legal highs.' This is a common term that people use. It is used because some NPS were legal before 2016. However, the name is now wrong, because since 2016 they have been made illegal.

The short-term effects of an NPS depend on what you take.

Some new psychoactive drugs can cause confusion and a feeling of panic. You can also hallucinate. This is when you see, smell, hear or feel things that other people do not. Hallucinations can affect the way you behave. Your behaviour can become erratic and can put your own safety at serious risk.

These drugs can also affect your judgement, which could put you at risk.

Some NPS can be very dangerous. They can kill you or hurt you very badly. There is a higher risk of this if taken with alcohol or other psychoactive drugs.

Amphetamine and methamphetamine

Also known as: crystal meth, ice, meth, glass, whizz, speed, billy, base, yaba, tina and christine

In the short-term, these drugs can make you feel wide awake and alert. This can make it difficult for you to relax or get to sleep. They might cause you to have a drug-induced psychosis.

In the long-term, amphetamines might make you anxious and depressed. They can also be addictive.

When you stop taking the drug, you may feel depressed, and you might find it hard to sleep.

Benzodiazepines

Also known as: benzos, blues, downers, roofies, vallies, Diazepam, Rohypnol, Valium, Xanax

Benzodiazepines are a type of tranquiliser. They are used by doctors to treat anxiety, and sometimes muscle spasms too. They can be addictive, and so doctors should only prescribe them for a short time.

But people also take them illegally because of their relaxing effects.

In the short-term, these drugs can make you feel calmer. Depending on the type you take, they could make you feel confused or overly sleepy.

They can also increase suicidal thoughts and depression.

Taking benzodiazepines with other drugs or alcohol can be dangerous. It can affect your breathing. It can also increase the risk of overdose and death.

In the long-term, you could become addicted. This can have a big effect on your day-to-day life.

If you are dependent on benzodiazepines you can experience unpleasant withdrawal symptoms if you stop taking them. Like nausea, irritability, insomnia, and hallucinations.

For more information, see our webpage on Benzodiazepines .

Cocaine

Also known as: blow, crack, coke, charlie, chang, freebase, sniff, snow

In the short-term, cocaine can make you feel awake, talkative and confident. After this wears off, you can feel tired and depressed after taking it and may experience mood swings.

In the long-term, cocaine use can affect how you feel. It can affect your relationships with friends and family. Cocaine is also addictive and over time you are more likely to have ongoing problems with depression, paranoia or anxiety.

Cocaine can cause fits, heart attacks and strokes. If you mix it with some other drugs, you are more likely to overdose or die.

Ecstasy

Also known as: E, MDMA, MD, molly, pills, XTC

In the short-term, ecstasy may make you feel energetic, very happy, chatty and confident. It can also sometimes make you feel anxious, confused or it can trigger drug-induced psychosis.

In the long-term, ecstasy use can lead to memory problems. You may also develop depression and anxiety.

Heroin

Also known as: brown, gear, H, smack, skag

In the short-term, heroin can make you feel relaxed and happy. It takes away pain and can make you feel sleepy. But there is a higher risk that you could take too much or overdose with heroin than some other drugs.

Heroin can be taken in lots of different ways, including by injection. But there is a high risk of getting an infection if you inject heroin, particularly if you share needles with someone else.

Heroin is very addictive. It can have serious long-term effects. You may feel that heroin becomes more important than other things in your life. This might make it harder to keep a job and affect your relationships.

LSD

Also known as: acid, blotter, trips, micro-dot

In the short-term, LSD may make you experience things that are not real. Sometimes the experience will be enjoyable, and sometimes it will be frightening. This is known as a bad trip.

If you have a history of mental health problems taking LSD can make it worse. If you panic during a trip on LSD, it can be scary. LSD may also trigger mental health problems which you have not experienced before.

How can I get help?

You might not be getting and help with your mental health or drugs or alcohol issues. A good first step is to see your GP.

Your GP can:

offer you help for your mental health, and

refer you to a drug and alcohol service, if appropriate.

