The impact of substance abuse and alcohol starts on your body as soon as first consume it. At times, the two might get severely addictive and have a serious implication on our lives. As far as alcohol is concerned, if done in limits, it should be okay. However, substance abuse, in any degree, should be avoided. Here, in this article, we’ll discuss the top side effects of alcohol and substance abuse.

• Health complications
  With the excessive consumption of alcohol or drugs, there’ll be an impact on everything in your body from your intestines to the heart. A common side effect of alcohol and substance abuse is that it leads to an abnormal heart rate. As a result of this, you might experience something as severe as a heart attack too. Furthermore, injecting drugs into your veins can lead to collapsed veins and infections in the heart’s valves. At times, substance abuse can prevent your bone growth, and lead to weakness or muscle cramping. Drug abuse or alcoholism can also cause severe damage to the liver and kidneys.
• Brain chemistry
  The brain of humans is undoubtedly the most complicated organ of the body. It is responsible for controlling the physiological functions and the thoughts, which keep you active. With the consumption of alcohol or drugs, there’s a change in the smooth run of the brain. As a result, there’ll also be a change in how you feel and perceive the things around you.
  Let’s understand this further. On the consumption of drugs, there’s a hormone called dopamine released by the brain. This makes you experience extreme euphoria, and then your brain wants more it. With time, the brain gets used to this surplus dopamine and is unable to function without it. As a result, the people around you notice a change in everything from your personality to your bodily processes and your memory.
• Infections
  If you are excessively drunk or drugged, you might not indulge in safe intercourse, which puts you at risk of some sexually transmitted infections. Moreover, if the needles injected for drug injection are shared, it can lead to HIV, Hepatitis B, or Hepatitis C.
• Legal troubles
  There are a few offices where the employers would need your drug test before handing you the job. If you do not undergo this test, you might stay unemployed. Moreover, if you drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs, your driver’s license will be suspended, and you’ll be charged a hefty fine. At times, this might even put you in jail.
• Financial problems
  Alcohol and drugs are costly items, especially when consumed daily. So, if you keep spending all your savings on these, you’ll soon land yourself in financial troubles.
• Injuries or death
  If you are driving under the influence of alcohol, you might meet with an accident, which could lead to any physical injury or death if the accident is severe.