Illicit Drugs and Alcohol How Do They Affect Vitamins?

What do alcohol; marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, hashish, LSD, Ritalin, and methadone have in common? They are all drugs that are abused! Other questions that come to mind when talking about these abused drugs are, do they make vitamins ineffective? Should you take vitamins if you are drinking or taking drugs? What effects do drugs and alcohol have on the effectiveness of vitamins?

A simple answer to those questions is; any chemical substance, whether it is legal or not can influence the way our body functions and how effective vitamins are in that function. Socializing and relaxation use alcohol as a socially acceptable way of relaxing and having fun. A cold beer is an accepted way of quenching thirst, even though it actually dehydrates the body, and a glass of wine can help make a good meal better and help you relax after a hard day at work. A social life is important for everyone, and going to have a drink with a friend, or having a glass of wine before bed is fine. As with all other drugs, the problem comes when a person indulges to excess.

Alcohol will interfere with the processes of digestion, storage, and using nutrients the body consumes. Heavy drinking is often associated with a decrease in food consumption and hinders the ability of the body to absorb, use, and metabolize the nutrients that are taken in. Alcohol slows fat absorption and reduces the body’s ability to absorb vitamins A, E, and D. The lack of these vitamins in your body may contribute to night blindness and softening of the bones.

People who drink heavily are often found to be deficient in vitamins C, B, and K vitamins. These vitamins are important for healing wounds and maintenance of cells. Heavy drinkers do not heal from cuts and bruises as well as someone who doesn’t indulge in heavy alcohol use.

Vitamin K is necessary for blood clotting and will result in excess bleeding and other vitamin deficiencies may also result in neurological damage. Alcoholics also suffer from a deficiency of calcium, magnesium, iron, and zinc, some of which are caused by gastrointestinal problems caused by excessive alcohol.

Drugs such as marijuana have several side effects. Users tend to have a lower consumption of fruits and vegetables; and they have lower serum carotenoids levels. Drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes will magnify the carcinogenic effects of marijuana and place users in a higher risk category for cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Users of illegal stimulants can results in loss of appetite, weight loss, and eventually malnutrition. People who use these drugs may stay up for days and suffer from dehydration and an imbalance of electrolytes in their body. Withdrawal from these drugs may cause diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting and increase the problem of vitamin shortage. Returning to a healthy eating pattern may be difficult because of an imbalance of sodium, potassium, and chloride, especially if there has been a marked weight loss.