Why do people abuse drugs?
Addiction often starts when an individual feels lonely. They turn to drugs and alcohol thinking that it will fill a void that they have been living with. Rebelling by abusing drugs and alcohol is not uncommon among young adults.Sometimes, teens just fall into the wrong crowd because they don't really know where they fit in and they may just start drinking and doing drugs to seem cool and fit in. What can start off as “fun” and “recreational” can quickly turn into an uncontrollable addiction.Some people also use drugs to cover painful memories in their past.Some people also use drugs to forget painful memories and trauma from the past. Some people even get addicted to prescription drugs in as little as 3 days.
Types of drugs and risk factors associated:
1. Stimulants: These impact the central nervous system, increasing the user's heart rate, blood presure, breathing and blood glucose levels. They make the user feel alert and energetic. Examples include caffeine, cocaine and ecstasy. Consquences of stimulant abuse include anxiety, high body temperature,psychosis, depression, heart failure, stroke and seizures.
2. Depressants: These also impact the body's central nervous system, but with the opposite effect; they make users feel slow and relaxed. Examples include alcohol and tobacco. Consequences of depressant abuse include sluggish thinking, impaired memory and low blood pressure.
3. Hallucinogens: These work by disrupting communication within the brain, shifting emotion and perceptions of things that aren't really there. Examples include Salvia, LSD and Peyote. Consequences of hallucinogen abuse include distorted cognition, fear and anxiety.
4. Dissociatives: These distort the user's perception of reality making the user feel as if they are watching themselves from outside their own bodies, causing them to engage in risky and unsafe behavior. Examples include Ketamine and DXM. Consequences of dissociative abuse include depression, anxiety and detachment from reality.
5. Opioids: These are powerful painkillers often prescribed by doctors, and they produce a sense of euphoria in users.Examples include Heroin, Opium and Codeine. Consequences of opioid abuse include liver damage, brain impairment and cardiac arrest if the dose is too high.
6. Inhalants: These are mostly made up of everyday household items and cause brief feelings of euphoria. Examples include fumes of markers, paint, paint thinner, gasoline and glue. Consequences of inhalant abuse include loss of smell, hallucinations and slurred speech.
7. Cannabis: These act like hallucinogens, but also produce depressant-like effects. Examples include marijuana leaves, hashish and hash oil. Consequences of cannabis abuse include depression, chronic anxiety and an impaired sense of time.
Warning signs of drug addiction:
- Sudden drop in grades or work performance
- Suspicious or secretive behavior
- Shifts in social circles, such as spending less time with old friends and more time with new friends, particularly if the new friends are known drug users
- Loss of physical coordination
- Uncharacteristic sluggishness, laziness, hyperactivity, or talkativeness
- Strange odors on breath or clothes
What happens to your brain when you take drugs?
Different drugs have different impacts on the brain.For example, dissociatives work by interfering with the brain’s receptors for the chemical glutamate, which plays a significant role in cognition, emotionality and pain perception.Hallucinogens work by disrupting communication within the brain.The highs from drugs are so much more extreme than regular everyday joys because most drugs overload the pleasure sensors in your brain. Once a person feels this extreme pleasure, it’s common for that person to become hooked on a drug simply chasing the initial high they once felt.
What is the treatment for drug abuse?
The subject matter is extremely delicate, and teenagers with a substance habit are already in a fragile state. Don’t assume you know everything that they’re going through and struggling with. It’s okay that you don’t inherently “get them.” Just always keep lines of communication open so that it’s constantly reinforced that you’re someone they can trust and come to with anything they’re going through.
- Contact a professional right away and get help.
- Get a support system, this can be family, friends and teachers.
- Deeply rooted addiction usually require a rehab treatment.
- Talk to a professinal to know which treatment option would be best.
How to prevent drug addiction?
Prevention is always better than cure, and all drugs are dangerous, especially when they are used by teens. It is important to talk to your teen about the negative impacts of drugs on their lives, so that they never do drugs, thus preventing drug abuse.
More information and help for drug abuse disorders:
- National Cocaine Hotline: 800-COCAINE (262-2463)
- National Drug Information Treatment and Referral Hotline: 800-662-HELP (4357)
Sources:
- http://thejenniferact.com/2011/05/12/reasons-why-people-use-drugs/
- http://www.medicinenet.com/drug_abuse/article.htm#what_types_of_drugs_are_commonly_abused
- https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/drug-addiction/types-of-drugs/#gref