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Substance abuse is associated with a number of health risks.
Alcohol and drugs are toxic to the body's systems. In addition to the problem of toxicity, contaminant poisonings often occur with illegal drug use. HIV infection, for example, is a prevalent hazard associated with intravenous drug use. Acute health problems may include heart attack, stroke, and sudden death, which, in the case of some drugs such as cocaine, can occur after first-time use. Long-lasting health effects of drugs and alcohol may include disruption of normal heart rhythm, high blood pressure, leaks of blood vessels in the brain, bleeding and destruction of brain cells, permanent memory loss, infertility, impotency, immune system impairment, kidney failure, cirrhosis of the liver, and pulmonary damage.