The effects that alcohol and other drugs have on your health depend on many
factors. For example, alcohol and other drugs affect men and women differently.
Other factors include:
- the type of drug
- the amount you use or drink
- your body weight
- your overall health and nutrition.
Alcohol
If you drink too much, you will have a "hangover" 8 to 12 hours after
your last drink. People with hangovers usually have a headache and are shaky
and nauseous. You tend to develop a tolerance to alcohol over time. This means
that your body gets used to the alcohol, and you must drink more to get the
same effect.
If you drink heavily over a long period of time, you may develop:
- stomach ulcers
- sexual problems
- liver disease
- brain damage
- many kinds of cancer.
Marijuana (grass, weed, pot)
If you use marijuana heavily, it can lead to health problems, especially problems
related to the respiratory system (your lungs and throat). For example, you
could get bronchitis, asthma and a sore throat. You can be more likely to get
cancer of the respiratory tracts, like lung cancer. You can also become psychologically
addicted.
Cocaine (coke, crack)
Regular heavy users of cocaine may have:
- nervousness
- problems sleeping
- eating disorders
- sexual problems
- paranoia
- wasting of the brain
- high blood pressure
- irregular heartbeat.
Also, if you sniff cocaine often, it can damage the lining of your nose. If
you inject it, you could get abscesses in the areas where you put the needle.
You could also get hepatitis or HIV/AIDS. You can develop a tolerance to cocaine
over time and an overdose can kill you.
Heroin (smack, junk)
If you use heroin over a long period, you may be less interested in sex, be
constipated and have irregular menstrual periods. For those who inject it, there
are risks from using dirty needles, which include:
- infections
- hepatitis B and C
- HIV/AIDS
- other complications like arthritis and collapsed veins.
You can develop a tolerance to heroin over time and an overdose can kill you.
LSD (acid)
Some heavy users of LSD are less interested in things and get frustrated easily.
For people with psychological problems, it can cause psychotic states. There
aren't any reported deaths from LSC overdose, but it's been linked with:
- suicides
- accidental deaths
- murders
- self-inflicted wounds.
Additional resources
Cannabis Control in Canada – Canadian Centre on Substance
Abuse
The
Basics About Alcohol – Alberta
Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission
Other
Drugs: the Basics – Alberta
Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission
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