How drugs affect your body

Summary

Different types of drugs affect your body in different ways .

- - ,
They can have short term and long term effects which can be both physical and

psychological .

Making sure you know the risks and harms associated with alcohol or drug use can

help you stay safe and reduce harm .

.
Not all drug use leads to dependence And not everyone who uses drugs or alcohol

wants (or needs) help.

Different types of drugs

(http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/healthyliving/drugs)
,
can affect your body in different ways and the effects associated with drugs

can vary from person to person .

How a drug affects

(http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/How-drugs-affect-your-body)
an individual is dependent on :

body size

general health

the amount and strength of the drug

whether any other drugs have been taken around the same time .

’
a person s mood or the environment they are in .
As illegal drugs are not controlled substances the quality and strength may

differ from one batch to another .

- - .
Drugs have short term and long term effects These effects can be physical

. ,
and psychological Drugs can impact the way you think feel and act Making .
sure you know the risks can help reduce the potential harms you experience .

,
People use drugs for many reasons these reasons might include to :

feel good

relax

cope with stress

(http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/stress)
, anxiety
(http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/conditionsandtreatments/anxiety)
or feelings of depression

(http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/depression)

deal with emotional pain or a history of trauma

experiment

stay awake

fall asleep

increase con fidence

enhance social experiences – such as partying

.
Not all drug use leads to dependence And not everyone who uses drugs or

alcohol wants (or needs) help.

Tolerance and dependence

People who use drugs regularly for a long period of time can develop

.
dependence and tolerance to it Tolerance means they need to take larger

amounts to get the same effect.

, , .
Dependence can be psychological physical or both People who are

dependent on drugs may find that using the drug becomes more important
than other activities in their life.
 .
Remember that there is no safe level of drug use Be careful when taking any

kind of drug .

Different drugs , different effects

' .
Drugs affect the body s central nervous system They affect how a person

, . ,
thinks feels and behaves The seven main types are depressants psychedelics ,
stimulants, empathogens, opioids, cannabinoids, and dissociatives.

Depressants

(https://adf.org.au/drug-facts/depressants)
slow down the messages travelling between the brain and the body They can reduce .
,
arousal and stimulation making a person feel relaxed or drowsy .

Psychedelics

(https://adf.org.au/drug-facts/psychedelics/)
, ’ , .
affect all the senses altering a person s thinking sense of time and emotions They

can also cause a person to hallucinate —seeing or hearing things that do not exist or

are distorted.

Stimulants

(https://adf.org.au/drug-facts/stimulants/)
are a class of drugs that speed up messages travelling between the brain and body .
They can make a person feel more awake alert con , , fident or energetic.

Empathogens

(https://adf.org.au/drug-facts/empathogens/)
’
increase a person s feeling of empathy and kindness towards others as well as ,
feelings of being socially accepted and connected .

Opioids

(https://adf.org.au/drug-facts/opioids/)
include any drug that acts on opioid receptors in the brain and any natural or ,
synthetic drugs that are made from or related to the opium poppy Opioids slow .
heart rate and breathing and provide sensations of pleasure and pain relief .

Cannabinoids

(https://adf.org.au/drug-facts/cannabinoids/)
are chemical compounds found in all parts of the cannabis plant They are .
responsible for the psychoactive effect when cannabis is consumed They can make .
, ,
a person feel happy relaxed anxious or paranoid .

Dissociatives

(https://adf.org.au/drug-facts/dissociatives/)

(also referred to as 'dissociative anaesthetics') can cause people to feel separated or

 (also referred to as 'dissociative anaesthetics') can cause people to feel separated or
detached from reality. They can also cause hallucinations or other changes in

thoughts, emotions and consciousness.

Risk factors for drug related harm -

, ,
The effects of a drug and how long they last depend on a number of factors :

the type and strength

how the drug was made

, , ,
your height weight age and metabolism

the amount you take

how often or how long you have used the drug

how the drug is taken (orally, snorting or injecting). Compared with swallowing,
snorting and injecting are more likely to lead to overdose. If injecting drugs, there is

an increased risk of tetanus, infection and vein damage. If sharing injecting

equipment there is an increased risk of hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV/AIDS.

Using drugs may increase the risk of experiencing mental health issues for

people with a history or family history of these conditions .

Mixing drugs

(https://adf.org.au/reducing-risk/polydrug-use/)
− including over-the-counter or prescribed medications − can be
unpredictable and dangerous.

