Street Drugs: Stimulants, Depressants, Opioids, Hallucinogens - Essay Example

Introduction

Street drugs are those used for recreational purposes to create and altered states of consciousness by modifying feelings, emotions, and perceptions of users. The four main categories of street drugs are stimulants, depressants and opioids, and hallucinogens. Stimulants include cocaine, methamphetamine, ecstasy, caffeine, Ritalin, and even diet pills; on the other hand, Barbiturates, alcohol, and sedatives are examples of depressants. In contrast, Opium related painkillers may include heroin morphine, methadone, and Darvon. These drugs consist of both natural and synthetic types, all inducing the same effects on its users. Subsequently, hallucinogens include ketamine datura, cannabis, psilocybin, LSD (Lysergic acid diethylamide), and PCP Phenylclidine.

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Hallucinogens

Hallucinogens work by temporarily disrupting communication between neurotransmitter systems throughout the brain and the spinal cord that regulates mood, sensory perception, deep hunger, body temperature, sexual behavior, and muscles (Weis et al., 2019). Behavioral symptoms of hallucinogen use include violent or aggressive behavior due to the effects of the drug on the moods of the individual. Other physical symptoms of hallucinogen abuse include nausea and vomiting drawn from the effects of such drugs on the user’s appetite. For heavy hallucinogen abuse, it is common for the abuser also to experience muscle spasms resulting in poor muscle coordination, increased heart rate, and increased blood pressure.

Stimulants

Stimulants, on the other hand, result in increased dopamine levels in the brain of the user. It results in feelings of pleasure and enhanced mood (Weis et al., 2019). The symptoms of stimulant use include overexcitement, aggressive outbursts, and even engaging in delinquent behavior like theft. For heavy stimulant abusers, the signs often include weight loss, skin problems as well as cognitive manifestations in the form of paranoia, confusion, delirium, and hallucination.

Depressants

In contrast to stimulants that increase brain activity, depressants slow the cognitive process of the individuals abusing them. They often result in a calming and drowsing effect when used, which result in symptoms such as delayed reaction time, thought process, and mental function. In higher doses, depressants may result in temporary amnesia (Weis et al., 2019). Opioids, the final group of drugs, possess euphoric effects on their abusers. Depending on the type of opioid, the symptoms include underperformance at work, solitude, and self-distancing and, in some cases, delinquent and irrational tendencies such as theft and aggression. Physically, the symptoms of opioid use include dilation of pupils, poor coordination, diarrhea, vomiting, and weight loss.

Conclusion

Conclusively, street drugs are harmful, whether used in the short term or over a long period. They result in delinquency, poor judgment, and impaired functionality. In its extreme, they disrupt the lives of the users affecting both the abusers and the people around them. As indicated above, under the four major categories of drugs are many more types, all of which are harmful to the health and general well being of its abusers.

References

Weis, S., Sonnberger, M., Dunzinger, A., Voglmayr, E., Aichholzer, M., Kleiser, R., & Strasser, P. (2019). Intoxication: Street Drugs. In Imaging Brain Diseases (pp. 1243-1260). Springer, Vienna.