Have you blinked recently?
Now that we’ve mentioned it, you might be actively thinking about it. Blinking is one of the many things our body maintains on its own in order to keep up with the health of our bodies.
Would you then notice if you stopped blinking?
For some, the health and functionality of the eyes and eyelids can be impacted by substance use. From 2021 to 2022, over 3.3 million adults in Texas reported having a substance use disorder. Being aware of how substance use can impact every facet of your well-being is important so you can make informed decisions about your health.
Our team at San Antonio Recovery Center has seen how thoroughly substances and substance use disorders can impact the body. That’s why today we’re going to answer the question, “What drugs cause you not to blink?”
When you think about the eyes in relation to substance use, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Maybe it’s someone with red eyes from smoking marijuana? Maybe it’s someone with dilated pupils or pinpoint pupils? But are these a sign of something worse?
Drugs of all kinds can have a lasting impact on your eyes and the area around them. One of the primary things that impacts your eyes is the smoke caused by certain types of substance use. Continued and regular exposure to smoke, especially with unknown chemicals in it, can negatively impact your eyes.
Another common source of eye damage from substance use comes from dry eyes. This can occur due to the glands being negatively affected by the substances in your system, making them not produce enough moisture to keep your eyes healthy.
Finally, recent studies are showing a link between substance use and a change in spontaneous blinking, which is what your body naturally does to keep your eyes healthy.
Substance use can impact the muscles and reactions of the body in a myriad of ways. Not only can it cause rapid blinking, but it can also cause the opposite.
In a healthy person, the body has natural processes for maintaining things like blinking. Even though it’s an action we can take over and consciously control, when we stop thinking about it, the brain is happy to take back over. This unconscious process is known as spontaneous blinking.
Currently, there are two primary links found between substance use and a reduction in spontaneous blinking. One is tied to drug-induced Parkinsonism. Similar to Parkinson’s disease, Parkinsonism is a condition that reduces motor functionality in the body, leading to stiffness and tremors. This can impact many areas of the body, including the muscles in your eyelids.
The other primary cause of reduced blinking is more specific to cocaine and its impact on the dopaminergic system. Cocaine impacts dopamine receptors, which are part of the dopaminergic system. This system influences some of the unconscious actions in the body, such as blinking. As a result, a reduction in its functionality can be directly observed through a lack of blinking.
Substance use doesn’t just impact your physical health via the effects it produces while present in you. Substance use also impacts you by changing your way of life and thinking. People who are dealing with a substance use disorder often push away things they used to enjoy doing in favor of spending more time engaging with their substance of choice. The first things that often get trimmed out of a person’s schedule are their ways of self-care.
While generally speaking, self-care habits rarely directly involve engaging with our eyes, this doesn’t mean they aren’t impacted. Changes in diet and cleanliness can worsen vision or lead to unintentional eye injuries such as corneal scratches and damage from improper contact use.
Changes in eye behaviors are just one of many signs of a substance use disorder. While a lack of blinking may catch your attention and make you wonder, it’s important to seek context and look for other signs before you jump to conclusions.
Things like changes in air quality, long exposure to computer screens, and even stress can cause someone to blink less than normal. Medication changes can also influence your eye health. However, if you’re worried that the source of change might be related to substance use, here are some other questions you can ask yourself first.
If you said yes to multiple of the above, then there is a greater chance that the blinking could be related to substance use. To get a better idea of what substances might be the source, here are some of the most common substances that influence blinking.
Stimulants like cocaine have an interesting impact on the body. The way they influence the central nervous system, the muscles in the body, and even your veins can lead to lasting damage the more frequently it's in your system.
The heightened energy people feel when cocaine is present can lead to rapid blinking. In contrast, the damage done to the dopamine system within the body can also lead to decreased blinking.
Similar to cocaine, amphetamines are a form of stimulant. While studies haven’t found a direct link between them and lessened blinking, amphetamines can still play a role in the development of conditions like Parkinsonism. They can also cause increased energy and muscle movement which can lead to rapid blinking.
Depressants are the opposite of stimulants. They slow down the processes in the body. Common substances in this category include alcohol, benzodiazepines, and marijuana. Depressants can lead to droopy eyelids and increase fatigue, making someone more likely to have long, slow blinks.
Our eyelids are one of the primary barriers between our eyes and damage. Not only do they help keep moisture in, but they also help keep foreign objects out.
Besides the potential damage of additional bacteria and other airborne objects, one of the biggest risks of blinking less is developing dry eyes.
As the name suggests, dry eyes occur when your eyes aren’t getting enough moisture to maintain a healthy state. While dry eyes can be treated relatively easily, if left untreated you run a risk of inflammation, tears to the surface of your eye, and even vision loss.
If reading this article has you concerned for the health of a loved one, or for yourself, there are many options available. It’s never too late to seek healing, no matter how daunting that first step may seem.
Finding a quality drug rehab center may seem like a monumental task, but you’re worth it, and there are many great options available. Finding what you need depends on the programming you’re seeking, but in general, a facility should offer you ongoing support along every step of your journey, including after you’ve left their doors.
Recovery isn’t a linear process. Some days are more challenging than others, but that doesn’t mean you’ve failed or that you’re weak. We have stressful days at work, we encounter problems that make a good day turn bad, it happens even to people not on a recovery journey. They have support networks and solutions to address their stress, so why shouldn’t you?
Our team here at San Antonio Recovery Center wants to see you thrive. With the largest alumni network in San Antonio, we will offer you support as long as you want it. No matter your history with substance use, healing is always an option. Get started today by giving us a call at 866-957-7885.
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