As science progresses, the availability and variety of medications grow. With all the different varieties available, knowing the damages caused by each type is essential. While most of these drugs may be used for medical purposes, this article will only discuss this list in light of substance abuse. All categories are pulled from a listing by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). While this text is not a comprehensive list, it summarizes the seven main drug categories. This article discusses what these drugs are, what they do, and the dangers and side effects of each. Dependence on any of these drugs requires rehabilitation.
Central Nervous System Depressants
Central nervous system (CNS) depressants increase the production of a neurotransmitter, which slows down brain activity and results in feelings of relaxation, tiredness, and various other effects. Alcohol, anti-anxiety medicines, GHB, Rohypnol, and numerous other antidepressants are examples of CNS depressants.
Although different kinds of CNS depressants function in various ways, they lower levels of awareness in the brain and decrease central nervous system activity. While all CNS depressants have this function, there are still some notable distinctions among the various drugs that fall under this category. A long-term user of CNS depressants is at risk for an overdose.
CNS Stimulants
This category of drugs causes the opposite effect as CNS depressants. They cause the body to accelerate and become overstimulated. Side effects can include increased blood pressure and heart rate. Cocaine, crack cocaine, amphetamines, and methamphetamine are CNS stimulants. Adderall and Ritalin are in this group and are easily abused.
Adverse effects, whether they are personal or medical, are frequently disregarded by someone who is addicted to this type of drug. Dopamine, a neurotransmitter that causes pleasure, is increased by CNS stimulants. Therefore, many people use stimulants regularly. The impact of stimulant addiction on a person’s health can be short-term and long-term, as the drug has very potent effects on the heart. Long-term use can result in an increased risk of stroke or heart attack.
Hallucinogens
According to NIH, classic hallucinogens (such as LSD) and dissociative substances (such as PCP) are the two main categories of hallucinogens. Both varieties of hallucinogens can produce hallucinations, which are perceptions of visions and sounds that are not real. Dissociative substances can also make users feel out of control or cut off from their surroundings and bodies. The short-term effects of traditional hallucinogens can compel users to perceive real-appearing, yet fictitious, visions, sounds, and sensations. Persistent psychosis and Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder are potential long-term effects of using hallucinogenic drugs.
Narcotic Analgesics
Narcotics are opium and its derivatives. This includes heroin and several other prescription-only painkillers, such as Fentanyl, oxycodone (OxyContin®), hydrocodone (Vicodin®), codeine, morphine, and many more. Painkillers may be appropriate for some medical purposes, but because they can promote euphoria, they can be abused and users can quickly develop an addiction. Regular opioid painkillers cause dependence and, when misused, can result in addiction, overdoses, and fatalities.
Inhalants
Common names for these drugs include whippets, laughing gas, huff, and hippie crack. Inhalants are combustible, highly volatile, and evaporate at room temperature. They can have short-lived, mind-altering effects comparable to those of alcohol. These drugs are a broad category that includes various chemicals and anesthetics administered through inhalation. Inhalants can be abused very easily. “Huffing” is the most popular. Huffing is the practice of soaking a cloth in an inhalant liquid, placing the rag near the mouth or nose, and then inhaling the vapors. Some individuals breathe in the material straight from the jar using their mouth or nose. This can lead to long-term effects like liver and brain damage.
Cannabis
This type of drug includes marijuana. Some cannabinoids are psychoactive, which means they influence mood or consciousness by acting on the brain. They are often consumed via smoking or inhaling the vapor. Tea, baked products, candy, and other edible forms are available. Marijuana users may develop marijuana use disorder, which means they continue to use the drug even when it’s damaging their health and interfering with their social life. Adolescence is a terrible time for young people to experiment with marijuana’s effects since it is a time when the brain is going through significant changes. It has been suggested that cannabis use during youth increases the likelihood of schizophrenia.
Becoming Informed
Understanding drugs and how they can affect the body helps to realize how dangerous they are. All these drugs have detrimental effects. Someone struggling with an addiction to any of these drugs needs to seek treatment immediately. Drug addiction is a difficult situation; it is advisable to work with a team of experts. First Steps Recovery is prepared to safely transition individuals from substance abuse to sobriety. Choosing treatment is the first step to finding freedom.
The power involved in addictions is still being researched. What is clearly known is that both drugs and alcohol are damaging to the human body and brain. The cycle of shame and use caused by substance abuse is one that can be broken. At First Steps Recovery, we are dedicated to the cause of giving you a life of sobriety. Our facilities have a team of experts and specialists that want to free you from the chains of addiction. You won’t be alone on the journey of holistic healing. Sobriety is achievable, no matter the odds. If you are interested in receiving treatment, please call (844) 489-0836 to learn about First Steps Recovery.
The power involved in addictions is still being researched. What is clearly known is that both drugs and alcohol are damaging to the human body and brain. The cycle of shame and use caused by substance abuse is one that can be broken. At First Steps Recovery, we are dedicated to the cause of giving you a life of sobriety. Our facilities have a team of experts and specialists that want to free you from the chains of addiction. You won’t be alone on the journey of holistic healing. Sobriety is achievable, no matter the odds. If you are interested in receiving treatment, please call (844) 489-0836 to learn about First Steps Recovery.
