Drug Abuse

Drug Abuse

In the US, there are more than 23 million people who’ve abused an illicit substance to the point where they are addicted. In many cases these users never set out to abuse drugs; the nature of the substances simply made it difficult to stop using them. Other users knowingly abused drugs in order to deal with difficult circumstances in their lives. Regardless of the reasons why someone became addicted, knowing more about drugs and what they do can help change circumstances again, possibly for the better this time.

Types of Drug Abuse

While there are hundreds of thousands of drugs available to be abused, there are only two main categories of drugs – those that form physical dependencies, and those that take hold of you emotionally. These lines are often blurred, however, as even physical addictions can lead to strong emotional symptoms. One reason to classify addictions as a specific type is that physical and psychological dependencies need to be treated in different ways. However, even among these forms of dependency, different drugs can cause more severe addictions.

Drug Abuse with Physically Dependent Drugs

A physical dependency is when, after some period of use, your body is unable to function properly without the drug. You may crave the drug, or suffer from withdrawal symptoms when you’re without it. Some drugs cause physical dependencies with the first use, and others build up in your system until you’re unable to go without taking larger quantities to achieve the same relief.

Often, these drugs are opioid painkillers like hydrocodone and oxycodone, but non-synthetic opiates like heroin and morphine are also extremely dangerous physically addictive drugs. Alcohol is considered a physically addictive drug as well, because your body grows used to having it in your system and without it, you can experience painful withdrawal the same way you would if you were abusing heroin.

Some signs of withdrawal for physically addictive drugs are:

• Muscle tremors, aches or intense pain
• Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
• Fever
• Sweating
• Seizures
• Heart palpitations

The body and the brain don’t exist separately, however.  Even physically addictive drugs can cause emotional symptoms, and mood swings, anger and depression are also likely to occur when you’re experiencing withdrawal.

Additionally, some drugs that cause psychological dependencies will also cause physical symptoms, both during abuse and during withdrawal.

Drug Abuse with Psychologically Dependent Drugs

Drugs like cocaine and methamphetamine fall into the category of commonly abused psychologically addictive drugs. These drugs allow you to experience extreme euphoria with just one use and leave you desperately trying to replicate that feeling with additional doses. Overdose is an extreme danger for these drugs because you’re far more likely to consume too much in your attempts, and may experience stroke, seizures and death as a result.

While cocaine and methamphetamine are among the most common drugs abused in California, the most common drug of abuse is also a psychologically addictive substance. Each year millions of dollars in marijuana and marijuana plants are seized in the State of California. Although many believe marijuana to be harmless, extended marijuana abuse has been linked to depression and schizophrenia, as well as other physical issues like respiratory damage. Marijuana abusers are also more likely to experience loss of focus, and feel restless or anxious when they go without the drug. Although they aren’t as physically disruptive as physical signs, these are all signs of withdrawal.

No matter what the drug is, when it’s taken abusively, you put yourself at risk. Sometimes the risk is to your happiness, and sometimes it’s to your health, but either way, drug abuse is serious and should be addressed immediately.