Category: Drug use and abuse

People use other illicit drugs. We can consider the different groups of drugs based on the type of effect they have on a person or how people use them.

Depressants are drugs that act by slowing the action of the central nervous system. These include pain killers and tranquilizers, many available by prescription. Some of these drugs can be misused or abused. Another example is heroin. Some effects of depressants may be a feeling of relaxation, calmness, and drowsiness. Many of these drugs are quite addictive.

Stimulants are drugs that act by increasing the activity of the central nervous system. They can increase the heart rate and cause feelings of excitement, agitation, and alertness. Examples include nicotine, cocaine, and methamphetamine.

Anabolic steroids are synthetic versions of the hormone testosterone. Some people use them to enhance athletic performance or to get bigger muscles which is considered a misuse. However, these drugs can be dangerous to their health and have various side effects.

Inhalants are substances like solvents, aerosol sprays, and gases that people use as a psychoactive drug. Examples of products that people use are household cleaners, spray paint, markers and glue – products not intended for getting high. Overdose is possible with these types of drugs.

Club drugs are various drugs that people use that cause a change in mood, awareness and how people act. Examples include hallucinogens and MDMA (molly or Extasy).

Synthetic cannabinoids are human-made drugs that act on the same receptors in the brain as marijuana. However, they may have a more powerful effect and have not been studied as long, so they may be more dangerous.

For about 20 years, the US has been struggling with rising rates of use for particular types of drugs – opioids. These drugs interact with opioid receptors in the brain and include prescription pain medications and illegal drugs like heroin. In particular, one of the dangerous possible affects of opioid use is overdose and death.

Most states in the US are struggling with this problem. See a map with rates here – https://www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse/opioids/opioid-summaries-by-state. This epidemic has evolved over time from overuse and misuse of prescription pain medication, to illicit heroic use, and the third wave of synthetic opioid use (like fentanyl).

There are some medications available for opioid use disorder, including milder opioids like methadone. Overdose deaths can be prevented with an opioid antagonist called naloxone. Government agencies are also working on preventing opioid addiction, limiting the use of prescription pain medications, and helping people find treatment options.

One common illicit drug is marijuana, which are dried parts of the plant Cannibis sativa or Cannibis indica. The main psycho-active ingredient in this plant is THC or tetrahydrocannabinol.

Many people either smoke or use vaporizers when using this drug. People can also mix the plant into food (commonly called edibles). There are several short-term and long-term effects from the use of marijuana. Health risks include breathing problems, lower birth weight if used during pregnancy, and mental health problems.

There have been several research studies looking at medical uses for marijuana, in particular two drugs within it which are THC and CBD. The Food and Drug Administration does not currently consider marijuana to be a medicine, however, several laws around the US has made it legal to use marijuana for medical reasons. This may include managing nausea when on chemotherapy for cancer, or for treatment of epilepsy.

Some US states have also started to allow recreational marijuana use – see the map here https://www.businessinsider.com/legal-marijuana-states-2018-1. However, this drug is still considered illegal on the federal level, so the status of sellers remains uncertain.

As with most psychoactive drugs, people can abuse marijuana and can develop marijuana use disorder. There are behavioral treatments available.

Tobacco is a plant that has a long history of cultivation in North America. It was a very important crop for the Native Americans, and eventually became a cornerstone of economic development in the United States.

The drug in tobacco that makes it addictive is nicotine. It is a mild stimulant and has several effects on the body. People use tobacco in several ways – most often people smoke cigarettes, but they can use it in other ways as well, like chewing it or inhaling vapor from e-cigarettes. Read more here https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/cigarettes-other-tobacco-products.

Cigarette smoking is one of the most harmful health behavior because it is the number one cause of preventable death in the United States – https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/health_effects/effects_cig_smoking/index.htm. Some of these risks are from nicotine, and some are from other substances that are contained in the smoke from tobacco products. Additionally, the smoke from cigarettes and other smoked products can affect the health of others. This is called secondhand or passive smoking and is linked to illness and death – https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/tobacco/cessation-fact-sheet#what-are-the-risks-of-tobacco-smoke-to-nonsmokers.

People use tobacco in a variety of products – smoked and smokeless. Learn more about different tobacco products here – https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/recognize-tobacco-its-many-forms.

There has been a rise in the use of e-vaporizers or e-cigarettes in recent years. These products are not regulated in the same way as other tobacco products. They still deliver nicotine to the user (and are thus addictive), as well as a host of other chemicals which may be carcinogens. Recently, several cases of severe respiratory illness and one death was linked to the use of e-cigarettes – https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/illinois-patients-death-may-be-first-in-u-s-linked-to-vaping.

While rates of tobacco smoking have been steadily declining in recent years (the latest numbers show that 14% of people in the US smoke), there is no safe level of smoking or using tobacco.

Many people want to quit smoking or using tobacco, but they may not know how to start. There are many free and local resources available for quitting. Benefits of quitting are many and include a lower risk of illness and death, as well as less coughing, better breath and a brighter smile.

