Addiction can have devastating effects on the body. Depending on the substance someone relies on, their physical health can decline in many different ways. Some people experience damage to the heart, lungs, or liver. Others face serious neurological or muscular complications. While certain symptoms are predictable, others can be shockingly unexpected.
This story involves a 23-year-old man whose addiction led to a rare and frightening medical condition most people have never heard of.
Keep reading to learn more about his case.
A young man in Iran developed a condition that made it almost impossible for him to support the weight of his own head. According to medical reports, he had been regularly using amphetamines, commonly known as “speed.” Over time, this drug caused his chin to collapse downward toward his chest for long periods, eventually leading to a condition the doctors identified as “fixed kyphotic neck position.”
This meant that the curve in his upper spine became so pronounced and rigid that he could no longer lift his head upright. The condition falls under what is more widely known as dropped head syndrome, where weak or damaged neck muscles fail to hold the head in a normal alignment.
Doctors also discovered that his drug use involved much more than amphetamines. He frequently consumed a combination of narcotics, including heroin and opium. With each use, his posture suffered. Hours spent slumped over altered his spine in a way that became permanent without medical intervention.
Physicians began exploring what exactly caused such a dramatic deformity. They reviewed his medical history and confirmed that before he started using drugs, there were no signs of spinal problems. He had not suffered any accidents. There were no genetic markers or underlying diseases that could explain the sudden decline.
Dr. Majid Rezvan, one of the doctors who worked on his case, explained the team’s findings:
“We discovered that drug abuse contributed to the uncommon development of severe complicated cervical kyphosis, which is the excessive rounding of the upper back.”
He clarified that the drugs didn’t attack the muscles or bones directly. Instead, the issue stemmed from posture.
“When a patient is under the influence, they remain in a bent or fixed position for long periods. Over months, these prolonged positions lead to musculoskeletal changes that cause deformities such as kyphoscoliosis,” he added.
While dropped head syndrome is often associated with neurological disorders like motor neuron disease or conditions that weaken the muscles, this case is a stark reminder that lifestyle habits — especially drug-related — can also be responsible.
For 15 long months, the young man suffered from worsening symptoms. He experienced chronic neck pain, severe stiffness, and paresthesia — a condition that causes sensations like tingling, numbness, or pins and needles in the arms. Everyday activities became extremely difficult. Even holding his head up long enough to walk or sit upright became exhausting and painful.
A CT scan finally revealed the extent of the damage: his cervical spine was significantly deformed. Interestingly, doctors observed that when he was under general anesthesia, his head position temporarily improved — a clue that surgery might help correct the structure.
He underwent an operation to realign and stabilize the affected vertebrae. After surgery, he was fitted with a hard neck collar to support proper healing. Remarkably, he was able to walk independently the very next day.
But recovery is only partly physical. To truly heal, he must confront the root of the problem: addiction.
Doctors recommended that he begin rehabilitation treatment immediately after stabilizing medically. Without addressing his drug dependence, the improvements in his health might not last. Rehab could give him a chance not only to protect his body but to regain control of his future.