Alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, opiates, prescription and club drugs: how each affects the body, how addiction takes hold, and the risks in pregnancy.
93 HealthJournals
Addiction’s potential for destruction is infamous, and how someone finds themselves on the inside of it is a lot more complicated than it seems. Read more on why addiction to drugs and alcohol involves more than simple experimentation gone wrong.
As if fentanyl weren’t dangerous enough, a flesh-destroying sedative is finding its way into mixtures, often unbeknownst to users. Read more about xylazine, also known as "Tranq," and its devastating effects.
Many drugs can alter a person’s thinking and judgment, and can lead to health risks, including addiction, drugged driving, infectious disease, and adverse effects on pregnancy. Information on commonly used drugs with the potential for misuse or addiction can be found here.
Drug addiction is a chronic brain disease. It causes a person to take drugs repeatedly, despite the harm it inflicts. However, addiction is treatable. Understand more about substance abuse, why people take drugs, and the principles of effective treatment.
If you are like many adults, you drink alcohol at least occasionally. For many people, moderate drinking is probably safe. But drinking less is better for your health than drinking more, and there are some people who should not drink at all. Learn how alcohol affects you and how much is too much.
Alcohol and Health Alcohol Use Disorder 
Excessive Alcohol Use 
Alcoholic Intoxication 
Alcohol and Medicines 
Alcohol 
Underage Drinking 
Alcohol and Cancer Risk 
Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease 
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders 
Aging and Alcohol 
Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) Treatment 
Women and Alcohol 
Talking to Children About Alcohol and Other Drugs 
Cirrhosis Marijuana refers to the dried leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds from the Cannabis sativa or Cannabis indica plant. The plant contains the mind-altering chemical THC and other cannabinoids such as cannabidiol (CBD). Read about both the adverse health effects and the potential therapeutic benefits linked to marijuana.
Tobacco use remains the leading preventable cause of disease and death in the United States. Smokers are exposed to a toxic mix of over 7,000 chemicals when they inhale cigarette smoke, the consequences of which can threaten their health in many ways. Learn more about the health effects of tobacco use.
Smoking 
Smoking While Pregnant 
Coping with Nicotine Withdrawal and Triggers 
Tobacco Use and Health 
Smoking and Older Adults 
Smoking and Youth 
Smoking and Heart Health 
Secondhand Smoke 
Smokeless Tobacco 
Smokeless Tobacco and Cancer Risk 
Quitting Dip 
Cigarette Smoking and Cancer Risk 
"Light" Cigarettes and Cancer Risk 
Women and Smoking 
Quitting Smoking 
Quit Smoking Medicines 
E-Cigarettes 
Cigar Smoking and Cancer 
Nicotine Withdrawal 
Nicotine Replacement Therapy 
Smoking-Related Illnesses 
Wellness and Smoking 
Smoking and Eye Disease 
Quitting Vaping Club drugs are a group of psychoactive drugs popular at bars, nightclubs, and raves. They include MDMA (Ecstasy), GHB, and others. Club drugs are also sometimes used as "date rape" drugs.
Opioids are a class of drugs that include the illegal drug heroin, synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, and pain relievers available legally by prescription, such as oxycodone (OxyContin), hydrocodone (Vicodin), codeine, morphine, and many others. Regular use can lead to dependence, and misuse of opioids can lead to addiction, overdose and possibly, death.
Prescription drugs that can be prescribed by doctors include opioids, CNS depressants, stimulants, and cognitive enhancers. Prescription drug abuse happens when you take medicine in a way that is different from what your doctor prescribed. Every medicine has some risk of side effects. Doctors take this into account when prescribing medicines.
During pregnancy, drug and substance use can harm your developing baby and may put you at risk of pregnancy complications. Substances that may lead to birth defects in an embryo or fetus are called teratogens.
Hallucinogens are a diverse group of drugs that alter perception (awareness of surrounding objects and conditions), thoughts, and feelings. Hallucinogens can be found in some plants and mushrooms (or their extracts) or can be human-made. It includes LSD, psilocybin, peyote, DMT, and ayahuasca.
Substance use affects different populations in different ways. Learn about drug use and abuse in youths, women, and older adults.
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