Addiction is devastating to individuals through its effect on relationships, behaviors, and physical health. It may not seem like addiction has an immediate impact, but over time the devastating effects can lead to difficulties, disabilities, or even death. Without help on your path to recovery, finding success in escaping addiction can be difficult. When an individual struggles with addiction, the path they are on is not easily undone.
Recovery takes individualized and specific treatment to reverse the long-term effects. Many factors come into play when considering the long-term effects of addiction without help in recovery.
The longer addiction goes without professional help and treatment, the worse the effects can get. You may start to see problems with your overall physical health, experience legal issues, or have financial issues. If you, or your loved one, struggle with addiction, or if you are thinking about recovery, you or your loved one needs to get help as soon as possible to avoid the dangers that come with long-term addiction.
Recovery is a challenging time, but it offers hope for any individual. The long-term effects of addiction start the first time the substance is used. You may not notice the impact immediately, but the lasting effects can impair your mental capacity and your day-to-day functions. Some of the effects are even permanent. However, many of the effects can be changed with a professional's help in treatment.
The physical challenges caused by addiction’s effects on your body can vary from substance to substance. Some effects can damage you for years. Depending on the type of substance, you may experience minor issues or extreme health issues. Almost every organ in your body is affected when consuming substances.
Some of the lasting effects that addiction causes can include:
All of the organs in your body alter when a foreign substance enters it. You may experience other effects, such as heart disease, lung cancer, kidney failure, muscle degradation, dehydration, liver damage, and chronic pain.
Substance use is primarily a way to alter your mindset and change your perception of specific situations as a way to self-medicate. The effects reach every part of you, including your mind. Substances can change the way you think, the way you act, and the way you value yourself. Whether used directly or indirectly, they can still affect your mind.
If an individual uses a substance repeatedly, the brain stops producing certain chemicals. The substance compromises the brain’s ability to think straight or function as it did before. Addiction leads the brain to develop a tolerance level, needing more of the substance to replace what was lost.
When substances are introduced, many complications can affect the brain. Some of these include:
Substance abuse triggers these lasting impacts on the brain. However, there is hope to reverse some of the effects of addiction if treated by a professional. The brain can recover, functioning correctly without the substances, but that can take time. Occasionally, the effects of substances on the mind are not fully reversed because the addiction was left untreated for too long.
Addiction does not usually start with the aim of having long-term reactions, but it does hurt your overall mental and physical health. In some cases, addiction can ruin relationships, destroy jobs, and hurt financial status.
The effects of addiction do not extend to only your physical and mental health. They can reach out to those around you and leave lasting effects on them, too. There are serious concerns about helping you maintain sobriety by finding the right treatment to avoid the lasting effects of addiction. However, it is up to you to save your future.
The long-term effects of addiction, without help and recovery, include bouts of physical, social, mental, and personal issues. When you struggle with drugs and alcohol, you may not feel fully aware of the lasting effects it’s having on you. However, over time, you may start feeling worthless and hopeless, causing adverse long-term effects unless the addiction is treated correctly.
Without treatment, addiction's long-term effects are irreversible. There are many incidents where people ignored the signs for help and are now dealing with the criminal justice system or health-related concerns that they were not prepared for.
The long-term effects of addiction, without recovery, can influence your decisions on social outings, personal decisions, and self-identity. If you feel like you need help getting guidance or someone by your side who understands what you are going through, reach out to someone who understands not only the side effects but also what’s at stake: your future.
You have to remember that you are not your addiction. At NorthStar Transitions, we can help you have control over your addiction, regardless of how long you’ve used a substance. We offer tools and resources to give you coping mechanisms and opportunities to begin your rehabilitation journey today. Our team of professionals understands how the long-term effects may impact your future, and we want to reach out to you today to help you. You can get one-on-one assistance individualized for you and your situation at our facility. You only have to reach out to us so we can help. It is your life to take back; you are not the problem, the addiction is. We know that you have a future waiting for you. You can make a difference in your life and make a difference for those that love you. For more information, reach out to NorthStar Transitions today or call us at (303) 558-6400.
