Weight loss from drug use is one of the more common symptoms or red flags that you may spot early on. Many drugs can contribute to reduced body weight. There are also multiple, specific ways they contribute to someone losing weight or body mass.

On the other hand, some drugs may cause weight gain, but this tends to be a less common side effect of substance misuse.

What Drugs Make You Lose Weight?

Rapid weight loss is a sign of addiction because substances can, directly and indirectly, cause weight loss.

Some of the drugs that are most commonly associated with weight loss include:

Stimulants

Stimulants include methamphetamine, cocaine, and sometimes we can characterize MDMA, also known as Molly or ecstasy, in this category.

Stimulants, including both prescription drugs and illicit drugs, suppress appetite.
Stimulant drugs can also change how the body metabolizes fat and calories. For example, researchers believe cocaine affects how your body stores and processes fat.
Drugs like cocaine and other stimulants can also affect the central nervous system. These drugs speed up processes in the brain, dulling feelings of hunger.
Prescription medicines for ADHD like Adderall are also commonly associated with weight loss.
Adderall is a combination of amphetamine and dextroamphetamine. These are stimulants affecting brain chemicals.
Rarely, Adderall is prescribed off-label for weight loss in obese people.

Crystal meth is one of the illegal drugs we most often think of as causing weight loss.

Meth is a powerful stimulant.
Crystal meth also has a significant potential for abuse and addiction.
When someone abuses meth, they may have reduced appetite.
The drug can cause them to lose fat and muscle and burn more calories.
Indirectly, meth can contribute to weight loss by causing someone to stop taking care of themselves.
When a person uses meth, there’s excessive dopamine in their brain. Those high levels of dopamine can decrease food cravings. When you don’t have an appetite, you don’t even think about eating. Your brain doesn’t receive hunger messages.

Generally, stimulants also increase the number of calories your body burns.

Stimulant drugs cause heart rate, breathing, blood pressure, body temperature, and wakefulness to go up.
All of these are processes requiring energy.
When you use stimulants, and these processes speed up, you may burn calories faster.
People who use stimulants can also stay awake sometimes for days at a time.
You burn more calories when you’re awake compared to being asleep.

Opioids

While weight loss isn’t as commonly associated with opioids as with stimulants, it’s still possible.

Opioids include heroin and prescription pain medicines like oxycodone and hydrocodone. Opioids slow the central nervous system down, contributing to weight gain.

Symptoms of opioids can also include nausea and vomiting, which can cause weight loss.

Alcohol

Excessive alcohol use can damage your entire body. Some people may gain weight if they use alcohol excessively, but weight loss can occur for other people. One reason alcohol contributes to weight loss is that it damages your internal organs, intestines, and stomach lining.

When these parts of your body are impaired, it can impact your ability to absorb nutrients. Other side effects of alcoholism contribute to weight loss, including vomiting and diarrhea.

Drinking excessively can harm the liver’s ability to process toxins, causing damage to the organ or potential failure. Liver problems can lead to GI issues and nausea, leading to weight loss.

Indirect Causes of Weight Loss From Drug Use

While stimulants can physiologically affect the body and contribute to weight loss, drug and alcohol abuse can cause weight loss for less direct reasons. For example, someone who’s using drugs or alcohol may have a change in their lifestyle.

They may stop caring about ensuring they’re eating well or getting the proper nutrients. When they have an addiction, the focus of someone’s life is usually on the drug or alcohol. They don’t care as much about eating at the proper times. Eating may not be a priority at all, let alone eating nutritious foods.

Someone who’s in an active addiction doesn’t prioritize self-care, such as getting regular exercise or eating a healthy diet.

Other Signs of Drug Use or Addiction

Along with weight loss from drug use, there are other signs you may notice in someone who’s using drugs or alcohol.

Substance use disorders can change how someone looks, acts, and feels. The symptoms of drug use can be behavioral, physical, and psychological.

