Marijuana, derived from the cannabis plant, refers to any number of preparations of the plant intended for use as a psychoactive drug. Marijuana can also be intended for medicinal purposes, although this is only allowed in certain locations in which the drug in legal. Marijuana is the most commonly abused illicit drug in the United States. The psychoactive chemical compound in cannabis is tetrahydrocannabinol (known as THC). Cannabis has both psychoactive and physiological short-term effects, including alteration in perception and mood, increased heart rate, lowered blood pressure, impairment in short-term memory, and concentration. However, the long-term effects of marijuana usage are less clear. Marijuana is consumed in a variety of ways. The most common way is through inhalation. Users typically inhale (or smoke) marijuana from small pipes, bongs (with water chamber), paper-wrapped joints, or tobacco-leaf-wrapped blunts. Fresh, non-dried cannabis can be consumed orally. Many users that consume cannabis orally, rather than through inhalation, typically use it in baking (e.g., brownies, etc.) or in a liquid, such as tea. Marijuana has a variety of effects on a person’s health. Marijuana increases heart rate by 20-100 percent shortly after smoking and can last for up to 3 hours. It is estimated that individuals who smoke marijuana have almost a 5-fold increase in the risk of heart attack in the first hour after using the drug. Marijuana also poses problems for the user’s lungs, similar to those who smoke tobacco. Research has found that individuals who use marijuana demonstrate problems in daily life. However, studies have concluded that this only holds true for about 10% of recreational users who do not develop other mechanisms for solving their problems and rely on marijuana instead. More people tend to use the drug recreationally for relaxation and social purposes.
Marijuana
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a disorder whereby an individual develops an addiction to alcohol. Addiction to alcohol, or alcoholism, is characterized by compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcohol despite its negative physical and mental effects. There are a variety of risk factors including social environment, stress, mental health, age, ethnicity, and genetic predisposition. Alcohol damages almost every organ in the body, especially the brain. This cannot only affect the individual physically, but also mentally. People with alcoholism are more likely to suffer from anxiety and depression and are also more likely to not receive treatment for such disorders, turning to alcohol as a coping mechanism instead. There are a variety of social problems arising from alcoholism. Alcohol abuse is associated with increased risk of criminal offenses, including child abuse, domestic violence, rape, burglary, and assault. An alcoholic’s behavior and mental issues may also lead to marital conflict, divorce, or even domestic violence. There are many ways to seek help for alcoholism. Several tools are available for those who may suspect alcohol abuse, including self-reports, questionnaires (such as the CAGE questionnaire), and doctor diagnoses. Treatment for alcoholics varies greatly and management for the individual should be considered with professional help. Several approaches include an abstinence-based zero tolerance approach whereas other approaches seek promotion of harm-reduction. Sometimes medications such as Antabuse, Temposil, Naltrexone, and Campral are prescribed to an individual to reduce dependence and promote prevention of future abuse. It is important to note that detoxification (e.g., abrupt stopping of alcohol consumption) does not actually treat alcoholism. It is necessary to follow-up detoxification with appropriate treatment mechanisms to lower the risk of future relapse.
