Top 10 Illegal Drugs
Learn more about the top 10 illegal drugs affecting our society and families everywhere
Drug addiction is, plain a simple, a brain illness. It’s an uncontrollable disease that makes you seek the substance compulsively. And, while it’s true that many start voluntarily, these top 10 illegal drugs can actually change your brain’s chemistry, making it almost impossible to resist.
The most commonly used illegal drugs in the United States have caused an epidemic in the last few decades, prompting the development of legislation and rehabilitation programs to try to tackle the disease. Unfortunately, the rates truly are worrisome, and there hasn’t been a way to actually stop addiction.
Knowing which ones are the most abused illegal drugs and their effects can be part of a good prevention plan, as is being able to have an open dialogue with our children, teenagers and even our peers to provide support and guidance, when necessary.
In order to be able to have a proper and informed conversation about these illegal drugs and their effects, lets look at the top 10 illegal drugs that are currently affecting our society with tremendous force:
- Crack Cocaine
- Heroin
- Metamphetamine
- Bath Salts
- Cocaine
- Amphetamines
- Methadone
- Benzodiazepines
- Ecstasy
- Marijuana
These top 10 illegal drugs, have landed on this list because of dangerous effects they produce when consumed. Also, despite their illegality, these are the ones more commonly produced and sold throughout the country.
The effects produced by the most commonly used illegal drugs are many and, in many cases, they can cause irreparable damage. If an addiction to any of these substances is not treated immediately and addressed appropriately, it can be lethal for the abuser.
To understand the danger surrounding them, one only has to look at the illegal drugs and their effects, which can be perceived after a single dose of any of them.
- Crack cocaine: severe stress on the heart, the lungs and the brain. Produces blood vessels rupture, hardening of the arteries and leads to stroke and heart failure.
- Heroin: collapsed veins, infection of the heart valves, liver and kidney damage, bone pain, higher risk of contracting Hepatitis and HIV.
- Metamphetamine: severe anxiety, confusion, weight loss, tooth decay, paranoia, hallucinations, violent and erratic behavior.
- Bath Salts: agitation, hallucinations, violent behavior, breakdown of skeletal muscle tissue, kidney and liver damage.
- Cocaine: nasal damage, loss of sense of smell, infection and death of bowel tissue, paranoia, psychosis, heart attack, stroke, seizure, coma.
- Amphetamines: panic attack, psychosis, convulsions, anxiety, changes in weight, headaches.
- Methadone: slow or stop breathing, nausea and vomiting, itchiness, severe sweating, stroke, coma.
- Benzodiazepines: impaired cognition, impaired motor function, tremors, nausea, lethargy, depression, sleeplessness, memory problems.
- Ecstasy: confusion, depression, memory loss, anxiety, agitation, severe rise in body temperature, heart failure, heat stroke.
- Marijuana: increased heart rate, hallucinations, memory problems, chronic cough, panic attacks, psychosis.
When one suffers from an addiction to any of these most commonly used illegal drugs, a thorough detoxification process and rehabilitation treatment is necessary to be able to overcome the abuse problem and recover.
If you or a loved one needs help with abuse and/or treatment, please call the WhiteSands Treatment at (877) 855-3470. Our addiction specialists can assess your recovery needs and help you get the addiction treatment that provides the best chance for your long-term recovery.
About the Author
Mark is a proud alumni member of WhiteSands Treatment. After living a life of chaos, destruction and constant let downs, Mark was able to make a complete turnaround that sparked a new way of life. He is serious about his recovery along with helping others. At WhiteSands Treatment, we offer support to you in your homes or when you are out living in your daily lives.