In 2014, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) is conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). It is estimated that at least 21.5 million US citizens over the age of 12 have suffered from drug addiction; approximately 9.4% of the population. This is almost double the estimated global burden, according to World Health Organization estimates, of 5.4%. Lured by temporary short-term effects, addiction revives the reality of long-term effects on the body. Let's take a closer look at how drugs and alcohol affect various parts of our body. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Drugs can have disastrous effects on the physical condition of the body. Liver alcohol is broken down in the liver; it is therefore logical that the place that suffers the most serious damage is the liver. It directly attacks liver cells and can cause permanent shrinkage and stiffening called cirrhosis, or it can decrease the liver's ability to metabolize fats and cause excessive fat accumulation or congestion, often called alcoholic hepatitis. All of these will have a domino effect on the rest of the liver's functions, leading to yellow skin called jaundice, the buildup of harmful toxins in the body such as ammonia, as well as whole-body swelling and difficulty breathing. Alcohol is also a major predisposing factor in the development of liver cancer. The Heart and Cardiovascular System Stimulant drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamines increase the risk of heart attacks and dangerous irregular heart rhythms or arrhythmias. Arrhythmias can create clots in the body that can travel around the body and block blood flow, which in turn leads to the death of those tissues. This can occur in smaller vessels such as those in the hands and feet, but it can also cause blockages in the large vessels that supply the legs (which could lead to limb amputation) or the brain (causing a stroke). Alcohol damages brain cells. the heart muscle and makes it thin and elongated; leaving them unable to sufficiently pump blood around the body. This can lead to fluid buildup in the lungs and can lead to death. The Brain Due to the overall decrease in responsiveness, the brain may also develop a tolerance to certain drugs – meaning that the addicted person will have to use higher concentrations of the drug with each subsequent use to create the same desired effects. This also increases the deleterious potential of each session. Direct chemical damage caused by byproducts of drug metabolism, decreased production of natural brain chemicals needed for daily activity, and strokes secondary to clots caused by arrhythmias can cause serious brain damage. Some scientists believe this damage may be irreparable. The Respiratory System Inhaled medications carry more serious side effects than a constantly sniffling nose or a cough. They have the potential to wear away the structures of the nose and mouth and can cause holes and infections to develop. Other drugs such as marijuana and methamphetamines damage the airways of the lungs causing them to become permanently dilated – this means the lungs can no longer inflate and deflate, decreasing the airflow and amount of oxygen entering the lungs and increasing the stagnant air and the possibility of infection. All illicit substances can also increase your chances of developing cancer. The intestine Although some consequences.