The 7 Popular Street Drugs and Their Effects
Every day, countless people throughout the country suffer from an addiction to illegal drugs. The reason behind the development of their addiction is usually different in every situation. There are some people who may have consumed a substance for the first time out of curiosity or even peer pressure. There are others who took a drug for the first time as a way to remove the physical or psychological pain that they may be feeling. Regardless of the reason behind it, addiction to street drugs is on the rise throughout the country.
Taking street drugs can have serious negative effects on your life. While there are some people who mistakenly believe that they can manage to take their substance of choice, the danger behind taking an illegal street drug is that when you purchase the drug, realistically you have no idea what you’re actually purchasing. Although the substance may look like your drug of choice, it could be something very different or it could be laced with something that could have devastating consequences on your life.
Most Common Illegal Drugs That are Addictive
The list of common illegal drugs could realistically go on and on. Here are some examples of seven common illegal street drugs that could wreak havoc on your life:
- Cocaine
- Heroin
- Marijuana
- Methamphetamine
- PCP
- Steroids
- LSD
Using any one of these can alter the way that you think and the way that you feel for a certain period of time. Most illegal substances are fast-acting which means that you feel the “high” of the drug in a short period of time. Unfortunately, this can lead to overdose because a person with an addiction tends to take a larger amount of this substance thinking that they will feel more of a high or feel high for a longer period of time.
Even taking these drugs recreationally from time to time can result in an addiction. Even sporadic use of any of these substances can ultimately lead to addiction just because of the potency of them which is why it’s strongly recommended that you never try them, even once.
Effects of Illegal Drugs
The effects of illegal drug use are something that can throw your life into turmoil. There are countless short-term and long-term side effects of taking any type of illegal substance. As a top-rated treatment facility, we have worked with clients who have struggled with any one of the following consequences:
- Issues with their immune system
- Serious stomach problems can lead to weight loss or weight gain as well as changes in appetite
- Strain on the liver can put a person at serious risk of liver failure or liver damage
- Lung disease
- Heart conditions that can lead to heart attacks or blood vessel issues
- Issues with your memory can have an impact on how well you can pay attention to things and, in turn, making day to day life more difficult
- Increased possibility of developing cancer
Your body is resilient and there is always the possibility that it may be able to heal itself in many ways once you take steps toward establishing your sobriety. However, if you have a long-standing addiction, the chance that you may be able to recover from all of the psychological and physical consequences of addiction only gets smaller.
Dangers of Abusing Illegal Drugs
There are several dangers associated with using one of the top illegal drugs that we listed above such as:
Mental health concerns
Did you know that it isn’t out of the ordinary for a person that is suffering from an addiction to also be grappling with a mental health issue? In fact, there are many people that turn to their drug of choice as a way to deal with how they are feeling psychologically. It’s important to remember that your mental health is not something that you should ever take lightly and it is never something that you should try to manage without a doctor. Keep in mind that a reputable treatment facility will also offer dual diagnosis treatment which can help to address both your addiction as well as any mental health concerns.
Negative impact on your professional life
Although your addiction may start off in a way where you feel as though you can manage it, addiction to common illegal drugs can cause you to put your job in jeopardy which can have a serious impact on your financial situation and livelihood. While you may be able to manage your work responsibilities for a period of time, this is not something that you will be able to keep up with as time goes by which could result in losing your job unless you address your addiction as soon as possible.
Physical health issues
Your body was not designed to be able to maintain the daily abuse and stress that drugs place on it. Overall, drugs can cause certain functions of your body to shut down or completely stop working altogether. This is just one of the reasons why illegal substances are illegal because they can be deadly.
What Happens if You Become Addicted to Illegal Drugs
If you believe that you or a loved one has developed an addiction to illegal drugs, there are many steps that you can take so that you can get back to a healthier place in your life. Here are some examples of what you should do:
Find and reach out to a trusted treatment facility
Once you have come to peace with the fact that you have an addiction to any substance, your next step should always be to locate and get in touch with a trusted recovery facility. An intake team will take you through the process sets you up with the best treatment plan for you. This is an excellent opportunity to ask questions and learn more about what the facility has to offer so that you feel comfortable and confident with the decision that you’ve made. A good rule of thumb is to make a list of your questions or concerns beforehand so that you ensure that you hit all of your main talking points.
Find out about detox
In the majority of cases, a person that has an addiction to common illegal drugs will need to first go through detox. Detox is the process of moving this substance from your body. Unfortunately, one of the consequences of addiction is that it’s highly probable that you will experience withdrawal symptoms during this initial week of your sobriety. Withdrawal symptoms can vary depending on your drug of choice as well as the severity of your disease. Since withdrawal symptoms are unpredictable, there is always the chance that you may find yourself in a position of being unable to care for yourself which is why you should never attempt to go through the detox process alone.
Decide if you are going to work through an inpatient or an outpatient program
One of the decisions that you will need to make before you begin treatment is whether you are going to work through an inpatient or outpatient program. We always strongly encourage our clients to seriously consider committing to an inpatient program because it will provide them with a certain level of structure and care that can help them to focus on the steps that they need to take for long-term sobriety. You will live on the campus of the facility and have the peace of mind of knowing that a member of the treatment team is available around the clock to see to any of your needs. An outpatient program, however, can be a great alternative especially if you are working or going to school. Your treatment team will help you to put together a program that still allows you to work or school while receiving the help that you need for any one of the common drug addictions.
Actively participate in therapy
Therapy is a critical aspect of your recovery plan because it will help you to address the root causes of your addiction. In many cases, the root cause of an addiction is based on experiencing some form of trauma. Taking part in different forms of therapy such as behavioral therapy, individual therapy, group therapy, and even family therapy can help you to address these traumas and come to a place in your life where they no longer trigger you which helps you to conquer your addiction once and for all.
At Pacific Manor, we pride ourselves on assisting clients in overcoming their addiction to illegal drugs that come from all walks of life. We understand the importance of providing you with a solid foundation of tools and resources so that you need to establish and maintain sobriety from top illegal drugs. If you have more information about how Pacific Manor can help you or you’re ready to commit to a treatment program, we encourage you to reach out to us today at (888) 300-4370
Read this blog to learn about the top 7 most commonly abused, illegal drugs.#illegeldrugs #drugabuse #substanceabusehttps://t.co/HBFMsMk5GV
— Pacific Manor Recovery (@PMRRecovery) October 15, 2021
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