November 17th, 2017
For those suffering from a drug problem, premature aging can be a real concern. Addictions do not allow a person to stop using without help, even when watching their body deteriorate. Drugs cause significant stress on the body and affect the pulmonary and cardiac system, as well as the health of the teeth, lymph, and skin. In most instances, the effects and premature aging caused by an addiction cannot be reversed. Seeking help for addiction as soon as possible can help prevent these effects on your body and appearance.
Consequences of Smoked Drugs on Your Body
Many of the most popular street drugs are smoked. Drugs that smoked contain high concentrations of carcinogens as well as a multitude of other toxic chemicals. These toxic chemicals and carcinogens can cause serious pulmonary, renal, and cardiovascular problems such as emphysema, heart disease, kidney disorders, and other serious, life-threatening conditions.
Meth, cocaine, crack, heroin, and even marijuana, when smoked, can lead to premature aging of the skin and hair. In addition, smoke inhalation can cause skin conditions such as eczema, skin cancer, and psoriasis.
Consequences of Drug Use on Your Immune System
Drug use weakens the immune system. When certain drugs, for example, cocaine, enter the body the immune system automatically attempts to fight the drug. Over time the drugs will weaken the immune system’s ability to fight the infection, leaving the addict more venerable to illness and injury.
A weakened immune system can also mean a toxic level of drugs in the bloodstream. When an immune system is under constant stress, premature aging can begin, and life expectancy of the drug user is greatly reduced. Drugs such as alcohol and tobacco, which are often used together, can greatly increase the rate that this process occurs. To combat and prevent effects of a drug addiction, addicts and serious drug users should seek help as soon as possible.
Free by the Sea encourages addicts or people impacted by a loved one with an addiction who are looking to prevent the possible effects of a drug addiction in the Pacific Northwest, including Washington (Vancouver), Oregon (Portland), Alaska and surrounding areas to contact us for guidance and assistance.
Dr. Richard Crabbe joined our team in 2019 as our psychiatrist and medical director. He attended the University of Ghana Medical School where he became a Medical Doctor in 1977. From 1978 through 1984, he was a medical officer in the Ghana Navy and provided a variety of services from general medicine to surgeries. He received his Certificate in General Psychology from the American Board of Psychology and Neurology in 2002.
