Substance abuse can significantly alter a person's appearance over time. Alcohol can cause weight gain, a bloated face, and accelerated skin aging. Cocaine destroys the nasal septum and causes sores and pale skin. Heroin leads to weight loss and wrinkled skin. Meth causes "meth mouth", deep wrinkles, and skin sores from picking. Marijuana can cause weight gain, bloodshot eyes, and acne or hair loss. Seeing how one's facial features may change over years of substance abuse through computer programs can help deter continued drug use or prevent starting in the first place.

1. How alcohol and drug addiction
alters a person’s appearance
By: Eileen Spatz
On: 04-17-2015
When experts offer warnings about the dangers of substance abuse
it often gets blown off. Feeling immortal, teenagers might ignore

2. the evidence that is presented to them, to their peril. Junior high
school science teachers show their classes images of black lungs to
try to deter their students from smoking. Some of the kids light up
anyway. Black lungs don’t trump being cool.
When it comes to the physical toll that drugs and alcohol can take
on a person, appealing to vanity might have stronger sway and
hopefully cause casual users to give pause and stop further
progress down the slippery slope of addiction. The truth is
addiction can cause premature aging and ruin a person’s
appearance. Here are some examples of how a temporary high can
have long-term impact on a person’s looks.
Alcohol
That classic caricature of an alcoholic: bulbous, red nose, bloated
visage complete with rosacea, and distended belly, it is actually a
very realistic depiction. Because alcohol is fattening, with a couple
of cocktails equaling a burger in calorie load or a glass of wine
equivalent to a cupcake, weight gain is likely with heavy drinking.
Combined with the liver damage that might be going on below the
surface, the belly might protrude and the face could bloat,
eventually distorting the features.
Alcohol dehydrates the body, in addition to robbing it of vital
vitamins and nutrients, so the skin might reflect this with a dry,
dull appearance and prominent wrinkles. The aging process is
accelerated because alcohol depletes the body of important
nutrients that are necessary for collagen production. Broken
capillaries caused by dilated blood vessels can cause spidery, red
veins to sprout around the nose and can cause glassy, bloodshot
eyes. Because of the loss of fluid, as well as iron, hair and nails
become brittle and hair loss is common.
Cocaine

3. The most dramatic physical damage from snorting cocaine abuse is
the destruction of the nose. Because cocaine causes the blood
vessels in the nasal septum’s lining to constrict, the oxygen supply
becomes depleted, causing erosion, a hole or complete collapse of
the septum. At the very least, cocaine will cause a perpetually
inflamed, runny nose and nosebleeds.
Some cocaine users experience a sensation that bugs or spiders are
crawling on them, and resort to picking and scratching at their
skin, causing sores. Skin becomes pale and eyes appear sunken. In
some users the face becomes gaunt, where others acquire “coke
bloat.” In addition, cocaine is a stimulant, which can lead to
extreme weight loss in a heavy user.
Heroin
Heroin suppresses the appetite, resulting in extreme weight loss.
Dark bags under the eyes are common, in addition to skin sores
and acne. A vitamin deficiency results from a poor diet and the
drug itself, causing the skin to develop a wrinkled, saggy
appearance.
A blood pressure reduction caused by heroin use results in a bluish
pallor to the skin and nails. Bruising and sores are visible at the
injection sites on the arms and other parts of the body.
Amphetamines and methamphetamines
All amphetamines can cause dramatic weight loss from
inappetence, and gaunt appearance from lack of sleep. However,
methamphetamines cause the most significant damage to
appearance. “Meth mouth” refers to the tooth decay that results in
rotten, discolored and broken teeth, dramatically impacting a
person’s looks. This is caused by the drug’s acids that eat away
tooth enamel, in addition to the teeth grinding that is common with

4. amphetamine use.
Meth speeds up the aging process, leaving the user with deep
wrinkles, and dull, haggard skin. Because addicts tend to pick at
their skin, open sores and oozing scabs appear on the face in
addition to acne.
Marijuana
A common reaction to getting high on weed is an increased
appetite. When the munchies hit, the foods of choice tend to be
empty-calorie snacks and junk food, which can pack on
pounds. Bloodshot eyes and resin-stained teeth are also physical
effects of smoking pot.
Containing many of the same harmful collagen-inhibiting
carcinogens that are found in tobacco smoke, marijuana accelerates
the aging process. THC increases testosterone levels, sometimes
resulting in breakouts or hair loss. If a person is prone to psoriasis
or rosacea, marijuana can exacerbate these conditions.
Face the future
Technology allows individuals to see how drug and alcohol use
can cause their features to change and morph over time. After
uploading a photo, the programs can then alter the facial features
based on the drug or alcohol selection. Seeing how people will
look after five, 10 or 20 years of substance abuse can have a
powerful effect and might deter individuals from continuing the
drug use, or prevent them from ever starting in the first place.
Sovereign Health of California is an addiction, mental health and
dual diagnosis treatment provider, offering several locations in
California as well as centers in Utah, Arizona and Florida. For
more information on treatment for drugs and alcohol please call
866-629-0442.

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