Alcohol

Alcohol is a liquid depressant found in beer, wine, and liquor. Alcohol is absorbed by the stomach and immediately enters the bloodstream. The most common side effect is the loss of inhibitions, allowing the drinker to "relax" and feel "comfortable" in social situations. When too much alcohol is consumed, the user experiences dizziness, slurred speech, nausea, vomiting, and most dangerously it impairs judgment and coordination. Alcohol is related to many traffic fatalities, as many users do not realize the extent of their impairment when operating a motor vehicle.

Frequent use of alcohol over a long period of time can lead to addiction characterized by extreme cravings. When alcohol use is suddenly stopped, withdrawal symptoms can include anxiety, tremors, hallucinations, and convulsions. Long-term alcohol use can severely damage to the brain and liver. When a pregnant mother consumes alcohol,  the unborn child is at risk of fetal alcohol syndrome. The child may suffer from mental retardation and physical abnormalities.

Crystal Meth

Crystal Methamphetamine is easily manufactured in unsafe homemade labs. It is a seriously addictive substance and has become a growing epidemic. A study published by the National Association of Counties reports "Meth" users as typically 20 to 30 years old, ranging from college students to blue-collar workers. It affects men and women equally. Crystal Meth is now reported as the number one drug problem in many counties across the nation. In addition, it has become a growing problem in gay communities nationwide and is being linked to a recent rise in HIV infection rates.

Methamphetamine is a powerful stimulant affecting the central nervous system. The user experiences increased wakefulness, an increase in physical activity, a loss of appetite, and a feeling of euphoria. It can be Snorted, injected, smoked or taken orally. Methamphetamine is known by many street names, including meth, ice, chalk, crystal, tina, crank, and glass.

Long-term side effects of use include behavioral changes, insomnia, and paranoia. Convulsions and death are possible. The drug can permanently destroy many of the brain's neurotransmitters, resulting in "holes" in the brain.

Methamphetamine use is increasing drastically. Arrests for use or production in so called "meth labs" have greatly risen. In response, the 12-step group Crystal Meth Anonymous has spread throughout the United States, Canada, and New Zealand.

Marijuana

The marijuana smoked in the United States consists of the flower, dried top level of the flower and dried top leaves of the plant cannabis sativa. Unlike alcohol, a relatively simple chemical, marijuana contains over 400 chemicals, 60 of which are unique to the marijuana plant. Marijuana, when lit, emits an additional 1,600 chemicals. As the pot smoker inhales, these chemicals invade every cell of the user's body. The ingredient that creates the "high" is Delta-9-THC, commonly referred to as THC. Like alcohol, marijuana is a central nervous system depressant. Pot, like most other drugs, wears down the motivation of users, eroding the will to perform. Ambition is lost. The chronic marijuana user no longer cares about success and achievement. In addition to the unknown short- and long -term dangers of so many chemicals entering the user's body, THC is particularly harmful because it is soluble in fat not in water. Since our body gets rid of its waste through a water system using urine, feces, sweat and blood, THC cannot escape. It stays trapped in the body. Thus THC finds its resting place in fatty parts of the body. The most sensitive and critical of these are: the brain, the lungs, the liver and the reproductive system.

Cocaine and Crack

Cocaine is a powerful central nervous system stimulant, creating a quick, intense euphoria, accompanied by a decrease in hunger, indifference to pain and fatigue, and illusions of great physical strength and mental capacity. Crack is an extremely addictive form of cocaine that is smoked. Cocaine causes dramatic changes in the way brain cells operate. As a powerful stimulant, it causes the activity of the brain to speed up. The result can make the brain inoperative, unable to send its life supporting messages to the heart and lungs. A violent seizure and death will follow. Cocaine can also kill through heart attacks brought on by added heart strain. Cocaine constricts the user’s blood vessels placing a tremendous stress on the heart and circulatory system. Death can also occur by severe irregular heartbeat, a stroke or a brain seizure. Cocaine is a cause mental depression and other psychological problems including:

• Anxiety Attacks
• Intense Irritability
• Acute Paranoia
• Violent Behavior
• Suicide

Other deaths are caused by suffocation brought on by an unnaturally deep sleep or unconsciousness resulting from a cocaine binge. The anesthetized tissues in the back of the throat may block breathing. Cocaine is often mixed with other drugs, particularly alcohol, which increases the user's risks dramatically.

Opiates - Painkillers

Opiates come from the juice in the unripe seedpods of the opium poppy. These drugs are used medically to relieve pain, coughing and diarrhea. They also offer an intense euphoric effect for people seeking a high. Opiates give a brief dream-like sense of well-being and relaxation. Their use results, very quickly, in addiction. Heroin accounts for a large percentage of opiate abuse. However, medicines such as morphine, meperidine, and cough medicines with codeine are also abused and can lead to addiction. Side effects of opiates include drowsiness, dizziness, constipation, euphoria, mood swings and mental confusion. Over time, opiate users may develop infections of the heart lining and valves, skin abscesses and congested lungs.

Inhalants

Inhalants are breathable chemicals that produce mind-altering vapors. They include amyl and butyl nitrate, solvents found in glue, lighter fluid and aerosol products. They produce effects similar to anesthetics. High doses can cause unconsciousness. Inhalants can cause nausea, lack of coordination, loss of appetite, decreased heart and breathing rate, and tiredness. Loss of self-control, violent behavior, losing touch with one's surroundings and unconsciousness can result from deep breathing of vapors or heavy use over a short period. Death is not unusual. This can be caused by suffocation, depressed central nervous system response or aspiration from vomiting. Long-term use can result in weight loss, nervous system damage, liver, kidney, and blood and bone damage.

Hallucinogens

Hallucinogens, or psychedelics affect a person's perceptions, sensations, thinking and emotions. They include drugs such as LSD, mescaline, DMT and peyote. They are abused in many ways from tablets to smoking to eating mushrooms. They cause intense physical and psychological effects on the body and mind. Heavy users develop brain damage such as impaired memory, short attention span and confusion. Other effects include increased heart rate and blood pressure, sweating, tremors and sleeplessness. Bad trips may result in panic, confusion, suspiciousness, and feelings of helplessness and loss of control. Flashbacks of experiencing the effects without taking the drug can occur. Mood swings and sense of time and self can change causing panic. Mental or emotional problems that were not apparent can be unmasked with use.

Prescription Drugs

Prescription drugs cause a special danger to chemically dependent people. Often the abused drugs are taken initially for legitimate medical reasons: for example, to assist in reducing pain from chronic illness such as arthritis or headaches. Dependence on prescription drugs can occur over a few weeks or several years. Denial, because of the nature of the initial use, can be very high. When the patient attempts to stop using the prescription drug, the initial problem appears to re-emerge and new problems are often added. The addictive cycle has begun.