Why Do Drugs Make You Skinny?

This can happen when drugs block or alter neurotransmitters in your brain that control hunger. A person might go hours or even days without feeling the need to eat, which creates a severe calorie deficit.

Internal changes inside the body can occur when certain drugs speed up the body’s processes, causing the person to burn calories much faster than normal. The body essentially shifts into an overdrive, using up energy stores at an accelerated rate.

When someone becomes focused on obtaining and using drugs, basic needs like eating regular meals often become a lower priority. The structured eating patterns that maintain a healthy weight can disappear when a person prioritizes using and obtaining mind-altering substances above all.

Nausea, vomiting, and digestive problems can make it difficult to keep food down even when someone does try to eat. These gastrointestinal issues are common with many substances and can directly interfere with a person getting the right nutrition.

Stimulant drugs like cocaine, methamphetamine (meth), and prescription amphetamines are notorious for causing dramatic weight loss in a short period of time. These substances work by flooding the brain with dopamine and norepinephrine, which can naturally suppress a person’s appetite while simultaneously increasing energy expenditure.

Cocaine (powdered and other forms) specifically blocks dopamine reuptake in the brain’s reward center, which not only creates the high but shuts down signals that help regulate hunger.

Methamphetamine can have an even more pronounced effect on weight. It can keep users awake for days at a time, during which they consume little to no food. The drug also increases core body temperature and heart rate, burning calories at an unsustainable pace. Prescription stimulants like Adderall and Ritalin can produce similar effects when misused.

Opioids, including injectable heroin and prescription pills like oxycodone, often cause weight gain at first because they slow down digestion and can increase cravings for sugary foods. However, with prolonged use, most people experience significant weight loss.

Gastrointestinal effects are major factors. Opioids slow down the entire digestive system, which can lead to chronic constipation, nausea, and vomiting. Many users find eating uncomfortable or impossible during withdrawal periods.

Lifestyle disruption becomes severe with opioid addiction. As tolerance builds and the need for the drug increases, users often spend all their resources on obtaining opioids rather than food.

Hormonal changes occur with long-term opioid use, affecting hormones that regulate hunger and metabolism. The endocrine system becomes dysregulated, further complicating normal eating patterns.

Alcohol initially contains many calories and can cause weight gain. But chronic alcohol use often leads to weight loss due to malnutrition and liver damage that affects nutrient absorption.

MDMA and similar drugs increase metabolism and can suppress appetite during use. Hallucinogens like LSD don’t directly cause weight loss, but can disrupt eating patterns and create psychological associations with food that lead to reduced eating.

Cocaine blocks dopamine reuptake in the brain, which suppresses appetite while simultaneously increasing metabolism and energy expenditure, leading to rapid calorie burning and reduced food intake.

Stimulant drugs like methamphetamine and cocaine typically cause the most rapid and severe weight loss. This is because they powerfully suppress appetite while dramatically increasing the body’s metabolic rate.

Yes. When prescription stimulants like Adderall or opioid painkillers are misused or taken in higher doses than prescribed, they can cause significant appetite suppression and unhealthy weight loss.

Most people begin to regain weight within 2-4 weeks of stopping drug use, with full weight restoration typically occurring within 6-12 months when combined with proper nutrition and medical support.