Alcohol & the Body
Heavy alcohol use can damage this organ, which processes alcohol and removes toxins from the blood.
What is the liver?
During an opioid overdose, this vital function can become dangerously slow or stop completely.
What is breathing/respiration?
Cocaine and methamphetamine can dangerously increase these two cardiovascular measures.
What are heart rate and blood pressure?
Repeated substance use can disrupt this brain chemical involved in reward, motivation, and reinforcement.
What is dopamine?
A common myth is that being able to “hold your liquor” means alcohol isn't harming your body. What has actually increased when someone needs more alcohol to feel the same effects?
What is tolerance?
Long-term heavy alcohol use can cause permanent scarring of the liver known as this
What is cirrhosis?
This medication can rapidly reverse an opioid overdose and restore breathing.
What is naloxone (Narcan)?
Stimulant use can place significant stress on the heart and increase the risk of this life-threatening event caused by blocked blood flow to the heart.
What is a heart attack?
Needing more of a substance over time to experience the same effect is known as this.
What is tolerance?
Some people believe prescription opioids are safe simply because they came from a pharmacy. These medications can still cause this potentially fatal effect by slowing breathing. What is that called?
What is respiratory depression?
Suddenly stopping alcohol after prolonged heavy use can cause seizures and this potentially life-threatening withdrawal condition involving severe confusion and agitation.
What is delirium tremens (DTs)?
Combining opioids with alcohol or benzodiazepines is particularly dangerous because all of them can suppress this system.
What is the central nervous system?
Long-term methamphetamine use can contribute to severe tooth decay and gum disease commonly called this.
What is meth mouth?
This area of the brain helps with judgment, decision-making, planning, and impulse control and can be negatively affected by chronic substance use
What is the prefrontal cortex?
A person may think mixing alcohol with benzodiazepines isn't especially dangerous. In reality, both substances slow activity in this system, increasing the risk of severe sedation and overdose.
What is the central nervous system?
Long-term heavy alcohol use can damage nerves, causing numbness, tingling, burning, or weakness in the hands and feet
What is peripheral neuropathy?
After a period without opioids, this can decrease, making a previously used amount much more dangerous.
What is tolerance?
Cocaine and methamphetamine can cause abnormal heart rhythms known by this medical term.
What are arrhythmias?
When the brain adapts to repeated substance use and stopping the substance causes physical or psychological symptoms, this has developed.
What is dependence?
A common myth is that alcohol only damages the liver. Long-term heavy drinking can also weaken and enlarge this organ, increasing the risk of heart failure.
What is the heart?
Long-term heavy alcohol use and thiamine deficiency can contribute to this serious brain disorder associated with confusion and severe memory problems.
What is Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome?
Fentanyl and other opioids can cause death by severely slowing breathing, a condition called this.
What is respiratory depression?
Long-term or heavy stimulant use can cause paranoia, hallucinations, and delusions, symptoms collectively known as this.
What is psychosis?
Over time, repeated substance use can change this brain process, causing drug-related cues to produce powerful urges even after someone stops using
What is conditioning?
A common myth is that substance use only affects the person using. During pregnancy, alcohol exposure can cause a range of lifelong physical, behavioral, and learning problems collectively known by this name.
What are fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs)?