COMMON DRUGS OF ABUSE

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Marijuana is the most often used illegal drug in this country, which is why it's part of the 10 panel drug screen. The main active chemical in marijuana is THC. THC affects the brain the most, out of the roughly 400 chemicals found in the cannabis plant, with the highest concentrations found in the leaves and flowers. When someone smokes marijuana, THC rapidly passes from the lungs into the bloodstream and is carried to the brain and other organs. THC from the marijuana acts on specific receptors in the brain, ultimately leading to the high that users experience. While marijuana is still illegal under U.S. federal law, many states have legalized it for medicinal and sometimes even recreational use.

Methamphetamines, an addictive stimulant drug, belong to the category of synthetic psychoactive substances with amphetamine-like and hallucinogenic properties. While chemically related to amphetamine, methamphetamine has more pronounced effects on the central nervous system. Illegally manufactured in laboratories, it poses a high risk of abuse and dependence.

This drug can be taken orally, injected, or inhaled, with users reporting heightened euphoria, increased alertness, suppressed appetite, and a perception of enhanced energy and strength. Cardiovascular responses include elevated blood pressure and cardiac arrhythmias. Intense reactions may lead to anxiety, paranoia, hallucinations, psychotic behavior, depression, and exhaustion.

Short-term effects encompass nervousness, insomnia, appetite loss, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, palpitations, headaches, changes in heart rate and blood pressure (typically increased), skin rashes, itching, abdominal pain, weight loss, digestive issues, psychotic episodes, drug dependence, and severe depression during withdrawal.

This potent central nervous system stimulant and local anesthetic are derived from the coca plant's leaves. Initially, it induces intense energy and restlessness, eventually leading to tremors, heightened sensitivity, and spasms. In larger quantities, cocaine can trigger fever, respiratory issues, and unconsciousness, making it one of the highly addictive substances. Administration methods include snorting, rubbing into the gums, or dissolving in water for injection.

The sedative and anesthetic effects of PCP are described as trance-like, leading users to feel "out of body" and disconnected from their surroundings. This substance has the potential to induce altered states of perception and emotion, and it is highly addictive.

PCP can be administered through various methods such as snorting, smoking, injection, or ingestion. Typically available as a powder or liquid, it may also be found in tablet or capsule form. When smoked, it is often combined with leafy materials like mint, parsley, oregano, tobacco, or marijuana. Depending on the amount and method of consumption, the effects of PCP can last approximately four to six hours. Common street names for PCP include angel dust, ozone, wack, and rocket fuel.

The term "opiates" encompasses drugs derived from the opium poppy, including morphine, codeine, and heroin. These substances alter the perception of pain effectively. Abuse can result in drowsiness, constipation, and, depending on the dose, depressed breathing. Ingesting a large single dose may lead to severe respiratory depression, coma, or even death. Heroin, a highly addictive drug derived from morphine, impacts the brain's pleasure systems and disrupts its ability to interpret pain.

Benzodiazepines, prescribed tranquilizers, act by slowing normal brain function and can manifest in symptoms such as slurred speech, shallow breathing, sluggishness, fatigue, disorientation, lack of coordination, and dilated pupils. Elevated doses may result in impaired memory, judgment, coordination, irritability, paranoia, and suicidal thoughts.

Combining prescription tranquilizers with other substances can further slow breathing, heart rate, and respiration, potentially leading to fatal outcomes. These medications are typically prescribed for anxiety, acute stress reactions, and panic attacks, and they can be taken orally or administered through injection.

Alcohol, widely consumed and deeply embedded in various societies and cultures globally, holds a significant influence on public health. In the United States, a higher number of individuals above the age of 12 have reported using alcohol in the past year compared to any other drug or tobacco product. Additionally, alcohol use disorder stands out as the most prevalent form of substance use disorder in the country.