Which item is NOT listed as a long-term impact of drugs and alcohol?

• A. High blood pressure
• B. Heart/organ disease
• C. Social/relationship issues
• D. Slurred speech

Answer: (D)

Understanding long-term health effects of ongoing drug and alcohol use versus temporary, during-use effects is what’s being tested. Chronic use can lead to high blood pressure and heart or organ disease, and it can create ongoing social and relationship problems as substance use disrupts routines, finances, and trust. Slurred speech, on the other hand, is a sign of intoxication that occurs while under the influence and typically resolves once the substance is out of the system, so it is not described as a long-term impact. Therefore, slurred speech is not listed as a long-term consequence. If useful, you can think of long-term impacts as lasting health and social consequences that develop from repeated use, while acute symptoms like slurred speech show up only during or right after use.