| Although drug
abuse begins with a conscious decision to experiment with
a substance, research has found that drugs interfere with
normal brain functioning and can cause long term effects on
brain metabolism and activity.
These changes in the brain often alter drug
abuse to drug addiction, an uncontrollable craving that needs
treatment to overcome.
Addiction can affect anyone and both legal
and illegal drugs can be addictive.
Drugs are often categorised by the effect
they produce as stimulants, depressants and hallucinogens:
Stimulants are drugs that increase the activity
of the central nervous system and often give feelings of greater
confidence, alertness and energy. Cocaine and Crack, Ecstasy,
Nicotine, Amphetamines, Alkyl Nitrites and Anabolic Steroids
are all stimulants.
Depressants are drugs that reduce the activity
of the central nervous system and usually cause impaired judgement,
coordination and balance. Alcohol, Solvents, Heroin, tranquillisers
and Barbiturates are depressants.
Hallucinogens alter perceptions of reality
and change the way individuals experience the world through
their senses (often causing users to see or hear things that
are not real). LSD, Cannabis, Ketamine and Magic Mushrooms
are hallucinogens.
So
what causes drug addiction? >> |
