Alcohol and drug abuse can have severe and long-term effects on a normal, healthy brain. Can you imagine the effects on a severely injured brain? Doctors at the Ohio Valley Center for Brain Injury Prevention and Rehabilitation tell traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients how substance abuse can jeopardize their recovery in the following ways:
· Drug and alcohol use can lead to a seizure for a TBI victim
· TBI victims lessen their chances for a good recovery by using drugs and alcohol
· A brain injury causes difficulty in walking, thinking and concentration – drugs and alcohol make it worse
· Substance abuse can lead to depression
· Abusing drugs and alcohol could lead to another TBI
· Alcohol and drugs have a bigger impact on an injured brain when compared to a healthy one.
It is never safe to use or abuse illegal drugs, and TBI victims put their health and recovery at risk with drug use. A TBI victim will likely be on prescribed medication, which could create a harmful outcome if mixed with illegal drugs.
As far as alcohol is concerned, experts think that there is no safe amount for a TBI victim to drink. The potential to cause more harm to the brain is too great of risk for even a couple of alcoholic drinks per day.
Do you know a TBI victim struggling with recovery and rehabilitation from their injury? Contact one of our personal injury lawyers to see if someone else is responsible for the head injury.
Harrell & Nowak, L.L.C. – New Orleans injury lawyers