Types of Drugs

Police offices stand guard packages of seized cocaine at the police station in Santa Marta, Colombia, Friday, Nov. 27, 2009. About 1.5 tons of cocaine were seized during a recent raid in Puerto Estrella, Guajira state, and three people were arrested, police announced Thursday. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)

Drugs are a serious threat to society. From the toll they place on individual lives to the increase in crime that is often the result of drug addiction, drugs kill, rob, steal, and destroy the lives of those who use them. In Tampa, drug use is a serious problem. One of the most prevalent drugs readily available is Crack cocaine. Crack cocaine has led to a sharp increase in crime and has caused a spike in both incarcerations and drug rehab centers.

Narcotics are described as drugs that are derived from opium and opium synthetic or manmade substitutes. Narcotics are known for being highly addictive. Narcotics are often prescription medication that is used for their pain reliving benefits.

Depressants are drugs that depress or slow down the central nervous system. Depressants are commonly used to relieve stress and anxiety. They are also used to induce sleep. The oldest and most widely used depressant is alcohol. Depressants may also be referred to as downers.

Stimulants, unlike depressants, cause an increase in energy and reduce or reverse the effect of mental fatigue and physical fatigue. Commonly referred to as uppers, stimulants range from substances such as caffeine to crack cocaine. Other types of stimulants include amphetamines, nicotine, and designer drugs or synthetic amphetamines.

Inhalants refer to chemical products that are inhaled, typically through the toxic fumes that the substance produces. Inhalants may be either inhaled through sniffing through the nose or by huffing with the mouth (huffed). The substance used as inhalants are toxic and poisonous and were never designed to be inhaled.

Hallucinogens are substances, including natural and synthetic, that alter perceptions of reality. Hallucinogens are oldest known group of drugs as they are found abundantly in many plants and fungi (mushrooms). Hallucinogens produce changes in perception, mood, thought and can dilate pupils, increase blood pressure and elevate heart rate.

Marijuana or Cannabis is the most commonly abused illegal drug. Marijuana produces effects immediately and those effects last between 1-3 hours. After smoking marijuana heart rates increase, bronchial passages become enlarged, and blood vessels in the eyes expand. This is what gives the typical ‘red eye’ stoned look. Marijuana is considered to be a gateway drug as those who use it frequently advance to other drugs that produce mood altering effects.
 

Types of drugs