Drug Abuse is a widespread problem that makes individual drug users the prime victims. But drugs also affect all of us, wherever we live and whatever we do. Drug abuse can cause serious physical and mental deterioration. The problem can tear apart the family structure and make it hard for learning.
Difficulties on the job due to drug abuse make it hard for employers to run their businesses. Stealing form employers or from individuals to get money from for drugs causes pain and economic loss to the victims. Arrests and jailing of drug users and dealers puts a strain on law enforcement officials and the criminal justice systems; the cost to taxpayers is enormous. The millions of dollars spent on illegal drugs in America encourage criminal activity and ribs the government of tax revenues.
For all these reasons and many more the subject of drug about is extremely important. As a way of considering this vast subject, experts have classified the drugs according to their primary effects on the bay. Thus, the eight basic drugs classifications are: antidepressants, anti-anxiety tranquilizers, anti-psychotic tranquilizer, cannabis, hallucinogens, narcotics, sedative/hypnotics, and stimulants. Antidepressant drugs are substances that improve a persons mood and are commonly used in the treatment of depression. Depression is a psychiatric problem that is characterized by a loss of interest in the most aspects of life, a slowing-down of activity, a feeling of worthlessness, and sometimes-suicidal thoughts. When used for non-medical purposes, antidepressant drugs have little impact on mood and do not give immediate sensations of pleasure.
Nevertheless, they have been found to increase the effect of other drugs tat depress the central nervous system, including alcohol, antihistamines, barbiturates narcotics, sedatives, and tranquilizers. Two of the main types of antidepressants are Elavil and tofranil. Anti-anxiety tranquilizers are drugs that have a calming effect on the central nervous system, relieve anxiety and tension, and sometimes relax the skeletal muscles. The drugs have been shown to have undesirable side effects and to be habit-forming tranquilizers are especially dangerous as then intensify the effects of other depressants; tranquilizers can cause coma and even death.
Librium and Valium are two examples of anti-anxiety tranquilizers that produce effects like alcohol barbiturates are often abused. Anti-psychotic tranquilizers are a major classification of drugs commonly used to treat serious psychiatric problems. The drugs, such as Thorazine, are rarely used non-medically, because that does not produce euphoric effects. Still, the drugs are sometimes preferred to barbiturates as calming agents because they do not cause physical dependence and even in large doses do not result in coma.
Cannabis is a general word used to refer to preparation such as hashish, hash oil, and marijuana that are consumed for their intoxicating effects. The intensity of the reactions depends on such factors as the potency of the drugs, the mood and expectation of the user, and the environment in which the drug is taken. Cannabis is classified in a category of its own, though their effects are similar to those of the depressants, stimulant, and hallucinogens. Hallucinogens are a group of natural and man-made drugs whose primarys effect is to distort the senses. The main result in hallucinations (experiences that have nothing to do with reality. ) Included in the classification are LSD, MDA, and PCP.
Although other drugs, such as alcohol or cannabis, may produce hallucinogens because this is not the usual effect that is expected and experienced. Narcotics generally refers to any substance that dills a persons sense. Drugs in the class are capable to narcosis of producing a sense of well being in small doses and lethargy, drowsiness or coma when taken in large amounts. This classification includes opium, morphine, and heroin. Since the early 20th century, the tem came to mean any disapproved, illicit drugs, or a drug that produced sleep or hallucination ad appeared addicting or harmful.
Sedative/Hypnotics are a class of drug that cause relaxation, calmness and sedation in low doses and sleep in higher doses. The class includes alcohol, such as distilled liquors and wine) barbiturates, such as pentathlon sodium, nonbarbiturators, such as methaqualone (Quaalude), and stimulants, such as Benzedrine and Ritalin. Words / Pages : 732 / 24 .