Harms from drug use

Drug use can affect short - and long-term health , including physical and
mental health .

People may experience some of the following :

Taking part in risky behaviours such as drink driving or unprotected sex

Changes in behaviour such as mood swings or increased aggression toward others

Impacts on sleep

(http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/sleep)
or experiencing insomnia

(http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/sleep-insomnia)
 /
Cognitive memory problems

Reduced appetite or not eating a balanced diet

(http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/healthy-eating)

Regular colds

(http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/colds)
and flu
(http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/flu-influenza)

Long term health impacts such as liver

(http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/liver)
, kidney
(http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/kidneys)
and heart problems

(http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/heart)
or cancer

(http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/cancer)
(depending on the type of drug used and how frequently it was used)

Dental health problems

(http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/teeth-and-drug-use)
(cavities and gum disease)

Mental health issues such as anxiety and depression

Dependence

Overdose

Psychosis

(http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/psychosis)

Infectious disease from shared injecting equipment

Damage to veins from unsafe injecting practices

,
Financial work or social problems .

Effects of common drugs

Cannabis

(http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/cannabis-marijuana)
(hash, pot, dope, weed, grass, skunk, marijuana)

may cause relaxation and altered perception

 can lead to increased heart rate

(http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/conditionsandtreatments/heart)
and blood pressure

(http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/blood-pressure)

, ,
can make you feel relaxed and happy but can also cause lethargy anxiety paranoia , ,
.
and psychosis in extreme cases A history or family history of mental illness may

increase the possibility of more extreme psychotic reactions

is linked to mental health problems such as schizophrenia

(http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/schizophrenia)
, ,
and when smoked to lung diseases such as asthma

(http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/asthma)
, chronic bronchitis and lung
(http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/lung-cancer)
, throat
(http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/throat-cancer)
, mouth
(http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/mouth-cancer)
and tongue cancer

(http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/cancer)

.
affects how your brain works Regular use can make it hard for you to concentrate ,
learn and retain information

reduces your fertility

when mixed with tobacco

(http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/healthyliving/smoking-and-tobacco)
, is likely to increase the risk of heart disease
(http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/heart-disease-risk-factors)
and lung cancer .

Cocaine

(http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/cocaine)
(powder cocaine, coke, blow, Charlie, crack)

gives you increased energy

,
makes you feel happy awake con ,
fident and less inhibited, but has a nasty 'come
down' that makes you feel depressed and unwell. (Using depressant drugs to help

with the severity of come downs can increase the chances of the development of

negative cycles of dependence .)

can overstimulate the heart and nervous system and lead to a seizure brain ,
,
haemorrhage stroke or heart attack (people have died from cocaine-induced heart
failure )
 failure )

reduces your pain perception and may result in injury

,
carries greater risk if mixed with alcohol or other stimulants especially if you have

high blood pressure or if you have an existing heart condition

,
can harm your baby during pregnancy and may cause miscarriage

,
can increase the risk of mental health issues such a s anxiety paranoia and

psychosis

,
if snorted can cause damage to the lining of the nasal passage and nose

,
if injected can cause vein collapse and increased risk of HIV and hepatitis infection .

Mephedrone (meow meow, m-cat, plant food, bubble, meph)

,
can induce feelings of happiness euphoria and con fidence, but can also cause
anxiety and paranoia

,
causes vomiting sweating and headaches in some people

can overstimulate your heart and nervous system

can cause periods of insomnia

can lead to fits and agitation and hallucinatory states

, ,
if used in large amounts can cause tingling of the hands and feet seizure and

respiratory failure

has been linked to a number of deaths

,
if injected can cause vein collapse and increases the risk of HIV and hepatitis

infection .

Ecstasy

(http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/mdma-ecstasy)
(MDMA, pills, E, eckies)

,
can make you feel alert warm and chatty

can make sounds and colours seem more intense

, ,
may cause anxiety confusion paranoia and even psychosis

is linked (in cases of long-term use) to memory loss, depression and anxiety
 is linked (in cases of long-term use) to memory loss, depression and anxiety

can lead to overheating and dehydration

,
tends to stop your body producing enough urine so your body retains fluid.

