DRUG ABUSE

Respiratory problems Drugs that people smoke or inhale can damage the respiratory system and lead to chronic respiratory infections and diseases. Abusing a drug, or misusing a prescription medication, can produce other short-term effects, such as: 

changes in appetite 

sleeplessness or insomnia

 increased heart rate

 slurred speech 

changes in cognitive ability 

a temporary sense of euphoria

 loss of coordination

Drug abuse can affect aspects of a person’s life beyond their physical health. People with substance use disorder, for example, may experience:

An inability to cease using a drug relationship problems poor work or academic performance difficulty maintaining personal hygiene noticeable changes in appearance, such as extreme weight loss increased impulsivity and risk-taking behaviors loss of interest in formerly enjoyable activities

Drugs have different effects depending on the drug itself, the person taking it and their surroundings. Learn how your body processes drugs and about the short-term and long-term effects. Taking drugs can affect not just your physical and mental health, but your whole life. Just one pill can kill. 

Drug use can lead to a variety of respiratory problems. Smoking cigarettes, for example, has been shown to cause bronchitis, emphysema, and lung cancer. While chemical analyses that compare the profiles of electronic and traditional cigarettes have suggested that e-cigarettes have a reduced carcinogenic profile; toxicants, carcinogens, and metal particles have been detected in the liquids and aerosols of e-cigarettes, and it is currently unclear what risk they pose to the lungs with repeated use. In addition, there have been serious lung illnesses and deaths related to vaping both marijuana and nicotine. Many of these illnesses have been linked to the additive Vitamin E acetate, and the government provides regular updates for the public.