Marijuana (Cannabis)
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is main ingredient in Marijuana that causes euphoric effects in the user's senses. THC causes the brain to increase the production of dopamine, which is known as the 'happiness' chemical. In addition the enhanced happiness, you're senses of feeling, time, vision, and hearing are violently altered. It's illegal to operate machinery while under the influence of the narcotic in places where it's legal for that reason.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the main effects of marijuana on mood vary and may include euphoria, calmness, anxiety, or paranoia. Getting high or "stoned" is the reason most pot smokers use marijuana.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the main effects of marijuana on mood vary and may include euphoria, calmness, anxiety, or paranoia. Getting high or "stoned" is the reason most pot smokers use marijuana.
Alcohol
Some information shows that with Americans somewhere around 12-14 million would be medically considered to have a drinking disorder. An estimated 17% or more Americans have abused alcohol in their lifetime thus far, and approximately 64% of abusers started drinking at an early age. Furthermore, many adult drinkers believe that they have a relative who has a drinking condition.
The resulting health problems from drinking in the United States can lead to an overall increase in hospital stays among problem drinkers and there are deaths in the million related to excessive drinking.
The resulting health problems from drinking in the United States can lead to an overall increase in hospital stays among problem drinkers and there are deaths in the million related to excessive drinking.
Prescription Drugs (Rx)
Misused Stimulants:
Doctors prescribe stimulants to treat depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD and narcolepsy. The drugs can cause increased heart rate or respiration, elevated blood pressure, sleep disorders and suppressed appetite. Stimulants can also become physically and emotionally addictive. Abuse can lead to high body temperature or irregular heartbeats and increased heart rate or blood pressure. Users may have feelings of exhilaration or increased mental alertness. However, people may become hostile or paranoid when taking large doses of the drug during short periods. Tremors, seizures, hallucinations and increased risk of stroke and cardiovascular failure may result from abuse of stimulants. Stimulants include dextroamphetamine and methylphenidate.
Abused Depressants:
Depressants affect the central nervous system to help relieve anxiety, tension, stress, panic attacks and sleep disorder. The drugs may accompany use of anesthesia to calm patients. Depressants can cause drowsiness, dizziness or sedation in the beginning for people using the prescription drugs. The effects may wear off, but users have a risk of physical dependence and addiction. Seizure can occur from abuse when people try to reduce or stop using the drug. Memory problems and abnormal body temperature can result from depressants. An overdose on these drugs can lead to coma or death. Depressants include barbiturates, such as mephobarbital and pentobarbital sodium. Abuse may also occur with prescribed benzodiazepines, including diazepam, alprazolam, hydrochloide, lorazepam and estazolam.
Opioid Effects:
Opioids usually help prevent postsurgical pain, manage acute or chronic pain and even relieve such symptoms as coughing and diarrhea, the National Institute on Drug Abuse explains. Side effects such as drowsiness, constipation or depressed respiration may occur over the short period. Abusing the medication leads to dependence and addiction. Severe respiratory problems or death can follow a single large dose. Opioids may lead to feelings of euphoria, confusion, unconsciousness or coma. Increased risk of choking, slowed breathing rate or stopped breathing and loss of menstrual periods or fertility may develop from abusing opioid painkillers. Opioids include oxycodone, hydrocodone, propoxyphene, meperidine, morphine, codeine, fentanyl and methadone.
Doctors prescribe stimulants to treat depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD and narcolepsy. The drugs can cause increased heart rate or respiration, elevated blood pressure, sleep disorders and suppressed appetite. Stimulants can also become physically and emotionally addictive. Abuse can lead to high body temperature or irregular heartbeats and increased heart rate or blood pressure. Users may have feelings of exhilaration or increased mental alertness. However, people may become hostile or paranoid when taking large doses of the drug during short periods. Tremors, seizures, hallucinations and increased risk of stroke and cardiovascular failure may result from abuse of stimulants. Stimulants include dextroamphetamine and methylphenidate.
