The human body has organs that function together to keep a person alive. These organs need to stay healthy and are essential to survival. Addiction can lead to heart complications, liver failure, kidney disease, and changes brain chemistry.

The brain is a complex organ that controls the way you feel, move, and talk. The brain also helps you think, learn, and process information in order to make critical decisions. Over time, drug and alcohol use make the brain develop a dependency on them to function.

The addicted brain changes chemically and physiologically. Drugs and alcohol interfere with the brain’s neurotransmitters, which release an excess level of dopamine causing temporary pleasurable feelings and euphoria. The brain adapts and changes with addiction. If the drug and alcohol use continues, the changes become more permanent. Alcohol abuse can lead to irreversible brain damage.  

Drugs and alcohol cause chronic heart problems and diseases that could result in heart attacks, high blood pressure, and an irregular heartbeat. These heart complications could be fatal and can contribute to cirrhosis of the liver, cancer, and organ damage or failure. Drugs and alcohol weaken the immune system, which can make a person prone to many diseases and viruses.

Drugs and alcohol lead to internal, mental, and physical changes. The misuse of drugs and alcohol alters a person’s skin, hair, nails, and overall appearance. Alcohol is a depressant. It slows the body’s function and alters the individual’s mood. People sometimes use drugs or alcohol as a way to cope from anxiety and stress. Some drugs and alcohol actually increase symptoms of an underlying mental health condition.

Drugs and alcohol make changes to the whole body. Addiction is not curable, but it is treatable and recovery is possible. If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, you are not alone. Get help today so you can enjoy a fulfilling, healthy, new lifestyle in sobriety. Do not be ashamed to ask for help.


Elbert Hubbard
