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Drugs are simply chemicals that can affect the way your body works. There are many different types of drugs and they can be put into two main categories:
Medicines – Used to help people suffering from pain or disease
Recreational drugs – taken for pleasure
Medicines
Medicines contain drugs that help the body when it is not working correctly. Drugs such as antibiotics fight microorganisms which can interfere with the chemical reactions in the body.
Medicines can be further divided into over-the-counter drugs and prescription drugs:
Over-the-counter drugs include paracetamol and aspirin and can be easily bought in pharmacies and supermarkets.
Prescription drugs, such as Glucophage (a diabetes drug) and co-codamol (a pain relieving drug), however, are only available from pharmacies with a prescription from your GP.
Although medicines can be easily bought or prescribed by doctors, this does not mean that they are completely safe. Medicines can have many different side effects so it is important to read the information leaflet before taking any medicines.
Recreational Drugs
Some recreational drugs are legal, such as alcohol, caffeine and nicotine. However, most other recreational drugs are illegal, such as cocaine, ecstasy and heroin.
Effects of drug misuse:
All recreational drugs can be addictive
Damage to the liver is common as it is the organ which breaks down drugs in the body.
The injecting of drugs can also lead to various diseases such as HIV and hepatitis, caught through the use of contaminated needles.
Recreational drugs fall under two categories: depressants or stimulants, each having a different effect on the body.
Depressants
Depressants are drugs that slow down messages to the brain and nerves. Examples of depressants are alcohol, cannabis, solvents (such as aerosols and glue) and heroin.
The typical effects of depressants on the body are:
Slowed brain functions such as thinking and muscle movement
Blurred vision or hallucinations
Slowed pulse and lowered blood pressure
Impaired judgement and coordination
These effects usually wear off - however, there are some long-term effects of the use of depressants:
Solvent abuse causes a rash around the nose and mouth
Cannabis causes loss of memory and concentration, as well as an increased risk of mental illness.
Alcohol can lead to weight gain
Stimulants
Stimulants do the opposite of depressants. They speed up messages to the brain and nerves and make you feel more alert. Examples of stimulants are caffeine (found in coffee, tea and fizzy drinks) which is legal. Then there's cocaine, ecstasy and amphetamines which are all illegal.
The typical effects of stimulants on the body are:
More energy and confidence (stimulants are often illegally used in sports for this reason)
Damage to the liver
Damage to the heart
Memory loss
Lack of concentration
Addiction
Addiction is a dependency on a drug leading to cravings, anxiety or panic. Addiction is a problem with all types of drugs including medicines and prescription drugs.
The development of withdrawal symptoms when the drug is not available is also an issue. Withdrawal symptoms include insomnia, weakness and nausea. For continual and high-dose users, agitation, high body temperature and hallucinations can occur. Unlike withdrawal from most drugs, withdrawal from depressants can be life-threatening.
We will now answer some questions on the effects of drugs on the human body.
