3.4.3. HOW DOES STIMULANT USE DISORDER IMPACT HEALTH?
How do stimulants impact heart health?
People with stimulant use disorders face a higher risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.
Stimulants like cocaine, can cause heart problems by narrowing blood vessels and increasing the heart’s workload, leading to reduced blood flow (myocardial ischemia).
When alcohol is consumed alongside cocaine, the body produces a harmful substance called cocaethylene, which is toxic to the heart and prolongs the effects of cocaine.
Why do drug users face higher infection risks?
People who use stimulants are more vulnerable to infectious diseases like hepatitis B and C, HIV, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and tuberculosis. This is largely due to risky behaviors such as sharing needles, unprotected sex, and poor hygiene.
Drug use can also increase sexual activity, sometimes leading individuals to trade sex for drugs, raising the likelihood of multiple partners and unsafe practices.
Unfortunately, many people with substance use disorders – especially those with mental health conditions – rarely get tested or vaccinated for these diseases.
Men with severe mental illness and hepatitis C are more likely to engage in needle sharing, while women in similar situations are more prone to risky sexual behaviors, such as unprotected sex in exchange for money or drugs. People with both HIV and/or hepatitis C and a substance use disorders often experience additional mental health issues like anxiety, depression, mania, or even psychosis.
Stimulant use disorder and risks for mothers, babies, and long-term health
Pregnant women who use stimulants face serious risks, including premature labor, placental complications, and low birth weight babies. Cocaine use, in particular, can harm both the mother and the developing baby.
Beyond pregnancy-related risks, stimulant use can lead to cognitive impairments and dental problems, especially among methamphetamine users. A well-known example is “meth mouth” which causes extreme tooth decay and gum disease. Stimulant users are also at higher risk of traumatic injuries, often linked to aggressive behavior.
Many engage in illegal activities, such as theft or prostitution, to sustain their drug habits, increasing their likelihood of encountering violence and legal troubles.
Emergency room visits are common due to mental health crises, infections, and drug-related injuries.
Can stimulants cause schizophrenia?
Research shows that schizophrenia or other chronic psychotic disorders, which can develop after drug-induced psychosis, are not exclusively caused by drug use.
These substances may provoke psychosis in people who are already at high risk, rather than being the main cause.
Methamphetamine-induced psychosis vs. schizophrenia
Methamphetamine-induced psychosis (MIP) and schizophrenia can look very similar, which makes it hard to tell them apart.
Those experiencing methamphetamine-induced psychosis (MIP), usually have less noticeable negative symptoms (e.g. lack of motivation or social withdrawal).
While both conditions share similar symptoms, like hallucinations and delusions, this overlap suggests that there may be both shared and distinct brain mechanisms behind MIP and schizophrenia.
Can antipsychotics reduce drug cravings in dual schizophrenia?
Antipsychotic medications can help manage drug cravings in individuals with both schizophrenia and substance use disorders.
There are studies showing that people with schizophrenia who are in the early stages of cocaine withdrawal often experience much stronger cravings for the drug – sometimes twice as intense – compared to those without schizophrenia.
Research has shown promising results with atypical and partial agonist antipsychotics suggesting they may help reduce cocaine, and cannabis cravings and usage in people with schizophrenia.
