How Addiction Affects the Digestive System: Addiction is an intricate problem that affects a person’s mental and emotional well-being and can also have profound physical effects. If left untreated, these effects can be catastrophic. One frequently disregarded factor is the negative impact that addiction can have on the digestive system.
The digestive system is responsible for processing and absorbing nutrients from food and eliminating waste products. It comprises several organs and processes that work together to ensure the body’s overall function. However, drug, alcohol, or opioid addiction can severely impact the digestive system and its functioning.
In this article, we will explore the effects of different addictions on an individual’s health, mainly in the digestive system, the critical consequences, and the role of GateHouse Treatment in offering support.
How Addiction Works
To understand addiction’s impact on the digestive system, it’s essential first to comprehend how addiction works and dispel the notion that people are addicted due to a lack of willpower. Falling into addiction is often the result of complex emotional and psychological factors that many of us don’t fully understand.
People can start with Substance Use Disorder (SUD), a condition characterized by the uncontrolled misuse of harmful substances such as alcohol, opioids, tobacco, or illicit drugs. It occurs when someone continues to use these substances despite their negative impacts. Individuals with more severe cases may be diagnosed with an addiction.
In the book Understanding Addiction, Elizabeth Connell Henderson, MD, a specialist in addiction medicine, explains that addiction is a complex and multifaceted condition involving physical and psychological factors. To better understand addiction, it is crucial to examine how it works by considering various elements.
Here is a general explanation of how addiction works:
Initial Exposure: Addiction often begins with initial exposure to a substance. People usually start experimenting with these substances for various reasons, such as curiosity, peer pressure, or as a method of coping with overwhelming situations.
Brain Reward System: When a person starts addictive behaviors, the brain’s reward system activates by releasing feel-good neurotransmitters such as dopamine. These chemicals create a sense of pleasure and reinforce the desire to repeat the action.
Tolerance and Dependence: The brain develops a tolerance to certain substances over time, meaning that the same amount of consumption no longer produces the same level of pleasure as before. Consequently, people tend to increase their consumption to achieve a higher effect. In this level of addiction, the body needs these substances to function normally.
Cravings and Withdrawal: As addiction develops, the urge to use strengthens. When the person with addiction cannot use, they experience withdrawal symptoms. These intense symptoms can strongly incentivize the individual to continue using the substance.
Loss of Control: Addiction happens when an individual loses control over their substance use. At some point, the person may no longer want to use the substance, but they find it challenging to stop due to intense cravings and withdrawal symptoms.
Negative Consequences: Despite knowing the negative consequences of substances and addiction (health problems, personal relationships, work), people may continue their addictive behavior.
Overcoming addiction is challenging and cannot be achieved solely through willpower. Seeking professional assistance is often necessary to determine the most effective treatment plan, including therapy, medication, support groups, or alternative approaches tailored to individual needs.
How Addiction Affects the Digestive System: An Overseen Problem
Have you ever noticed that when people talk about the effects of addiction, they usually focus on mental health and social consequences while ignoring the physical ones? The truth is that addiction can have wide-ranging impacts on a person’s mental, emotional, and physical well-being.
For example, according to a study by the NLM, the consumption of alcohol is associated with colon cancer. In addition, the consumption of drugs can cause vascular complications in the stomach and lead to digestive and hepatic damage. In this regard, the physical, especially the digestive system, is significantly affected. The following will discuss the potential health risks and digestive system impact of addiction to different substances. Let’s look.
5 Impacts of Alcohol on the Digestive System
Excessive alcohol consumption and addiction can damage the gastrointestinal tract and hinder proper digestive function. The following are the five main impacts of alcohol on the digestive system:
- Gastritis: When you drink too much alcohol, it can irritate your stomach lining. This irritation can lead to a condition called gastritis, which can cause a range of unpleasant symptoms like abdominal swelling, nausea, and vomiting.
- Ulcers: Alcohol is prone to cause damage to the stomach lining, leading to the risk of developing peptic ulcers.
- Esophageal damage: Acid reflux, known as GERD, causes heartburn and damages the esophagus.
