Dangerous Narcotics Side Effects

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In 2023, the Centers for Disease Control reported that approximately 105,000 people died from a drug overdose in America that year. Of those, nearly 80,000 involved narcotic opioids. Although these numbers represent a marked improvement when compared to the beginning of the U.S. drug epidemic, there is still a lot of work to do.

Narcotic drug use carries a high risk of overdose, especially when fentanyl, oxycodone, heroin or hydrocodone are involved.

Narcotic Drugs

Don’t let narcotics’ side effects get the best of you.

Also known as opiates, narcotic drugs carry highly addictive properties because of their impact on certain areas of the brain. These drugs cause the brain to secrete large amounts of dopamine, the body’s “feel-good” neurotransmitter. With regular use, the drug becomes less effective, requiring higher or more frequent doses to achieve the same effect. This is referred to as tolerance.  Over time, the brain decreases its natural production of dopamine, which leads to repeated opioid use just to function normally. At this point, an individual is considered opioid dependent.

Short-Term Effects

Short-term narcotic side effects are the result of how narcotics interact with the brain’s mu-opioid receptor cells. Taking a narcotic causes a surge in dopamine, which leads to increased feelings of euphoria and numbness. By flooding the limbic reward system with this “feel-good” neurotransmitter, the brain is quickly hijaacked, causing the user to prioritize the drug over everything else.

Because of these effects, a person can become addicted to narcotics within a short period of time. Research indicates that physical dependence can develop, with regular use, in as little as one to two weeks.

10 Common Short Term Effects of Narcotics that are Dangerous

Narcotics are powerful drugs that have strong effects on both the short and long term. These effects can cause significant harm to a person’s health and overall well-being.

Long-Term Effects

Dangerous long-term narcotic side effects originate in the brain, much like the short-term effects do. Through long-term use, the over-stimulation of the brain’s pleasure centers (opiate receptor cells) leaves users unable to stop taking narcotics on their own. These effects also mask the addiction process at work.

Long-term narcotic side effects also cause considerable damage to several of the body’s most critical systems. For example, prolonged opioid use can lead to cognitive decline, confusion, slowed reaction time and difficulty concentrating. As well, the gastrointestinal system is extremely sensitive to these substances, often leading to constipation and abdominal pain. Left untreated, chronic constipation puts users at high risk of developing a bowel obstruction, a potentially life-threatening condition.

Furthermore, opioid use causes immune system suppression. The weakening of this protective system puts individuals at risk of developing serious and potentially life-threatening infections. The endocrine system is also impacted by long-term narcotic use, for instance, people who misuse these drugs often experience reduced libido, infertility, depression and extreme fatigue.

Of the greatest concern is the impact of narcotics on the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. Long-term use can lead to heart attack, rhythm changes and hypertension. Aside from the risk of severe respiratory depression, long-term opioid use can also lead to sleep apnea.

Overdose Risks

Probably the most dangerous of all narcotics side effects is the high risk of overdose, especially during periods of relapse. The automatic feedback loop that makes the brain dependent on narcotics also causes a person’s tolerance threshold to increase each time the drug is ingested.

As tolerance levels increase, users must take more of the drug to achieve the same level of euphoria. This means if a person stops using for a period of time and then resumes, he or she may very well ingest more than the brain can handle. When this happens, the body’s respiratory system can shut down, which is the number one cause of fatalities with narcotic overdoses.

In effect, the areas of the brain and body affected by narcotics help explain why stopping can be so difficult. These drugs alter systems involved in reward, motivation and stress regulation, reinforcing repeated use while weakening the body’s ability to function normally without them.

Over time, this creates a powerful cycle of dependence, where both physical discomfort and psychological urges drive continued use, even when a person wants to quit.

If you or someone you love needs help for a narcotic use disorder, call 800-934-1582(Sponsored) now to find the best treatment program to meet your needs. 

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