Varting Effects of Drugs

At a present time, drug addiction is the condition of being unable to stop taking illegal harmful

In addition, these drugs are just as addicting as some of the drugs that most hold to be off-limits, and need to be

The definitions have progressed from tolerance or withdrawal symptoms from a specific drug to chronic intoxication, continued use with increased dosage, dependence, and damaging effects to user (Reinarman 2005). Both of these definitions proved to be too restrictive because all drugs do not have the same effects on every user. The current definition used by physicians and the criminal justice system is based on seven criteria (Reinarman 2005). The constant evolution of how the professional world views drug dependence mirrors society’s change in the understanding of addiction. Historically, “the drink” was viewed as the devil and drugs were often thought to be the cause of many criminal acts (Schneider 2003). After the medicalization of addiction and dawn of decriminalization of drug abuse, public opinion of deviant alcohol and drug use has changed. For the family unit, it is much simpler to accept and approach treatment for addiction if it is classified as a medical disease. In society, drug users can be framed as patients instead of criminals based on current standards. By looking at addiction as a treatable set of signs and symptoms instead of holding the individual accountable for actions they committed while intoxicated, the disease concept releases a lot of the stigma that goes along with

on drugs have many contrasting points. The opposite is true. However, the points that do contrast are more opinion-based than fact oriented. The following paragraphs will attempt to clearly and effectively show a comparison and

Since the early 1960’s there have been an alarming increase in drug use in the United States in 1962, four million Americans had tried an illegal drug. By 1999, that number had risen to a staggering 88.7 million, according to the 1999 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse.

Among adolescents aged 12 to 17 years, 9.8 % are estimated to be current users of illicit drugs, with 4.9 % using drugs other than marijuana. Nearly three quarters of students have started to drink alcohol and nearly half (47%) have tried using an illicit drug (not including alcohol or tobacco) by the senior year of high school.” (Hassan, Harris, Sherritt, Van Hook, & Brooks, 2009)

Drugs have been around for a very long time. They are used for a variety of reasons. Some of these reasons include relaxation, socialization, curiosity, stress relief, or a form of escapism. However, most people don’t know the threats and danger that it can cause to the body. In this paper, we are going to examine the changes that happen inside the brain due to the effects of different drugs. We will look closely at how drugs such as hallucinogens, ecstasy, cocaine, heroin, and cannabis affect an individual psychologically. I will explain the origin of the drugs, how a person feels while on the drug, how the drugs

A drug, being a substance that affects the normalcy in physiological/psychological functioning of the human body, is prone to affect the body easily, thereby bringing down the human body from its epitome of perfection to downright uselessness. Sadly, drugs have become so imbedded in the current society that laboratories are battling over who has brought the newest, most versatile and effective drug that works fast enough. Of all drugs in the world today, the following are supposedly the most dangerous due to the following factors; ease of addiction and withdrawal, health effects on the user and severity leading to death.

Although alcohol is the most commonly-known substance, substance usage can be applied to ten different classes of substances, including but not limited to cannabis and hallucinogens. According to the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and

In todays age, it is common for most of us to lead lives high in stress. Some cope by exercising, performing a favorite leaisure activity, or spending time with love ones. There are others on the otherhand who turn to psychoactive drugs to get away from their misery. The two most commonly used psychoactive drug classes are stimulants and narcotics. While each have different effects on the bodies, they both can lead to one common dark place; addiction.

A number of drugs are known in the market that can induce great changes in the body chemistry and the mood of a person. These drugs for a number of reasons can be classified as legal or illegal. History is one of the main evidence of the fact that the classification of drugs is not related to the nature of the drugs but to the politics.

The use of drugs is a controversial topic in society today. In general, addicts show a direct link between taking drugs and suffering from their effects. People abuse drugs for a wide variety of reasons. In most cases, the use of drugs will serve a type of purpose or will give some kind of reward. These reasons for use will differ with different kinds of drugs. Various reasons for using the substance can be pain relief, depression, anxiety and weariness, acceptance into a peer group, religion, and much more. Although reasons for using may vary for each individual, it is known by all that consequences of the abuse do exist. It is only further down the line when the effects of using can be seen.

While there are a significant drop among children and teenagers ranging from 12 to 17 years old. The latest national survey from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) states that, last year it was at 11.6 percent, but it dropped to 9.5 percent, according to the survey. The use of illegal drug use among 50 to 54 has doubled since 2002. Meanwhile for 55 to 59, such drug use has tripled. Marijuana is by far the most used illegal drug among both children and adults (Casavant and Chantal, 2001), but not just limited to that drug also according to SAMHSA.

To distinct drugs from one another, a good key would be from determined classes, sub-classes and the short/long term effects they have. Another key would be if it’s psychologically or physically affecting the user, this would either be a mental high or pain relief.

Since 2000, the drug use rate in America has risen to the highest it’s ever been. In a survey done in 2009, 8.7 percent of people age 12 and up said that they used illegal substances within a month of taking the survey, a 9 percent increase since 2008 (Abuse, National Institute on Drug, 2010). This statistic alone is very concerning due to