According to this criterion, we can differentiate between central nervous system depressant drugs, among which we find the following: alcohol, opiates (heroin, morphine, methadone), tranquilizers and hypnotics; central nervous system stimulant drugs: amphetamines, cocaine, nicotine and caffeine; and drugs that disrupt the central nervous system, such as cannabis derivatives, synthetic narcotics and hallucinogens.
The administration of small doses of some of these substances produces, among other results, artificial sensations of calm and wellbeing, increased appetite, euphoria and talkativeness, but also tachycardia, redness of the eyes, difficulties in complex mental processes and alterations of the temporal and sensory perception. A second phase of depression and drowsiness usually follows this.
The consumption of large quantities is much more serious because it can generate confusion, lethargy, altered perception of reality and even panic symptoms, a situation that is complicated when additional alcohol is ingested, giving rise to possible symptoms of lipothymia. Below is a summary of the main characteristics of the illegal drugs most consumed among young people.
Hashish: in the medium and long term, the consumption of hashish can slow down the psychological functioning of the user, hindering functions related to learning, concentration and memory. The same can be said for the execution of complex tasks that require mental clarity and psychomotor coordination, such as driving a vehicle, making decisions or climbing stairs. Likewise, acute panic and anxiety reactions may occur, and in predisposed people, it may favor the triggering of schizophrenic-type psychiatric disorders. It has also been shown that continued intake of this substance interferes with short-term memory. This can influence students’ lower academic performance.
Cocaine: after its administration, the individual feels a fictitious state of euphoria, talkativeness, increased sensitivity, mental acceleration, hyperactivity, increased sexual desire, and decreased feeling of fatigue with a great capacity for attention and concentration. Therefore, it could be presented as something attractive if it were not for the fact that all this is accompanied by other desirable consequences: pupillary dilation, severe headaches, insomnia, digestive disorders such as loss of appetite and nausea, possible seizures, hallucinations, delirium, tachycardia and increase of blood pressure, even coma. The use of cocaine can cause significant psychological disorders such as paranoid ideas and depression. Furthermore, the psychological dependence it generates is one of the most intense among those caused by drugs. On an organic level, both due to its cerebral activity and its usual route of administration, its use is capable of causing a perforation of the nasal septum, respiratory pathology, risks of heart attacks, cerebral accidents, as well as ischemic heart disease.
Inhalants: initially, they can cause euphoria and joy, occasional hallucinations and behavioral disorders (aggression). Subsequently, depression appears, and it is possible to achieve severe intoxication similar to alcohol intoxication and even loss of consciousness. They are joined by symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, cough and tearing.
Aspiration of highly concentrated quantities of chemical substances containing solvents or aerosols sometimes generates liver and kidney damage and is usually a direct cause of heart failure, asphyxiation and death. Among the irreversible effects are hearing loss, limb spasms, brain and bone marrow lesions.
Synthetic hallucinogens: Among synthetic hallucinogens, the best known is lysergic acid. It causes a notable sensory alteration, accompanied by difficulties in concentration, thought control and the ability to remember. Likewise, it produces a modification of the notion of time and space, reduces muscular coordination and provokes hallucinations that can range from a pleasant scenario to an unreal world that is terrifying. An increase in temperature, tachycardia, vertigo, nausea and pupillary dilation accompanies its administration. In addition, it produces important psychological disorders such as depression, anxiety and psychosis.
Another associated risk is the hallucinations experienced. Thus, there are known cases of death in which the victim under the influence of drugs jumped from a building, arguing “that she could fly” or stood on the railway track because she “felt capable of stopping the train.”
Amphetamines: Amphetamines are substances produced synthetically in laboratories. Their action varies considerably depending on individuals, environments and circumstances. The most common immediate effects are characterized by an unreal state of euphoria that manifests itself with nervous excitement, insomnia, talkativeness, increased levels of confidence and satisfaction, agitation (sometimes aggressiveness), hyperactivity, increased wakefulness and decreased sleep, fatigue, and thinking speed.
From a physical point of view, they can cause thirst, sweating, tachycardia, increased blood pressure, nausea, discomfort, headache, dizziness, and even visual and auditory hallucinations. When its effects end, the individual falls into a state of lethargy to which, sometimes, situations of hypotension and psychological depression can be added. And especially worrying are overdoses that increase body temperature and cause restlessness, irritability, alterations, seizures and even death.