How Substance Abuse Can Affect Your Hormone Levels

The endocrine system can be influenced by various synthetic steroids and hormonally active drugs. In such circumstances, the substance may have intrinsic hormonal activity and operate on a specific target organ of the endocrine system. Some of them can significantly suppress ovulation or increase protein anabolic activity. While these steroids are, in fact, drugs, they do have underlying hormonal activity. On the other hand, drugs with no intrinsic hormonal activity can influence specific endocrine system target organs. Some of these drugs are explicitly used to impact an endocrine process, while others affect hormonal activity due to a side effect or hazardous response. This article will explain how substance abuse can affect your hormone levels.

Effect of different drugs on the endocrine system

As mentioned earlier, substance abuse can affect your hormone levels. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, steroids and performance-enhancing drugs cause temporary and permanent damage. Some of the consequences of this damage include hair growth and male pattern baldness in women and testicular shrinkage and infertility in men.

Hormones must be released into the body on time. However, some drugs interfere with this process. Alcohol is a substance that can compromise the endocrine system's ability to function. For example, it results in:

• A spike in blood sugar leads the pancreas to release more blood sugar, which can result in hypoglycemia in some people. This can be problematic for people with diabetes and those who use blood sugar-lowering drugs.
• Nutrient uptake disruption. Excessive alcohol use may interfere with how the body absorbs calcium, increasing the risk of osteoporosis in some people.
• Loss of testosterone is a problem for men and boys who drink excessively.

Opiates are known to disrupt several endocrine processes in the body and create issues such as:

• Libido deficiency
• Osteoporosis risk
• Menstrual cycle disturbances

Marijuana can also harm the endocrine system. Marijuana usage in men, according to the latest findings, can:

• Limit testosterone production to reduce libido.
• Boost your adrenaline levels.
• Have an impact on the quality of sperm produced by males.

According to specialists, nicotine in cigarettes raises cortisol levels in the body. Furthermore, cocaine can have a damaging effect on adrenal glands, hypothalamus, and pituitary glands.

These are all different types of drugs, but there is one thing they have income - substance abuse can affect your hormone levels. And if you abuse these substances, you can face some severe consequences. Let's elaborate.

Short and long-term consequences on the endocrine system

Short-term endocrine system consequences of alcohol and drug addiction may include increased urination and sexual activity. Furthermore, one research found that cocaine users may overlook social cues and become unable to interpret angry or terrified facial expressions compared to non-users. The study also corroborated previous results that cocaine users may produce less testosterone when using the drug.

According to one research, methamphetamine abuse boosts testosterone production in individuals. Despite the study being done on rats, the paper's premise is that greater exposure to methamphetamine may reduce fertility.

Many long-term endocrine system effects of drugs are related to changes in fertility. Some findings even validated a 1996 theory that some drugs might reduce male fertility. This includes DNA damage to sperm in males who are just exposed to cigarette smoke, as well as a drop in testosterone levels overall.

Furthermore, alcohol has also been associated with a drop in semen quality, while cocaine usage has been connected to a decrease in male fertility. It has also been associated with increased hazardous behavior, which might raise the user's risk of developing sexually transmitted illnesses or lead to cigarette consumption.

As you can see, substance abuse can harm your hormone levels in many ways, some of which will leave permanent consequences.

Can our hormonal system repair itself?

Despite many findings, more research is still necessary to discover if the endocrine system can mend itself after an extended drug or alcohol addiction. According to current studies, the brain may repair itself after giving up alcohol, and the liver can begin healing within a few days after abstaining. This demonstrates that the body can recover to some extent if all substance usage is discontinued.

People should speak with an endocrinologist to identify the best treatment for drug-related health complications. If your endocrine system has been harmed by drug or alcohol misuse, look for a recovery clinic with a doctor on staff. Comprehensive therapy that treats all related medical conditions is required to guarantee total rehabilitation on all fronts.

Staying away from drugs in recovery

It's a known fact that recovery is a highly challenging process for those suffering from an addiction. The temptations are everywhere, and motivation is not high at all. That's why recovery patients need to settle in a surrounding that will help them get through this process as smoothly as possible.

Patients can choose two options for recovery: inpatient and outpatient programs.

Outpatient treatment allows patients to remain at home and in their communities while resolving their addiction problems. Some programs have a predetermined timetable in which recovery patients are expected to arrive in groups with others. Other programs use an appointment system to accommodate concerns like job and childcare.

Inpatient rehabilitation is a type of addiction treatment in which the patient remains at the institution for a prolonged time. During this time, the patient attends therapy sessions and engages in a variety of activities aimed at assisting them in healing. Medical professionals and mental health specialists frequently recommend this form of treatment. It offers a controlled recovery environment and 24-hour medical and emotional assistance. If there is any place you'll get the help you need, it's the inpatient treatment facility.

Conclusion

Drug and alcohol addiction can harm you in many ways. In this article, we wanted to explain how substance abuse can affect your hormone levels. As you can see, many adverse effects can change your life forever. One of the most mentioned ones is by far infertility. In addition, the hormones and their target organs can act differently in men and women. What's important here is to get proper help during the recovery and surround yourself with lots of unconditional support. 

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