Physical And Psychological Effects Of Depressants

Why do people use drugs? Many drugs give users a euphoric high. This allows them to escape the reality they are facing. Some give into peer pressure and do it because that is what their friends or doing. Some also use because certain drugs are cheaper or easier to obtain than prescription drugs.

People use drugs as a solution to reduce stress, to relieve the boredom, for enjoyment and also to forget all the dilemmas they have. Besides, drug also can act as an energy booster. For example, when students take drugs, they able to stay up all night to study and complete all of their assignments while for athletes they able to perform well during the competition and at the same time to stay fit. Sometimes, people use drugs as they are curious how the taste of drugs is and want to experiment the feeling of drugs. They think by taking drug only once will not give any bad consequence to them. It is true for some people, but others when they

In society, drugs have been the downfall for many people. There are many reasons that a person may use drugs such as: peer pressure, relief of stress, increased energy, to relax, to relieve pain, to escape reality, to feel more self esteem, and for recreation ("Drug addiction and drug abuse," 2011). What is it that causes the obsession and compulsion to use drugs? Why can some people stop and others go on to become addicts? Addiction is often now defined by the continuing, compulsive nature of the drug use despite physical and/or psychological harm to the user and society ("Drug addiction and drug abuse," 2011).

To start things off, depressants is an umbrella term. It describes drugs designed to slow brain activity, suppress anxiety & panic attacks, aid sleep, etc. There are three types of common depressants: Benzodiazepines, non-benzodiazepine sleep-aids, and barbiturates. The category is depressants, as the name suggests. The drugs range from schedule 1-4, as some are medically useful and some are not. We will be discussing some of the most common depressants, such as diazepam (Valium), alprazolam (Xanax), and zolpidem (Ambien). Source:https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/prescription-drugs/cns-depressants/what-are-cns-depressants

the negative side of antidepressant drugs are increase blood pressure and the need to follow particular diets . the antidepressant most prescribe today is selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors ,(SSRIS) .

These chemicals can interfere with the process of brain cells communicating with each other. According to Dr. Marissa Merandez (2006), “Psychoactive drugs alter communications between brain cells. Individual brain cells (neurons) communicate with one another through a series of biological messengers called neurotransmitters.” The altered communications of these neurotransmitters is determined by the chemical in use. Psychoactive chemicals can tinker with these communications in many ways. “[Psychoactive chemicals] interfere with normal brain function by blocking it [neurotransmitter communication], or by altering the way neurotransmitters are stored, released, and removed...” (Marissa Merandez, 2006). Interfering with neurotransmitter communications and the distribution of neurotransmitters is what gives a psychoactive chemical its intended effects. The general groupings of these substances fall into either depressants, stimulants, opioids, and hallucinogens. Depressants diminish the activity of the central nervous system. Also, possible long term effects could result in changed brain function and structure, reduced mental capacity, and decreased brain volume. Stimulants increase the activity of the central nervous system, but risk abnormalities in specific regions of the brain, loss of some mental capacity,

Antidepressants are psychiatric medications that are given to patients with depressive disorders to alleviate symptoms (1). Examples include bupropion (Wellbutrin), fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), and sertraline (Zoloft) (2). They can help fix chemical imbalances of neurotransmitters in the brain which cause changes in mood and behaviour. Antidepressants can be used for a wide range of psychiatric conditions, some examples include: social anxiety disorder, anxiety disorders, and dysthymia (mild chronic depression).

I know that antidepressants produce side effects that can turn out to be worse than what they are being used to treat, such side effects can include suicidal thoughts/actions, insomnia, and anxiety. Antidepressants are used to treat disorders such as anxiety disorder, depression, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Depressants are drugs that inhibit the function of the central nervous system (CNS) and are among the most widely used drugs in the world. These drugs operate by affecting neurons in the CNS: central nervous system, which leads to symptoms such as drowsiness, relaxation, decreased inhibition, sleep, coma, and even death. All depressants also have the potential to be addictive.

A depressant is the drug that causes slurred speech, slow reaction time, impaired judgement, and reduced coordination. When talking about depressants, the biggest and most widely used depressant in the United States as well as the world is alcohol (Saferstein, 2014). Other types of known depressants are barbiturates, benzodiazepines, and rohypnol which is better known as the “Date Rape Drug”. Some other effects that are directly related to depressants are droopy eyelids (ptsosis), flaccid muscle tone, and gait ataxia which is result of the flaccid muscle tone. The impaired judgment is unfortunately the one effect that gets many innocent people hurt or killed because a person under the influence of a depressant makes the decision to get behind the wheel of a motor vehicle and drive.

According to our reading, talking about how antidepressants work is a simple answer “we don’t know” (Elliott Ingersoll, 2016, p. 84). What I do know, is that there are many people that do not want to take antidepressants. I have experienced this at the facility where I intern at. I first ask my patient why are they unsure about taking antidepressants. We then explain to them that there are many reasons why individuals become depressed and how everyone is different. As well as individuals who take an antidepressant might experience improvements in their depression and improvements in quality of life. Individuals feel less reactive to difficult life events, having fewer negative obsessive thoughts, as well as they can stop and consider their

Depressants are psychoactive drugs that temporarily diminish the normal function of the brain and central nervous system (Depressant Drug Abuse and Side Effects, 2017). These drugs include opiates and opioids, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, tranquilizers, and alcohol. Due to their effects, these drugs can sometimes be referred to as "downers.” These drugs come in multicolored tablets and capsules and sometimes in liquid form. Regular use of any of these drugs can lead to "drug tolerance." That means that the body adjusts to them and it takes a higher and higher dose to achieve the desired effect. Dependence also can develop from drug use, meaning symptoms of withdraw will occur if the person discontinues taking the drug all of a sudden. Depressants

Stimulants are the opposite of depressants, instead of slowing down the nervous system, they speed it causing the heart and breathing rate with it. There are four different types of stimulants, one of the can cause a loss of appetite, elevated blood pressure and will cause lung damage.

Psychoactive drugs are substances that affect the central nervous system. By causing the release of neurotransmitters or mimicking their actions, psychoactive drugs can cause various effects on the brain. The three principal categories that psychoactive drugs are classified into based on their impact are depressants, hallucinogens, and stimulants.

Probably one of the most common forms of psychoactive drugs is stimulants. Stimulants are a class of psychoactive drugs that elevate mood, increase feelings of well-being, and increase energy and alertness. Nearly everybody has tried a stimulant and many people rely on them every single day. The best example of this is the drug caffeine, which is in many of the sodas or coffee we drink. Other forms of stimulants include: cocaine, methamphetamine, amphetamines, methylphenidate, nicotine, and MDMA. An additional common stimulant is nicotine, which is found in various types of tobacco. Stimulants change the way the brain functions by inhibiting neurons, which are nerve cells. These nerve cells communicate using neurotransmitters . One of the neurotransmitters they affect is dopamine, which makes people feel good. Dopamine can be released naturally by simply doing something you enjoy such as riding a bike or eating your favorite food. While these drugs may give the user pleasure, continual use may render their dopamine system useless. This will give the user little to no pleasure, which is often followed by an increased amount used in order to chase that high (NIDA).