Premature Aging and Addiction

Premature aging related to drug addiction isn't just a concern based upon vanity – it's a concern of longevity and quality of life that is heavily affected by long term substance abuse. Drugs like cocaine, heroin, meth, ecstasy and crack are extremely toxic and quickly begin to break down a person's physical health at all levels. Long term use of drugs negatively impacts the skin, the cardiovascular and pulmonary systems as well as the liver and kidneys. In many cases the physical deterioration of an addict may be rapid, severe and readily apparent, but the nature of the disease of addiction usually renders them helpless to stop using. Instead, the serious threat of premature aging and subsequent possibility of premature death must be mitigated through education and understanding about how this disease affects the aging process.

One of the most common ways to use drugs is to smoke them. While the drug itself has destructive properties, smoking it intensifies this greatly by adding carcinogens and dangerous toxins that were never meant or tested for human consumption. These carcinogens and toxins harden arteries, dehydrate the system and lead to chronic, long term illnesses including pulmonary disorders, cardiovascular problems, kidney and liver disease and numerous types of cancers. Most of these problems are usually exacerbated by the type of lifestyle that most drug addicts live. High stress, paranoia, lack of hygiene, malnutrition and other issues only make the premature aging process worse.

Smoking drugs often produces the most visible signs of premature again. This is because the toxins in smoke kills skin cells and hair follicles, resulting in sagging skin, thin or sunken lips, hair loss, and a general lack of collagen or elasticity leading to wrinkling, creases and lines in the skin of the face, neck, hands and arms. This can lead to chronic skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and melanoma or skin cancer.

Some of the most widely publicized cases of premature aging are those caused by use of methamphetamines. These drugs are so addictive and so toxic that people have been known to age by ten years or more with just a few months of use. Regular meth use invariably leads to some degree of what is called "meth mouth." This condition is caused by caustic materials in meth that destroy tooth enamel and underlying dental structures including the gums and jaw bone. Blood vessels along the jaw and gum line are also damaged by meth toxins, leaving the mouth dehydrated and unable to battle normal bacteria types and concentrations. This leads to rapid tooth decay and tooth loss, even if meth was only used for a short period of time.

Drug use and addiction is directly related to premature aging because it stresses the immune system. Like other foreign substances and pathogens, the body naturally seeks to combat the introduction of substances into the system. Because the immune system is believed to be finite in capacity, each time a person stresses it by using drugs it depletes its overall effectiveness and longevity . This reduction in immune-response capacity makes a person more susceptible to common diseases and conditions that would normally be prevented by a healthy immune system, thus serving to age an addict or alcoholic more quickly than a non-user.

Some of the effects of premature aging can be mitigated or even reversed if help is sought quickly enough. This is why it is absolutely imperative to reach out for help if you or someone you care about is suffering from a substance abuse or drinking problem.

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