An American Addiction Centers Resource

New to the DrugAbuse.com Forums?Join or

How severe substance abuse to be effect memory?

Discussion in 'General Substance Abuse Discussion' started by Shadowrunner, Mar 27, 2018.

  1. Shadowrunner

    Shadowrunner Member

    hi, I’ve never been seriously addicted to anything but have a history of drug use. When I was younger I experimented with drugs a few times. I have used mainly psychedelics, weed, but predominately most of my usage stems from psychiatric drugs ironically.

    I also have an addiction to coffee and need it to function. The amount of times I’ve used anything but weed is quite small, as well as the dosage. The question I have though, how much does a person need to take for one to experience or have caused memory problems?

    My memory used to be alright but now my short term memory is in the low side of average. It may be depression, stress but I am not sure. I am just really curious, though about this in general m.

    I’ve also taken Valium twice, and Xanax daily for one month(just one why I quit) 2 years anti depressants, two months adhd drug, and then a few months anti depressant years later along with sleeping pills. Thanks.
  2. Dominica

    Dominica Recovery Advocate @ Moving Beyond Codependency Community Listener

    @Shadowrunner hey there! thanks for reaching out... i'm not sure about your question. i suppose it might vary for each person... an addiction specialist or dr. might be better able to give you an answer.

    i'm sorry you're struggling with some memory loss. i've heard some women in menopause have some memory glitches...not sure if that would relate to you.... but perhaps check in with dr when you have a chance...

    have a great day!
    Thomas Leonard and Shadowrunner like this.
  3. Shadowrunner

    Shadowrunner Member

    Thanks. No, I’m in my 29s and I’m a make so it seems strange to me. My memory was okay, but then randomly it just seemed to get bad like this. I don’t think it’s gotten progressively worse though. My friend gave me some “thc” pills as he calmed them, I watched him take them and he seemed relatively normal. He said they were for his mother and basically like marijuana which after taking one or what it felt like but I’ve never heard such things after researching. I only took 3 and after one night before a music show it seemed stronger then usual. Before hand he acted kind of suspicious like he might have out something knowing it, but I didn’t experience any severe effects that would point to poisoning. Afterwards my menory wasn’t as great, and it’s quite troublesome.

    I’d this any possible indicator
  4. Shadowrunner

    Shadowrunner Member

    Well likewise I forgot to mention, I I’d speak to a doctor, she said you’d have to do a lot”a lot of drugs” to experience brain damage of any sort and it would show up in your liver first. Likewise she noticed I could skateboard and I’d have s lot hsrderctime supposedly but I dunno. I’ve heard if people taking anti depressants experiencing this afterwards but again some people take them for like 10 years and are relatively fine.
  5. Shadowrunner

    Shadowrunner Member

    Oh, I ate a bunch of fruit and veggies a while ago and feel much more clarity and more mental ability.


    Um, anyway I was mostly wondering what others experiences have been from abusing drugs, is this a common denomintor or experience? It would nice to come close to grasping how much of it is stress or from drug use and then diet. Is it an expected experience? I'e abused coffee as well, I've taken upward so 600 mg the limit and sometimes over, 750 mg or so, just because I had such bad fatigue, difficult with hard labour job felt like I had to.
  6. Dominica

    Dominica Recovery Advocate @ Moving Beyond Codependency Community Listener

    @Shadowrunner hey there! i've not had any experiences like this, so i cannot really relate or give insight. if it continues to get worse, maybe see a specialist.

    at any rate, eating healthier is always a good thing :)
  7. Shadowrunner

    Shadowrunner Member

    But do you know if it’s that common? I’ve known a lot of people who regularly have abused or recovered and seemed relatively fine.

    I just read in the internet there’s a fair amount of tests that can be done but i hasn’t gotten much answers from doctors so thats partially what was irking me so
  8. Dominica

    Dominica Recovery Advocate @ Moving Beyond Codependency Community Listener

    @Shadowrunner i am not sure... there are those that seem to recover fine, and the body does have a way of healing despite the crap people put it through... but there are probably many factors involved.

    experiment on yourself. by that, i mean cut the unhealthy things from your life for say a month or two or three. the drugs, caffeine, junk food, etc. replace with healthier foods, regular exercise, NO drugs, including caffeine. journal each day...see what happens :)

    i know easier said than done, for sure.