Short Term and Long-Term Effects of Substance Use and Abuse

a. GATEWAY DRUGS Short-Term Effects Long-Term Effects

1. Alcohol - Headache and light - Damage of organs like liver, heart, colon,
headedness and brain
- Slurred speech - Cancer
- Slow body reflex, senses, and - Cardiovascular diseases - Cirrhosis of
coordination the liver
- Overconfident - Poor study and work
- Mood swings (depression, high spirit, performance
aggressiveness) - Nausea (headache with - Paralysis and/ or loss of limb due to road
vomiting) accidents and other tragic events
- Experience of blackout (loss of - Alcohol poisoning which leads to coma
consciousness) and eventual death

2. Tobacco - Stress - Development of asthma -

- Rapid heart rate and pulse rate Atherosclerosis
- Persistent cough - Thrombosis
- Difficulty in breathing - Halitosis or bad - Cardiovascular diseases - Chronic
breath - Sinusitis and otitis media - Obstructive
Increased phlegm Pulmonary Disease
production - Cancer of the mouth,
- Stomach problems throat, skin, lungs, and other body
- Weak physical parts
performance - Hypertension or increased blood pressure
- Heart attack and stroke which leads to
coma and death

B. DEPRESSANTS - Slow brain function which leads to
temporary memory loss
- Slow pulse rate and heart rate - Below
normal breathing pattern - Low blood
pressure
- Inability to concentrate and poor
judgment
- Confusion and irritability
- Dizziness and lightheadedness -
Slurred speech
- Loss of body balance and
sluggishness
- Depression
- Agitation and aggressive behaviors -
Depression leading to mental
disorders
- Hypertension or high blood pressure -
Cardiovascular diseases
- Paralysis of the muscles and nerves -
Brain stroke
- Chronic liver disease
- Renal or kidney failure
- Cancer of the colon and other form of
cancer
- Diabetes
- Coma and death

C. STIMULANTS - Increased heart rate and pulse rate - - Paranoia

Increased respiration (breathing) rate - - Heart attack
Increased digestive processes - Brain stroke
- Increased blood pressure - Brain damage
- Increased body temperature - Kidney damage
- Decreased appetite - Liver damage
- Alert body responses - Coma which leads to death
- Inability to sleep
- Euphoria
- Depression (the “down” that follows the
“up” sensation)

Short-Term Effects Long-Term Effects

D. NARCOTICS - Drowsiness - Development of diseases like hepatitis,

- Euphoria tetanus and HIV-AIDS due to needle
- Loss of appetite sharing
- Vomiting - Overdose leading to comatose and death
- Nausea
- Muscle cramps and pain
- Chills and shaking
 - Weight loss
- Difficulty in sleeping
- Difficulty in breathing
- Inflammation of the veins
- Panic attacks

E. HALLUCINOGENS - Euphoria - Flashback (effects of the drug come back

- Hallucinations (seeing things which after a long time of not using it)
are not there) - Increased blood pressure
- Poor judgment of time and - Brain damage
distance - Psychosis (a mental disorder in which
- Inability to sleep reality is distorted or twisted) - Coma and
- Loss of appetite which lasts up to 10 death
hours
- Nausea
- Poor body coordination
- Feeling of super strength
- Increased blood pressure and heart
rate
- Aggressive behavior
- Memory loss
- Slurred speech

F. INHALANTS - Slurred speech - Loss of hearing

- Poor coordination - Uncontrolled muscle spasms - Brain
- Euphoria damage
- Dizziness and nausea - Nerve damage
- Feeling of lightheadedness - Foul - Bone marrow damage
breath
- Hallucinations
- Delusions