Top 10 Most Commonly Abused Drugs and Their Effects
Drugs are a part of life. They've been around since the beginning of human civilization and will be here long after we're gone. The term "drug" is often used colloquially in reference to illegal drugs, but they (and the effects they have) are far more complex than many of us realize.
Drugs themselves aren't necessarily inherently evil. Most drugs are used for legitimate medical purposes and can even save lives. It's when people abuse drugs that they become dangerous.
In this blog, we'll discuss the top 10 most commonly abused drugs and their effects.
What is a drug?
If you've ever been curious about what exactly defines a drug, the answer is surprisingly complicated. One of the most common misconceptions about drugs is that they are always illegal. Some people think that if a drug isn't prohibited by the government, then it must be safe and legal to use. But this isn't always the case. A drug can be any substance that affects the body and brain, whether illegal, legal, natural, or synthetic, prescribed, or over the counter.
You might be surprised to learn that many of the things you eat and drink are considered drugs, for example, caffeine (in coffee and tea), or nicotine (in cigarettes). However, the term ‘drug’ is usually reserved for substances that have a more profound effect on the body and mind.
Drug use vs. abuse vs. addiction
When discussing drugs, people often misunderstand the distinction between drug use, drug abuse, and addiction.
Drug use
Drug use is defined as any instance in which a person ingests or otherwise consumes drugs. The type of drug that the user takes may vary from one person to another, depending on their needs at the time.
Drug abuse and misuse
Abuse of a drug occurs when it is used in ways other than those for which it was designed. For example, if you take more than recommended or more often than recommended, this can lead to physical dependence on a substance.
Drug use disorder and addiction
Addiction is defined as compulsive drug-seeking behavior caused by changes in brain chemistry. It may also include persistent cravings for drugs that are difficult or impossible for the user to resist and continued use despite harm.
The 10 most used drugs in America
The 10 most commonly abused drugs in the United States include:
Alcohol
Alcohol is by far the most commonly abused drug in the United States, with an estimated 14 million Americans aged 18 and older struggling with alcohol dependence.
Because it is legal and socially acceptable, alcohol abuse and addiction can be difficult to recognize, and many of the short and long-term health risks get overlooked.
Alcohol is a depressant that affects the central nervous system. When you drink alcohol, it slows down your reflexes and impairs your judgment and coordination. It also affects your ability to learn added information at the time.
Long-term alcohol abuse can cause severe damage to the brain, nervous system, and other vital organs.
Withdrawing from long-term alcohol abuse or addiction is an arduous process and therefore should not be done on one’s own at home, as you may experience serious health complications. It is important to get professional help during the detox process.
Marijuana
Marijuana, also known as cannabis or hemp, comes from the Cannabis sativa plant. The main psychoactive chemical in marijuana is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
Though marijuana is widely considered a safe and non-addictive drug, the National Institutes of Health estimate that 6 million Americans are diagnosed with a cannabis use disorder every year. The abuse of marijuana can cause distorted perceptions, impaired coordination, and difficulty with thinking, problem-solving, learning, and memory.
Because it is becoming legalized in more states, marijuana use has become more socially acceptable. However, its growing popularity may be masking its potentially addictive nature. Strains on offer today are thought to have significantly increased in potency over the past decade.
Prescription Painkillers
Prescription painkillers are notably prescribed by doctors to treat pain caused by injuries and diseases. They relieve pain by depressing the central nervous system. However, in addition to relieving physical discomfort, these drugs often increase the feeling of intense relaxation or euphoria - which is why they are often abused.
Many people who begin abusing prescription painkillers do so because they want to numb physical or emotional pain. However, once they become dependent on the drug, their body starts craving it increasingly—even when they are not experiencing any physical discomfort or emotional stressors. This can lead to addiction over time.
Prescription Stimulants
Stimulants are drugs that increase energy, alertness, and attention, but they can also have a euphoric effect, increasing feelings of well-being and pleasure, which makes users more prone to abusing them and becoming addicted. They work by increasing your heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature. They also reduce appetite and make you feel more awake. When abused, these drugs can cause high blood pressure and heart problems that may lead to sudden death if not treated properly by a medical professional.
Cocaine
Cocaine is a stimulant that causes an increase in the amount of dopamine in your brain. Dopamine is the chemical in the brain linked to feelings of pleasure and reward, learning, memory retention, and motivation. It is this ‘overload’ of dopamine which causes an intense “high” feeling. But this is only temporary, and users will often crave more over time, just to experience the same effect.
