3.1. Explain the effects of alcohol and illegal drug use on the health of the user

This guide will help you answer 3.1. Explain the effects of alcohol and illegal drug use on the health of the user.

Alcohol and illegal drugs can affect nearly every part of the body. They influence both mental and physical health. Some effects happen quickly and others build over time. The impacts can vary with age, the type of substance, how much is taken, and how often it is used. In early years and youth care work, knowing these effects helps you recognise risks and spot early signs of harm.

How Alcohol Affects Health

Alcohol is a depressant. This means it slows down the way the brain and nervous system work. It can make a person feel relaxed at first, but it also reduces coordination, judgement, and reaction time.

Short-term effects of alcohol include:

• Slurred speech
• Poor balance and coordination
• Slowed thinking and reduced decision-making ability
• Lowered inhibitions, leading to risky behaviour
• Nausea and vomiting from stomach irritation
• Dehydration, which can result in headaches and tiredness

Long-term effects occur if alcohol is used regularly over time:

• Liver damage such as fatty liver, hepatitis, or cirrhosis
• Increased risk of cancers, especially of the mouth, throat, liver, and breast
• High blood pressure and heart disease
• Pancreatitis, which is painful inflammation of the pancreas
• Weakened immune system, making it easier to catch illnesses
• Mental health problems, including depression and anxiety
• Memory problems and brain damage from lack of nutrients or long-term alcohol poisoning
• Alcohol dependence, where the body and mind need alcohol to function normally

Heavy drinking can cause alcohol poisoning. This is a serious medical emergency where the brain and body shut down important functions like breathing. It can be fatal.

How Illegal Drugs Affect Health

Illegal drugs come in many forms. They can be powders, pills, liquids, or plant material. The effects depend on the type of drug, how it is taken, and the dose. Some drugs speed up the body, others slow it down, and some create distorted perceptions.

Stimulants

Stimulants make the brain and body more active. Examples include cocaine, crack, and amphetamines.

Short-term effects of stimulants:

• Increased heart rate and blood pressure
• Feeling energetic and alert
• Restlessness and inability to relax
• Dilated pupils
• Loss of appetite
• Raised body temperature
• Anxiety and panic attacks
• Aggressive behaviour

Long-term effects:

• Heart problems and risk of heart attack or stroke
• Sleep disorders
• Mental health issues such as paranoia and mood swings
• Weight loss and malnutrition
• Dependence and harsh withdrawal symptoms
• Nose damage and breathing problems if snorted
• Risk of infection if injected

Depressants

Depressants slow activity in the brain and body. Illegal depressants include heroin, some illegally used prescription medications like benzodiazepines, and certain synthetic substances.

Short-term effects:

• Relaxed, sleepy state
• Reduced pain
• Slow breathing and heart rate
• Impaired coordination and concentration
• Low body temperature
• Risk of overdose, leading to coma or death

Long-term effects:

• Chronic breathing problems
• Liver and kidney damage
• Strong physical dependence
• Memory problems
• Increased risk of infections if sharing injection equipment
• Severe withdrawal symptoms including shaking, sweating, anxiety, and muscle pain

Hallucinogens

Hallucinogens change perception of reality. Examples include LSD, magic mushrooms, and some synthetic chemicals.

Short-term effects:

• Seeing or hearing things that are not real
• Distorted sense of time and space
• Rapid mood changes
• Increased heart rate and blood pressure
• Nausea
• Unpredictable behaviour which can lead to accidents

Long-term effects:

• Ongoing mental health problems such as flashbacks and inability to focus
• Panic disorders
• Persistent anxiety and depression
• Memory problems

Physical Health Risks

Alcohol and illegal drugs can put serious strain on the body.

Risks include:

• Organ damage such as liver, lungs, heart, and kidneys failing to work properly
• Increased chance of infectious diseases like hepatitis and HIV from shared needles
• Reduced ability to fight infections
• Poor nutrition from appetite loss or poor absorption of food
• Muscle wastage and weakness
• Problems with fertility and pregnancy, including harm to unborn babies
• Slow healing after illness or injury

The body can only handle certain amounts of toxins. Alcohol and drugs often contain harmful additives. These make poor health worse and cause extra damage.

Mental Health Risks

Alcohol and drugs can change how the brain works. This can make mental health problems worse and can cause new ones to develop.

Common effects include:

• Depression and low self-esteem
• Anxiety and panic attacks
• Paranoia
• Psychosis, where the person loses touch with reality
• Memory loss
• Lower concentration levels
• Risk of self-harm or suicide

Substance use can lead to increased aggression or withdrawal from others. Relationships may break down and social isolation can follow.

Effects on Young People’s Health

Young people are more sensitive to the effects of alcohol and drugs. Their bodies and brains are still developing. Regular use at a young age can cause long-term harm.

In young people, effects may include:

• Poor school performance
• Reduced ability to learn and remember information
• Greater risk of mental health problems later in life
• Social problems such as trouble with friends, family, and law enforcement
• Higher risk of accidents and injury
• Impact on physical growth and sexual development

Using substances during teenage years increases likelihood of addiction in adulthood.

Dependence and Addiction

Dependence means the body has adapted to a substance and needs it to function. Addiction is the mental or emotional need to keep using, even when harm is obvious.

Signs of dependence:

• Needing more over time to get the same effect
• Feeling sick or anxious without the substance
• Spending large amounts of time getting or using the substance
• Loss of interest in other activities
• Problems with work, education, or responsibilities

Addiction can lead to homelessness, crime, and serious illness. Recovery often requires medical support and counselling.

Overdose Risks

Overdose happens when someone takes more of a substance than their body can handle. This can happen to both new and experienced users. Overdose can cause:

• Loss of consciousness
• Breathing problems and slow heart rate
• Seizures
• Blue lips or fingertips from lack of oxygen
• Coma
• Death

Mixing substances, such as alcohol with illegal drugs, increases overdose risk.

Effects on Pregnancy

Alcohol and drugs can harm unborn babies. Problems include:

• Premature birth
• Low birth weight
• Miscarriage
• Foetal alcohol syndrome, which causes growth problems and learning difficulties
• Birth defects
• Withdrawal symptoms in newborn babies

Pregnant women using substances need urgent medical advice and support.

Social and Behavioural Effects on Health

Social and lifestyle changes caused by substance use can harm health. Examples include:

• Poor sleep patterns
• Lack of exercise
• Poor diet
• Unsafe sexual behaviour leading to infections or pregnancy
• Increased risk-taking leading to injury

These lifestyle effects can make recovery harder, as they impact body and mind.

Recovery and Support

Stopping alcohol and illegal drug use can improve health over time. The body can heal and mental health can stabilise, but recovery needs support.

Typical support includes:

• GP or nurse check-ups
• Mental health counselling
• Support groups
• Rehabilitation programmes
• Healthy lifestyle planning, including diet and exercise
• Building positive social connections

Some damage may remain, but stopping use prevents further harm.

Final Thoughts

Alcohol and illegal drugs can cause damage in many ways. They affect both the body and the mind. This damage can be quick, such as poisoning or overdose, or slow, such as organ failure and mental health decline over years. Young people face extra risks because their bodies and brains are still developing.

Knowing these effects means you can help look after those in your care. By being aware of signs and symptoms, you can encourage early help and prevent serious harm. Substance use is a health risk that touches social, emotional, and physical wellbeing. Recognising this helps guide your work to support positive outcomes for children, young people, and families.