Alcoholics long term physical side effects after they quit? I am in AA which keeps me sober, I have met lots of people with physical problems and I am wondering what are the problems arising from long term alcohol or drug abuse. A lot of my friends and myself go to  doctors but when we tell a doctor we have been addicts, they don't seem to hear anything beyond that. I understand, we did this to ourselves but I am wondering if there is any research on these problems. Reading on my own, I have found links to diabetes and loss of appetite, I would like to help myself and others who are willing to quit but it is difficult to find medical help because we inflicted these problems on ourselves. I(we) do not expect sympathy but I would like to find medical treatment that also doesn't involve painkillers, since I don't want to become addicted to those. Anyone that would just like to tell me their experiences please do. Hepititus is also found among addicts, another side effect which affects health. I would like to help folks by sharing this info.

Summarized question: What are the effects of long term alcohol abuse or drug abuse?