A legal recreational drug that some people enjoy is alcohol (or ethyl alcohol, ethanol). Most people over the age of 18 have tried alcohol at one time point in their lives, and a little over half say they’ve drank in the past month. Read more here – https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/alcohol-facts-and-statistics. The legal age to buy alcohol beverages in the US is 21.

Ethyl alcohol is produced by either fermentation or distillation. Fermentation is a natural process of conversion of sugar to alcohol in plants – typically wine and beer is produced by this method. Distillation involves heating alcohol and then condensing the vapor, producing a higher percentage of alcohol by volume. Any liquor over about 12% of alcohol by volume is produced by distillation. In the US, you may also see that alcohol has a “proof” listed on the bottle – this is twice the percent of alcohol by volume. So a liquor that is 80 proof is 40% alcohol by volume.

Long term drinking increases risks for certain health conditions – https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohols-effects-body Excessive drinking can also lead to injuries and even death, as well as alcohol use disorder – https://www.rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov/How-much-is-too-much/Whats-the-harm/What-Are-The-Risks.aspx.

How alcohol affects you when you consume it depends on BAC or blood alcohol concentration – defined as the percent of alcohol in your blood stream by volume. Even small changes in your BAC can lead to impaired motor function, attention, coordination, speech, and memory. If you binge drink (or bring your BAC to 0.08 or higher), you may be at risk for serious consequences, including overdose. https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/understanding-dangers-of-alcohol-overdose

Some people may be more at risk when they consume alcohol, including college students – https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/college-drinking.

Signs of alcohol use disorder include feeling sick when not drinking, feeling out of control when it comes to drinking, and continuing to drink even though it’s cause you problems. There may be a genetic risk as well – people whose close family members suffer form this disorder may be at higher risk themselves. However, treatment is available through counseling, medications, and peer support. https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/treatment-alcohol-problems-finding-and-getting-help

A drug is a substance that causes changes in the chemical and biological processes in the body. This is a very general term, and thus, drugs can fit into several categories, both beneficial and harmful to human health.

Medicine is defined as a drug that is meant to prevent, diagnose, or treat a disease. Each country defines for itself how medicines are regulated. In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for regulating medications.

Some medications require prescriptions from a doctor or other healthcare professional. Others are sold to anyone from a pharmacy – https://www.fda.gov/drugs/questions-answers/prescription-drugs-and-over-counter-otc-drugs-questions-and-answers. In either case, it is important to become educated about using medications safely – know about the right indication for use, the right dosage (how much active ingredient), which active ingredients are present, the risks and benefits, and possible side effects. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/resources-you/be-active-member-your-health-care-team-brochure.

The active ingredient of the medication is the one that interacts with your body so as to treat a symptom or cause of a disease, or prevent or diagnose the disease. The main effect of the drug is this specific therapeutic effect. But most drugs come with side effects – effects that are beyond that main effect. These can be mild or severe. Be sure to read the drug package or pharmacy print-out to know what to expect.

Medications can also be brand-name or generic. Generic medications are those have been developed once the active ingredient is no longer protected by a patent. This generally means that generic medications are cheaper than the brand name alternatives. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/questions-answers/generic-drugs-questions-answers

Drugs can have interactions with other drugs, with dietary supplements, and even with food. These can amplify the main effects or side effects, cancel each other out, or cause unwanted effects. They can also change how the drug is absorbed, metabolized (or broken down) and excreted out of the body. Read more here – https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/avoiding-drug-interactions. It is important to tell the doctor or pharmacist what medications (whether over the counter, or even herbal) you use regularly, to avoid interactions.

Drug are administered into the body in several ways, including orally, through injection, by inhalation and other means. https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/drugs/administration-and-kinetics-of-drugs/drug-administration

It is possible to abuse over-the-counter and prescription medications. People may also misuse these types of medications, which means using them for a purpose other than the main effect.

Products like vitamins, minerals, enzymes, proteins, fats, and others are often sold in pharmacies and specialized stores. These products are often labeled as dietary supplements – https://nccih.nih.gov/health/supplements .

Do you need to take these for your health?

Your doctor may have recommended that you take a particular supplement, like Vitamin D, because your blood may have shown to have an insufficient quantity of this important nutrient. You can also easily find a variety of consumer products on your own, with lots of claims about how they can help your health. It is important that you use these products wisely – https://nccih.nih.gov/health/supplements/wiseuse.htm.

Studies have shown some benefits for particular substances for specific health-related conditions, however, there is not a magic pill out there that will keep you healthy and prevent all diseases.

A nice visualization that condenses a lot of research into dietary supplements based on scientific studies is here https://informationisbeautiful.net/visualizations/snake-oil-scientific-evidence-for-nutritional-supplements-vizsweet/. Hover and click on each bubble to see the evidence. Before taking any product, it is important to do some research.

Dietary supplements are also regulated differently by the Food and Drug Administration – they do not have to be proven to be effective to prevent, treat, or diagnose any health condition. Be wary of claims on the package, since many are not supported by scientific evidence.

Another concern is that supplements can interact with any other medication you may be taking. Some of those interactions may be concerning – check if there are any interactions here https://reference.medscape.com/drug-interactionchecker.