Your GP might recommend referring you to a specialist NHS mental health team if appropriate.

For more information see our webpages on the following:

For more information on drug and alcohol support, see:

* NHS. Drug addiction getting help .
* NHS. Alcohol support .

You can also contact the drug and alcohol charities and organisations in the Useful contacts section at the bottom of this page.

For your mental health, you can also self-refer yourself to your local NHS talking therapy service. Or you can get private talking therapy if you can afford it.

For more information, see our webpage on Talking therapies .

Should the NHS and drug and alcohol services work together?

You might be referred to NHS specialist mental health services.

NHS specialist mental health services should not refuse to support you with your mental health because you:

take drugs, or

regularly drink alcohol.

The services should assessed both of your drug or alcohol needs and mental health needs. They should then work with the following to get you the help you need:

drug and alcohol services, and

organisations like social services, local authorities and housing and employment services.

It says the above in paragraphs 1.2.1 and 1.3.1 of NICE Guidelines Coexisting severe mental illness and substance misuse: Community health and social care services. You can find the guidelines here

NICE stands for National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. The NHS follow their guidance.

There may be a team in your area which helps people with dual diagnosis. It is sometimes called the dual diagnosis team. However, not all areas of the country have them, and it may have a different name.

What can I do if I have problems getting help?

You might live with dual diagnosis. This is when you live with a mental illness and use drugs or drink a lot.

As we said above, the NHS and drug and alcohol services should work together to meet your needs.

Some people with dual diagnosis have told us that it is difficult to get the help they need. Like, they been told that NHS mental health services cannot help them because of their drink or drugs issues.

You can say that paragraphs 1.2.1 and 1.3.1 of NICE Guidelines on Coexisting severe mental illness and substance misuse say that you should be supported. You can find the guidelines here

You can:

You can find more information about:

What if I am a carer, friend or relative?

Supporting someone who lives with dual diagnosis can be difficult. It might help to speak to the person you are helping, to see what support they want.

We Are With You and Adfam are two charities that offer support and advice to loved ones of those who live with drug or alcohol issues. You can find their contact details in the Useful contacts section below.

You might also feel that you need support for yourself. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) says that carers who support someone with a dual diagnosis should be offered a carer's assessment under the Care Act 2014. You may be able to get practical support to help you with your caring responsibilities.

NICE also says that if you are caring for someone with a dual diagnosis you can:

be involved in their care planning, and

work with services to help those services improve.

But this can only happen if the person who you care for wants you to be involved. Speak to their mental health team if you have ideas about what services should be available or how things could work better.

For more information see our webpages on the following:

Useful contacts

Drinkline
This is the national alcohol helpline. They provide information and self-help materials for callers worried about their own drinking, and to support the family and friends of people who are drinking. They are confidential, you do not have to give your name and they can provide advice on where to get help.

Adfam
This is a national charity for families and friends of drug users. It offers confidential support and information.

Drugfam
This is a national charity that supports everyone affected by alcohol, drugs, substances, and gambling, including loved ones and people bereaved by addiction.

Frank
Frank provides information and advice on drugs to anyone concerned about drugs and solvent misuse, including people misusing drugs, their families, friends and carers.

Phone: 0300 123 6600.
Text: 82111
Email: Online form here: www.talktofrank.com/contact
Webchat: www.talktofrank.com/contact-frank
Website: www.talktofrank.com

Alcohol Change UK
Alcohol concern is the national organisation for alcohol misuse. It does not provide services, but they do produce information on alcohol.

Address: 27 Swinton Street, London, WC1X 9NW
Email: contact@alcoholchange.org.uk
Website: https://alcoholchange.org.uk/

We Are With You
This is a drug and alcohol treatment agency. Their services deal primarily with drug and alcohol problems including support for families.

Al-Anon Family Groups
This is a service for families and friends of alcoholics. Al-Anon family groups provide understanding, strength and hope to anyone whose life is, or has been, affected by someone else's drinking.

Narcotics Anonymous UK (NAUK)
NA is a non-profit fellowship or society of men and women for whom drugs had become a major problem. They are recovering addicts who meet regularly to help each other stay clean. They have groups around the country.

