Alcohol may be presumed a safe form of intoxication based on its legal status. However, alcohol is the third leading cause of preventable death in the United States. An estimated 88,000 men and women due from alcohol-related causes each year. Alcohol lowers inhibitions and cognitive functions, making intoxicated people more likely to engage in reckless…
Anabolic steroids are drugs or hormonal substances similar in composition to testosterone. They are used as a means of promoting muscle growth and increased athletic performance. Injection is the usual route of administration of anabolic steroids, either intravenously or intramuscularly, but there are also pills for oral administration of the drug. Steroids my increase muscle…
Dextromethorphan (DXM) is a synthetic drug used as a cough suppressant in many over-the-counter medications. When used at recommended dosage levels, DXM has few adverse effects. DXM is subject to abuse, however, and causes a variety of severe side effects at higher doses. DXM abuse carries a high risk of potential health consequences to both…
Methadone is a synthetic and long-acting narcotic analgesic often used to treat opioid addiction. Although methadone is an opioid, the mild and gradual onset is supposed to prevent users from experiencing euphoric effects and deter a user from using illicit opioids such as heroin. However, methadone is often abused and prolonged methadone use has been…
Crack is a freebase form of cocaine that is smoked. Smoking crack provides a brief but intense high because it reaches the brain more quickly than insufflating powder cocaine. Crack is a highly addictive drug that can lead to devastating physical and mental health consequences. Crack, the freebase form of cocaine, creates an increased risk…
Benzodiazepines are a class of psychoactive drugs with anxiolytic, sedative, hypnotic, anticonvulsant, and muscle relaxing effects. They are often prescribed because of their ability to provide immediate relief from anxiety and panic attacks. Benzodiazepines work by triggering tranquilizing chemicals, such as GABA, in the brain, which can be extremely helpful in preventing panic attacks, prolonged…
Cocaine is a highly addictive stimulant that causes on to feel euphoric, energized, talkative, and mentally alert. The drug acts directly on the brain’s reward path, causing surges of dopamine responsible for the euphoric and pleasurable effects. The effects of cocaine are not without consequence. The brain changes caused by cocaine use quickly lead to…
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States, according to the Center for Disease Control. Heart disease causes one in every four deaths in the United States—about 610,000 people every year. Excessive alcohol use is recognized by the CDC as a major risk factor in the…
Alcoholism is a progressive and fatal disease. Without recovery, an individual’s alcoholism will inevitably worsen and they will face a slew of neurological consequences. The legal status of alcohol may influence some people to think of it as a “safe” form of intoxication, but alcohol abuse and addiction carry devastating neurological symptoms. Alcohol may take…
Stimulants, like amphetamine and methamphetamine, are often used for their energizing effects. Students, in particular, often abuse stimulants as study aid, but there are growing rates of stimulant abuse among the general population. No amount of stimulant use is safe—there is always some risk when taking the drug. When an individual begins abusing the drugs,…