I split this chapter into sections cause it's so long, sorry!!
PLEASE NEVER DO DRUGS GUYS, ITS NOT WORTH IT!!!! And if you do please seek help.
Addiction:
》When individuals engage in an activity that is pleasurable but cannot stop doing it, even to the detriment of everyday living (such as work, hobbies, family time, finances, etc.), and health and wellbeing suffer as a result, this behavior would be considered an addiction.
》Substance abuse and addiction can have far-reaching consequences beyond individual health, impacting families, careers, and society as a whole. This includes broken families, ruined careers, fatalities due to negligence or accidents, instances of domestic violence, physical abuse, and child neglect.
》Another distinguishing feature of addictions is that individuals continue to pursue the activity despite the physical or psychological harm it incurs, even as the harm intensifies with repeated use. Additionally, tolerance to the substance often increases as the body adapts to its presence, leading to escalated consumption over time.
》At the root of addictive behavior is often some form of emotional stress, deeply buried within the person's subconscious mind. Addressing this issue can feel overwhelming or unfathomable. To ease the stress, individuals may seek pleasure in excess, such as the fun of a drunken night out or the thrill of making an expensive bet.
》Early signs indicating potential risk for later drug use include:
1. Association with peers who abuse drugs
2. Lack of attachment and nurturing from parents or caregivers
3. Ineffective parenting practices
4. Caregiver substance abuse
5. Display of aggressive behavior
6. Lack of self-control
7. Poor classroom behavior or social skills
8. Academic underachievement
》There is evidence that addictive behaviors share key neurobiological features: They intensely involve brain pathways of reward and reinforcement, primarily mediated by the neurotransmitter dopamine. Additionally, like other highly motivated states, addictive behaviors lead to the pruning of synapses in the prefrontal cortex, the brain region responsible for higher functions, resulting in heightened attention to cues related to the addictive substance or activity.
》When you're becoming addicted to a substance, the normal hardwiring of helpful brain processes can begin to work against you. Drugs or alcohol can hijack the pleasure/reward circuits in your brain and hook you into wanting more and more. Addiction can also send your emotional danger-sensing circuits into overdrive, making you feel anxious and stressed when you're not using the drugs or alcohol.
Alcohol:
》Drinking's effects stem from ethanol entering your bloodstream and permeating the membranes of cells in your brain, heart, and other organs.
》Alcohol makes it harder for the brain areas controlling balance, memory, speech, and judgment to do their jobs, resulting in a higher likelihood of injuries and other negative outcomes.
》Long-term alcohol consumption can have more negative health effects for women compared to men, even if the woman drinks less for a shorter period of time.
》There are several stages of alcohol intoxication:
1. Subliminal intoxication: With a blood alcohol content (BAC) between 0.01 and 0.05, this is the initial stage of intoxication. While you may not appear visibly drunk, your reaction time, behavior, and judgment may be slightly altered. It typically occurs after consuming one drink, depending on weight.
2. Euphoria: In the early stages of drinking, the brain releases more dopamine, associated with pleasure. During euphoria, you may feel relaxed and confident, though your reasoning and memory may be slightly impaired. This stage, often referred to as "tipsy," occurs with a BAC between 0.03 and 0.12.
3. Excitement: With a BAC from 0.08 to 0.25, you are legally intoxicated. This level affects various brain lobes, leading to blurred vision, slurred speech, and impaired control. It also impacts the parietal lobe, causing a loss of fine motor skills and slower reaction time. Mood swings, impaired judgment, nausea, or vomiting may occur.
4. Confusion: At a BAC of 0.18 to 0.3, disorientation is common. The cerebellum, which aids coordination, is affected, often requiring assistance with walking or standing. Blackouts and a higher pain threshold increase the risk of injury due to the impaired hippocampus, responsible for memory.
5. Stupor: Reaching a BAC of 0.25 may indicate alcohol poisoning, with severe impairment of mental, physical, and sensory functions. The risk of passing out, suffocation, and injury is significantly elevated.
6. Coma: A BAC of 0.35 increases the risk of entering a coma due to compromised respiration, circulation, motor responses, and reflexes. This stage poses a severe risk of death.
7. Death: A BAC over 0.45 may lead to death from alcohol poisoning or failure of the brain to regulate vital bodily functions.
》Women who are dependent on alcohol are 50 to 100 percent more likely to die from alcohol-related causes compared to men who are dependent on alcohol.
》Teens who start drinking before the age of 15 are at a higher risk of developing alcohol dependence later in life.
