Many people of different levels of personal health may wonder, “Can drugs cause a stroke?” The answer is yes, and the risk varies by the type of drug.
Stroke is a leading cause of disability and death worldwide. While many are familiar with traditional risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, and smoking, fewer realize that certain drugs (both legal and illegal) can significantly increase the likelihood of having a stroke. Understanding the connection between drug use and stroke is critical for anyone concerned about their health or the health of a loved one.
At First Steps Recovery, we recognize the complex and often dangerous interplay between substance abuse and serious health consequences like stroke. Our mission is to provide comprehensive support and effective treatment options to those struggling with addiction to reduce such risks.
What Causes a Stroke?
A stroke occurs when the blood supply to a part of the brain is interrupted or significantly reduced, preventing brain cells from receiving the oxygen and nutrients they need to survive. This interruption can happen in two primary ways. The most common type, an ischemic stroke, happens when a blood clot or other blockage obstructs an artery that supplies blood to the brain. The second type, a hemorrhagic stroke, occurs when a blood vessel within the brain ruptures and causes bleeding.
During both types of stroke, the lack of oxygen causes brain cells to begin dying within minutes. This can result in serious neurological damage, long-term disability, or even death if not treated promptly.
Understanding the causes and risks of stroke is vital for prevention and early intervention to reduce the devastating effects of stroke. Maintaining personal health and regular medical checkups can help with staying aware of one’s personal risk of stroke.
Conditions That Increase the Chances of Having a Stroke
While drug use certainly raises stroke risk, certain health conditions can exacerbate this risk (especially when combined with drug abuse). It’s important to understand how these factors can come into play, and how drug use can interact with the body as a whole.
High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)
This is the biggest risk factor when it comes to causes for strokes. Some drugs can cause the blood pressure to spike, which puts a lot of stress on the arteries. If arteries are under too much pressure for a long time, they can become weak or damaged. That damage makes it easier for blockages or ruptures to happen, which can lead to a stroke.
Heart Problems (Cardiovascular Disease)
If the heart isn’t working in an optimal way (such as if a person has an irregular heartbeat or valve issues), it can cause blood clots to form. These clots can then travel up to the brain and block blood flow, causing an embolic stroke. Using drugs can aggravate these heart problems, increasing the chance of experiencing a stroke.
Diabetes
When someone has diabetes, their blood vessels can become damaged and less flexible overall. This makes it harder for blood to flow smoothly. Damage also makes the vessels more vulnerable. If drugs are involved, the risk of stroke increases because the vessels are even less healthy.
Obesity
Carrying extra weight often leads to health problems like high blood pressure and diabetes, both of which raise stroke risk. Keeping at a healthy weight can help protect a person from stroke and keep the heart and vessels in better shape.
Smoking Cigarettes
Smoking harms the blood vessels by making them narrow and less flexible, which cuts down the blood flow to the brain. When smoking cigarettes is combined with other drug use, the damage adds up even faster and makes a stroke much more likely.
Understanding these factors highlights the importance of holistic care that addresses both addiction and underlying health conditions. When recovering from addiction, it’s important to take time and reestablish a relationship with the body, as well as heal the damage that results from drug use.
Drugs That Can Cause a Stroke
Certain illegal substances and some prescription medications can significantly increase the risk of stroke. These drugs may affect the cardiovascular system in ways that can lead to either a blockage of blood flow or bleeding in the brain, resulting in stroke.
Cocaine
Cocaine is one of the most well-documented drugs linked to strokes. It causes sudden spikes in blood pressure and heart rate, which can lead to blood vessel rupture or clot formation in the brain. Cocaine induces vasospasm (the narrowing of blood vessels) that limits blood flow. It also promotes inflammation and platelet aggregation, increasing the chance of clot formation. As a result, cocaine use can cause both ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes. Young people who use cocaine experience a significant increase in stroke risk, with strokes often occurring within hours of cocaine use.
Alcohol
Chronic heavy alcohol consumption is linked to several types of stroke. Excessive drinking raises blood pressure and contributes to atrial fibrillation, an irregular heartbeat that increases the risk of embolic stroke. Alcohol can damage blood vessels, raise triglyceride levels, and promote clot formation. Even occasional binge drinking can temporarily increase the likelihood of having a stroke.
