Stimulants are substances that
increase the levels of psychological activity and or nervousness in the body
and brain. Stimulants affect the body in many different ways, when taken, stimulants
can cause increase in blood pressure, heart rate and respiration's. Stimulants
can also cause upset stomach, sweating and muscle cramps. When discontinued
promptly a person becomes at risk for withdrawal. Some of the common withdrawal
symptoms include extreme fatigue, depression, dizziness, tremors, chest pain,
headaches and even hot flashes (Stimulant Drug Types, Effects and
Addiction Signs, 2019).
Stimulants
can be both legal and illegal. Legal stimulants are prescribed and include amphetamines,
ephedrine, caffeine and nicotine Common names of prescription stimulants that are
commonly prescribed and recognized include Ritalin, Adderall, Concerta, Dexedrine
and Vyvanse. These types of prescriptions are prescribed to treat an array of
conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ADHD, ADD, mild depression
and narcolepsy (Stimulant Drug Types, Effects and Addiction Signs,
2019).
These medications can be very habit forming and lead to addiction if used inappropriately
for long periods of time.
Common forms of Stimulant drugs (Stimulants Drugs Market, 2019).
Illegal stimulants, also known as street
drugs include methamphetamines (meth), crack and cocaine. Cocaine is highly
addictive and among one of the most well-known and most used of the illegal stimulants.
Cocaine comes from the coca plant and comes in two forms, white powder which is
usually inhaled through the nasal cavity or in crystal form (crack) in which it
is smoked. Some of the common signs of cocaine use are dilated pupils, weight
loss, runny nose, nosebleeds and excitability (Stimulant
Drug Types, Effects and Addiction Signs, 2019). Methamphetamine “Meth”
is also a very highly addictive stimulant. Like cocaine, meth comes in powder
and crystal form but is used more ways such as injecting intravenously, smoking
and inhaling. Meth can cause severe itching, dry mouth causing dental problems,
cognitive issues and fainting due to high body temps (Stimulant Drug Types, Effects and Addiction Signs, 2019).
Illegal Stimulant Drugs (Stimulant Drug Types, Effects and Addiction Signs,
2019)
The history of stimulant use began in South
America where coca
chewing was common and then became popular after a medical publication in 1884.
Shortly after that cocaine which is derived from the coca plant was incorporated
into medicines and beverages such as Coca-Cola. In 1914 the Harrison Act banned
over the counter cocaine use. In the 1930’s amphetamines were discovered for
clinical uses and still remains popular today. Methamphetamines became popular
in the 1960’s. Because of the high amounts of abuse, the Controlled Substances
Act of 1971 was created which drove down the popularity of stimulants. Stimulants
resurged in the 1990’s where methamphetamine commonly was produced from home “meth
labs”. (Daniel Ciccarone, 2011). Today prescription
stimulants are commonly recommended to treat children, adolescents, college
students and adults for ADHD, a
recent meta-analysis and systematic review have substantiated the availability,
use, and misuse of prescription stimulants has risen sharply among college
students without the disorder” (Lisa Weyandt, 2016). College students
often use the medications for cognitive and academic enhancement. They also are
used for recreational reasons and weight loss.
References
Daniel Ciccarone, M. M. (2011). Stimulants Abuse:
Pharmacology, Cocaine, Methamphetamine, Treatment, Attempts at Pharmacotherapy.
Retrieved from US National Library of Medicine:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3056348/
Lisa Weyandt, P. N. (2016). Prescription Stimulant
Medication Misuse. Retrieved from US National Library of Medicine:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5113141/
Stimulant Drug Types, Effects and Addiction Signs. (2019). Retrieved from American Addiction Centers:
https://americanaddictioncenters.org/stimulant-drugs
Stimulants Drugs Market.
(2019). Retrieved from Worldwide Public Relations: https://www.openpr.com/news/1526547/rapid-growth-of-stimulants-drugs-market-top-leading-key-company-s-neos-therapeutics-amedra-pharms-novartis-janssen-noven-therapeutics-tocris-teva-global-forecast-to-2024.html
Sara, great blog! I really like the layout and graphics. It is also very well written. I was aware of some of the side effects of stimulants, but did not know that they produce fainting due to high body temperatures. I know that the most telltale sign of cocaine use is the nosebleed. People are generally said to have hyper excitability when on cocaine and ironically, Adderall is used for ADHD to calm people down, yet it is used to keep people awake for hours on end, often college students studying for exams (Brande, 2018). I found additional physical side effects include cardiovascular disease, heart rhythm disturbances, gastrointestinal problems, cerebral hemorrhage, seizure, HIV, hepatitis, and stroke (Brande, 2018). One of the more serious psychological side effects of stimulant abuse is suicidal ideation (Brande, 2018). I know people have used Adderall for weight loss as there are very few medically effective supplements available over the counter for weight reduction, forcing people to seek medical treatment, which is often denied unless the patient is significantly overweight. I know that Ritalin when prescribed for young people helps them stay focused yet has the opposite reaction in older adults. Great link to the article on cocaine. I had always heard that cocaine was for people with money, and crack was for those who don’t. Really enjoyed reading your blog.
ReplyDeleteBrande, L. (2018). Stimulant drug abuse. Drug Abuse. Retrieved from https://drugabuse.com/stimulants/
Melanie: Thank you for sharing some great information in your blog, Sara. At the peak of my drinking career I began taking medically prescribed stimulants, which only served to help me function more effectively with alcohol in my system, which then served to up my tolerance level. A rather lethal combination of substances, especially when it comes to detoxing. In hindsight and through much healing I realize now that I used alcohol to relax my nervous system, which is/was overstimulated due to trauma. I was already a functional alcoholic, going to school part time and working full time; the stimulants provided me with the ability to maintain my alertness as the alcohol depressed or numbed my nervous system. When I first started taking online classes my system was clean as a whistle prior to introducing caffeine so it gave me the opportunity to observe myself as I introduced the stimulant to my system and I can say that I am less of a feeling, human being when I'm caffeinated. What I've discovered is that the overstimulation puts my nervous system into survival or fight or flight. So essentially, whether it's a depressant or a stimulant, these substances serve to numb the usual feeling and emotional faculties of the nervous system. This is an interesting thing to take into consideration when we look at addiction in terms of emotional isolation; this occurs in the nervous system, which is why people experience isolation even within physical proximity. The addiction is the surrogate to the sense of bonding and connection that is missing, which then further exasperates the sense of isolation. It really is a vicious cycle that begins with attachment trauma.
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