Drug abuse and kidney disease

Drug abuse has tremendous negative effects on the entire body, as well as the mind. Some of those effects are, unfortunately, irreversible, which makes it even more clear why drug abuse is so dangerous. Kidneys are one of the organs in the human body that suffer a lot from drug abuse.

The role of kidneys

The kidneys are internal organs that perform very important functions in the body. Their role is to eliminate waste products from the body, as well as excess fluids, to release hormones that regulate blood pressure, control the production of red blood cells and to produce an active form of vitamin D, which is important for bones.

Waste products and excess fluids are eliminated through urine, in a complex process of excretion and reabsorption. This process is necessary for maintenance of normal levels of chemicals in the body. Whenever there is something wrong with the kidneys, it reflects on various aspects of human health. Some of those problems can be mild but some are very serious and potentially life-threatening. For this reason, it is absolutely necessary to keep the kidneys in best possible shape and to protect them from any sort of damage.

Drug abuse and kidneys

Every drug that is taken passes through kidneys. Over-the-counter drugs are designed so they normally do not harm the kidneys, and the same goes for prescription drugs, if they are taken exactly as recommended by the doctor. However, large doses or prolonged use of drugs, as well as the use of illegal drugs, may seriously harm the kidneys.

Some substances and drugs simply put too much strain on the kidneys. Too much strain means that they are overworking and that their function may be gradually decreasing because of that. When the kidneys fail to work properly, the waste materials are not properly eliminated and it can be very dangerous. If the kidneys are damaged beyond repair, the person will have to be on dialysis, probably for life, or he or she will require a kidney transplant. However, drug abusers are not very good candidates for kidney transplant, which is another important aspect of this problem.

All street drugs are potentially very dangerous. Most of them cause hypertension, stroke and heart failure, while amphetamines, cocaine and heroine cause kidney damage as well.

Other substances that are known for their negative effects on the kidneys are OTC drugs if taken excessively, especially pain killers, and alcohol.