On this page, we carefully examine the impact of drug addiction on emotional and physical spheres. Drug addiction has a negative impact on the individual’s emotional, as well as physical sphere. Drug addiction has terrorised communities for years, and most of its effects are felt directly by the people involved, as well as those around them.
Watch: Drug Abuse, Causes, Signs and Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment.
The impact of drug addiction on emotional and physical spheres
The impact of drug addiction on emotional and physical spheres can be explained as a comprehensive deterioration of well-being because of the way addictive substances alter the brain’s chemistry and the body’s functioning. On the emotional front, addiction often leads to feelings of anxiety, depression, and isolation, as drugs can disrupt the neurotransmitters responsible for mood regulation. Physically, drug addiction can damage vital organs, cause weight loss or gain, and lead to chronic pain. The complex interplay between emotional and physical health creates a vicious cycle where the emotional distress can exacerbate physical ailments, and vice versa. That’s why addressing drug addiction often requires a holistic approach, focusing on both mental and physical recovery to break this harmful cycle.
Physical Sphere:
In the physical sphere (physical body), drug addiction destroys the body of the user in many ways, such as:
- A weakened immune system, increasing the risk of illness and infection
- Heart conditions ranging from abnormal heart rates to heart attacks and collapsed veins and blood vessel infections from injected drugs
- Nausea and abdominal pain, which can also lead to changes in appetite and weight loss
- Increased strain on the liver, which puts the person at risk of significant liver damage or liver failure
- Seizures, stroke, mental confusion and brain damage
- Lung disease
- Problems with memory, attention and decision-making, which make daily living more difficult
- Global effects of drugs on the body, such as breast development in men and increases in body temperature, which can lead to other health problems
Emotional Sphere:
In the emotional sphere, drugs affect a part of the brain known as the limbic system. This is the area responsible for processing our emotions. Drug-related changes to this area can contribute to:
- Depressed mood,
- Mood swings,
- Emotional outbursts
- Persistent irritability
Sources
https://www.gatewayfoundation.org/about-gateway-foundation/faqs/effects-of-drug-abuse/