The 2008 National Survey on Drug Use and Health indicates 20.1 million Americans currently use illicit drugs. This number includes people using prescription drugs for non-medicinal purposes. The kinds of drugs people abuse are grouped into categories based on their primary effects. According to the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug among Americans with more than 15 million current users.
Cannabinoids
Marijuana and hashish are called cannabinoids because they come from the hemp plant Cannabis sativa. The active ingredient in cannabinoids is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol or THC. These drugs act on areas of the brain that influence memory, concentration, pleasure, sensory perception and coordination. Cannabinoid intoxication increases heart rate, distorts perceptions and diminishes coordination. Cannabinoid use impairs learning and memory, an effect that may last for days to weeks after use of the drug.
Opiates
Opiates, also known as narcotics, are a group of drugs that includes substances derived from the opium poppy plant and man-made chemicals that are similar to these naturally occurring compounds. Opiates are pain-relieving drugs, which have a high potential for physical dependence and abuse. Pain relievers are the most commonly abused prescription medicines in the U.S. Opiate drugs include heroin, morphine, hydrocodone, oxycodone, hydromorphone, codeine, fentanyl, meperidine, methadone, propoxyphene, butorphanol and buprenorphine. Opiates are central nervous system depressants. Effects include pain relief, euphoria, relaxation, slowed digestive functions and depressed respirations. Risk of death from opiate overdose is high because increasing doses are required over time to produce the desired effect. Respiratory arrest is the usual cause of death in cases of narcotic overdose. According to the 2008 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, approximately 4.7 million Americans use narcotics for non-medical purposes.
Stimulants
Stimulant drugs increase energy and alertness along with producing a sense of well-being, exhilaration and euphoria. Drugs in this category include illicit substances such as cocaine, MDMA, also known as Ecstasy, and methamphetamine. Prescription stimulants including amphetamine, lisdexamfetamine, dextroamphetamine, methylphenidate and dexmethylphenidate are also abused. These drugs decrease appetite and increase heart rate, respiratory rate and blood pressure. High doses may cause elevated body temperature, agitation, hallucinations and seizures. Stimulants are physically and psychologically addictive.
Sedatives
Sedative or depressant drugs decrease anxiety and tension and produce an intoxicated state similar to that caused by alcohol. Depressant drugs include methaqualone, barbiturate, butalbital, pentobarbital, alprazolam, diazepam, oxazepam, flurazepam, triazolam, chloral hydrate and glutethimide. High doses of depressants can cause dulled thinking, slurred speech and impaired coordination. Risk of sedative dependence and overdose are high because increasing doses are required over time to produce the desired effect.
Hallucinogens
Hallucinogens, also called psychedelics, have no medicinal use. They are used recreationally to alter perceptions, emotions and thought processes. Hallucinations, delusions, paranoia, confusion, intense emotions and agitation are common effects of these drugs. Hallucinogenic drugs include lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), phencyclidine (PCP), mescaline, peyote and psilocybin. Flashbacks of experiences while on these drugs can occur long after the drug has worn off. Seizures, coma and heart and lung failure may occur with overdoses.
References
- U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: Results from the 2008 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, National Findings
- National Institute on Drug Abuse: Commonly Abused Drugs
- U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration: Drugs of Abuse, Uses and Effects
- National Institute on Drug Abuse: InfoFacts, Marijuana
- U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: Narcotics
