Drug addiction: types, symptoms, consequences

Addiction to drugs of natural or synthetic origin occurs quickly, sometimes with the first dose. Why? Drugs have a special effect on the brain and psyche. Let's look at the types of drug addiction and how they affect a person, as well as how to help drug addicts.

Opiate addiction

Opiates derived from plants have a particular effect on humans: heroin, codeine and morphine. Strong physical dependence occurs after the first dose. The substance changes human consciousness in such a way that it feels strong euphoria and ceases to feel fear. Over time, physical, mental and emotional health deteriorates significantly and is often fatal.

Cocaine addiction

Cocaine is considered an expensive drug, but its crystal form, crack, is cheaper and therefore available to more people. Cocaine stimulates the psyche so much that a person stops sleeping. It greatly wears down the body. When the effects of cocaine wear off, a person feels severe apathy, depression, and obsessive suicidal thoughts.

Hashish addiction

Smoking or otherwise using marijuana or hashish is almost as common in the world as smoking or alcoholism. This drug does not do much harm to the human body, but it does affect the psyche and is addictive. Often those who use marijuana switch to heavier drugs.

Toxicomania

This is an addiction to substances that are inhaled - poisonous fumes of gasoline, glue, paint, solvent.They not only affect the psyche. Poisons enter the body through the lungs, poisoning it.

Addiction to medicines

The use of synthetic substances: barbiturates, depressants and inhibitors of the nervous system, sedatives and painkillers. The person stops controlling himself completely, can harm himself and others physically. An overdose often results in death.

How drug addiction occurs and manifests itself

Drugs have such an effect on a person's life and body:

• The excitement of taking drugs engulfs the entire brain. Once their effects wear off, there is an uncontrollable desire to find the drug at any cost. This is why drug addicts may resort to robbery or even murder to get a new dose. They are not deterred by love for their families, fear of losing their jobs and possessions.
• Narcotic substances disrupt the function of neurotransmitters that affect emotions, willpower, feelings and all kinds of brain activity. When a person gets a dose, temporarily the neurotransmitters work better. When the drug is withdrawn from the body, the damage to the neurotransmitters is even worse. This is how brain cells are destroyed with each use.
• The addict has enlarged pupils from the fact that the nervous system is constantly in an excited state.
• The person loses interest in daily activities, hobbies and people around him. He becomes secretive, irritable, avoids communication with his family, ceases to follow his appearance.

Over time, the effect of drugs weakens, for euphoria requires a larger dose or stronger substances. It is extremely difficult to get rid of drug addiction. When the body is cleansed of poisons and toxins, drug withdrawal occurs. The condition resembles a cold - fever, runny nose, cough, aching bones, aching muscles. It is much harder to get rid of mental cravings for drugs, it can take years of painful struggle, and not everyone manages to win it.