The National Institute on Drug Abuse, or NIDA, says that--in most cases--drug addiction begins as simple social experimentation that eventually leads to increased use and dependence. The agency also says that addiction is a brain disease and long-term drug use can cause permanent effects on both the structure and function of the brain. Long-term use that leads to this type of damage can cause various problems, ranging from co-occurring mental disorders to problems sleeping.
Changes in Mental Health
Co-occurring conditions are notoriously difficult to treat. Unfortunately, drug abuse problems frequently lead to the development of mental disorders, says the Medical University of South Carolina. Suffering from drug addiction greatly increases the chances of developing several mental conditions, such as mood and bipolar disorders and depression. The bad news is that suffering from co-occurring drug addiction and a mental disorder is that the two greatly reduce the effect of virtually any treatment given to a patient. There is good news, however. According to NIDA, if a patient who suffers from drug abuse problems and a mental problem receives treatment for one of his conditions, the treatment usually alleviates both conditions.
Learning and Memory
NIDA says that it is common for people who have illicitly used drugs for an extended period of time to notice some kind of signs that their mental abilities have diminished since they began using the drugs. It may be difficult for an addict to remember recent events, shift her attention from one subject to another, and learn new things. Cannabinoids, that is, drugs derived from the cannabis plant, are the most notorious group of drugs for causing these types of effects. However, cannabinoids are not the only drugs that can cause these effects. For example, inhalants, certain stimulants and depressants, and barbiturates have been known to cause problems associated with memory and learning.
Changes in Sleeping Patterns
It is possible for drug addicts to experience several sleep-related problems. This is caused by the effects some drugs have on the brain's and the body's internal clock. These effects are known to cause disruptions in regular sleeping patterns and several conditions, such as sleep apnea, insomnia and hypersomnia. There are a few ways a drug user might start suffering from these types of complications. According to the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services, some reasons for a person to develop, for example, sleep apnea include not only prolonged use, but also disruptions in drug use, like withdrawal. Unfortunately, it is possible for a drug addict to think consuming even more of a drug will help him get more or better sleep. This kind of increased use, however, often just causes the problems to worsen.
References
- National Institute on Drug Abuse: Drugs, Brains, and Behavior--The Science of Addiction
- National Institute on Drug Abuse: InfoFacts: Understanding Drug Abuse and Addiction
- Medical University of South Carolina: Mood Disorders and Substance Use Disorder: A Complex Comorbidity
- National Institute on Drug Abuse: Treating Mood Disorders in Drug Abuse Patients Yields Improvement in Both Conditions
- National Institute on Drug Abuse: Research Report Series--Marijuana Abuse
