Abstract
In Understanding Addiction, we learn about the six major drug classes (Stimulants, CNS Depressants, Hallucinogens, Inhalants, Cannabinoids, and Narcotics) and what they do to the body and brain, and how history has affected drug use today. We also learned about cultural differences of drug use. To understand addiction, we need to understand how drugs work and what they do. Understanding Addiction Final Research Paper
Stimulants
In the six major drug types, stimulants are considered “uppers” as they increase your energy. Methamphetamines, cocaine, caffeine, and ecstasy are all stimulants. Stimulants destroy the transporters in the brain that recycles dopamine which then causes receptors to hide. When this happens you have a harder …show more content…
Common drugs associated with this class of drugs include mescaline, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), and phencyclidine (PCP). These drugs can be snorted, smoked or ingested. Prior to 1960, mescaline could be accessed without restrictions in which federal regulatory agencies then took …show more content…
This brought controversies of its use. In 1966, Timothy Leary created a religion to the use of LSD. Today, psychoactive drugs are used most by young adults.
Inhalants
Inhalants are most commonly used among older children and pre-teens because they are not expensive and can be found among most household products. Some of these are aerosols, gasoline, nitrous oxide, and leather cleaner. They are inhaled and give a short time high that makes you feel intoxicated. Inhalants can cause damage to the brain, liver, heart, kidney and bone marrow. There is also the risk of “Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome” which can occur in the first use or one hundredth use. Abuse of inhalants was widely publicized in the 1950s. The use may have gone down but is still a high risk to kids today.
Cannabinoids
The class of cannabinoids primarily consists of marijuana use, but synthetic cannabinoids, such as K2, Spice, and Blaze were created for similar effects. These drugs are typically smoked. The brain processes cannabinoids the same as it would anandamides, which the brain naturally produces by activating the brain’s reward
In Understanding Addiction, we learn about the six major drug classes (Stimulants, CNS Depressants, Hallucinogens, Inhalants, Cannabinoids, and Narcotics) and what they do to the body and brain, and how history has affected drug use today. We also learned about cultural differences of drug use. To understand addiction, we need to understand how drugs work and what they do. Understanding Addiction Final Research Paper
Stimulants
In the six major drug types, stimulants are considered “uppers” as they increase your energy. Methamphetamines, cocaine, caffeine, and ecstasy are all stimulants. Stimulants destroy the transporters in the brain that recycles dopamine which then causes receptors to hide. When this happens you have a harder …show more content…
Common drugs associated with this class of drugs include mescaline, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), and phencyclidine (PCP). These drugs can be snorted, smoked or ingested. Prior to 1960, mescaline could be accessed without restrictions in which federal regulatory agencies then took …show more content…
This brought controversies of its use. In 1966, Timothy Leary created a religion to the use of LSD. Today, psychoactive drugs are used most by young adults.
Inhalants
Inhalants are most commonly used among older children and pre-teens because they are not expensive and can be found among most household products. Some of these are aerosols, gasoline, nitrous oxide, and leather cleaner. They are inhaled and give a short time high that makes you feel intoxicated. Inhalants can cause damage to the brain, liver, heart, kidney and bone marrow. There is also the risk of “Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome” which can occur in the first use or one hundredth use. Abuse of inhalants was widely publicized in the 1950s. The use may have gone down but is still a high risk to kids today.
Cannabinoids
The class of cannabinoids primarily consists of marijuana use, but synthetic cannabinoids, such as K2, Spice, and Blaze were created for similar effects. These drugs are typically smoked. The brain processes cannabinoids the same as it would anandamides, which the brain naturally produces by activating the brain’s reward