Do Drugs Make Your Hair Fall Out?

The Relationship Between Drug Abuse and Hair Loss

There is almost no end to the harm that drugs can do to your body and life. But do drugs make your hair fall out? That’s the question we will tackle on this page.

If you have been struggling with drug abuse, getting help right away is critical. Drug use tends to get worse over time without treatment. Dealing with your drug use and the mental health issues that may be causing it can lead you to lasting recovery.

Keep reading our latest resource from Icarus Behavioral Health in New Mexico to learn more.

How Drug Abuse Can Cause Hair Loss

It is true that drug use can lead to hair loss. Severe hair loss is far from the most important or damaging outcome of drug use, but it is another one to add to the list. You may notice hair shedding or hair thinning as your drug use continues over time.

Drugs can cause hair loss in a number of ways. Hormonal imbalances are one issue that can disrupt the hair growth cycle. Problems with stress are another factor. You may also be nutrient deficient and your body might struggle to stimulate hair growth as a result. For your hair health, and just your overall health, find a way to stop drug use as soon as possible.

Types of Drugs That Can Cause Hair Loss

Many different drugs may cause hair loss. Let’s look at a few different categories so you can better understand the potential outcomes of using illegal drugs.

Stimulants – Cocaine, Methamphetamine, and Adderall

Severe stress can be placed on the body when stimulants are used. This includes cocaine and meth, but also prescription drugs like Adderall. Due to the stress that your body is under, many of your hair follicles may go into a resting phase. This means they won’t be growing and they could fall out prematurely.

It’s also possible that your reduced appetite will lead to poor nutrition. This can cause hair loss, as well. We’ll talk more about the nutritional deficiencies that stem from drug use later on this page.

Opioids – Heroin, Oxycodone, and Fentanyl

Opioid abuse is closely associated with poor overall health. Problems can include immune system suppression, reduced blood circulation, and countless others. These are bad for you overall and bad for your hair follicles. Hair growth is going to be difficult when your body is in such bad condition.

You may also experience increased cortisol levels over time with chronic opioid use. This is a stress hormone that has been shown to be associated with hair loss. Hair on your head and body hairs may begin falling out in part due to your opioid use.

Opioids are also highly addictive. This class of drugs is particularly difficult to stop using and professional treatment options are recommended. Many different potential treatments could be used at a facility like Icarus Behavioral Health in New Mexico to make recovery a possibility.

A Word on Alcohol Use and Hair Loss

People don’t typically refer to alcohol as a drug. Usually, it’s kept in a classification of its own, despite the devastating effects it can have.

Some individuals struggling with drug use may also be having problems with alcohol. Hair loss can stem from excessive drinking just like drug abuse. Alcohol can get in the way of protein absorption and sufficient protein is needed for strong and healthy hair.

You may also experience living damage as a result of your drinking. This is another risk factor for hair loss. Moving away from both drugs and alcohol can help restore hair growth and address many other problems you are facing in life.

The Role of Malnutrition

Drugs produce hair loss in large part because of what they do to your overall nutrition. Hair needs plenty of nutritionist to grow properly and an individual dealing with drug or alcohol addiction is unlikely to be properly nourished.

It’s common for drugs to suppress appetite. You might not be eating enough while battling addiction and your body could be short on nutrients as a result. And, when you do eat, your body might not absorb those nutrients properly. It’s also possible that poor dietary choices are stemming from the addiction.

All of this can add up and cause hair loss. Lacking in nutrients like iron, zinc, and biotin will all contribute to poor hair structure. Most people struggle to address their nutritional deficiencies until they are able to get into recovery and away from the drugs and alcohol they have been using.

Stress is a Major Factor

There is a close connection between stress and health. When stress levels are elevated in humans, health tends to decline. The inverse is also true. People who are relaxed and largely free from stress tend to remain healthier over time.

Substance abuse is a powerful trigger for chronic stress. Drug use takes an emotional toll in addition to a physical one. The high levels of stress, anxiousness, and anxiety you may be feeling will all play a role in your hair loss issues. Follicles may move into the telogen phase which causes them to be shed from the body.

Knowing that stress can cause hair loss is another reason to seek help for addiction. Your stress may not immediately disappear upon starting treatment but it’s a huge step in the right direction.

Other Connected Health Issues

Sadly, hair loss is far from the only health problem you may encounter while using drugs. Plenty of other problems can develop at the same time, including those highlighted below.

Skin Problems

Individuals struggling with drug addiction commonly experience skin issues as a side effect. Those issues include acne and sores. There is also premature aging that causes a person to look much older than they are simply due to the drug use. Some skin problems are likely to improve when treatment begins and drug use stops.

Dental Damage

Severe dental problems often stem from the use of drugs like methamphetamine and heroin. You may lose teeth as a result of using these drugs, and other dental complications are possible, as well. Many individuals in recovery from drug use require extensive dental care to restore the look and function of their teeth and gums.

Weakened Immune System

You are asking your body to do a lot when using drugs. As it is trying to fight off the effects of the drugs, it is unable to fight off other harmful things properly. That means your immune system is weaker and you are more likely to get illnesses and infections.

Heart and Lung Complications

Very serious health issues in the heart and lungs can stem from drug use. For example, stimulants have the potential to directly trigger heart attacks. Opioid use has been linked to respiratory failure. Drug induced hair loss can suddenly seem rather mild compared to some of these life-threatening conditions.

Seeing the Bright Side

It seems like the bad news just keeps coming with drug use. Your body is harmed in countless ways and the cycle just tends to continue.

There is a bright side, however. It’s possible to turn things around with the right help and get on the road to recovery. And, this might not even be permanent hair loss. As drug use stops and recovery takes hold, you may find that hair regrowth begins to occur.

This won’t happen by accident. You’ll need to be intentional and determined in your actions. The first action is to seek professional help for addiction. This is the most important step and it could be one of the most important things you do in your life.

There might be mental health disorders underlying your addiction. It’s likely that you’ll need to go through a detox process. Plenty of hard work is waiting but you’ll be doing it for much more than just to treat hair loss. You will be fighting to get your life back.

Gradually, you can work to improve nutrition, reduce stress, and promote hair growth. It may not happen fast, but hair growth can occur, and seeing it come back will give you another reason to stay strong in your recovery.

Seek Help for Any Form of Drug Abuse at Icarus Today

It’s never too early to get help for drug abuse. Whether you are experiencing drug induced hair loss or any of the countless other negative effects of substance abuse, Icarus Behavioral Health in New Mexico is here for you.

Call today to get started with treatment. We’ll discuss your situation and craft a custom treatment plan to get you into recovery as soon as possible. The person you speak with on the phone will be patient, understanding, and helpful. Everyone here wants you to succeed and has the training and experience needed to make that happen. We can also talk with you about the financial side of your treatment, including checking your insurance policy to see what is covered.

A new life is possible but you have to take the first steps. Our team looks forward to serving you.