Can addiction affect your physical and mental health?

New Analysis Highlights How Addiction Impacts Physical and Mental Health

Health experts warn that addiction produces profound physical and mental harms, according to a new analysis synthesizing clinical research and population data. The report links substance use disorders and behavioral addictions to increased risk of chronic illness, infectious disease, cognitive decline, and psychiatric conditions.

Addiction medicine specialists describe a cascade of biological and social effects. Dr. Nora Volkow, director of a major research institute on drug abuse, has explained that chronic substance exposure alters brain circuitry involved in reward, stress and decision-making, medical commentators say. The changes can exacerbate anxiety, depression and impulse-control disorders, and complicate treatment for co-occurring illnesses.

Clinicians point to clear physical consequences: liver and cardiovascular disease, weakened immune function, respiratory problems and higher rates of infectious transmission. Behavioral addictions such as gambling and internet use are associated with sleep disruption, poor nutrition and increased stress-related illness, the authors note.

Public health officials emphasize that effective care requires integrated models. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends screening, medication-assisted treatment when appropriate, and mental-health interventions to reduce morbidity and mortality. Community-based programs that combine medical, psychological and social support show improved outcomes in randomized trials, the analysis reports.

Advocates call for stigma reduction and expanded access to evidence-based care. Employers and insurers are urged to cover comprehensive treatment and recovery services, while policymakers are encouraged to fund prevention and harm-reduction strategies.

The analysis concludes that addressing addiction as both a medical and social condition is essential. It states plainly that addiction can significantly impair physical health and mental well-being, but that timely, evidence-based interventions can restore functioning and reduce long-term harm. Experts recommend routine screening in primary care and clinician training to recognize and treat addiction early, improving recovery rates and long-term outcomes across health systems.