Effects & Dangers of Substance Abuse on the Muscular System

The muscular system is a complex organ system that consists of over 700 skeletal muscles, smooth muscles, and cardiac muscles (the heart). The muscular system permits movement, helps to circulate blood throughout the body, and to maintain posture. The largest of the three systems, the musculoskeletal system includes the muscles, tendons, ligaments, and bones.

What Affects the Muscular System?

Nearly every movement in the body occurs through this system. Damage to this system can lead to issues with movement, damage to other organ systems, and chronic pain.

None of the organ systems in the body operate independently. For instance, because the musculoskeletal system is primarily controlled by the central nervous system except for a few reflexive actions, damage to the central nervous system can also result to damage to the musculoskeletal system. Certain drugs, like powerful stimulant drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamine, and other drugs like ecstasy, spice, and inhalants, can damage important areas in the brain, the major organ in the central nervous system, and this damage can lead to movement problems. Over time, these problems can result in muscle atrophy or damage to the musculoskeletal system.

Damage inflicted by alcohol and drugs to the brain can lead to:

• Issues with movement: Problems with movement (ataxia) can occur that can impair voluntary movements. This can lead to accidents that can damage the musculoskeletal system.
• Issues with seizures: Chronic use of these drugs can lead to seizures that can damage the muscles through violent controllable movements.
• Problems with judgment: Chronic use of drugs impairs judgment and motor coordination, which can lead to accidents that can result in damage to the muscles.
• Cardiovascular compromise: Chronic use of these drugs can compromise the vascular system in the brain, leading to increased risk for stroke, which can lead to paralysis, weakness, or even a loss of function in one or more limbs. This can lead to atrophy in the muscles.

A stroke or cerebrovascular accident (CVA) results when there is a compromise in the flow of blood to areas of the brain, or the blood vessels actually rupture in the brain. This deprives that area of the brain of oxygen and nutrients, leading to tissue damage. Numerous drugs of abuse, including alcohol, stimulants like cocaine and methamphetamine, and opiate drugs, can increase the risk for stroke.

When the brain is damaged, it may repair itself to some extent, but the damage may not be fully repaired. In cases where there is significant muscle weakness, loss of movement, or paralysis as a result of a stroke, the muscles in that area may become atrophied.

Moreover, numerous drugs of abuse can place a significant burden on the heart. Many drugs of abuse, including stimulant drugs, opiates, alcohol, and other illicit drugs, can result in deterioration of the heart muscle (cardiomyopathy), high blood pressure, and heartbeat irregularities (arrhythmias). These conditions can become serious and increase the risk of serious heart disease, including a heart attack.

The risk of suffering a CVA is also increased in individuals who have cardiovascular diseases. For instance, high blood pressure forces the heart muscle to work harder and faster, and over time, this can result in a weakening of the arteries, leading to an increased potential for stroke.

The musculoskeletal system is supported by the skeletal system. Chronic use of various drugs, including alcohol, stimulants, opiates, and other illicit drugs, can compromise the skeletal system and lead to the development of infections in the bone (osteomyelitis), arthritis, and even osteoporosis (weakening of the bones due to the loss of calcium or decreased bone density).

Dietary imbalances can occur, as in many cases, chronic drug abusers neglect their diet, or these imbalances can occur as a direct result of the effects of the drugs (e.g., alcohol), interfering with the person’s ability to absorb nutrients. This can lead to imbalances in the system that can affect the muscular system at all levels.

How Specific Drugs Affect the Muscular System

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Every System Is Affected by Drug Use

As mentioned above, no organ system operates in isolation. Any substance that can damage one organ system can also lead to serious damaging effects on other organ systems. For instance, the development of rotting teeth and skin abscesses as a result of methamphetamine abuse can lead to diseases that can compromise the muscular system, heart, liver, kidneys, and central nervous system.

Addiction affects the entire organism, and this is why the treatment for substance use disorders needs to be comprehensive, long-term, and include interventions from multiple areas. The damage that is inflicted by addictive behaviors may or may not fully resolve, depending on numerous situational issues.

When the damage from a person’s substance use disorder becomes severe, especially to the central nervous system, the skeletal system, the liver, and the heart, these organ systems may not fully recover. Damage to any system results in significant compromises to the muscular system over the long run.