Understanding Addiction and the Effects of Drugs
What is Addiction?
Addiction is the habit of being compelled by the masterful use of some toxic drugs, or the disproportionate enthusiasm for certain games. It involves assignment, surrender, and devotion.
What is Dope?
“Dope” refers to chemicals that are used in trials in a laboratory. It includes any substance that can be used in the manufacture of medicines, diagnostic media, dietetic, hygienic, or cosmetic products.
Medicine
Medicine is a pharmaceutical preparation intended for the cure, alleviation, or prevention of disease.
Addictive Substances
Addictive substances include drugs of abuse and other drugs.
Illegal Drugs
Marijuana
Marijuana is derived from the Cannabis sativa plant. It contains tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which provokes feelings of euphoria, disinhibition, loss of the concept of time, increased perceptions in general, and increased appetite. It can cause damage to brain tissue and increase the propensity for lung cancer. Marijuana is similar to hashish, which comes from cannabis resin.
Cocaine
Cocaine is derived from the leaves of the coca plant, Erythroxylum coca, through a chemical process. It causes both physical and psychological addiction. Effects include euphoria, hyperactivity, rapid thoughts and speech (tachypsychia), and increased cardiac activity. Cocaine can cause serious deterioration of the nervous system.
Opiates
Opiates are derived from the resin of the poppy flower. They include morphine and heroin, which are highly addictive. Opiates cause euphoria, decreased blood pressure and breathing rate, and complicate thermal regulation. Morphine affects neurotransmitters and is used to reduce the severe pain of terminal cancer. Heroin can be smoked or snorted, but it is usually injected intravenously.
LSD
LSD, or lysergic acid, is also known as “pepa.” It causes visual hallucinations associated with memory loss and headaches. There is a high risk of heart attack.
Ecstasy
Ecstasy is a synthetic drug that causes euphoria and reduces fatigue. It is often used in social settings because it requires increased water intake after altering the body’s fluid balance.
Types of Drugs
Depressants
Depressants depress the central nervous system (CNS), although initially, they may cause euphoria and excitement, followed by relaxation, drowsiness, anesthesia, and loss of body control and consciousness. Examples include alcohol, marijuana, and opiates.
Stimulants
Stimulants activate the functioning of the CNS and cardiovascular system. Examples include tobacco, amphetamines, and cocaine.
Hallucinogens
Hallucinogens alter the perception of reality by producing sensations and visual and auditory hallucinations. Examples include LSD and ecstasy.
Effects on the Brain
Drugs cause decreased activity in the cerebral cortex and the limbic system, which regulates emotions, sexual drive, hunger, and thirst. Drugs replace neurotransmitters in the limbic system, producing pleasure. The brain becomes accustomed to the drug, requiring increasingly higher doses.
In sports, drugs such as amphetamines, morphine, hormones, ephedrine, and caffeine may be used.
Legal Drugs
Caffeine
Caffeine is found in chocolate, tea, coffee, cocoa, and diet pills. It acts as a CNS stimulant, increasing heart rate and preventing sleep.
Tobacco
Tobacco intoxication is caused by the abuse of tobacco. Its components include:
- Nicotine: An alkaloid that increases heart rate and blood pressure, and can cause arteriosclerosis.
- Tar: Paralyzes ciliated cells and destroys lung alveoli. It is linked to cancer of the mouth, larynx, and bladder, with 90% of cases related to smoking.
- Carbon Monoxide: Results from incomplete combustion, reducing oxygenation and aerobic resistance.
Intoxication
- Acute: Occurs with the first few cigarettes, causing nausea, dizziness, and vomiting.
- Chronic: Includes angina pectoris, cancer of the airways, loss of appetite, bad breath, chronic colds, arteriosclerosis, and palpitations.
Effects on Pregnant Women
Smoking during pregnancy can lead to premature birth, higher mortality during childbirth, smaller babies, intrauterine growth retardation, lower birth weight, and more respiratory illnesses in the first year of life.
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is intoxication caused by alcohol abuse, affecting the liver, lungs, brain, and kidneys.
- Acute Intoxication: A transient, temporary crisis, ranging from euphoria to sadness, loss of reason, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting.
- Chronic Intoxication: Regular consumption of moderate doses of alcohol, leading to reddened eyes and nose, violence, chronic tremor, burning of the epithelium, liver cirrhosis, atherosclerosis, intellectual dullness, character disorder, and delirium tremens. It can also cause impotence and sterility.
Effects on the CNS
Alcohol can cause dementia, decreased memory, and impaired cerebral function.
Social Consequences
Alcohol abuse is linked to car accidents, fights, bad behavior, and violence.
Effects on Pregnancy
Alcohol passes through the placenta, leading to fetal alcohol syndrome, which can cause mental retardation, cardiac malformations, and intrauterine growth restriction. Alcohol content varies in beverages: 5% in beer, 10-15% in Marsala wine, 30% in Port wine, and 50-60% in distilled spirits.