Common Types of Drugs

There are many different kinds of addictive and intoxicating substances. However, the most common among them include stimulants, opiates, illicit drugs, sleeping pills, benzodiazepines, and alcohol.

1. Alcohol

This is a legal but controlled substances that acts by slowing down the vital functions of the body. It is available in different forms, including liquor, wine, and beer. If you consume it in excess, alcohol can cause slowed reaction time, loss of coordination, and slurred speech. Psychologically speaking, the substance can also lower your ability to naturally think rationally as well as inhibit your judgment.

If you drink alcohol in moderation, it does not necessarily mean that you have a problem. However, drinking in excess (4 alcoholic beverages in a day for a man and 3 alcoholic beverages in a day for a woman), it might mean that you have an alcohol use disorder.

2. Benzodiazepines

Also known as benzos, benzodiazepines are pharmaceutical drugs that are used in the treatment of various mental health illnesses, including panic attacks and severe anxiety. They include drugs like Ativan, Klonopin, Halcion, Librium, Valium, and Xanax. It is possible to become tolerant to this class of drugs if you consume them over the long term. Eventually, tolerance will give way to dependency.

You might also choose to drink alcohol while on benzos. This will strengthen the effects of both of these substances as well as increase your risk of suffering an overdose. While withdrawing from benzodiazepines, you might suffer symptoms like Grand Mal seizures.

3. Illicit Drugs

There are many different kinds of illicit drugs, including but not limited to methamphetamine and heroin. These drugs, to this end, are widely different from each other in terms of the effects that they cause.

For instance, if you take marijuana, it can cause short term effects that slow down the CNS - the central nervous system. It can also interfere with your concentration and reaction time. Taking cocaine, on the other hand, will put the functioning of your brain into hyper speed. As a result, this could lead to an increase in anxiety and alertness.

Using even just one dose of these drugs could lead to devastating patterns and habits of substance abuse. After you have formed psychological or physical dependence, the drugs will take over your life and become your primary priority.

If you are trying to quit your substance abuse habit, it is imperative that you seek professional guidance. This is the only way you are going to be able to get started on the road to long term recovery.

That said, the following are some of the most commonly abused illicit drugs:

a) Cocaine

Cocaine is a stimulant drug that causes effects that are similar to what would happen if you drank coffee or took caffeine in excessive amounts. Most people take this drug through the nose by snorting it in powder form. The substance is also highly addictive and if you continue abusing it there is a high risk that you may suffer damage to your nasal passages and severe weight loss.

b) Crack Cocaine

Crack is the freebase and more potent form of cocaine. You will typically smoke it through short pipes - which could cause burns and blisters on the hands and mouth.

c) Ecstasy

This drug is common at raves and parties. A stimulant drug, ecstasy can also potentially cause hallucinogenic effects. Some of the forms of the drug that are available on the black market are also cut using other dangerous substances like LSD and heroin, further increasing the dangers of ecstasy abuse.

d) Hallucinogens

These psychoactive and mind-altering substances come with a high risk of abuse and addiction. They can distort your perception of reality. As such, you might use them to self-medicate the mental health illnesses that you might be struggling with. However, this will only make the underlying condition much worse than it was before.

e) Heroin

Heroin is among the most addictive of all substances available on the market today. A synthetic derivative of the medication morphine, it is available as a sticky gel (black tar heroin) or as a powder. Abusing the drug in the long term can cause scabs and abscesses on the skin as well as lead to internal and psychological damage.

f) Inhalants

Inhalant drugs are categorized according to the route of administration. They include some common household objects that you can use to achieve a brief high, such as lighter fluid, gasoline, paint thinner, and nail polish remover. Using these drugs in the long term can cause psychological disturbances and muscle deterioration.

g) Ketamine

An anesthetic that is commonly used for animals before surgery, ketamine is also taken recreationally by some people. It is most common among college students and teenagers. It is addictive and can also be used in the form of a date rape drug. Since it is tasteless and odorless, it cannot be easily detected while mixed into a beverage.

h) Marijuana

Cannabis or marijuana is among the most commonly abused substances. It is derived from the cannabis plant and is typically dried out before being rolled up and eaten or smoked. Taking this drug can lead to lung damage and diminished brain function.

i) Meth

Methamphetamine or meth is an addictive and deadly substance that is made using items like drain cleaner and lithium batteries. Continued use of this drug can lead to accelerated aging and tooth decay.

j) Synthetic Marijuana

Synthetic marijuana is also known as K2 or Spice. This manufactured drug contains ingredients that are similar to THC - tetrahydrocannabinol, the primary active ingredient found in marijuana.

Since this drug is sometimes available for legal purchase, most people think that it is a safe alternative to cannabis or marijuana. Even so, it is important to note that the drug can be highly addictive and often produces psychoactive effects.

4. Opiates

Opiates include prescription drugs used in the treatment of chronic and acute pain. Although these drugs are effective if you take them exactly as your doctor directed, they can also lead to addiction and many other problems.

Getting Help

If you have been taking any of these substances, it is recommended that you seek help from a professional addiction treatment and rehabilitation facility. By so doing, you will be able to get started on the road to long term recovery, health, and wellness.