Immunotoxicology of Drugs of Abuse

ORCID

Kaplan: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1992-4145

MSU Affiliation

College of Veterinary Medicine

Creation Date

2026-03-30

Abstract

Drugs of abuse include substances that possess therapeutic benefit, such as analgesia, sedation, anesthesia, or anxiolytic effects. The benefit of many of these drugs is the result of their actions in the central nervous system, and therefore, many are also used recreationally for their psychotropic effects such as euphoria, hallucinations, and relaxation. Regardless of their intended use, substances defined as drugs of abuse share the trait that they are addictive; that is, the user craves the substance, increasing the likelihood of continued substance use regardless of the consequences. One health consequence of illicit drug use is compromised immunity. There is a risk of increased susceptibility to various infections in user populations, especially those with compromised immune status, such as cancer or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome patients. This article describes the effects and mechanisms by which drugs of abuse produce immunotoxicity, including opioids, cocaine, cannabinoids, nicotine, alcohol, methamphetamine, and benzodiazepines. A primary focus is on psychotropic substances that produce peripheral immune suppression; however, brief descriptions of the mechanisms by which the substances produce their psychotropic effects are presented, as is the possibility of neuroinflammation following drug use. Also included are sections describing neuroimmune interactions as possible mechanisms for immune suppression, the effects of tolerance and withdrawal using opioids as the example, evidence that illicit drug use accelerates human immunodeficiency virus disease progression, and studies examining the possibility of a genetic contribution to immune compromise by opioids and cannabinoids.

Publication Date

1-1-2018

Publication Title

Comprehensive Toxicology (Third Edition)

Publisher

Elsevier

First Page

791

Last Page

825

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Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-801238-3.64180-6