Drug addiction accelerates aging in addicts.

Addictive drugs have been shown to impair stem cell regeneration and potentate programmed cell death leading to accelerated aging.

Drug addicts are known to suffer many pathologies including cancer and elevated mortality.

Surveys of addicts aged between 19 and 45 years in Australia disclosed higher levels of infections, dental and mental pathologies and hair graying consistent with aging were present in addicts.

Degenerative changes related to aging like skin thinning, wrinkling, dementias, muscle wasting, cardiovascular disease, psychiatric disturbances were common in addicted populations.

Source: Clinical Correlates of Accelerated Aging in Addiction, Reece S & Lavin M 2009)