Let’s take a look at the various forms of drugs that pervade the lives of people and the devastating effects it can have on one’s life. Drugs come in three forms: Stimulants, Hallucinogens and Depressants.
Stimulants: This is a class of drugs, which tend to give a temporary illusion of limitless power and energy, once it effects subside, it leaves the person feeling on edge, depressed and craving for more. Stimulants affect the brain’s functioning including, thinking capacity, motor control, emotional regulation, breathing, body temperature, heart rate, hormone production. Hence, using stimulants can be detrimental to all aspects of a person’s life. The Psychological risks include violent, life-threatening, or paranoid behavior, losing touch with reality hallucinations, confusion, anxiety and mood disturbances, loss of interest in leisure, family, sports, food or sex, excessive spending and illegal activities.
Stimulant drugs include: Caffeine, Nicotine, Cocaine, Methamphetamine, Ecstasy (MDMA) and Prescription and over-the-counter stimulants. Let look at a few types of Stimulant drugs:
1. Cocaine: is highly addictive. It can be "snorted" through the nasal passages or injected. In India, the proportion of people dependent on cocaine is relatively small (0.03%, or 3.2 lakh individuals). However one cannot overlook the harmful effects cocaine has on a person’s overall wellbeing.
The Physical risks involve rise in blood pressure, malnourishment and weight loss, heart rate, breathing rate, and body temperature, nausea, blurred vision, fever, muscle spasms, nosebleeds, coma, heart attacks, strokes, and respiratory failure, gangrene in intestines, hepatitis or AIDS through shared needles, brain seizures/convulsions, immunity loss and even death through allergic reactions from injecting.
2. Methamphetamine: Which is also known as “crystal meth”, is a powerful drug that impacts the central nervous system. It usually comes in a pill, powders, smoke or crystallized form and creates a sense of euphoria, energizing those who use it. Yet, once its effects wear off, we see the dangerous effects.
The Physical risks involve increased heart rate and blood pressure, wakefulness, insomnia, increased physical activity, decreased appetite; extreme anorexia, respiratory problems, hypothermia, convulsions, and cardiovascular problems, which can lead to death irritability, confusion, tremors anxiety, paranoia, or violent behavior, irreversible damage to blood vessels in the brain, cardiovascular problems.
3. Tobacco products: Tobacco is one of the most widely abused substances in the world as well as within the Indian population. It is highly addictive. Nicotine is the main addictive chemical in tobacco. It causes a rush of adrenaline when absorbed in the bloodstream or inhaled via cigarette smoke. Nicotine acts as a mood booster neurologically, yet it has toxic such as tars and carbon monoxide.
Physical risks involve cancer in the mouth, esophagus, lungs and pancreas, heart disease, decreases stamina, teeth stains, wrinkles in skin, chronic bad breath.
Depressants: Unlike Stimulants depressants slow down the brain’s communication with the body by slowing down co-ordination, concentration and judgement. For the moment it helps a person relieve anxiety. Few types of Depressants include: Alcohol, cannabis, benzodiazepines, heroin and opioids. The most commonly used depressants in India is alcohol which is followed by Cannabis and Opioids.
1. Marijuana/Cannabis: Marijuana blocks the messages going to your brain and alters your perceptions and emotions, vision, hearing, and coordination. It is a mild hallucinogen and can impair coordination, concentration, memory, energy and motivation. This reduces overall ability to perform daily tasks,
Physical risks involve cancer, infertility issues; extinguished sexual pleasure, increasing tolerance and withdrawal.
2. Opiates & heroin: Opioids are often used as medicines because they contain chemicals that relax the body and can relieve pain. Heroin is one of the world's most dangerous opioids, and is never used as a medicine. Heroin the most commonly used opioid in India at 1.14 %
Physical risks involve damage of veins and tissues, liver/kidney disease, Lung complications, blood-borne viruses. Signs of overdose include shallow breathing, cold skin, blue lips or fingertips, or loss of consciousness, nausea, vomiting, and constipation
3. Depressants/Sedatives: These consist of prescription drugs which are used as sedatives and sleeping pills. Adverse effects of long time usage can include impaired vision, motor coordination, and speech as well as confusion and impaired thinking. When combined with alcohol can result in coma or death.
Hallucinogens: These drugs distort how a person experiences reality. They may enhance and modify perception of direction, distance, and time become disoriented. Long-term use of hallucinogens can also lead to a range of physical and mental health issues. LSD and ketamine are chemical-based hallucinogens; magic mushrooms are plant-based hallucinogens.
The Psychological risks include increased tolerance levels that produce violent behavior leads to serious injuries and death, flashbacks, disorientation and loss of reality, depression, anxiety, paranoia, confusion, suspicion, and loss of control and psychosis. Physical risks include convulsions, coma, heart and lung failure, increased heart rate and blood pressure, sleeplessness, tremors, poor muscular coordination sparse, slurred speech, decreased awareness of touch and pain that can result in self-inflicted injuries
From these facts it is evident that there is no “safe” usage of drugs. Being informed and spreading awareness is the first step of overcoming the Drug Epidemic.
Comments