Abused Depressants:
Depressants affect the central nervous system to help relieve anxiety, tension, stress, panic attacks and sleep disorder. The drugs may accompany use of anesthesia to calm patients. Depressants can cause drowsiness, dizziness or sedation in the beginning for people using the prescription drugs. The effects may wear off, but users have a risk of physical dependence and addiction. Seizure can occur from abuse when people try to reduce or stop using the drug. Memory problems and abnormal body temperature can result from depressants. An overdose on these drugs can lead to coma or death. Depressants include barbiturates, such as mephobarbital and pentobarbital sodium. Abuse may also occur with prescribed benzodiazepines, including diazepam, alprazolam, hydrochloide, lorazepam and estazolam.
Opioid Effects:
Opioids usually help prevent postsurgical pain, manage acute or chronic pain and even relieve such symptoms as coughing and diarrhea, the National Institute on Drug Abuse explains. Side effects such as drowsiness, constipation or depressed respiration may occur over the short period. Abusing the medication leads to dependence and addiction. Severe respiratory problems or death can follow a single large dose. Opioids may lead to feelings of euphoria, confusion, unconsciousness or coma. Increased risk of choking, slowed breathing rate or stopped breathing and loss of menstrual periods or fertility may develop from abusing opioid painkillers. Opioids include oxycodone, hydrocodone, propoxyphene, meperidine, morphine, codeine, fentanyl and methadone.
Cocaine
Cocaine causes interesting effects in the brain. Scientists have long studied the effects of cocaine use on the brain, mainly to discover the secret of why it is so addictive, as well as why it is so hard to stop abusing cocaine once started.
Deep in the brain, there are centers that provide feelings of euphoria and pleasure. These are known as reward centers. An event that is "rewarding" is accompanied by the release of a chemical known as dopamine. Dopamine allows feelings of pleasure and euphoria. Normally, the dopamine is released into small gaps between neurons in the brain. It binds with proteins in the gaps and sends the appropriate signals to the brain. The dopamine eventually leaves the gap.
With cocaine substance abuse, this process is disrupted. Cocaine actually blocks the dopamine from leaving the gaps between the brain's neurons, and this leads to a buildup of dopamine; the brain then remains stimulated.
However, this alteration of how the brain works comes with a price. The body develops a tolerance - becoming used to - the level of pleasure felt with the initial use of cocaine. More and more cocaine is required to get the same effect. Additionally, the brain retains a memory of the euphoria, and can trigger intense cravings that can lead to relapse.
Deep in the brain, there are centers that provide feelings of euphoria and pleasure. These are known as reward centers. An event that is "rewarding" is accompanied by the release of a chemical known as dopamine. Dopamine allows feelings of pleasure and euphoria. Normally, the dopamine is released into small gaps between neurons in the brain. It binds with proteins in the gaps and sends the appropriate signals to the brain. The dopamine eventually leaves the gap.
With cocaine substance abuse, this process is disrupted. Cocaine actually blocks the dopamine from leaving the gaps between the brain's neurons, and this leads to a buildup of dopamine; the brain then remains stimulated.
However, this alteration of how the brain works comes with a price. The body develops a tolerance - becoming used to - the level of pleasure felt with the initial use of cocaine. More and more cocaine is required to get the same effect. Additionally, the brain retains a memory of the euphoria, and can trigger intense cravings that can lead to relapse.
Ecstasy (MDMA)
MDMA can produce a variety of adverse health effects, including nausea, chills, sweating, involuntary teeth clenching, muscle cramping, and blurred vision. MDMA overdose can also occur - the symptoms can include high blood pressure, faintness, panic attacks, and in severe cases, a loss of consciousness, and seizures.
Because of its stimulant properties and the environment in which it is often taken, MDMA is associated with vigorous physical activity for extended periods. This can lead to one of the most significant, although rare, acute adverse effects -- a marked rise in body temperature (hyperthermia). Treatment of hyperthermia requires prompt medical attention, as it can rapidly lead to muscle breakdown, which can in turn result in kidney failure.
