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Writer's pictureDerrick K. Mobley MD

The Sixth Pillar of Health: Substance Abuse and Toxin Exposure

AVOIDANCE OF DRUG ABUSE AND TOXINS IS MEDICINE: Although this is the sixth pillar it is no less important than the previous five. A person can be eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, managing negative stress, getting restorative sleep, and have a strong social support network, however, if exposure to drugs and environmental hazards are not addressed then the benefits of his/her lifestyle positive behavior may be diminished or negated. If there is significant exposure to alcohol, tobacco, illicit drugs, abuse of prescription medication or exposure to air and water pollution and toxins such as a lead, mercury, radon, benzene and other chemicals then optimal health may not be attainable.


Tobacco smoking negatively affects nearly every organ of the body and causes more deaths than the combination of alcohol use, gun violence, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome(AIDS), illegal drug use and motor vehicle accidents. We have made significant progress towards reducing the number of active smokers over the past 50 years but the numbers are still too high - around 13 million Americans continue to use tobacco products.


Alcohol use is ubiquitous in our society and is often promoted at various social functions. It is the most widely used substance in America and most people use it responsibly. Statistically, one out of every 11 consumers of alcohol will progress to have an alcohol use disorder-the term synonymous with addiction. Alcohol can can have a negative impact on the heart, liver, pancreas, nervous system and immune system.


Addiction to illicit and illicit drugs has been a growing problem for many years, especially with opioids over the past several years. Opioid abuse has been responsible for more than 760,000 overdose deaths since 1999 and has caused personal and social dysfunction that is enormous and costly to us as a nation. I have had personal experience with addiction so I can write more about this topic in a future blog.


Environmental toxins such as lead, arsenic, mercury and cadmium are typically found in drinking water, foods, fish, dental amalgams, consumer products and pesticides (N. Sears and S.J. Genius, Journal of Environmental and Public Health). They are known to accumulate in various organs and are probable carcinogens that can also cause endocrine disruption and immune system impairment.


These are somewhat more challenging aspects of Lifestyle Medicine to control, nonetheless, people should be aware of them and encouraged to do what they can to limit exposure to these impairments of health.




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