Helpline: 0300 999 1212
Website: www.ukna.org/

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
AA provides an opportunity for people to get together to solve their problem with alcohol and help others to recover.

Cocaine Anonymous (CA)
CA is a fellowship of men and women who use the 12 step, self-help programme to stop cocaine and all other mind-altering substances.

DrugWise
DrugWise provides information and publications on a wide range of drug related topics.

Website: www.drugwise.org.uk/

PostScript 360
A charity committed to supporting individuals to reduce the harms caused by prescribed drugs that are associated with dependence and withdrawal. They do this through a wrap-around service of one to one therapy, group therapy and a telephone support service.

Phone: 0117 966 3629
Address: PostScript360, 1st Floor, East Wing, The Kingswood Estate,
Britannia Road, Kingswood, Bristol, BS15 8DP
Email: info@postscript360.org.uk
Website: https://postscript360.org.uk/

Release
They offer advice and information on drug problems. They have expertise in legal matters surrounding drugs.

Turning Point
This is an organisation that works with people affected by drug and alcohol misuse, mental health problems and learning disabilities.

Address: Standon House, 21 Mansell Street, London, E1 8AA
Website: www.turning-point.co.uk

Dual Diagnosis
A space for people with co-occurring mental health and addiction issues to find online information, tools, support groups, and resources.

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How do drugs and alcohol affect mental health?

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People use drugs and drink alcohol for lots of different reasons. Whatever your reason, using drugs or alcohol may have a long-term negative effect on you. It may take longer for your mental health to get better if you use drugs or alcohol.

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Effects of Drug Addiction on Family Members – 10 Major Effects

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Learn the effects of drug addiction on family members, from emotional distress to financial strain, and how they can begin recovery.

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Addiction affects the family. Shared finances and physical and mental health can take a hit when one member is suffering.

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Terms such as "alcoholic," "substance abuse," and "brain damage" are generally terms we avoid using in the articles we publish at American Addiction Centers (AAC). Words and phrases like these are stigmatizing statements, which can create a negative bias, perpetuate the view that addiction is a moral failing-and not a treatable medical disease that individuals can and do recover from-and adversely impact treatment retention.

Can Drugs Damage the Brain?

People can experience a wide range of neurological changes due to substance use, but many of these are a direct result of intoxication and they end after the substance clears the body. Chronic or heavy use of some substances, however, are associated with certain neurological issues that can be detrimental and long-lasting, but these aren't usually a result of cell death causing permanent neurological injury. In fact, many brain changes or neurological complications that result from substance use can improve or even be reversed when drug and alcohol use stops.

Can Alcohol Damage the Brain?

Alcohol interferes with the brain's communication pathways and can affect the way the brain looks and works. Alcohol affects the areas of the brain that control balance, memory, speech, and judgement. It makes it harder for these areas to function properly, which puts individuals at a greater risk of injury and other negative outcomes. Alcohol misuse can lead to alcohol-induced blackouts, alcohol overdose, and alcohol use disorder. 2

While the extent of alcohol-related damage to the brain depends on different factors, including how much, how often, and for how long alcohol was consumed, brain changes and complications from alcohol-similar to the changes induced by other substances-can improve and potentially be reversed with abstinence.

What is Brain Injury from Drug Use?

Brain injury resulting from drug or alcohol use can range from minor damage to brain cells to severe physical damage such as in the case of brain hypoxia due to overdose. Some of these consequences can be more serious and/or persistent, such as in the case of traumatic brain injury (TBI), stroke, and Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. 1,3,4 Others can include potentially reversible changes such as mild brain atrophy (brain shrinkage) and changes to white matter. 5,6

Brain injury or other neurological complications can be a direct or indirect result of substance use. Brain hypoxia, a lack of sufficient oxygen to the brain, can result from an overdose of opioids, for example, which can significantly decrease the body's respiratory drive. However, brain injuries can also occur due to poor health and nutrition, accidents, or increased risk-taking behaviors people engage in while they're intoxicated or because they have a substance use disorder. 4,7

Certain substances may have neurotoxic effects at high doses or with chronic exposure. These are substances that may cause damage or injury to brain cells. Taking these substances, especially over longer periods of time or at certain times in the human aging process, could increase your risk of suffering from substance-related brain changes or neurological issues. For example, high-dose or chronic amphetamine use may accelerate and enhance a person's age-related decline in dopaminergic function. ¹

Do Certain Drugs Damage Brain Cells?