Because of its stimulant properties and the environment in which it is often taken, MDMA is associated with vigorous physical activity for extended periods. This can lead to one of the most significant, although rare, acute adverse effects -- a marked rise in body temperature (hyperthermia). Treatment of hyperthermia requires prompt medical attention, as it can rapidly lead to muscle breakdown, which can in turn result in kidney failure.
Heroin
The rush of euphoria is the reason that anyone with a heroin drug addiction initially uses the drug, but of course this changes over time. Eventually, the heroin user becomes so accustomed to having the drug in their body that they have developed an extreme heroin dependency and they now need the drug in order to simply avoid feeling sick. Eventually, heroin addicts may equate simply feeling normal and not sick with the idea that they are getting high on heroin, when in fact they are only maintaining the status quo in avoiding withdrawal from heroin. Because heroin suppresses the body and its functions, there is a threat of heroin drug overdose because the user could stop breathing entirely from taking too much. The entire body is slowed down from the effects of heroin and the heart rate drops as well. After taking the drug, addicts remain in a mental fog for several hours, which can lead to other complications as well–including making more poor decisions.
The human body becomes extremely beat up after prolonged heroin use. Veins can collapse. The immune system is compromised. The liver becomes damaged as it works harder to filter out impurities that are packaged and cut with the drug. The heart is also attacked by these impurities that inevitably enter the supply chain of the drug. Over time, dependence develops and tolerance increases. This creates a problem for the heroin addict because now they must take more of the drug to get the same high that used to require much less of the drug. Increasing the quantity taken complicates problems and introduces even more impurities into the body. Eventually the addict is taking very large quantities of heroin just to avoid the misery of heroin withdrawal, and he may not feel much euphoria from the heroin high anymore. Over several years of repeated use, the heroin addict is training his body to stop producing its own dopamine. This makes it extremely difficult for the heroin addict to stop using the drug and live a drug free life, because his body may take months before it realizes that it needs to resume normal dopamine production.
The human body becomes extremely beat up after prolonged heroin use. Veins can collapse. The immune system is compromised. The liver becomes damaged as it works harder to filter out impurities that are packaged and cut with the drug. The heart is also attacked by these impurities that inevitably enter the supply chain of the drug. Over time, dependence develops and tolerance increases. This creates a problem for the heroin addict because now they must take more of the drug to get the same high that used to require much less of the drug. Increasing the quantity taken complicates problems and introduces even more impurities into the body. Eventually the addict is taking very large quantities of heroin just to avoid the misery of heroin withdrawal, and he may not feel much euphoria from the heroin high anymore. Over several years of repeated use, the heroin addict is training his body to stop producing its own dopamine. This makes it extremely difficult for the heroin addict to stop using the drug and live a drug free life, because his body may take months before it realizes that it needs to resume normal dopamine production.
Crystal Meth (Crystallized Methamphetamine Hydrochloride)
Crystal Meth is one of the most dangerous drugs on earth because of it's body-destructive tendencies and the clinching hold of a quick addiction. Addiction happens very quickly and can steal users lives. When addicts use meth over and over again, the drug actually changes their brain chemistry, destroying the wiring in the brain's pleasure centers and making it increasingly impossible to experience any pleasure at all. Although studies have shown that these tissues can regrow over time, the process can take years, and the repair may never be complete.
Once the damage to the brain has been done, there is a very low chance of returning cognitive abilities. A paper published by Dr. Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, examines brain scans of several meth abusers who, after 14 months of abstinence from the drug, have regrown most of their damaged dopamine receptors; however, they showed no improvement in the cognitive abilities damaged by the drug. After more than a year's sobriety, these former meth users still showed severe impairment in memory, judgment and motor coordination, similar to symptoms seen in individuals suffering from Parkinson's Disease.
Once the damage to the brain has been done, there is a very low chance of returning cognitive abilities. A paper published by Dr. Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, examines brain scans of several meth abusers who, after 14 months of abstinence from the drug, have regrown most of their damaged dopamine receptors; however, they showed no improvement in the cognitive abilities damaged by the drug. After more than a year's sobriety, these former meth users still showed severe impairment in memory, judgment and motor coordination, similar to symptoms seen in individuals suffering from Parkinson's Disease.