Alcohol
Alcohol, typically prepared as an alcoholic beverage, contains ethanol. Alcoholic beverages are divided into three categories: beers, wines, and spirits. Many people in more than 100 countries consume alcohol. There are a variety of laws regulating production, sale, and consumption of alcohol. One law, in particular, specifies the minimum age in which an individual can purchase and consume alcohol. Alcohol is a psychoactive drug that has a depressant effect on the person who consumes it. Too much consumption (e.g., having a high blood alcohol content) is typically considered legal drunkenness because it slows reaction speed and reduces one’s attention. Alcohol is considered addictive and addiction to alcohol is commonly referred to as alcoholism. Beer is the oldest and most widely consumed alcoholic beverage. Beer is produced by brewing and fermenting starches which is mainly derived from grains, particularly barley, wheat, corn, and rice. Wine, another popular alcoholic beverage, is produced from grapes or other fruits such as cherries, plums, or apples. Wine involves a longer process of fermentation, known as an aging process, which can last from months or years. Spirits, commonly sold as liqueurs, are unsweetened, distilled, alcoholic beverages, which contain higher amounts of alcohol by volume (ABV). An alcoholic beverage with an ABV greater than 20% is considered a spirit. The uses of alcohol vary. In history, people consumed alcohol as a means of avoiding water-borne diseases such as cholera. In colder climates, some people have chosen to “warm up” the body by drinking potent alcoholic beverages (e.g., vodka). Large numbers of people consume alcohol for its effects on the body. There are a variety of laws to prevent inappropriate usage of alcohol. However, those who use the drug long-term or in large amounts may develop addiction to alcohol and suffer from many health and mental consequences.
Crack Cocaine
Crack cocaine is a
freebase form of cocaine (e.g., a form of cocaine that has been processed in order to be smoked), which is a stimulant drug. Crack cocaine is derived through a process that involves baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), water, and a spoon. When smoked, crack cocaine can leave the tongue numb where the smoke enters the mouth. Crack cocaine affects the brain chemistry of the individual who uses the drug. This can cause euphoria, supreme confidence, loss of appetite, alertness, and energy. The brain releases a large amount of dopamine, creating euphoria. The high usually lasts from 5-10 minutes, after which dopamine levels plummet leaving the user feeling low and depressed. Physiological effects of the drug when smoked include increased temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure. Some users of crack cocaine have reported feelings of restlessness, irritability, and anxiety. Long-term use of the drug can lead to paranoia and hallucinations. Crack cocaine is thought to be the most addictive forms of cocaine, and possible one of the most addictive forms of any drug. There are many health issues associated with the use of crack cocaine. Because crack cocaine refers to a non-pure version of cocaine, the health issues also include risks beyond the use of cocaine itself. Treatment for addiction of cocaine typically is derived from behavioral intervention procedures. Currently, there are no FDA-approved medications for treating cocaine addiction or abuse. Treatment should be tailored to the individual and his or her needs in order to optimize prognosis. This often involves a variety of treatment, social support, and other services
Methadone
Methadone, a prescribed medication, is used to relieve pain, particularly moderate to severe pain that has not been relieved by non-narcotic pain relievers. It can also be prescribed to avoid withdrawal symptoms in individuals who were addicted to opiate drugs. Methadone is in a class of medications known as opiate analgesics or narcotic analgesics. Methadone works to relieve pain by altering the way the nervous system and brain responds to pain. It has also been proved to work as a substitute for opiate drugs of abuse, such as heroin, by providing similar effects and preventing intense, sometimes fatal, withdrawal symptoms in people who have stopped the use of such drugs. Methadone comes as a tablet, a solution, and a concentration solution. Your doctor should decide the dose of methadone necessary. It may be taken every 4 to 12 hours when used as a pain reliever. The medication can be habit-forming and patients are typically advised of this precaution. Other precautions include avoiding the use of alcohol or other depressants, alerting your doctor if you smoke cigarettes (e.g., tobacco has been shown to reduce the effectiveness), and being sure to tell your doctor and pharmacist of all other medications (including herbal treatments) that you are taking. Methadone has also been shown to cause a variety of side effects such as: drowsiness, weakness, headaches, vomiting, nausea, loss of appetite, constipation, weight gain, sweating, and swelling of the hands, arms, feet, and legs. As with any other medication, it is important to talk to your doctor about the risks of taking methadone for your condition. It is also important to follow the directions on your prescription label carefully.