Cocaine can lead to serious health problems and even death if used often enough or in copious amounts. Because it has such a powerful effect on your body's chemistry when you use it regularly over time (or even occasionally), your body may start to develop withdrawal symptoms when you stop using it—like depression or anxiety—and these symptoms can be hard to shake off once they begin.
Hallucinogens
Hallucinogens are among the most popular recreational drugs. They include LSD, magic mushrooms, and peyote.
They are abused for their mind-altering properties and can cause hallucinations and/or delusions.
These drugs disrupt the way information is processed by nerve cells in your brain. This can affect vision, thinking, and memory for days or even weeks after using them. In addition to their mind-altering effects, hallucinogens can cause vomiting and seizures. They also may cause panic attacks, depression, and paranoia.
Benzodiazepines (depressants)
Benzodiazepines are a class of drugs that are prescribed to treat anxiety, insomnia, seizures, and muscle spasms. They have become more widely abused in recent years due to their ability to cause euphoria and relaxation when taken in large doses.
A person who uses benzodiazepines regularly will develop a tolerance for them and require higher doses over time to achieve the same effects. As tolerance develops, withdrawal symptoms will occur if use is then reduced or stopped abruptly.
These withdrawal symptoms include rebound anxiety, insomnia, nausea, sweating, tremors, vomiting, and headaches, among other symptoms.
Inhalants
Inhalants are volatile substances that produce a psychoactive effect when inhaled. Inhalants are found in many common household products, including paint thinners, cleaning fluids, gasoline, and permanent markers. The risk with this is that they can be easily purchased by people of all ages who may not fully understand the serious health risks they pose.
Inhalant abuse damages the brain and other organs of the body and disrupts normal growth and development during adolescence. Even short-term use can cause significant harm - from nosebleeds to memory loss - but long-term use has been linked to more serious effects such as irreversible damage to blood vessels in your heart and lungs; liver failure, and even death.
Methamphetamine
Methamphetamine, more commonly known as "meth", is a powerful stimulant made from amphetamine and other related chemicals. It is a Central Nervous System (CNS) stimulant that is highly addictive that can even cause addiction in as little as one use. This is because, like cocaine, it causes a rush of dopamine in the brain.
Methamphetamine was widely available in tablet and injectable forms throughout the US for the treatment of narcolepsy, asthma, or as a weight-loss drug before it became a Schedule II controlled substance. This happened due to widespread abuse by people who wanted its stimulant effects, prompting the FDA to act.
Long-term use of methamphetamine can cause anxiety, insomnia, and, in some cases, hallucinations. Severe dental problems are also common among meth users: the drug is highly acidic and wears down teeth over time. Users often grind their teeth too to cope with these terrible side effects, which exacerbate tooth decay.
Heroin
Heroin is considered the most addictive substance in the world and one of the hardest addictions to break. It is processed from morphine, which comes from the seed pods of the opium poppy plant.
Heroin is an extremely strong depressant that slows down breathing and heart rate, but the reason that people use the drug is for the intense effect on the brain’s reward system.
Withdrawal and detoxing from heroin are an extremely painful and tiring process. The symptoms can last anywhere from a few days to several months, depending on how long you have been using the drug. Even after you stop taking it, the body will continue to crave heroin for some time, which increases the chances of a relapse.
The good news is that there are many treatment options available. Treatment requires a combination of therapy and medications to manage cravings and any physical pain resulting from withdrawal.
Why some people become addicted, and others do not
There is no one single factor that predicts whether a person will become addicted to drugs. Drug addiction is more likely when a person has multiple risk factors, such as:
- Environment.
Addiction often arises from personal and social problems, including peer pressure, physical or sexual abuse in childhood; early exposure to drugs. - Biology
Genetics accounts for about half of a person's risk for addiction. However, gender, ethnicity, and mental illness can also influence the risk of drug use and addiction. - Development.
Genetic and environmental factors interact with critical developmental stages in a person’s life, which can affect the risk of addiction.
It is important to remember that all drugs have the potential for abuse, even those that are used legally by doctors and prescribed by medical professionals. While some of these substances may be more commonly abused than others, any substance—even alcohol—can cause problems if abused. The best way to prevent drug abuse is to educate yourself about its dangers and take measures to avoid temptation when possible.
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