Drug Addiction

Types, effects and consequences of drugs for health

The use of drugs initially causes positive effects such as feelings of well-being, happiness and courage. However, its long-term effects can cause very serious alterations, especially when used for a long time.

drug effects

The use of drugs can cause alterations in the functioning of the heart, liver, lungs and even the brain, being very harmful to health.

In addition to this, a large part of the drugs causes addiction and, for this reason, the body needs to see every dose of a higher dose in order to obtain the same positive results, which increases the risk of death due to overdose.

Main types of drugs

There are licit drugs and illicit drugs. Licit drugs are those that can be marketed as cigarettes and alcoholic beverages. On the contrary, illicit drugs are those in which their sale as crack, cocaine and ecstasy is prohibited. In the case of marijuana, in some countries it is allowed to be used and marketed for therapeutic and palliative purposes, while in others it is prohibited.

The main types of drugs are:

  • Natural drugs: like the marijuana that comes from the cannabis sativa plant, and the opium whose origin comes from the flowers of real poppy;
  • Synthetic drugs: These are produced artificially in laboratories such as ecstasy and LSD;
  • Semi-synthetic drugs: It is like heroin, cocaine and crack, for example.

In addition to this, drugs can also be classified according to their effects on the central nervous system and the brain as: depressants, stimulants or hallucinogens.

Drug effects

The effects of the drugs can be noticed in a few minutes after use, and tend to last a few minutes, requiring a new dose to prolong its effect on the body. So it is very common for the person to be tainted quickly.

Here are the effects after the use of any illicit drug:

1. Immediate effects of depressant drugs

Drugs such as heroin, codeine, tramadol and morphine are narcotics that can cause euphoria but eventually produce a depressive effect on the central nervous system, causing effects on the body such as:

  • Reduced reasoning and concentration capacity;
  • Exaggerated feeling of calm and tranquility;
  • Exaggerated relaxation and feeling of well-being;
  • Drowsiness;
  • Decreased reflexes;
  • Greater resistance to pain;
  • Greater difficulty in making delicate movements;
  • Decreased ability to drive;
  • Decreased learning capacity in school and work performance.

2. Immediate effects of stimulant drugs

Central nervous system stimulant drugs such as cocaine, ecstasy, amphetamines and crack cause:

  • Intense euphoria and feeling of power;
  • Excitement state;
  • A lot of activity and energy;
  • Decreased sleep and loss of appetite;
  • Speak very fast;
  • Increase in pressure and heart rate;
  • Emotional lack of control;
  • Loss of the notion of reality.

3. Immediate effects of hallucinogenic drugs

Hallucinogenic drugs such as marijuana, LSD, DMT, ayahuasca (tea from Amazonian herbs), hallucinogenic mushrooms and mescaline cause:

  • Hallucinations, mainly visual as alteration of colors, shapes and contours of objects;
  • Altered feeling of time and space, feeling that the minutes seem hours or that the meters seem like Km;
  • Sensation of enormous pleasure or intense fear;
  • Ease of panicking and exaltation;
  • Exaggerated notion of grandiosity;
  • Delusions related to robberies and persecutions.

According to the drug rehab arizona: this type of drug is the Flakka also known as zombie drug, which is a cheap drug produced in China, which causes aggressive behavior and hallucinations, there are even histories of cases in which the users of this drug began its activities. The cannibals during the period were under the effect of it.

Effects of drugs in pregnancy

The effects of drugs in pregnancy can be observed in the woman and the baby, being able to cause an abortion, premature birth, growth restriction, low weight for gestational age or congenital malformation.

After the birth of the baby, he may suffer a crisis of withdrawal from drugs, as his body will be flawed. In this case, the baby may have symptoms such as crying a lot, being very irritated and having difficulties eating, sleeping and breathing, needing to be hospitalized for treatment.

Long-term effects of drug

The long-term consequences of any type of drug are:

  • Destruction of neurons which diminish the ability to think;
  • Development of psychiatric illnesses such as psychosis, depression or schizophrenia;
  • Injuries to the liver, such as liver cancer;
  • Malfunction of the kidneys and nerves;
  • Development of contagious diseases such as AIDS or Hepatitis;
  • Heart problems such as heart attack;
  • Early death;
  • Isolation of the family and society.

What can happen when using drugs

The consumption of a large amount of drugs can cause overdose, which severely disrupts the functioning of organs such as lungs and heart, and can cause death.

The first symptoms of overdose include euphoria, loss of control, aggression, nausea and nosebleeds, and when untreated it can be fatal.

The symptoms of overdose and the risk of death can also occur when an individual transports drugs in the stomach, anus or vagina, because it is enough that a small amount of the narcotic substance reaches the bloodstream, so that alterations such as infarction, malfunction can occur of the liver, schizophrenia and even death.