Meth, short for Methamphetamine. Meth is a drug used as a powerful stimulant. It causes an increase in physical activity and decreases your appetite. This is the reason when you see people on Meth, they usually are skinny. There are many ways Meth can be used, in which include smoked, injected, orally ingested, or snorted.
– Effects: lower heart rate, shallow breathing, stoned feeling, gouging, low blood sugar level, extreme relaxation. Stimulants/party drugs – this includes ecstasy, MDMA, cocaine and new designer drugs. These are most commonly consumed orally via pill form or nasally in powdered form. Effects: High state of consciousness, increased heart rate, sweating, increased thirst, lots of energy, big crashes, etc. Psychoactive – cannabis is usually smoked in a roll-up or pipe.
Unit 4222-605 Recognise indications of substance misuse and refer individuals to specialists 1.1 Alcohol is misused when it is drunk excessively - the recommended limits for adults are 2-3 units a day for women, and 3-4 for men. It is a depressant which slows down the brain and can effect mood and lower inhibitions. Illegal substances are split into 4 categories: stimulants, depressants, opiates and hallucinogens. * Stimlulants produce extreme well-being, and can increase alertness, confidence and energy levels, examples include ecstasy, cocaine and speed. * Depressants slow down the central nervous system and can reduce anxiety or emotional distress., examples include cannabis and barbiturates.
Once a person lacking sleep has gone into mania they start believing that they do not need sleep and will stay awake for more than 20 hours, this makes the disorder worse [ (AstraZeneca, 2009) ]. Using psychoactive drugs for any type of mental disorder relies on the symptoms to be relieved by the prescription. In the case of bipolar disorder, these drugs are recommended as a primary method of treatment (AstraZeneca, 2009). Although not a permanent cure, the person will receive enough relief to help them operate throughout the day. In these cases, the medication provides temporary relief but the patient is asked to seek further help, such as a counselor, to find a more permanent fix (Bipolar Disorder, 2009).
This drugs effects are similar to but more rapid than those of amphetamines. Additionally the effects of cocaine are short-lived, which may help explain why this drug is especially addictive both psychologically and physiologically. Dopamine transporters are responsible for removing dopamine molecules from the synaptic cleft after they have done their job. Cocaine blocks thee transporters, leaving dopamine trapped in the synaptic cleft. As a result, dopamine binds again and again to the receptors overstimulation the cell.
They don’t eat right which may lead to Alzheimer’s down the road. They may drink heavily which doesn’t help brain cells. Kotler says smoking may help them stay focused. “The Perils of Higher Education” article states that college students choose poor habits which may cause difficulty to retain information by the habits students chose. One survey done on undergraduates and medical students at Stanford University finds that 80 percent of qualified students were sleep deprived.
Cocaine is another stimulant that often leads to dependence in users. It is derived from coca leaves, and was once a socially acceptable drug. Coca Cola used cocaine along with caffeine and sugar to produce one of western society’s most popular beverages (Rathus 113). Nicotine is yet another frequently abused stimulant prevalent in our time. Smoking is the primary causal factor for at least 30% of all cancer deaths, for nearly 80% of deaths from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and for early cardiovascular disease and deaths (Adhikari B., PhD, J Kahende, PhD, A Malarcher, PhD, T Pechacek, PhD, V Tong 1).
The Effects of Sleep and Caffeine on Performance and Mood The study was done to see if performance and mood could be affected in healthy young adults by their daily caffeine intake and sleeping habits. The researchers compared participants who took placebo pills with those who took caffeine pills to see if they could find differences in their EEG. The researchers’ main goal was to examine the net effects of caffeine when participants were well rested and when they were sleep restricted (Michael A. Keane and Jack E. James, 2008). Researcher James (1991) says that caffeine is “the most widely consumed psychoactive substance in the world probably is probably due in part to beliefs about its ability to improve performance and mood” (as cited by Michael A. et al. 2008).
The symptoms of narcotic withdrawal are legendary since they can be the most dramatic of any and include vomiting, uncontrollable shaking, hot and cold flashes and diarrhea. When taken in large doses, like those contained in OxyContin, opiates can cause severe respiratory depression that can lead to death. The latest report from, the Drug Enforcement Agency states that OxyContin tablets "have played a role in over 282 deaths since the beginning of 2002". OxyContin is at the forefront of America's addiction problem and cases like radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh's addiction has forced Perdue Pharma into the limelight. Purdue Pharma funded a recent study in the Journal of Analytical Toxicology that examined 1,243 deaths from Aug. 27, 1999, through Jan. 17, 2002, in which medical examiners determined oxycodone, the narcotic in OxyContin, was involved.
This increases the heart rate of the individual, which leads to the release of dopamine, associated with pleasure. Acetylcholine receptors in the brain adapt to what they regard as normal levels of the hormones released, making smoking a necessity to maintain the new ‘normal’ level of pleasure. This is why smoking becomes a ‘necessary’ habit to maintain, as stopping can cause withdrawal symptoms such as irritable behaviour, sadness, anger, stress, fidgeting and depression. Smoking is considered as ‘addictive’