Cancer And Addiction

What’s The Link Between Cancer And Addiction?

Substance abuse is connected to many health issues, including cancer. Alcohol and tobacco, in particular, are two of the most common causes of cancer, even if someone is not addicted to these substances.

Both substances are commonly misused because they are easily available. Unfortunately, they both have a very high addiction potential and cancer risk, thus establishing the link between addiction and cancer.

Tobacco is known to cause approximately 80% of lung cancer deaths. There is also strong evidence showing that alcohol consumption can lead to various types of cancer, with most being a form of oral, liver, and colon cancer.

Additionally, illicit drugs such as cocaine and heroin often get mixed with cancer-causing cutting agents. Illicit drugs can also be injected intravenously and can increase the risk of hepatitis B and C due to infected needles. These blood-borne viruses can increase the likelihood of serious liver damage and can cause hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer).

Which Substances Are Linked To Cancer?

Both licit and illicit substances are linked to cancer. These include:

• Alcohol
• Tobacco
• Illicit drugs that are injected intravenously
• Illicit drugs that are cut with cancer-causing agents, specifically phenacetin
• Steroids, specifically anabolic steroids

Tobacco And Cancer

Tobacco is the leading cause of cancer and a preventable cause of death worldwide and in the United States, with people who smoke cigarettes dying about 10 years earlier than people who have never smoked.

Tobacco consumed in any form is harmful to the body; this includes:

• Cigarettes
• Cigars
• E-cigarettes (including vapes)
• Chewing tobacco

Approximately 480,000 people die from tobacco use each year in the US, and many of these people die from tobacco-related cancer. Tobacco is most commonly known for causing lung cancer and makes up 80% of lung cancer deaths. In addition to lung, mouth, and throat cancer, tobacco can also lead to:

• Bladder cancer
• Cervix cancer
• Colon cancer
• Kidney cancer
• Leukemia
• Liver cancer
• Rectum cancer
• Stomach cancer

Cigarettes contain over 7,000 chemicals, with at least 69 to 70 of them known to cause cancer (carcinogens). Known carcinogens found in cigarettes include:

• Arsenic
• Benzene
• Cadmium
• Formaldehyde
• Tobacco-specific nitrosamines

Cigar smoke is known to have more cancer-causing tar and chemicals than cigarettes and is just as likely to cause cancer, even if the smoke is not inhaled. All cigar and cigarette smokers expose their lips, mouth, throat, and larynx (voice box) to chemicals that are swallowed in the saliva. Light cigarettes that are marketed as low-tar or less dangerous are no safer than regular or full-flavor cigarettes.

E-cigarettes, also known as vapes, are nicotine-containing battery-charged devices that heat liquid, which turns into aerosol. This aerosol is inhaled and most likely contains harmful chemicals as well as carcinogens that are also found in cigarettes.

Studies are still ongoing, but experts believe that there is indeed a strong link to cancer since they contain many similar carcinogens. A 2024 study provided the first evidence that smoking in combination with vaping significantly increases the risk of lung cancer by 3-4 times, compared to smoking alone.

Chewing tobacco, also known as snuff, is a form of smokeless tobacco that can cause oral (mouth, tongue, cheek, and gums), esophageal, stomach, and pancreatic cancer. According to The American Cancer Society, there are more than 25 cancer-causing chemicals in smokeless tobacco, with the most harmful being tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs).

The risk of developing cancer is also increased in those exposed to secondhand smoke. The chemicals in tobacco smoke, including vapes, even if not inhaled directly, can damage DNA and lead to cancer.

People who smoke are encouraged to quit as soon as possible, and those who have been diagnosed with cancer can reduce the risk of death by quitting as soon as possible. Online therapy can be a helpful way to quit smoking. With support from a licensed therapist, you can get the help you need from the comfort of your own home.

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Alcohol And Cancer

Studies have shown a strong link between drinking alcohol and developing several types of cancer, with an alarming rise seen in alcohol-related cancer deaths.

Between 1990 and 2021, the total number of alcohol-related cancer deaths nearly doubled in the US, rising from just under 12,000 deaths per year to just over 23,000.

Further information on the connection between alcohol and cancer from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention include:

• Breast cancer is the most common alcohol-associated cancer among women.
• Colorectal cancer is the most common alcohol-associated cancer among men.
• Approximately 86% of new alcohol-associated cancers occur in people 50 or older.

Alcohol is known to cause many types of cancer, including head and neck, esophageal, colon and rectum, liver, and breast. The specific type of alcohol consumed does not matter in terms of cancer risk; rather, it is the amount and frequency over time that increases a person’s cancer risk.

Consumption of all different types of alcoholic beverages increases the risk of cancer. Moderate to heavy alcohol consumption, including binge drinking, is known to have the highest risk; however, even light drinking can increase a person’s risk of developing cancer.

Research has shown that stopping alcohol consumption is associated with lower risks of oral cavity and esophageal cancers and possibly of throat, breast, and colorectal cancers.

Fortunately, seeking help for alcohol addiction can decrease the risk of cancer.

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Steroids And Cancer

Anabolic steroids are substances with testosterone-like effects that are often used to increase muscle mass or improve physical performance. The use of steroids increases the risk of testicular cancer in men, endometrial cancer in women, and liver cancers in both men and women.

Illicit Drugs And Cancer

Illicit drugs, such as cocaine, opioids, benzodiazepines, and party drugs, such as ketamine and MDMA, are often mixed, or “cut,” with toxic, cancer-causing chemicals to create more of the drug at less cost.

A commonly used cutting agent is phenacetin, which has been linked to cases of renal cell, pelvic, and ureteral cancer. Illicit drugs that are injected intravenously, such as heroin, are known to cause hepatitis B and C, which are blood-borne illnesses that can cause chronic liver disease, such as cirrhosis, which is known to lead to liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma).

Opioid Addiction In Cancer Patients

One of the most common symptoms of cancer is pain, which can be debilitating. Strong prescription opioids are commonly prescribed to treat cancer-related pain, increasing the risk of opioid misuse, dependence, and addiction.

Any person that takes opioids is at risk of developing an addiction, which is why the drugs should only be prescribed when they’re absolutely necessary.

Cancer patients typically get what they need for pain management, and understandably so, because if somebody has metastatic cancer and they’re in horrible pain, sometimes only opioids can manage that pain. But this can also lead to some patients with early-stage, curable cancers getting more than they need after a cancer-related surgery.

Can You Prevent Cancer By Not Using Drugs Or Alcohol?

Not using drugs and alcohol can significantly reduce your risk of cancer; however, there is no guaranteed way to prevent cancer overall.

Find Treatment For Addiction

Avoiding drugs and alcohol is one way to reduce your overall cancer risk. If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction or are worried about the connection between substance abuse and cancer, the time to get help is now. Contact a treatment provider or visit our rehab directory today to find out more about your treatment options.