I am 30 yr old professional now, but have a history of illicit drug use as an adolescent. Those drugs included moderate use of alcohol and marijuana. I had also abused acid, meth, cocaine, and huffed butane but not so much as to call a habit. I also boxed as an amateur off and on for the past 5 yrs. I have an incredibly bad short term memory issue to such an extent that I can't retain the info taken in for 30 sec to 1 min later. This is not with all subjects though. It is especially difficult with names and locations. I also have a hard time speaking to people because I can't seem to formulate my thoughts or remember the words for subject matter of my thought. What I am wondering is whether or not this is a possible early sign of a serious brain function disease or if there is any thing I can do to improve it. It is becoming worse and I am finding more and more difficulty functioning in the work place. I also have had an increase in social anxiety to the point of avoidance do to the way that I communicate and the inability to explain issues that arise from memory loss i.e. not remembering the name of some one I see day to day or how to get some where I have been many times in the local area.