Types of Drugs and Substance Drug Abuse
Heroin
Heroin is a highly addictive drug of abuse, and a serious problem in America. Heroin is made from a processed form of morphine that can be snorted, smoked or injected. Heroin looks like a white or brown powdery substance. Heroin has street names such as smack, skag, junk or Mexican black tar.
Cocaine and Crack Cocaine
Cocaine is a white powdery substance that is powerfully addictive. Many studies show that individuals that try cocaine are at high risk of becoming addicted to the drug after their very first use. Crack cocaine is a form of cocaine that has been processed so that it may be smoked and is more addictive than other forms due to the speed at which the drug enters the system which amplifies it’s effect and the potential of becoming addicted.
Methamphetamine aka Meth
Methamphetamine or Meth is a powerful stimulant drug that strongly activates the brain, so strongly that those that use Methamphetamine are known to be unable to sleep for days at a time. Methamphetamine is also an appetite suppressant that can result in sever weight loss and malnutrition with extended use. Meth can have the appearance of a white or brown powdery substance and can be snorted, smoked or injected with a syringe.
Club Drugs
MDMA (ecstasy), Rohypnol/GHB, and Ketamine are among the drugs found in the nightclub, bar, rave, and trance scenes. These drugs have the reputation of deepening the experience of the scene the User is in. They are also responsible for creating a lack of good judgement while using resulting in reckless behaviors by the User that in many cases can result in life threatening situation, such is the case of GHB the date rape drug. Current science around these drugs is showing that they alter critical parts of the brain and can do irreversible damage.
PCP (Phencyclidine)
PCP (phencyclidine) is an anesthetic that was developed in the 1950s for use in humans but was discontinued in 1965 due to patients becoming agitated, delusional, and irrational while recovering from its effects. PCP is illegally manufactured and is sold on the street under names such as angel dust, ozone, wack, and rocket fuel. The names Killer joints and crystal supergrass refer to PCP combined with marijuana. The variety of street names for PCP reflects its bizarre and volatile effects.
Prescription Drugs and Pain Medications
Prescription drugs and pain medications are what make complex surgery possible. Most people who take prescription medications use them responsibly, nonetheless, the use of prescription drugs has become a serious problem. Use of prescription drugs like opioids, central nervous system (CNS) depressants, and stimulants in many cases lead to addiction, characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use.
Inhalants
Inhalants are breathable chemical vapors such as glues, cleaning fluids, and paints that can produce intoxicating effects. Many do not think of inhalants as a drug because they were never meant to be used for intoxication. Those most likely to abuse inhalants are young children and adolescents. Inhalants fall into 3 categories, solvents, gases, and nitrites.
LSD
LSD or (lysergic acid diethylamide) is one of the major hallucinogenic drugs. LSD was discovered in 1938 and is one of the most potent mood-changing chemicals. LSD is made from fungus that grows on grains and rye. The effects of LSD can be unpredictable which makes this drug a very dangerous drug of abuse. LSD is not considered an addictive drug as it is not know to create drug seeking behaviors such as heroin or cocaine does.
Marijuana
Marijuana is the most common abused drug in the U.S. and is usually smoked as a cigarette or joint, or in a pipe or bong. Marijuana is also commonly smoked in blunt form, which is a cigar that has been emptied of tobacco and refilled with marijuana. Street names may include pot, herb, dank, weed, grass, widow, ganja, and hash. Some names are derived from trademarked varieties such as Bubble Gum®, Northern Lights®, Juicy Fruit®, Afghani #1®.
Methylphenidate (Ritalin)
Methylphenidate is a medication prescribed for individuals (usually children) who have an abnormally high level of activity or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). According to the National Institute of Mental Health, about three to five percent of the general population has the disorder, which is characterized by agitated behavior and an inability to focus on tasks. Methylphenidate also is occasionally prescribed for treating narcolepsy. Read More…
Cigarettes and Other Nicotine Products
Nicotine is one of the most heavily used addictive drugs in the United States. In 2002, 30 percent of the U.S. population 12 and older–71.5 million people–used tobacco at least once in the month prior to being interviewed. This figur includes 3.8 million young people aged 12 to 17; 14 million people aged 18 to 25; and 53.7 million aged 26 and older.* Most of them smoked cigarettes. Read More…
Steroids – Anabolic – Androgenic
Anabolic-androgenic steroids are man-made substances related to male sex hormones. “Anabolic” refers to muscle-building, and “androgenic” refers to increased masculine characteristics. “Steroids” refers to the class of drugs. These drugs are available legally only by prescription, to treat conditions that occur when the body produces abnormally low amounts of testosterone, such as delayed puberty and some types of impotence. They are also prescribed to treat body wasting in patients with AIDS and other diseases that result in loss of lean muscle mass. Abuse of anabolic steroids, however, can lead to serious health problems, some irreversible. Read More…