DEPRESSANTS

Alcohol

Alcohol Addiction Short Term Effects: Impaired Judgment, coordination and vision. A delayed reaction time to outiside stimuli.

Alcohol Addiction Long Term Effects: Liver and heart disease, high blood pressure, pancreatitis and cancer. Long term abuse may also cause brain damage.

Alcohol Addiction Withdrawal: Insomnia, anxiety, seizures, hallucinations and delirium.

Bezodiazepine: Xanax, Valium, Ativan, Klonopin, sleeping pills

Benzodiazepine Addiction Short Term Effects: Produces a drowsy or calming effect. Can also cause poor concentration, muscle weakness, vertigo and mental confusion. In rare cases, may lead to increased excitement, irritability, aggression, hostility, and impulsivity may occur.

Benzodiazepine Addiction Long Term Effects: Long term use can lead to dependency. Stopping chronic use may cause withdrawal side effects, including seizures.

Benzodiazepine Addiction Withdrawal: Insomnia, anxiety, seizures and depression.

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STIMULANTS

Cocaine / Crack Cocaine

Cocaine Addiction Short Term Effects: Disturbances in heart rhythm, increased heart and respiratory rates, elevated blood pressure, dilated pupils, decreased appetite, excessive activity, talkativeness, irritability, argumentative behavior, nervousness, agitation.

Cocaine Addiction Long Term Effects: Brain cells reudce their numbers of dopamine receptors. Snorting can lead to loss of sense of smell, nosebleeds, problems swallowing and nasal cavity irritation. Ingested cocaine can cause bowel gangrene. Smoking crack cocaine can harm the lungs.

Cocaine Addiction Withdrawal: Cravings, fatigue, lack of pleasure, anxiety, irritability, sleepiness.

Methamphetamine

Meth Addiction Short Term Effects: Increased activity euphoria, decreased appetite, fever, irritability, insomnia, confusion, tremors, paranoia, aggression, increased heart rate and blood pressure, irreversible damage to blood vessels in the brain, jaw clenching, teeth grinding.

Meth Long Term Effects: Psychotic behavior, hallucinations, respiratory problems, irregular heartbeat, extreme anorexia, stroke and death.

Meth Addicton Withdrawal: Cravings, depression,anxiety, fatigue, paranoia and aggression.

Meth Addiction Withdrawal: Insomnia, anxiety, seizures, hallucinations and delirium.


Amphetamine: Adderall, Dexedrine, pep pills

Amphetamine Addiction Short Term Effects: Anxiety, euphoria, irregular heartbeat, irritability, paranoia and insomnia.

Amphetamine Addicition Long Term Effects: Increased blood pressure, mood or mental change.

Amphetamine Addiction Withdrawal: Depression,"the shakes," tiredness, unusual tiredness.

Methylphenidate: Ritalin, Vitamin R, west coast

Methylphenidate Addiction Short Term Effects: Stimulates the central nervous system, with similar effects to, but less powerfull than, amphetamines.

Methylphenidate Addiction Long Term Effects: High doses can lead to compulsive use, paranoia, irregular heartbeat and dangerously high body temperatures.

Methylphenidate Addicion Withdrawal: Withdrawal symptoms are similar to that of amphetamines.

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OPIATES

Heroin

Heroin Addiction Short Term Effects: A surge of euphoria followed by a drowsy state. Mental functioning becomes clouded due to the depression of the central nervous system.

Heroin Addiction Long Term Effects: Scarred and/or collapsed veins, bacterial infections of the blood vessels and heart valves, abscesses, liver and kidney disease, lung complications.

Heroin Addiction Withdrawal: Restlessness, muscle and bone pain, insomnia, diarrhea, vomiting, cold flashes, leg movements.

Prescription Painkillers: Oxycodone, OxyContin, Percocet, Percodan, Vicodin

Prescription Painkillers Addiction Short Term Effects: Produces effects similar to heroin. Drowsiness, constipation, nausea and depending on the amount of drug taken, respiratory depression.

Prescription Painkillers Addiction Long Term Effects: Use of prescription painkillers can lead to physical dependence and addiction.

Prescription Painkillers Addiction Withdrawal: Withdrawal symptoms are similar to that of heroin.

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HALLUCINOGENS

LSD

LSD Addiction Short Term Effects: Dilated pupils, higher body temperature, incresed heart rate and blood pressure, sweating, loss of appetite, sleeplessness, dry mouth, and tremors. The user may feel several different emotions at once or swing rapidly from one emotion to another. Depending on the dose, the drug can produce delusions and hallucinations.

LSD Addiction Long Term Effects: LSD users may experience flashbacks, which can occur suddenly and may occur within a few days or more than a year after use. LSD users may also manifest relatively long-lasting psychoses, such as schizophrenia or severe depression.

LSD Addiction Withdrawal: Not Applicable

MDMA/Ecstasy

Ecstasy Addiction Short Term Effects: Increase heart rate and blood pressure, higher body temperature, jaw/teeth clenching, muscle tension, hypertension, dehydration, chills and/or sweating, nausea, blurred vision, faintness, confusion, insomnia.

Ecstasy Addiction Long Term Effects: Depression, sleep disorders, anxiety, liver and brain damage. Ecstasy alters the function of serotonin and dopamine pathways in the brain.

Ecstasy Addiction Withdrawal: Fatigue, severe anxiety, loss of appetite, difficulty concentrating and depression


Ketamine Hydrochloride

Ketamine Addiction Short Term Effects: Increase heart rate and blood pressure, impaired motor functioning, numbness, nausea and vomiting. At high doses ketamine can cause delerium and respiratory depression and arrest.

Ketamine Addiction Long Term Effects: Depression and memory loss

Ketamine Addiction Withdrawal: Not Applicable


Phencyclidine

Phencyclidine Addiction Short Term Effects: Increase heart rate and blood pressure, nausea, blurred vision dizziness and decreased awareness of pain. Muscle contractions may cause uncoordinated movements. Some users report hallucinations, panic and violent behavior.

Phencyclidine Addiction Long Term Effects: Users of PCP (Phencyclidine) can become violent or suicidal and can become a danger to themselves and others

Phencyclidine Addiction Withdrawal: Not Applicable


Cannabis (Marijuana)

Marijuana Addiction Short Term Effects: Memory and learning problems, distorted perception, increased heart rate, anxiety.

Marijuana Addiction Long Term Effects: Increased risk of chronic cough, bronchitis, emphysema and cancer of the head, neck and lungs.

Marijuana Addiction Withdrawal: Cravings, irritability, insomnia and anxiety

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INHALANTS

Aerosol cans, plastic cement, nail polish remover, lighter fluid, insecticide, cleaning solvent, laughing gas

Inhalants Addiction Short Term Effects: Rapid high similar to alcohol intoxication. Slurred spech, headache, drowsiness, unconsciousness, numbness and tingling of hands and feet, loss of muscle contorl, decrease or loss of sense of smell, nosebleeds, nausea, and irregular heartbeat.

Inhalants Addiction Long Term Effects: Cognitive abnormalities ranging from mild impairment to severe dementia. Difficulty coordinating movement, limb spasms, loss of feeling, hearing and vision. Chronic exposure can produce significant damage to the brain, heat, lung, live and kidneys.

Inhalants Addiction Withdrawal: Mild withdrawal symptoms may occur.