Different drugs can have neurotoxic and destructive effects on brain cells. Substances that are associated with neurological damage include-but are not limited to-alcohol, heroin, amphetamines, marijuana, opioids, inhalants, and cocaine. 1,3,6

Drugs can damage brain cells through several mechanisms. Psychostimulants (e.g., amphetamines) and alcohol disrupt the integrity of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which can change the functioning of your brain cells due to increased permeability. Permeability refers to the extent to which your brain is protected from toxins that could enter the brain from your blood supply. Increased permeability means that toxins can more easily cross the BBB. ⁸

Other substances, including alcohol and inhalants, can cause injury to brain cells due to the way they damage the protective sheaths, known as myelin, that surround nerve fibers. This can cause damage, like that which occurs in neurological diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS). This type of damage can affect your thinking, movement, vision, and hearing. The neurological symptoms people experience in this case can range from mild to severe. 9,10

Effects of Addiction on the Brain

Sustained misuse of certain substances can cause potential long-term neurological effects or changes to brain function. These include traumatic brain injuries, headaches, a range of persistent neurological and cognitive complications, and brain changes, such as the loss of gray matter, reduced hippocampal volume, and enlarged cerebral ventricles-the network that connects areas of your brain-may occur as a result of chronic substance misuse. ¹¹ Potential consequences and brain changes vary by substance and can include the development of some of the problems below.

Stimulants and Anhedonia

Anhedonia is the inability to experience pleasure. It is often a symptom of substance use disorder (e.g., lack of interest in activities you once enjoyed and experienced as rewarding), as well as intoxication and withdrawal. Research has shown that all types of chronic stimulant use (such as cocaine or amphetamine) are associated with anhedonia, and some researchers theorize that it can be long-lasting for chronic/heavy stimulant users due to damage or permanent changes in the dopaminergic reward system. ¹²

Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder

Hallucinogen persisting perception disorder (HPPD) can be a rare, long-lasting neurological consequence of hallucinogen misuse. It typically occurs with LSD but may also occur following use of other hallucinogens like MDMA (ecstasy), psilocybin, and mescaline. ¹³

HPPD is characterized by flashbacks and chronic or recurrent perceptual symptoms that can make it feel like you are re-experiencing the feelings or sensations you experienced when you used the drug. The key symptom tends to be visual hallucinations (seeing things that aren't there), which may cause significant distress and affect your ability to function. ¹⁴

Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome and Alcoholic Dementia

Alcohol misuse can lead to several different neurological complications, with an increased risk for chronic, heavy alcohol users.

One serious neurological condition is known as Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome (WKS). This is a condition that can occur due to vitamin B1 (thiamine) deficiency, which commonly occurs in people who chronically misuse alcohol. Two syndromes make up WKS. One is acute (short-term) Wernicke encephalopathy, which causes symptoms like confusion, paralysis of nerves that control eye movements, and muscle coordination problems. When caught early, Wernicke encephalopathy is reversible, however, around 80-90% of people who develop encephalopathy will progress to Korsakoff's psychosis, which can be long-lasting and cause chronic, irreversible learning and memory problems. ⁴ Severe cases of WKS carry a mortality rate of 10% to 15%. ¹⁵

High-level alcohol consumption is linked to an increase in dementia risk, however, the link between alcohol and dementia is an area still undergoing research.

