Addiction Glossary
Alcohol Drugs and Their Addictive Properties
To better equip our clients with the knowledge and resources of fighting addiction, we have compiled list of information on alcohol, drugs and their effects on people over time. This concise look at these chemical substances shows why they are harmful and can reveal how they should be dealt with.
Alcohol
Found in beer, wine, and liquor, alcohol is ingested and absorbed into the stomach as a liquid. Alcohol enters the bloodstream quickly, creating intoxication, which numbs the senses and allows the drinker to have a feeling of “relaxation.” Overconsumption of alcohol causes impaired vision and senses, nausea, vomiting and most commonly, impaired judgment. Alcohol is often related to motor vehicle fatalities as a result of this impaired judgment.
As alcohol is continuously over consumed, the addiction that results causes severe thirst for more. Alcoholism is characterized by a strong craving, loss of control, physical dependence, and increased tolerance. If this thirst is not quenched or treated, powerful withdrawal symptoms can occur, such as anxiety, sweating, nausea, rapid heart rate, delirium tremens (confusion and hallucinations) or convulsions. When alcohol is continually misused for a long period of time, the brain, liver and heart can be severely damaged and the risk for certain cancers increases. In cases of pregnant women who over consume alcohol, harmful side effects can occur in the fetus, such as severe brain damage or growth abnormalities.
For more information on {Alcohol Rehab}, click here.
Cocaine/Crack
With immediate side effects of brief and intense euphoric sensations, delusions, and sensory numbness, cocaine is an extremely powerful stimulant that affects the central nervous system.
Cocaine can cause depression and psychological disorder including:
- Anxiety and Panic Attacks
- Irritability and Frustration
- Paranoid Behavior
- Violent Outbreaks
- Suicidal Tendencies
Crack is an extremely addictive form of cocaine, which is smoked and can cause massive changes in brain cell function and shrink blood vessels. This adds further strain to the circulatory system and heart. These affected cells can stop transmitting signals to vital organs and can often kill users immediately after they consume the drug.
Crystal Meth
Typically created in home made and unsafe labs, crystal methamphetamine is a powerfully addictive drug. According to a study from the National Association of Counties, meth users are typically 20 to 30 years old, spanning from college students to working men and women. Currently, meth is the top drug problem facing the US and has been reported as a direct link to the spreading of HIV in gay communities and society at large.
Whether taken by snorting, smoking, injecting or ingesting, meth stimulates the central nervous system, inducing temporary euphoria. Also known as ice, chalk, tina, crystal, crank, or glass, meth leaves powerful and damaging long term side effects and can be fatal in some cases, destroying valuable neurotransmitters in the brain. Early symptoms of brain damage from meth consist of behavioral changes, insomnia and paranoia.
In recent years, arrests for meth use and production have increased exponentially. As a result, Crystal Meth Anonymous, a twelve-step support group and recovery program has spread rapidly throughout North America and New Zealand.
Hallucinogens
Also known as psychedelics, hallucinogens alter perception, emotion, and sensory processing. The most common drugs are LSD, DMT, peyote, and mescaline. Side effects from continual use cause heavy repercussions to the body and mind, such as brain damage, hallucinations, increased heart rate and blood pressure, and panic attacks.
Inhalants
Breathable chemicals that contain amyl and butyl nitrate – found in glue, aerosol products, and lighter fluid – produce vapors, which can alter the mind. Similar in side effects to anesthetics, inhalants can cause unconsciousness, dizziness, and lower heart and breathing rates. Commonly, death can occur as a result of suffocation from a depressed central nervous system response or aspiration from vomiting.
Marijuana
Coming from the dried and crushed flower and leaves of the cannabis sativa, marijuana is a complex substance, emitting over 400 chemicals before smoking, and 1,600 when lit. As the smoker inhales, a “high” is generated from a chemical called Delta9-THC, which depresses the central nervous system. This high tends to numb the addict’s will to perform and need for ambition.
There is little known about the short and long term effects of the 1,600 chemicals which enter the body from smoking marijuana, but what is known is that THC gets trapped in the fatty portions of the body as it is not water soluble – our body’s natural system to remove waste through sweating or urinating. Sensitive areas that are most affected by THC are the lungs, brain, liver, and reproductive system.
Opiates/Painkillers
Opiates have long been used as medicinal remedies for curing various pains, coughing, and digestive problems. Commonly abused opiates include Oxycontin, heroin, Percocet, Dilaudid, Demerol, and Codeine. Obtained by extracting juice from unripe seedpods of the opium poppy, a fast acting euphoric high is achieved through its use. Even when taken only a few times, opiate painkillers can cause physical dependence in on week’s time. Ironically, side effects of opiate use tend to flare up the very problems the drug was used to suppress, such as pain, dizziness, constipation, and mood swings. Through frequent and increased use, opiate users can develop heart infections, various skin abscesses, and congested lungs. Withdrawal symptoms can include flu like symptoms, vomiting, anxiety, muscle pain, and abdominal cramping.
Prescription Drugs
A difficult addiction from which to break free, this form of substance abuse often begins with prescribed medications for legitimate reasons, such as pain, anxiety, or illness. As time goes on and the initial condition seems to be long standing, the body becomes accustomed to receiving this medication. When individuals try to distance themselves from the drug, the original problem seems to come back stronger and with a variety of other co-occurring problems, creating a powerful cycle which needs professional help and treatment.
Detox and treatment for addiction to alcohol drugs and other substances require acknowledgement and thorough care. Ignoring the problem or attempting to face alcohol drugs addiction on your own can be exhausting, fleeting, and painful. If you suffer from any form of substance abuse or addiction, please do not hesitate to talk to our staff or a certified addiction professional.
