Substance use affects individuals, families, and communities across Texas. The health risks of drug use touch every age group, from people in their early teen years to older adults.
Texans continue to see overdose trends that mirror national concerns around opioids and other drugs linked to preventable death. The dangers of substance abuse demand informed action and accessible care. Understanding why substance use starts, how it harms health and well-being, and how professional treatment works can help you or a loved one take the next step toward recovery.
Organizations like The Right Step Recovery rehab centers in Texas provide comprehensive drug addiction treatment programs tailored to the needs of Texans at all stages of life. Our evidence-based approach supports you and your family through personalized care plans designed for long-term recovery.
What Causes Substance Use and Addiction?
Drug misuse rarely begin for a single reason. Several factors can contribute, and they often interact:
- Genetic and biological risk factors: A family history of addiction and differences in brain chemistry under stress can increase vulnerability.
- Mental health: Co-occurring mental disorders, including depression and anxiety, often raise the risk that substance use will escalate.
- Early exposure: Experimental use or occasional use during the teen years can change a developing brain and raise the chance of later drug addiction.
- Environment and stress: Trauma, social pressure, limited recreational activities, and economic stress can make initial drug use more likely.
- Access: Easy access to prescription drugs or exposure to illicit drugs can increase risk.
- Misinformation: People may assume a drug is safe, especially alcohol, marijuana, and prescription drugs.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse explains how substances affect nerve cells and brain reward circuits, which can create intense cravings and tolerance. Over time, a person may need more of the drug to feel the same effect, and that pattern can progress to substance use disorder.
How Drug Use Affects the Body and Mind
The health consequences of drug use can be immediate and long term. Effects vary based on the substance, dose, frequency, and personal risk factors.
Physical Effects
- Heart and circulation: Stimulants can raise blood pressure and heart rate. High doses may trigger heart attacks or abnormal rhythms. Over time, drug misuse can contribute to heart disease.
- Liver and kidneys: Drinking alcohol and misusing some prescription drugs can lead to liver disease and other kidney problems.
- Lungs: Smoking or vaping various substances can irritate and damage lung tissue. Inhalants and bath salts can cause sudden, severe lung injury.
- Temperature and hydration: Some drugs disrupt body temperature and fluid balance, which can lead to medical emergencies.
- Weight and teeth: Chronic stimulant use can cause weight loss and dental problems like meth mouth. Slowed healing and infections are also common.
- Neurology: Repeated exposure changes how the brain works. Some substances can cause brain damage, memory problems, slurred speech, and seizures.
- Infectious disease: Injection drug use raises higher risk for HIV, hepatitis, and serious infections at injection sites.
Immediate toxicity can also cause overdose and death. Mixing drugs, or combining alcohol with other drugs, can suppress breathing or lead to dangerous heart rhythms. Illicit drugs may be contaminated or contain dangerous additives, increasing side effects and overdose risk.
Mental and Behavioral Effects
- Mood and thinking: Substance use can worsen depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions.
- Cognition: Problems with attention, learning, decision making, and judgment may follow repeated drug use.
- Behavior: Risky behaviors plus impaired reaction time can increase the likelihood of car crashes, injuries, and other negative outcomes.
- Relationships: The person using may isolate or develop strained relationships with family members and friends.
- Functioning: Substance use can disrupt academic performance, work, and daily routines that support well-being.
Intense cravings, withdrawal symptoms, and tolerance are clues that the brain has adapted to the presence of the drug.
Special Health Situations
Some groups are at additional risk for substance use disorder complications, including:
- Pregnant women: Opioid use during pregnancy can lead to neonatal abstinence syndrome in newborns, which requires medical care.
- Youth: The brain in the teen years is more sensitive to substances. Early marijuana and alcohol exposure is linked to higher risk of later addiction.
- People with medical complications: People with chronic health problems face increased risk from drug use, including interactions with medications and other health problems.
When Occasional Use Becomes a Substance Use Disorder
Substance use exists on a spectrum. Initial drug use may start as experimental use or occasional use, such as drinking alcohol at social events or trying marijuana. With repeated exposure, brain chemistry adapts. Developing a tolerance and experiencing withdrawal symptoms when not using are hallmark features of substance use disorder.
Signs of escalation include using larger amounts, using longer than intended, intense cravings, and spending a lot of time obtaining or using the drug. Common patterns include misuse of prescription drugs, combining alcohol with sedatives, or shifting from pain pills to an illegal drug after tolerance develops.
Substances and Examples of Health Risks
- Alcohol: A legal substance can still cause dependence, liver disease, and heart problems when used heavily. It can also worsen depression and impair judgment.
- Marijuana: Whether legal or illicit, marijuana can impair attention and learning, especially in the developing brain. In some users, heavy use is linked to anxiety or mood changes.
- Stimulants: Substances in this group raise blood pressure and body temperature, and at high doses can trigger heart attacks or seizures.
- Opioids: Opiate-type drugs are potent pain relievers with high overdose potential. Withdrawal symptoms can be severe, and illicit drug supply contamination increases danger.
- Synthetic drugs: Products such as bath salts or other synthetic stimulants have unpredictable effects and high toxicity.
Illicit drug use and drug misuse can look different from person to person. Harm can vary based on history, dose, route of use, and co-occurring conditions.
How Treatment Helps People Heal
Effective care starts with an evaluation by a mental health professional who can assess substance use, mental health, and medical needs. A personalized treatment plan may include therapy, medications if appropriate, and recovery supports like peer groups and family involvement. Support groups can help many people maintain recovery.
At The Right Step, Texans can explore addiction treatment programs that address both substance use and mental health needs. Additional options for specific populations, such as young adult drug addiction treatment and men’s addiction treatment centers, can match care to life stage and other demographics for more targeted treatment.
What Recovery Looks Like Over Time
Recovery happens in stages and looks something like this:
- Safety first: Reducing overdose risk and medical complications
- Stabilization: Managing withdrawal symptoms, cravings, and sleep
- Skill building: Learning triggers, coping skills, and relapse prevention
- Whole health: Addressing physical health problems and mental health conditions together
- Community: Reconnecting with family members, work, school, and healthy recreational activities
Recovery is also not linear. Setbacks happen, and risk can rise during stressful periods, which can be a source of concern for families. Staying connected with care, support groups, and trusted clinicians helps maintain progress.
When to Seek Help
If drug use is interfering with your health, relationships, safety, or responsibilities, it is time to seek help. A mental health professional can assess symptoms and help you create a treatment plan that fits your needs. The Right Step serves Texas communities with addiction treatment programs in Texas that are evidence-based, compassionate, and tailored to real life.
