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 U.S. citizens over the age of 12 have suffered from drug addiction; about 9.4 percent of the population. This is almost double the estimated global burden, according to the World Health Organization, of 5.4 percent. Lured by temporary, short-term effects, addiction brings home the reality of long-term effects on the body. Let's take a closer look at how drugs and alcohol affect different parts of our body. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”?Get the original essayDrugs can have disastrous effects on the physical condition of the body.The LiverAlcohol is broken down in the liver; so it makes sense that the place that suffers the most severe damage is the liver. It directly attacks liver cells and can cause permanent shrinking and stiffening called cirrhosis, or can decrease the liver's ability to metabolize fat and cause excess fat accumulation or congestion, often called alcoholic hepatitis. All of this will have a domino effect on the rest of the liver's functions, leading to yellow skin called jaundice, a buildup of harmful toxins in the body like ammonia, as well as swelling throughout the body and difficulty breathing. Alcohol is also one of the main predisposing factors for the development of liver cancer. The heart and cardiovascular system Stimulant drugs like cocaine and methamphetamines increase the risk of heart attacks and dangerous irregular heart rhythms, or arrhythmias. Arrhythmias can form clots in the body that can travel through the body and block blood flow, causing these tissues to die. This can occur in small vessels such as those in the hands and feet, but can also cause blockages in the larger vessels supplying the legs (which could lead to amputation of the limb) or the brain (causing a stroke). ). Alcohol damages the cells of the heart muscle and causes them to become thin and stretched; leaving them unable to sufficiently pump blood through the body. This can cause fluid to build up in the lungs and lead to death.The BrainDue to the general decrease in responsiveness, the brain may also develop a tolerance to certain medications, meaning the addicted person will need to take more of them. concentrations of the drug with each subsequent use to create the same desired effects. This also increases the harmful potential of each session. Direct chemical damage caused by byproducts of drug metabolism, decreased production of natural brain chemicals needed for daily activity, and stroke secondary to clots from arrhythmias can lead to serious brain damage. Some scientists believe this damage may be irreparable. The Respiratory System Inhaled medications cause more serious side effects than constant sniffling or coughing. They can potentially wear down the structures of the nose and mouth and cause holes and infections to develop. Other drugs like marijuana and methamphetamines damage the airways in your lungs, causing them to permanently dilate – this means your lungs can no longer inflate and deflate, causing.