preview

Mental Disorders: Short Term Effects Of Substance Abuse

Decent Essays
Open Document

Many clients who seek treatment for substance-related issues may also have other existing medical conditions. Studies show that six out of ten individuals with an illicit substance use disorder also suffer from some type of mental disorder as well (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2012). Whether physical, mental, or related to substance use, any other medical condition can have a significant impact on the treatment and recovery of the client. Any substance use disorder will have a notable impact on any client, but this does not mean that all clients are affected the same way. When clients use different substances, each substance reacts with the individuals body in a way that may be different from others. Addiction has an impact on the individual’s …show more content…

For example, examine the physical symptoms of an individual that chronically uses methamphetamines. Because methamphetamine has such a high potency (NHTSA, 2002), there are very few areas of the body that are not affected by use. Effects of methamphetamine can be short term or long term, but fatal effects are present in both categories. Just one single high dose is enough for an individual to experience nerve damage that is related to the substance. Short term effects of methamphetamine use include dehydration, heavy breathing, and an elevation in body temperature that could possibly be fatal. In addition, long term use can result in a tolerance, making the individual use more and more in order to reach that feeling of euphoria. Some other long term effects that may be experienced by a client include cardiovascular issues, such as an irregular heartbeat or irreversible blood vessel damage. If the blood vessel damage is severe, it is likely that the individual could have a stroke (Arizona State University, 2005). In many cases methamphetamine use has been linked to osteoporosis, a medical condition known to weaken teeth and other bones. Many individuals will have teeth fall out or break off, which in almost all cases is directly related to the methamphetamine …show more content…

For example, the methamphetamines user decides to seek treatment for osteoporosis. This could be beneficial to the client, as long as the medications work in a way that does not damage the individuals body even further. The problem with this, however, has to do with the side effects of most osteoporosis medications. Medications like Prolia, a popular medication used to treat osteoporosis, are known to cause calcium deficiencies in the bones. This clearly poses a significant threat to an individual who has been using methamphetamines, as the calcium in the bones has already been depleted, making the individual more susceptible to bone breakage. Raloxifene, another commonly used osteoporosis medication, has been known to cause blood clots and significantly increase the chance of the individual having a stroke. The chances of a methamphetamine user having a stroke is already high, adding a medication that increases that chance could possibly be

Get Access