Alcohol intoxication can lead to TBI, with studies estimating between 30% and 50% of patients treated for TBI were also intoxicated at the time of injury. TBIs can be mild to severe, and they occur after trauma or injury to the brain that causes swelling, increased intracranial pressure, and reduced blood flow, resulting in different neurological symptoms and cognitive deficits including memory loss. Alcohol use in people diagnosed with a TBI can significantly elevate their risk of experiencing a future TBI. Repeated TBIs produce more severe long-term damage and an increased likelihood of permanent disability. ¹⁷

Many neurological issues brought about by drinking are reversible. American Addiction Centers (AAC) offers alcohol use treatment at each of our nationwide drug and alcohol rehab centers. Call 0r visit our treatment centers page to learn more about our substance use treatment centers across the United States.

Hypoxic Brain Damage from Overdose

Overdoses of certain substances can lead to potentially fatal neurological complications and injuries, including hypoxia, the shortage of oxygen delivery to the brain, and anoxia, meaning the total loss of oxygen that is usually due to hypoxia. 18,19

Hypoxic brain injury can occur due to respiratory depression, a serious consequence of opioid overdose. ²⁰ In addition to being a particular risk with opioids (such as heroin, OxyContin or fentanyl), use of benzodiazepines, alcohol, or other sedatives can also lead to respiratory depression. Poly-substance use, which often involves combining substances that have depressant effects, such as opioids, sedatives, or alcohol, can have unpredictable and dangerous outcomes. ²⁰

Overdose survivors may develop a hypoxic brain injury that leads to long-lasting or even permanent damage such as short-term memory loss, stroke, mental disorientation, loss of body movement, changes in gait, incontinence, temporary leg paralysis, reduced motor skills, slowed reaction time, seizures, nerve injury, and memory impairment. ²¹

Neurological Damage from Withdrawal

Neurological complications may result from withdrawal of certain substances. Medically supervised detox may help to reduce the likelihood or severity of many of these risks. You will receive constant monitoring and supervision as well as medication to address any symptoms or complications that may arise as a result of withdrawal. ²²

Withdrawal from substances like alcohol and benzodiazepines may also present a risk of withdrawal seizures. 22,23 Seizures can be dangerous because you can suffer from falls or injuries or develop a potentially lethal condition known as status epilepticus, which is when you have a seizure that lasts more than 5 minutes or when seizures occur too often in too short of a time span. ²⁴

Can Brain Damage Be Reversed?

Certain brain changes can be persistent or permanent, but this can vary widely depending on the type of injury and the substance of misuse. Many substance-related neurological complications or consequences may also be reversible.

WKS, for instance, may present with more chronic and debilitating effects, but when caught early and with proper treatment, WKS might be reversible in certain cases. Research has shown that even people who have suffered from a stroke can make some degree of recovery. There is also some evidence that indicates that brain shrinkage and reduced white matter volume associated with alcohol misuse may be reversible. ²⁵⁻²⁸

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) explains that some of the neurological damage to the dopaminergic system appear, at least partly, to be reversible, with many neurological markers for nerve damage returning to normal after several months of abstinence. 29 The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) points out that although it can take time, most people suffering from alcohol addiction will experience at least some improvement in brain structure and functioning with abstinence. ⁴

The brain is a complex organ that can adapt to many stressors and circumstances, a concept known as neuroplasticity. People are resilient creatures, and the body and brain were designed to be able to heal themselves. Certain forms of treatment can augment this process and enhance neurological recovery. According to one report, more than 85% of TBIs are considered to be mild, and most people recover from these injuries with medical treatment. ³⁰ For those with a substance use disorder, seeking help from addiction and stopping your use of substances may help prevent or heal some of the neurological consequences of substance use and help you take back, not only your physical health, but also your mental health and overall wellbeing.

If you or a loved one struggle with substance misuse or addiction, it's never too late to seek help, regain your life, and improve your physical and mental health. American Addiction Centers can help. Call to speak to one of our compassionate admissions navigators, who can listen to your story, explain your options, and help you begin your journey to recovery today.

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Brain Damage From Drugs & Alcohol: Are Effects Reversible?

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Substance misuse affects the brain and its functioning. Luckily, with treatment, damage done to the brain can improve and, in some instances, may be reversed.