Drug addiction causes a multitude of physiological and psychological problems. Developing an addiction to a substance can end up destroying a person’s life, as well as that of their family and closest circle. From drugs that could be considered classic to those that have emerged in recent years, all of them pose health risks. Attention is usually focused on how they alter the structure and function of major organs, such as the brain or the liver. However, less localized effects that can be equally important are often overlooked. For example, repeated drug use ends up affecting the patient’s immune system.
This is especially serious when we consider that it is the body’s natural defence against infections caused by bacteria and viruses. In recent years, several studies have shown a cause-and-effect relationship between drugs and a deterioration of the immune system. Cocaine, ecstasy or morphine are some of the substances whose abuse has direct repercussions on the body’s defences.
Morphine
Morphine and heroin are derivatives of opium. Morphine is used as an analgesic in extreme situations of acute pain, but lax prescribing practices or abuse have led to the current “opioid epidemic” in the United States, with a growing number of deaths due to overdoses. A study carried out in 2013 by the Center for Research and Advanced Studies (CINVESTAV) in Mexico showed that drugs directly affect the cells of the immune system. In this way, people who suffer from an addiction to these substances not only die from the direct effects they cause, but also from the immunosuppression that the drugs generate.
The study in question focused on identifying the immunosuppressive reactions generated by morphine use. The interest in the study came from a series of clinical investigations into morphine addicts. These addicts were prone to microbial infections that, in some cases, led to the patient’s death. This prompted CINVESTAV researchers to identify the reactions morphine generated in the body. It was determined through animal models that this drug acts at the cellular level in the immune system to block the production of proteins that attack bacteria when they enter the body.
In the words of Claudia González Espinosa, one of the study’s leaders: “The immune system has two main types of reactions. The first is called adaptive, responsible for producing antibodies. Meanwhile, the second is the innate system, which refers to the first line of defence against pathogens. It is the latter that is affected by morphine use.”
Ecstasy
It is the most widely used designer drug in Spain, and its harmful effects—especially on the brain—have been known for some time. Thanks to a study carried out by the Municipal Institute for Medical Research (IMIM) at Hospital del Mar in Barcelona, it was shown that it also affects the immune system. More than 100 young people aged between 18 and 30 took part in the study—ecstasy users whose progress was followed for three years, between 2001 and 2004. The average age of participants was 20, precisely the age at which Spaniards begin using ecstasy, according to data from the Spanish Observatory on Drugs.
As the researchers were able to observe, ecstasy alters the immune system. Specifically, it increases the secretion of a hormone, cortisol. This leads to reduced production of cells that are essential for the proper functioning of the immune system. Users of this drug are more susceptible to infections and catch colds or the flu more easily. Another consequence of ecstasy use is related to changes in certain cognitive abilities such as working memory and verbal fluency. Users take longer to react to a stimulus and find it harder to remember, for example, names or things they have seen.
Cocaine
One of the most widely used substances in our country is also responsible for reducing the body’s defences. The culprit behind this effect is an adulterant that is too often found in cocaine. This discovery was made possible thanks to the analysis of 1,680 samples of the substance obtained from users in nightlife areas across Spain. Energy Control, an NGO that analyses drugs free of charge, carried out this research in 2011 and discovered that levamisole, an adulterant present in cocaine, was responsible for the deterioration of the immune system.
Another study conducted by the University of Los Angeles in California in 2013 suggested that cocaine could make the body more vulnerable to an HIV infection. To carry out the study, researchers collected blood from healthy human donors and isolated specific cells. They then exposed these cells to cocaine and infected them with HIV. The research team found that exposure to cocaine for three days made the cells more susceptible to HIV infection.
Alcohol
Alcohol is another substance whose consumption can affect the immune system. On the one hand, it affects the gut by destroying the microorganisms that live there and keep it healthy. Therefore, when the body cannot eliminate a pathogen, an infection can worsen and cause more serious and potentially fatal complications. Previous research has shown that alcohol consumption leads to serious lung diseases such as acute respiratory distress syndrome, pneumonia and tuberculosis.
Drinking also makes it harder for the body to properly carry out critical functions such as fighting disease. This happens because, when consumed, the body prioritises breaking down alcohol over other bodily functions.
By definition, drugs are considered substances that can generate dependence and addiction. The solution to overcoming addiction must address those unwanted circumstances that accompany addiction. The health of the person with addiction is damaged, and their overall state of fragility must be taken into account to help them face the rehabilitation process. That is why it is necessary for an Addiction Treatment Centre to provide ongoing medical support, in addition to professionals specialised in addictions. It is important to verify the availability of these services when considering how to overcome an addiction. At CCAdicciones, we can inform you about how we approach comprehensive treatment, supporting the patient in everything they need.
