Illicit drugs include powerfully addictive and illegal substances such as heroin and meth. The nature of these substances is vastly different from one another.
For example, marijuana’s short-term effects slow down the central nervous system and interfere with a person’s reaction time and concentration. In contrast, cocaine puts brain functioning into hyper speed, resulting in increased alertness and anxiety.
Even just a single use of some of these substances can spawn devastating patterns of abuse. Once a physical or psychological dependence is formed, using illicit drugs takes priority over everything else in a person’s life.
People looking to quit a dangerous habit of consuming illicit substances should seek professional guidance to aid in their recovery. A licensed inpatient treatment center can provide everything a person needs to achieve and maintain sobriety, from medical detox services to therapy and 12-step programs.
Learn more about illicit drug addiction.
A stimulant with effects similar to excessive amounts of caffeine, cocaine is most often snorted in powder form. This illicit drug is highly addictive and continued abuse can cause severe weight loss and damage to the nasal passages.
The more potent, freebase form of cocaine, crack cocaine is usually smoked through a short pipe that often causes blisters and burns on the mouth and hands. An addiction to crack cocaine can develop in as little as one use.
Ecstasy is often consumed by young adults attending parties or raves. It is a stimulant with potentially hallucinogenic effects. Many forms of ecstasy on the black market are cut with much more dangerous substances, such as heroin and LSD.
Hallucinogens are mind-altering, psychoactive substances with a high potential for abuse. These substances are often taken by people looking to distort their perception of reality. Hallucinogens are also sometimes used to self-medicate a mental disorder, such as depression. However, taking hallucinogens for self-medication purposes can make an underlying condition even worse.
One of the most addictive substances on earth, heroin is a synthetic derivative of morphine. Heroin comes as either a powder or a sticky gel, known as black tar heroin. Long-term abuse of heroin can cause abscesses and scabs on the skin, in addition to psychological and internal damage.