Do you or someone you love have a substance addiction? It is time to take an honest look at the dangers of that addiction.
Physical dangers
There are physical dangers to substance addiction. These include the following:
- Heart disease
- Lung disease
- Cancer
- HIV
- Hepatitis
- Kidney disease
- Liver disease
- Stomach issues
- Neurological problems
- Psychosis
- Death
Those are just some of the physical dangers that come from substance addiction. Some of them come from alcohol; others come from substances that are snorted, injected, or taken orally.
Mental and emotional dangers
Mental and emotional dangers from substance addiction include the following:
- Paranoia
- Mood swings
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Aggression
- Hallucinations
- Irritability
- Social withdrawal
For younger people whose brain is not fully developed, these dangers are greater. Also, it can lead to lifelong disabilities.
It is hard to determine if mental illness plays a role in addiction. But, according to the Center for Behavioral Health Statistics in 2015, there were approximately 43 million people 18 and older were suffering from some type of mental illness (excluding learning or substance use disorder). Of these, 8 million were suffering from both a substance use disorder and another mental illness.
Financial dangers
Financial dangers can cost you plenty. These include:
- Loss of productivity
- Loss of job
- Loss of income
- Legal fees due to criminal activity to buy substances
- Ill health from a poor diet
- Poverty
- Homelessness
When you can no longer perform your job, show up on time if at all, you will lose your job and your income. This leads to poverty and all the problems that go with it, but not just for you, for your family too if you have young kids. Their life will be impacted by hunger, lack of concentration at school, and their grades will suffer, causing their future opportunities to dwindle.
You may end up in jail over criminal activity in order to support your habit. That would leave your family in hardship, trying to pay bills and looking for a place to live.
Work and personal relationship dangers
Your work and personal relationship are in danger because of substance addiction. These dangers include:
- Social isolation at work
- Lying to family, friends, and coworkers
- No longer participating in family time or functions
- No longer enjoying activities, you use to participate in like hobbies or crafts
- Not caring about your appearance
These are just some of the work and personal relationship dangers on your life of substance addiction. The sad part is you won’t even notice at the time because all you will be thinking about is getting your next fix or drink. So, it won’t just be you that suffers but those around you as well.
If you are ready to commit to recovery, 449 Recovery offers a closely monitored detox program. Call us today (855) 435-7449 to learn more about the therapies we offer to help you reach recovery. We will show you the tools to use to maintain your recovery as you rebuild your life.