Drugs can be helpful as they treat and manage physical and mental ailments. However, they are harmful is abused, for instance, when you don’t use them in the correct dosage. One of the most painful truths about drug abuse is that it doesn’t affect the individual involved, but it also impacts the people surrounding them, especially family and friends. Trust can break due to substance abuse.

Let’s look at some types of drug abuse and how they can impact your health.

Opioid abuse

Opioids are strong painkillers used to manage chronic pain in people with health conditions such as cancer, arthritis, migraines, etc. They cause a euphoric effect on the brain; hence the user experiences a rush of good feelings and happiness after taking them. Extracted from the poppy plant, opioids are good in relieving intense pain, but they are addictive.

They include opium, heroin, codeine, morphine, oxycontin, hydrocodone, Vicodin, etc. Opioid abuse can lead to effects like sedation, drowsiness, dilated pupils, liver damage, brain impairment, euphoria, and cardiac arrest upon an overdose. Opioid withdrawal can cause nasty flu-like symptoms for weeks on end, which requires the help of a professional doctor.

Cannabis and spice abuse

Also known as marijuana, cannabis is a plant with a psychoactive compound known as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) that produces a high effect upon consumption. It also results in antidepressant effects, although it acts as a hallucinogen. And what is spice? Spice refers to a mix of herbs and lab-made chemicals that mimic the effects of tetrahydrocannabinol. It is also known as synthetic marijuana.

Both of them can be smoked or vaporized for inhalation. THC has mind-altering effects, which is why its abuse is very detrimental. It causes slower reaction times, an impaired sense of time, chronic anxiety, depression, sedation, enhanced senses, low immunity to illnesses, and low sperm count in men.

Depressants abuse

Depressants impact the central nervous system and slow down messages between the brain and the body. They’re also known as downers. They include rohypnol, benziodiazepines,valium, barbuturates, xanax etc. Doctors usually prescribe depressants to help patients deal with anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, insomnia, and other health conditions that prevent one from fully relaxing. These types of drugs are sedative, which makes them an attractive choice for people looking to deal with daily stressors.

Alcohol is also a popular depressant associated with an immediate burst of energy after taking it. However, overdosing on alcohol causes toxicity and even death. Tobacco is also a depressant because of its active ingredient known as nicotine. It results in an immediate rush and a feeling of relaxation, but it is one of the addictive substances known to man.

Effects of depressant abuse include impaired memory, hallucinations, sluggish thinking, delirium, low blood pressure, increased weight gain, diabetes, and high blood sugar. Withdrawal can be threatening if not medically supervised.

A key takeaway

Substance abuse is dangerous because it leads to addiction. When you are addicted to drugs, you cannot resist the urge to take them and experience withdrawal symptoms when you try to stop. However, you can seek professional addiction treatment to help you overcome drug substance abuse.