Ecstacy
Ecstasy often abbreviated E or X is an entactogenic drug of the phenethylamine and amphetamine class of drugs. MDMA can induce euphoria, a sense of intimacy with others, in most countries possession, manufacture, or sale may result in criminal prosecution, although they are some exceptions for medical and scientific research. Ecstasy is used as one of the worlds widely used recreational drugs. It is commonly associated with raves or dance parties and electronic dance music. Some therapists used MDMA in there practices until it was made illegal. They have been some reports some patients felt improvement in mild psychiatric disorders and other personal benefits, some intimate communication with their significant others were improved. It has been reported that a patient with severe pain from cancer had improved quality of life and experienced lasting pain relief. The primary effects of MDMA consumption are predictable across users. Those effects include: strong sense of inner peace and self-acceptance, reduced aggressions and jealousy, reduced anxiety and insecurity, feelings of euphoria, empathy, and forgiveness, improved self-confidence, increased energy, desire, drive, and motivation. Adverse effects include grinding of the teeth during sleep, lack of appetite, and dry mouth and/or thirst. After-effects of the drug are much worse than adverse effects during use including anxiety and paranoia, hypomania, and exhaustion. There is a possibility of overdosing on ecstasy if too much is consumed. Signs include paranoia, confusion, anxiety, and heart palpitations and/or loss of consciousness. The drug is illegal in the United States. MDMA can also be addictive. A person’s genes, environment, and other important factors play a role in determining if a person is likely to develop an addiction to ecstasy.
Heroine
Heroin is an opiate drug that is synthesized from morphine. Heroin typically appears as a brown or white powder. The drug can be injected, snorted, or smoked. These routes of administration rapidly deliver the drug to the brain. All of these methods for administering heroin can lead to severe health problems and addiction. Risks associated with these methods of administration include HIV, hepatitis, contamination, any many more. When the drug enters the brain, it binds to receptors that control perception of pain and receptors that are involved in reward. These receptors, known as opioid receptors, are located in the brain stem, which is important for breathing, blood pressure, and arousal. Tolerance to heroin can develop with regular usage of the drug, requiring more and more of the drug to experience the same intensity of effect. This puts users at a high risk for addiction. Chronic use of the drug leads to a physical dependence, a state in which the body has become accustomed to the presence of the drug within the body. This makes withdrawal from heroin very tricky. If the user stops the drug abruptly, he or she may experience severe symptoms of withdrawl, including muscle and bone pain, insomnia, diarrhea, vomiting, cold flashes, and kicking movements. Treatments for users who wish to withdraw from use of heroin include medications and behavioral therapies. Medications used to help prevent relapse include Methadone, Buprenorphine, Naltrexone, and Naloxone. Typically a combination of medication and behavioral therapies are used for withdrawal from heroin. Treatment procedures should be individual-specific.
Opiate Addiction
Opiate addiction is a central nervous system disorder, caused by long-term continuous opiate consumption. Opiates include heroin, oxycodone, codeine, morphine, and others. Opiates are a type of narcotic that have been used to treat pain. After long-term use, the cells in the brain that produce endorphins cease to work normally. The brain learns to not produce endorphins because it is receiving opiates instead. This process causes a physical dependency to opiates. Sudden cessation from opiates could cause withdrawal syndrome, damaging one’s heart, lungs, and brain. It is not uncommon for opiate addicts to display moderate to severe mood swings and changes in behavior. Individuals who abuse opiates typically display one or more of the following symptoms while on the drugs: fits of euphoria followed by fits of depression, rapid heartbeat, altered judgment, hyperactivity, slurred speech, restlessness, diminished coordination, and difficulty concentrating. Individuals who are addicted to opiates exhibit the following symptoms after using the drug: increase in body temperature, a rush of euphoria, a heavy feeling in limbs, and dry mouth. These symptoms can last up to a few hours, and the user may alternate between wakeful and sleepy states. The individual is unable to participate in normal activities while in this state, and this can be detrimental to their daily social and personal functioning. Treatment for opiate addiction should be sought through a professional detox specialist. There is real danger in attempting to withdraw from heavy opiate use alone. Treatment facilities are recommended to all who abuse opiates as they provide a safe, controlled environment for coming off of the drugs.
