Abused Substances

Abused Substances and their Effects Nan Wyatt RN, BSN student PSY/425 Barbara Nosal MSN July 4, 2011

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Abused Substances and their various effects

Addiction is an uncontrollable compulsion to repeat a behavior regardless of its negative consequences. The medical professional now must carefully distinguish the differences in physical dependence and psychological addiction. The physiological tends to deal with the body and its physical response to a substance, where the psychological deals more with the mental aspect and the way the brain works on a thought process. A physical addiction to a substance is defined by the presence of withdrawal symptoms when the substance is suddenly discontinued. While opioids, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, alcohol and nicotine are well know to have the ability to induce physical dependence, other drugs that share some of their properties are not considered addictive such as beta blockers and antidepressants. So while physical dependency can be a huge factor in the psychology of addiction, the attribute of an addictive drug is its ability to induce a euphoric state while causing harm. Stimulants is a name given to several groups of drugs that tend to increase alertness and physical activity. There are pharmaceutical drugs such as amphetamines and then there are the street drugs commonly known as uppers or speed and cocaine. The most widely abused stimulants are amphetamines and cocaine. Cocaine has very limited commercial use and is strictly controlled. Amphetamines may be prescribed by a physician but they are well known for being an abused drug of choice. Amphetamines are psychologically addictive. Users become dependent on the drug to avoid the spiral down feeling they often experience as the drugs intended effect wears off. This dependency can lead to the user looking for stronger stimulants such as cocaine and using larger doses to maintain the high they want to achieve. Another stimulant that is frequently used and can become addictive is our morning cup of coffee. Caffeine is a common stimulant and is found in coffee, tea and many soft drinks as well. Caffeine users can also experience withdrawal symptoms if they abruptly quit taking in the caffeine routinely. Abused Substances 3

Depressants are substances that slow down the normal function of the central nervous system. These drugs include barbiturates, benzodiazepines and alcohol. Marijuana is also considered a depressant. Some of the street terms for depressants include roofies, candy, Roche, tranks and yellow jackets. Benzodiazepines are commonly prescribed as tranquilizers. These include Valium and Xanax. Rophynol is a sedative that has been associated with sexual assaults in the United States even though it is not sold here. Depressants can be swallowed, injected, smoked or snorted. They are commonly used to reduce anxiety and help with some sleep disorders. Prolonged or heavy use of these drugs can result in addiction, as well as impaired sexual function, respiratory arrest and death. Narcotics were originally referred to as a drug that dulled the senses and relieved pain. They can be taken orally, transversally or injected. As drugs of abuse , they are often smoked, sniffed, or injected. The effect of the drug depends on the dose, route of administration and previous exposure to the drug being used. Repeated use of narcotics can induce a tolerance or dependence to the drug. Tolerance is characterized by a shortened duration and intensity of analgesia. Withdrawal from narcotics is unpleasant but is rarely fatal. Some experimental users may increase their intake and eventually become dependent, both physically and psychologically Hallucinogens are among the oldest known group of drugs used to alter human perception and mood. The psychic effects include disorders of thought associated with time and space. Time may appear to stand still and forms and colors may change to take on a completely different significance. This experience may be pleasurable or extremely frightening. The effects of hallucinogens are very unpredictable and may be different with each use. The most popular hallucinogens in the past have been mushrooms, LSD and MDMA. Recent studies have linked hallucinogens to being neurotoxin in humans.( The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration ( 2009) website ) Abused Substances 4

Last but not least of the popular drugs being abused is the Cannabis sativa, found in the leaves of the Hemp plant. The active ingredient in cannabis is THC. Most users roll the crushed product into a cigarette called a joint. Weed can be smoked in a water pipe, called a bong, or even mixed in food or brewed as tea. They also have THC in cigars called blunts. The short term effects of marijuana include memory loss and decrease in learning ability. A user may also experience dry mouth and sore throat. The long term effects are similar to tobacco. Studies show that someone who smokes five joints per week is at the same risk level for lung cancer as the person who smokes a whole pack of cigarettes a day. Prescription drugs arre the second most abused category of drugs, behind marijuana and ahead of cocaine, heroin, meth and other drugs. The National Institutes of Health estimates that nearly 20 percent of people in the United States have used prescription drugs for non-medical reasons. Many prescription drugs can become addictive when not used as they were prescribed. Those include narcotic painkillers like OxyContin or Vicodin, sedatives and tranquilizers like Xanax or Valium, and stimulants like Dexedrine, Adderall or Ritalin. There is a perception among some users that prescription drugs are safer than the street drugs. Many parents are finding their prescription drugs missing. Young adults and teens find them at easy access and become addicted to their parents medications since they are not kept locked up or discarded when no longer needed. Students with ADHD have reported being approached to sell or trade their Ritalin or Adderall. ( Substance abuse and Mental health Services Administration, 2009). Drug addiction is a biological, pathological process that alters how the brain functions. Prolonged use changes the brain in fundamental and long lasting ways. It is as though somewhere in the users brain, something changes and the effects of this change is

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the transformation of a drug abuser to a drug addict ( Substance abuse and Mental health Services Administration, 2009).

Abused Substances

References

U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. (2009). DEA Briefs & Background. Retrieved from http://www.justice.gov Partnership for a Drugfree America. (2011). The Partnership. Retrieved from http://www.drugfree.org Substance abuse and Mental health Services Administration. (2009). Prescription Drug Abuse And Rehab Programs. Retrieved from http://www.prescription-drug-abuse.org