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Myths/facts | Types & Effects | Symptoms | Are U One

Types & Effects

Drugs affect a person mentally and physically depending on the drug type. While basically, drugs can be categorised as Uppers, Downers, All Rounders and Inhalents, the speed with which a drug takes effect depends on the mode of intake. This could be oral, nasal (snorting/inhalation) or by injection.

General effects

The body considers any drug a poison. Drug use over a long period of time forces the body to change and adapt.

  • With time, more and more of a drug needs to be taken to achieve the same effect. The body begins to tolerate the drug
  • Inverse tolerance occurs when a person becomes more sensitive to the effects of the drug as the brain chemistry changes.
  • In reverse tolerance, initially, an individual becomes less sensitive to a drug, but as it destroys certain tissues and/or as an individual becomes older, the trend is suddenly reversed and he/she becomes more sensitive. This is particularly true in alcoholics when, as the liver is destroyed, it loses its ability to metabolize the drug.

Alcohol or other drugs used in combination with prescription drugs, are a virtual time bomb, waiting to explode. Alcohol and other drugs greatly minimize the effectiveness of the prescription drugs. They may also completely take away their effect, requiring a higher dose of the medications than would otherwise be necessary.

All psychiatric symptoms especially suicide, depression, paranoia, anxiety agitation, mania and sleeplessness are also greatly magnified if drugs/alcohol are used in combination with prescription drugs. In addition, they often precipitate psychiatric hospitalization. Therefore, if you are under medication never mix them with street drugs or alcohol. Take them only as prescribed. Speak to the doctor before altering the dosage or combination yourself.

Types

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Uppers
These following drugs are central nervous system stimulants: Cocaine, Crack, Amphetamines (speed, crank, ice). Diet pills, Nicotine, Caffeine.

Physical Effects
The nervous system becomes overstimulated.
Muscles become tense.
Heart rate increases.
Blood pressure increases.
Appetite decreases.
May cause heart problems or seizures.

Mental Effects
False sense of feeling good, or euphoria.
Anxiety.
Paranoia.
Mental Confusion.

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Downers
Central nervous system depressants.
Three main categories are:
Opiates and Opioids, (opium, heroin, codeine, Percodan, methadone, Dilaudid, Demerol, Darvon, etc.) Sedative-hypnotics, (barbiturates, Valium, Librium, Xanax, Quaalude, Doriden, Miltown, etc.) Alcohol, (beer, wine, hard liquor).

Physical Effects
Heart rate is lowered
Respiration is slowed.
Muscle coordination is affected.
Senses are dulled.
Senses are dulled.
Energy is lowered.
Constipation, nausea, sexual dysfunction are also common

Mental Effects:
Inhibitions are greatly lowered
Thinking is confined
Vital body functions are slow
Paranoia
Irritability

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All Rounders
These are the psychedelic drugs which include: LSD, PCP, psilocybin,
peyote, mescaline, MDA, MDMA, marijuana, etc.

Physical Effects:
Nausea and dizziness.
With Pot, increased appetite and bloodshot eyes.
Most of these drugs act as stimulants.

Mental Effects:
Messages to the brain are distorted.
Hallucinations may occur, (see, hear, taste, smell, feel things that are not real).
Delusions may result, (a false belief not based in reality).

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Inhalants
These are gaseous or liquid substances, inhaled and absorbed through the lungs: Organic solvents such as glue, gasoline, metallic paints; volatile nitrites such as amyl or butyl nitrite sold as Rush, Bolt, etc., and nitrous oxide, (laughing gas).

Physical Effects:
Central nervous system depression.
Dizziness and slurred speech.
Unsteady gait. (stumbling and falling easily).
Drowsiness.
These drugs are extremely toxic to the lungs, brain, liver and kidney tissues. Blood pressure is lowered. Fainting.

Mental Effects:
Impulsiveness.
Irritability.
Confusion, and foten delirium.
Hallucinations.
Drowsiness and sometimes stupor.

Mode of intake

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Oral:

This is the route of ingestion when an individual swallows, eats, or drinks a drug. Drugs taken this way have to pass through mouth enzymes and stomach acids so the effects are delayed and weaker than with other routes of administration (20 to 30 minutes reaction time).

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Nasal
Snorting:
Cocaine, heroin, and speed, are drugs which are often snorted into the nose and obsorbed by the tiny blood vessels enmeshed in the mucous membranes lining the nasal passages. The effects are usually more intense and occur more quickly than with the oral route.

Inhaling:
When an individual smokes a joint or inhales/smokes crack, the vaporized drug enters the lungs and is quickly absorbed through the tiny blood vessels lining the air sacs of the bronchi. From the lungs the drug is pumped back to the heart and then directly to the body and brain, thus acting more quickly than any of the other methods. (7 to 10 seconds reaction time).

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Injection:
Drugs such as heroin, coke, speed, barbiturates can be put directly into the body with a needle. Use by injection is a quick and potent way to obsorb a drug (15 to 30 seconds reaction time in a vein; 3 to 5 minutes in a muscle or under the skin, "skin popping"). This is the most dangerous method, exposing the body to many, potential health problems such as hepatitis, abscesses, or AIDS.

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