Long-term health effects such as liver, kidney and heart problems or cancer (this depends on the type of medicine and the frequency of its use) Dental health problems (cavities and gum disease) Mental health problems such as anxiety and depression.
Drug use can also result in long-term health outcomes that include:
- Harmful to organs and systems in your body, such as your throat, stomach, lungs, liver, pancreas, heart, brain, nervous system.
- Cancer (such as lung cancer from inhaling drugs).
- Infectious disease, from sharing the injecting equipment and increased incidence of risk-taking behaviors.
- Harmful to your baby, if you are pregnant.
- Acne or skin lesions, if the drug you are taking causes you to pick or scratch at your skin.
- Needle marks and collapsed veins, if you inject regularly.
- Male pattern hair growth in women, such as facial hair.
- Jaw and teeth issue due to clenching and grinding your teeth, teeth cavities and gum disease.
- Mood swings and erratic behavior.
- Addiction
- Psychosis (losing touch with reality).
- Accidental overdose.
- Higher risk of mental illness, depression, suicide and death.