Opioids
Prescription opioids and illicit heroin use are associated with experiencing strokes. Opioids may cause low oxygen levels in the blood due to respiratory depression, which indirectly damages brain tissue. Injection drug use raises the risk of infective endocarditis (an infection of the heart valves) that can lead to stroke through septic red blood cells. Opioid use is acknowledged as a potential risk factor for stroke, particularly in users with intravenous drug habits.
Heroin
As an opioid, heroin carries many of the same stroke-related risks mentioned earlier. Moreover, heroin use can cause sudden drops in blood pressure and heart rate, leading to cerebral hypoperfusion or reduced blood flow, which increases stroke risk. Heroin users who inject drugs also risk infections that can result in embolic stroke.
Amphetamines
Amphetamines and methamphetamine significantly raise the risk of stroke, particularly hemorrhagic stroke. They cause extreme vasoconstriction and hypertension, sometimes leading to blood vessel rupture. Chronic use damages the walls of blood vessels, making them prone to rupture. Research indicates that amphetamine abuse is linked to a high rate of stroke in young individuals, frequently resulting in serious consequences.
Does Withdrawal From Drug Use Cause Strokes?
The withdrawal phase from drugs can be medically complex and stressful on the body. Suddenly stopping the use of addictive drugs, especially without medical supervision, can cause significant physiological changes. The most dangerous of these include:
Blood Pressure Fluctuations
Withdrawal often causes sudden increases in blood pressure, due to heightened nervous system activity. These spikes put extra strain on blood vessels, increasing the chance of rupture or blockage that can lead to a stroke.
Heart Rhythm Changes
Withdrawal can provoke irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias), such as atrial fibrillation. These abnormal rhythms can cause blood clots to form, which may travel to the brain and cause an embolic stroke.
Stress Response
When going through withdrawal, the body releases stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. This heightened stress can inflame and damage blood vessels, reduce their flexibility, and worsen overall vascular health, raising a person’s stroke risk.
Medical Detox and Stroke Prevention
Medically assisted detox is a critical first step in addiction treatment. It allows for:
Safe Management of Withdrawal Symptoms
Medication targeted at soothing withdrawal symptoms can control blood pressure, anxiety, and other symptoms. This helps to prevent dangerous health complications during detox.
Monitoring Vital Signs
Continuous monitoring reduces the risk of complications (such as stroke during) withdrawal. It also ensures timely medical intervention if problems arise, which can prevent long-term damage.
Comprehensive Assessment
Healthcare professionals can assess underlying conditions that contribute to stroke risk, including cardiovascular health. This guides personalized treatment planning for detox and beyond.
Referral for Further Care
Detox is usually followed by counseling, therapy, and rehabilitation to tackle the underlying causes of addiction and promote overall well-being. If a person is planning to enter an addiction treatment program, medically assisted detox can help them prepare for the transition into care.
Receive Help for Addiction From First Steps Recovery Center
Understanding the health risks of drug use is vital. At First Steps Recovery Center, we provide compassionate, evidence-based care to reduce health risks and support lasting sobriety. Our services include medically supervised detox, personalized addiction treatment, integrated physical and mental health care, plus counseling and relapse prevention.
Don’t wait for a crisis — contact us today to protect your health and regain control of your life.
Dr. Curl is the Medical Director and primary on-site provider for First Steps Recovery. He is a Board Certified Internist and Addiction Medicine Specialist having attended the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and completing his residency at Mount Auburn Hospital with Harvard Medical School. Following several years work as an internist and physiatrist (physical medicine and rehabilitation). Dr. Curl completed the Addiction Medicine Fellowship at Howard University in Washington DC and participated as a RAM Scholar (Research in Addiction Medicine). While part of the fellowship, Dr. Curl pursued research investigating the barriers to expanding and improving medication for opioid use disorder. Following his fellowship, Dr. Curl spearheaded the Opiate Use Disorder outpatient clinic and worked in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences within the Howard University Hospital. In 2023, Dr. Curl completed his Board Certification in Addiction Medicine.