- Pancreatitis: The pancreas is essential for digestion and insulin regulation. Consuming too much alcohol can cause pancreas inflammation, known as pancreatitis.
- Liver damage: The liver is responsible for processing alcohol and detoxifying the body. Prolonged alcohol abuse can lead to liver damage, including alcoholic fatty liver disease, alcoholic hepatitis, and eventually cirrhosis.
Side Effects of Opioids on The Stomach
Doctors often prescribe opioids to manage pain, but these drugs are often misused and lead to addiction. When people use or consume opioids in excess, they can experience side effects due to how opioids interact with the receptors in the gastrointestinal tract and nervous system. These side effects may include:
Constipation: This is one of the most common side effects caused by opioids as they slow down the movement of the intestinal tract, resulting in infrequent bowel movements.
Nausea and Vomiting: Opioids can potentially irritate the stomach lining.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): They cause heartburn and the development of GERD by relaxing the lower esophageal sphincter, the muscular ring between the esophagus and stomach.
Bowel obstruction: Long-term opioid use can cause bowel obstruction, resulting in severe abdominal pain, vomiting, and emergency medical intervention due to trapped hard stool in the intestines.
Sphincter Dysfunction: Opioids can affect the functioning of the anal sphincters, causing difficulty controlling bowel movements and increasing the risk of fecal incontinence.
Digestive System Damage for Cocaine Addiction
According to the study, Digestive System Damage Caused by Substance Abuse, cocaine addiction causes blood clotting in the body. When the blood coagulates, it affects intestinal function by impeding blood flow, leading to necrosis and ulcers in the stomach and intestines.
The risk of gangrene in the gastrointestinal system increases with the development of ulcers and necrosis. Additionally, cocaine use affects people’s appetite, leading to malnutrition and nutritional deficiencies.
Related Effects of Methamphetamine on the Digestive System
Methamphetamine is a potent and highly addictive stimulant drug known for its significant impact on the central nervous system. While the primary effects of methamphetamine occur in the brain and behavior, according to Frontiers in Medicine, it can also have related effects on the digestive system, such as:
- Loss of appetite
- Gastrointestinal irritation
- Constipation
- Gastrointestinal bleeding
- Dehydration
6 Steps to Overcome Addiction
Overcoming addiction is a challenging journey that often requires determination, support, and a multifaceted approach. Here are some steps and strategies to help individuals overcome addiction:
1. Recognize the Problem
The first step is acknowledging that there is a problem and how addiction is negatively impacting your life. Accepting the need for change is essential.
2. Seek Professional Help
Consult healthcare professionals, therapists, or healthcare centers. They can provide guidance, conduct assessments, and recommend suitable treatment options.
3. Detoxification
A supervised detox process may be necessary for many substances to manage withdrawal symptoms safely. Medical professionals can provide medications and support during this phase.
4. Choose the Right Treatment Plan
Treatment options include inpatient and outpatient programs, counseling, and behavioral therapies. The right plan depends on the individual’s needs and the substance or behavior involved.
5. Lifestyle Changes
Adjust your daily routine and surroundings to minimize exposure to triggers, including people, places, and situations associated with substance use.
6. Stay Informed
Learn about addiction and its effects on the brain and body. Understanding the science behind addiction can empower you to make knowledgeable decisions.
Addiction can have far-reaching effects on our lives. It is essential to understand that every substance can be harmful and interfere with the proper functioning of our mind and body, leading to negative consequences in our personal and professional lives.
Start Healing Today with GateHouse Treatment
At GateHouse Treatment, we understand that every individual’s journey toward sobriety is unique. That’s why we provide personalized care catering to your needs and goals. Our team of experienced professionals helps you overcome addiction, whether drug or alcohol-related, and build a more fulfilling life.
Successful treatment is more than just achieving sobriety. It’s about creating a solid foundation for lasting recovery and overall well-being. Our approach is to address the root causes of addiction, provide support through every step of the treatment process, and equip you with the tools necessary to maintain sobriety and thrive in your daily life.
Give the first step; contact us today at (855)448-3588 or visit our contact page.
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