What You Need To Know About Drugs

A drug is considered anything that alters the way one’s brain functions. Drugs can be absorbed, consumed, inhaled, injected, or smoked. People choose to use drugs for numerous reasons. Different categories of drugs have a wide range of effects. All drugs have many different dangers when using them as mentioned above as well. Mixing drugs together also add increased dangers. To seek help with drug use, there are many places one can turn to for help. This article will look at all the topics discussed above to try to help educate you on drug use and how to find help for a drug abuse problem.

What types of drugs are there?

There are two different types of drugs: legal drugs and illegal drugs. Legal drugs include ones that are sold and obtained legally, such as alcohol, caffeine, nicotine, and medications sold at a drugstore. Even though the drugs are legally sold, they often have restrictions by law on how they can be sold and in what quantities they can be sold. They are regulated because if used inappropriately, they can cause serious side effects. These substances are used improperly in order to feel good or get high.

There are also illegal drugs, which are substances sold without having legal permission to do so. Illicit drugs can include cannabis, amphetamines, ecstasy, LSD, cocaine and heroin as well as numerous others. Not only are these drugs not permitted to be legally sold, they also do not have regulations put in place to safety guard the amount of drug placed in each batch. Potentially, each batch bought could have differing levels of the drug in it, sometimes less and sometimes more frequently, which could be potentially life threatening. Laws prohibit people from using, selling, possessing, making, or driving under the influence of any of the aforementioned substances.

Why do people use drugs?

Some people begin using drugs because they want to experiment with them to see what they are like. Sometimes they try it once and never try it again, but at other times they try it and continue using for long amounts of time. Others use drugs because their friends use them. Some others may use drugs because they have become addicted to them. Occasionally, individuals take drugs to feel more grown up or more powerful than they are. Others use drugs to rebel against some situation they are in as well. Some others use drugs because they are bored. Some use because they like the way it makes them feel; it might enhance their mood or make them feel different. Other people use drugs to cope with stress they may be feeling. There are a variety of factors that can play into why people choose to use drugs.

Effects of Different Types of Drugs:

Depressants (alcohol, cannabis, heroin):

Slow down the messages one’s brain sends and receives
Can cause severe muscle aches
Can lead to fever
Can cause vomiting
Can make one pass out
Can make one stop breathing
Can initiate insomnia
Can lead to anxiety
Can cause depression
Can bring about hallucinations
Can lead to paranoia

Stimulants (caffeine, nicotine, amphetamines, ecstasy, cocaine):

Speed up the messages one’s brain sends and receives
Increases body temperature
Can prevent one from feeling hungry
Can cause heart problems
Can give rise to feelings of paranoia
Can lead to insomnia

Hallucinogens (LSD, ecstasy):

Leads to anxiety
Makes one take risks you normally would not take
Changes one’s perception of reality
Can cause one to lose sight of reality

Mixing drugs together, even with alcohol, can lead to serious health dangers. Mixing drugs alter one’s body chemistry and can even be life threatening.

Addiction is a complex problem and there are many ways one can seek help for a drug abuse problem, and there is no one method that is right for every individual. To have effective treatment, it is critical to address the needs of each person. Individual counseling is an effective mode of treatment as is group counseling. Detox or a rehabilitation center are also effective treatment strategies for those dealing with drug addiction issues. Treatment methods can include either inpatient or outpatient modes of rehabilitation also. Relapse prevention is also crucial step to one’s treatment program. Finding some mode of help and education about their situation is the most important thing for each individual seeking to free himself of a drug abuse problem.

Drug use can impact many aspects of one’s life-physically, mentally and socially. If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, please contact a professional who can help you to your journey of freedom from your drug habit.