Weed/Cannabis/Marijuana:
》Cannabis is commonly used for its relaxing and calming properties and is legally prescribed in certain U.S. states to address conditions like chronic pain, glaucoma, and appetite loss.
》Cannabis, commonly referred to as weed, contains high levels of THC, which has been shown to affect brain regions involved in memory formation and attention.
》About 1 in 10 regular cannabis users develop dependence on the drug. The risk of addiction increases if cannabis use begins during adolescence or becomes a daily habit.
》When using cannabis recreationally, individuals may experience:
- Altered perception, with slight hallucinogenic effects distorting time and space.
- Mood changes, including euphoria, increased energy, or relaxation.
- Increased heart rate and lowered blood pressure.
- Impaired concentration and memory.
- Reduced psychomotor coordination.
- Nausea, although certain cannabinoids may offer relief.
- Enhanced appetite.
- Heightened respiration.
》While cannabis can elevate the risk of mental illness, particularly for those genetically predisposed, it's important to note that it's not the sole determinant; other factors can also contribute to the development of mental health issues.
》Being "genetically vulnerable" implies a higher likelihood of developing a mental health condition due to genetic predisposition. For instance, if mental illness runs in your family, such as depression or schizophrenia, using cannabis can heighten the risk of experiencing these conditions.
》The potency of cannabis is determined by the average amount of THC in test samples seized by law enforcement agencies. These samples typically show the following:
- Ordinary marijuana contains an average of 7 percent THC.
- Sinsemilla, derived from buds, has an average THC content of 12 percent, but it can range from less than 1 percent to 27 percent.
- Hashish, the sticky resin from female flowers, averages 10 percent THC, with a range of 1 percent to 26 percent.
Heroin:
》Heroin produces artificially elevated euphoria and disrupts physical pain receptors. Simultaneously, its mental effects impede the brain's ability to derive pleasure from activities like eating, sexual activity, or exercise.
》Chemically, it disrupts the brain's reward-seeking circuitry, making it challenging to associate anything other than heroin with pleasure.
》Signs of heroin use may include:
- Agitation or drowsiness
- Slurred speech
- Constricted pupils
- Depression
- Memory problems
- Needle marks (if injecting)
- Runny nose or nose sores (if snorting)
- Constipation
- Reduced pain sensitivity
》Additional signs of heroin use may include:
- Changes in appearance or decline in personal hygiene
- Changes in behavior, such as sudden secrecy or aggression
- Financial problems, such as missing money or unexplained need for more money
- Problems at school or work
- Engaging in risky or dangerous behavior
》Heroin users can quickly enter withdrawal if they stop without medical intervention. Withdrawal can trigger several unpleasant side effects,
including insomnia,
feelings of panic or dread,
extreme depression,
fatigue,
and potent cravings for heroin.
》Several factors can influence the likelihood of struggling with heroin addiction,
including family history of addiction or mental illness,
inheriting certain personality traits like impulsivity,
having a sibling or parent who struggled with opioid addiction,
personal history of substance use or mental illness,
being male,
being a young adult,
and having an injury or medical condition treated with prescription opioids.
Cocaine:
》Cocaine, an addictive drug, can lead to various psychiatric symptoms, syndromes, and disorders.
These include agitation, paranoia, hallucinations, delusions, violence, and even suicidal and homicidal thoughts. These symptoms may arise as a direct effect of the drug or exacerbate existing psychiatric conditions.
》Cocaine is highly addictive, and while many are familiar with its powdered form (cocaine hydrochloride), fewer understand crack cocaine. Crack is derived from cocaine but in a different form, known as cocaine base. Unlike powdered cocaine, which is typically snorted, crack is smoked, resulting in a more intense and rapid high.
》Common psychological effects of cocaine encompass :
intense happiness,
heightened energy levels,
paranoia,
increased sociability and talkativeness,
enhanced confidence,
heightened alertness,
irritability,
and anxiety.
》Cocaine produces a wide range of physical effects, including :
dilated pupils,
rapid or irregular heartbeat,
constricted blood vessels,
muscle twitches,
tremors,
high blood pressure,
increased body temperature,
nausea,
restlessness,
decreased appetite,
insomnia,
headache,
dizziness,
diarrhea,
bloody nose,
and difficulty achieving or maintaining an erection.
》Here's what to expect in terms of how long the high lasts:
- Snorting: 15 to 30 minutes
- Gumming: 15 to 30 minutes
- Smoking: 5 to 15 minutes
- Injecting: 5 to 15 minutes