Commonly abused drugs review

Heroin, cocaine, morphine, barbiturates, nicotine, tobacco

This articles offers an overview of :

different categories of drugs,
some commonly abused drugs, and
the sources and effects of these drugs.

Key terms

Term	Definition
Drug	Chemical substance that causes a change in the body when consumed
Addiction	Condition or disorder which drives compulsive, repetitive actions despite negative consequences
Substance abuse	Harmful and extensive misuse of mood-altering chemicals like drugs or alcohol
Stimulant	Substances that increase energy and performance
Depressant	Substances that relax or slow down bodily functions

Types of drugs

One way to classify drugs is based on their makeup; chemically similar substances are either synthetically manufactured, or derived from the same natural source. On the other hand, some drugs can have different structures, but similar effects on the human body.

Let's take a look at some common categories of drugs.

Category	Drug	Source
Opioid	morphine, heroin	latex of poppy plant (Papaver somniferum)
Cannabinoid	cannabis	flower tops, leaves, resin of cannabis plant (Cannabis sativa)
Stimulant	cocaine	leaves of coca plant (Erythroxylum coca)
Stimulant	nicotine	tobacco plant (Nicotiana tabacum)

Commonly abused drugs

Drug name	Taken via	Effect
Heroin, smack, diacteylmorphine	Snorting/injection	Binds opioid receptors in CNS and GIT; depressant (slows down body functions)
Cannabis, marijuana, hashish, charas, ganja	Inhalation/oral ingestion	Binds receptors in brain and affects cardiovascular system
Cocaine, coke, crack	Snorting	Stimulates CNS, interferes with dopamine transport; causes euphoria, increased energy, and hallucinations.
Nicotine	Inhalation/oral ingestion	Stimulates adrenal gland to release adrenaline and noradrenaline; raises blood pressure and heart rate.

Derivatives of Atropa belladona and Datura plants are also known to cause hallucinations.

Let's play detective.

Case 1

The drug-control burueau raids a warehouse to investigate a tip about illegal drug manufacturing on the premises. They find large quantities of plant pods containing a milky latex (see image below).

Further, they find bags of a white, crystalline substance that lab tests later confirm to be diacetylmorphine.

What drug is being manufactured in this warehouse?

Case 2

A sportsperson is investigated after failing a drug test. When questioned, she admits to occasionally using cannabinoids to relax before big tournament.

Which of the following substances would she have tested positive for?

Case 3

Authorities break up a party after receiving complaints of excessive noise. They discover a room in which some people are snorting a white powder, and note that several attendees seem abnormally energetic. A few people seemed to be hallucinating - talking to themselves or to the air.

What drug did the party goers consume?

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ThomasR
Posted a year ago. Direct link to ThomasR's post “did you guys get them all...”
did you guys get them all right
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- Archisha
  Posted 8 months ago. Direct link to Archisha's post “_Yes, I did. The article ...”
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  The article was most informative and rather interesting.
  
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Blackie Chau
Posted 3 years ago. Direct link to Blackie Chau's post “How many kinds of drugs a...”
How many kinds of drugs are there guys?
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- 🅹🅾🅷🅽🅽🆈
  Posted 2 years ago. Direct link to 🅹🅾🅷🅽🅽🆈's post “There are plenty of types...”
  There are plenty of types of drugs. Good and bad.
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