Physical Signs of Addiction

While weight loss is one we often think about first, other physical signs of addiction include:

Runny nose
Tremors
Seizures
Problems with coordination
Lethargy
Chemical odors coming from the breath or clothes
Pinpoint pupils
Eyes that are red or watery
Changes in eating habits
Jaw clenching
Problems falling asleep
Irregular sleep habits
Skin marks
Lack of personal hygiene

Behavioral Symptoms of Addiction

Changes in hobbies or normal activities
Changes in friend groups or social circles
Less participation in family events
Declining performance at school or work
Lying or deceit
Legal problems
Secretive behavior
Isolation
Lack of care about responsibilities
Financial problems

Psychological Signs of a Substance Use Disorder

Personality changes
Mental illness symptoms, such as anxiety or depression
Paranoia
Fear
Obsessive thoughts
Negative self-image
Poor outlook on life
Emotional withdrawal
Loss of motivation
Apathy or lack of interest

What If You Notice the Red Flags of Substance Abuse?

If you notice the signs of substance abuse in your teen, first, remember that substance abuse is a mental illness and a chronic disease. Changes occur in the brain, making it difficult to stop. As a parent, if you believe your teen could be struggling with drugs or alcohol, it’s a good idea to learn as much as you can about the disease of addiction before you talk to them.

From there, you want to ensure you approach the conversation in a direct but non-judgmental way.
Let your teen know that you love them, and you’re there to help.
You can start to learn more about what they’re going through if they’re willing to open up and talk to you.
You can begin to understand their situation, which is important as a parent.
Before you talk to your teen about addiction, you should make sure you’re ready and that you’ve processed your own feelings. You don’t want to come at them with anger because this will push them away.
When you talk to your teen about potential treatment, present it as an opportunity for them to get help and feel better rather than as a punishment.

If you’d like to learn more about teen addiction or treatment options, the Anchored Tides Recovery team is here and available to help; just call 866-600-7709.

Addiction Treatment drug rehab Outpatient Treatment Substance Abuse

What Is Outpatient Addiction Treatment?

Whereas inpatient treatment is more traditional and involves actually being admitted to a facility under 24/7 medical supervision, outpatient is a more modern style of treatment that allows for some flexibility and goes far beyond just the detox process.

While the exact experience varies for everyone, the outpatient program generally involves highly focused treatment during the day, after which you are allowed to return home each day with guidance on how to continue working towards sobriety.

There are a naturally a lot of benefits to this arrangement, specifically:

Recovering addicts can maintain their basic everyday routines and keep up with responsibilities

In many cases, the ability to go to work and not have to forfeit a job

Medical care only as needed, not necessarily required 24/7

Ability to build a support network with friends and family much earlier on

Family and friends are actively able to witness the patient making progress

Ability to engage in community activities and hobbies — keep living life!

Greater personal responsibility helps keeps patients dedicated to becoming sober and actively learning coping skills

No grand re-entry into the “real world”, meaning no shock or dramatic adjustment period following treatment

More affordable costs than most inpatient programs, thanks to fewer hours of onsite treatment and medical care

At Anchored Tides, we firmly believe in outpatient care and how allowing patients to spend time at home contributes to their successful treatment. And because different people require different levels of care, we offer three types of outpatient programs of varying degrees: Outpatient Program (OP), Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), and Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP). Those with more severe addiction problems may require PHP for closer medical monitoring during detox, while others may do well under the programs with lower medical intensity aspects.

How Outpatient Treatment Paves the Way for a Lifetime of Sobriety

With outpatient treatment, one of the greatest benefits of all is the ability to actively make changes in everyday life. With inpatient care, the “real world” comes later, after detox and early counseling have been achieved. But because outpatient participants have their treatment worked into their everyday schedules, they are allowed to continue living their lives in the real world and make more steady, gradual changes each day. Though this means treatment is usually spread over a much longer period of time, it also means that long-term recovery is more feasible.

And rest assured; when you’re a patient at Anchored Tides, we do not just cut off ties once your treatment program reaches its planned completion. In addition to running outpatient treatment, our team at Anchored Tides practices long-term recovery monitoring for our patients. This means regular follow-ups and wellness check-ins, as well as encouragement for you to stay involved with counseling groups. We help you stay accountable to yourself now and well into the future.