What are the effects of prolonged drug use on the mind and body?

Published May 26, 2010

I am a 22 year old male with a history of drug usage starting from the age of 14. I will give a brief run down on what I used and for how long and how I feel it still effects me now that I am for the “most part” sober.

At 14 years of age, the first drug I tried was LSA.. By the age of 15 1/2 I was placed in a rehab center for 7 months. I had been abusing a surplus of pain pills, benzos, ketamine, cocaine, marijuana, and occasional x.

After the age of 17 I became a user of cocaine, marijuana, prescription pills…also my drug of choice was meth. I snorted and smoked meth for 2 years along with taking large amounts of x on a weekly basis. From 17-19 I had taken over 70 xtc pills, sometimes 10 in a weekend…I admitted myself in rehab for my meth abuse when I was using over a .5g-2g a day for almost a year (sometimes staying up 4-8 days) before falling asleep and repeating the process.

After the age of 19 and my second time out from rehab, I started using prescription pills…I had with withdrawals from so many stimulants…It wasnt until I turned 20 years old before I grasped the true meaning of being sober and I had a last stint with meth and xtc before it clicked…in all I probably took about 140 xtc pills and spent over 8,000.00 on meth in my time. I smoked marijuana regularly and took more xanax and prescription medicines than most would think was humanly possible.

I have been sober for 1 1/2 years. I have not abused prescription pain pills either but still regularly smoke small amounts of marijuana and drink occasionaly….

My problem now; I have elevated stress almost constantly…my muscles will ache with tension frequently. I get sick more often than I ever have in my life. My nerves bother me…I get sweaty and hot and my heart rate becomes elevated often in stressfull situations. Sometimes I drink alcohol to calm myself which isnt good but I dont have a big habit doing that.

I get these urges and I cant sit down…I’ll pace around and get nothing accomplished, sometimes I’m shaky. If I drink caffeine it makes all of this 10 times worse so I stay away. I have ADD but there is nothing that can be done about it, the medicines are way to risky for myself to consume. I know this is really long but I wanted yall to really grasp the extent of my usage and help me figure out ways to cope with it, maybe tell me how long it will last…what should I tell a ddoctor and can anything be done? One great thing…I dont crave drugs, I have gotten thru those symptoms, I just have lingering after effects.

What are the effects of prolonged drug use on the mind and body?

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