You can call our team at any time for counselling, information and advice. Experienced counsellors are here to listen and give you options about the next steps. Understanding different drug types will help you to recognise the effects and potential harms. What drugs are stimulants? Cocaine, methamphetamine, MDMA, khat, nicotine and prescription stimulants. How do they work? Stimulant drugs speed up the messages travelling between the brain and the body.
And so, they typically increase the pulse and breathing rate, elevate blood pressure, suppress the appetite and dilate the pupils. What to expect? Stimulants often produce a euphoric effect, with some people feeling more alert, energetic and confident. With prolonged use or if taken in large doses the effects may include anxiety, panic, seizures, headaches, stomach cramps, aggression and paranoia.
Long-term use of stimulants can also lead to a range of physical and mental health conditions and for more information about the effects of each drug refer to the fact sheets on drugs.
Depressant drugs slow down the functioning of the brain. They often increase your heart rate and blood pressure, causing rapid breathing in some people. Stimulants can also improve your mood, especially right after you take them. While depressants often make you feel sleepy or relaxed, stimulants make you feel alert and energetic. They can also help to increase your attention span. Remember, weed affects everyone differently. Some people might feel relaxed and at ease after using it, while others might feel highly alert or anxious.
Weed carries fewer risks than many other stimulants. For example, methamphetamine and cocaine are highly addictive drugs that can have lasting effects on both your brain and body. As a stimulant, weed carries the same risks it does as a depressant. You can eventually become dependent on it for its mood-elevating effects, and smoking it can lead to respiratory issues. Weed is perhaps most often stereotyped for its hallucinogenic effects. But the symptoms of weed, such as time distortion, are also part of a hallucination.
Hallucinogens are substances that alter your perception of reality, either through changes in your sensory perception or visual or auditory hallucinations. Keep in mind that hallucinations and paranoia, which is associated with stimulants, are different things. For example, a hallucination might make you see the person walking in front of you as an animal. Paranoia, on the other hand, might make you think the person has been following you in order to harm you. Weed can have all of these additional effects, which is why many people and organizations classify it as a hallucinogen.
Over time, using hallucinogens can lead to speech problems, memory loss, anxiety, and depression. In rare cases, people may be left with psychosis , flashbacks, or a condition called hallucinogen persisting perception disorder. Remember, you can also develop a tolerance to or dependence on weed, and smoking it can harm your respiratory system. Weed can have a variety of psychological and physical effects that vary from person to person. It can make some people tired or relaxed and give others an energy boost and increase alertness.
It can also help to treat mental health conditions, such as anxiety and depression, in some people. In others, it can actually cause anxiety over time. In general, when small to low doses of depressants are taken, the following effects may be experienced: reduced inhibitions enhanced mood reduced anxiety slowed reaction time impaired judgement slowed breathing increased risk of accident or injury.
Health and Safety Use of depressants is likely to be more dangerous when: combined with alcohol or other drugs, particularly driving or operating heavy machinery judgement or motor coordination is required a person is alone in case medical assistance is required. If drinking alcohol, stay hydrated and have something to eat before and while drinking.
Dependence and tolerance People who use depressants regularly, can develop a dependence and tolerance to them. Path2Help Not sure what you are looking for? Find out more. Ontario: Addiction Research Foundation; Australian Government Department of Health. Types of Drugs - Drug catagories : Commonwealth of Australia; Benzodiazepine Toxicity. Darke S, Lappin, J. The Clinician's Guide to Illicit Drugs. United Kingdom: Silverback Publishing; Last updated: 10 Nov
0コメント