Speed

(http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/amphetamines)
(amphetamine, billy, whizz)

can make you feel alert con , fident and energetic

can reduce appetite

may make you agitated and aggressive

,
may cause confusion paranoia and even psychosis

,
can make you very depressed and lethargic for hours or days when used a lot

can cause high blood pressure and heart attacks

,
is more risky if mixed with alcohol or if you have blood pressure or heart problems

, ,
puts you at risk of overdose vein and tissue damage and infectious disease (such as
hepatitis C and HIV ), if you inject speed.

Ice

(http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/Ice)
(crystal meth, shabu, crystal, glass, shard, P):

may create feelings of pleasure and con fidence

can make you feel alert and energetic

can cause you to repeat simple things like itching and scratching

can cause enlarged or dilated pupils and a dry mouth

may make you grind your teeth

can cause excessive sweat

can increase your heart rate and breathing

may reduce your appetite

may increase your sex drive

 may increase your sex drive

puts you at risk of infectious diseases (such as hepatitis B

(http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/hepatitis-b)
, hepatitis C
(http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/hepatitis-c)
and HIV

(http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/hiv-and-aids)
) if you inject it

can damage your nasal passages and cause nose bleeds if you snort it .

The Alcohol and Drug Foundation has a list of drugs and their effects

(https://adf.org.au/drug-facts/)
.

Effects of a 'come down'

, ' ’
If you are planning on taking drugs and alcohol it s likely you ll experience a

come down afterwards .

’
Comedowns don t last forever but they can feel unpleasant .

, ’
How long it lasts depends on the type of drug it s strength and the amount you

took along with your general health .

Common effects are :

,
feeling anxious depressed or irritable

tiredness

shaky

dizzy

sweaty

headaches

(http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/headache)

nauseous

lack of appetite

sleepy or unable to sleep .

To help reduce the effects of a comedown you can :

avoid using again straight away

eat some healthy food to recover and restore energy

stay hydrated

rest as much as you can – your body and brain need time to heal

get some fresh air

– avoid people or places that stress you out, and do things that
be kind to yourself

make you feel good like a hot bath or listening to music.

Where to get help

Alcohol and Drug Foundation

(https://adf.org.au/help-support/)
Tel. 1300 85 85 84
– for confidential information and advice, and to get connected with relevant
services in your state and territory

DirectLine

(http://www.directline.org.au/)
Tel . 1800 888 236
‒ to speak to a confidential telephone counsellor about any drug issue and referral
to treatment services

ReachOut NextStep

(https://au.reachout.com/#nextstep)
‒ an anonymous online tool that recommends relevant support options based on the
help that you want

References

Drug facts

(https://adf.org.au/drug-facts/)
, Alcohol and Drug Foundation, Australia.

The effects of drugs

(https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/addiction-support/drug-addiction-getting-help/)
, NHS Choices, UK.
 Drug use and your health

(https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Health/pages/conditions.aspx?hwId=ug4831#ug4834)
, 2013. MyHealth.Alberta.ca.

Drug help

(https://www.health.gov.au/health-topics/drugs/about-drugs/how-to-reduce-or-quit-drugs)
, Department of Health, Australian Government.

This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by :

(https://www2.health.vic.gov.au/)
(http://www.adf.org.au/)

View all drugs

(http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/healthyliving/drugs)

Content disclaimer

.
Content on this website is provided for information purposes only Information about a therapy service , ,
, ,
product or treatment does not in any way endorse or support such therapy service product or treatment

and is not intended to replace advice from your doctor or other registered health professional The.
information and materials contained on this website are not intended to constitute a comprehensive

, .
guide concerning all aspects of the therapy product or treatment described on the website All users are

urged to always seek advice from a registered health care professional for diagnosis and answers to

, ,
their medical questions and to ascertain whether the particular therapy service product or treatment

.
described on the website is suitable in their circumstances The State of Victoria and the Department of

Health shall not bear any liability for reliance by any user on the materials contained on this website .

Reviewed on : 02-11-2022
The Victorian Government acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the Traditional

,
Custodians of the land and acknowledges and pays respect to their Elders past and present .

, ,
The Department of Health celebrates values and includes people of all backgrounds genders ,
, ,
sexualities cultures bodies and abilities .

Privacy statement : https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/about/privacy

Copyright notice: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/about / terms- of-use

Disclaimer notice: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/about / terms- of-use

,
This web site is managed and authorised by the Department of Health State Government of Victoria ,
Australia © Copyright State of Victoria 2021.