Hall - Stimulants - Introduction

 - Stimulants -

[Image] Retrieved from https://elevaterecoveryma.com/stimulants/

Introduction:

Stimulants are psychoactive drugs which stimulate increased activity in the brain as well as the alertness in the nervous system (Elevate Recovery Center, n.d.). They can make a person feel more awake, alert, confident or energetic (ADF, 2021). Stimulants consist of a wide category of pharmacologic substances that include freely available items (such as coffee, tobacco, and sports drinks); behind the counter medication (such as pseudoephedrine); prescription medication (such as amphetamine); and clandestine-lab-synthesized drugs (such as speed, ecstasy, and cocaine) (Erikson, 2011). When used as medication, stimulants can be used to treat cognitive and physical conditions (such as fatigue with shift-work sleep disorder), to decrease appetite, to improve focus for those with ADHD, and for treating clinical depression (Erikson, 2011). However, stimulants can also induce "stimulus psychosis" with chronic and high-dose administration (Erikson, 2011). Although stimulants may be prescribed, they are prone to over-use and addiction because of their link to mood-elevation and instant energy - which is what makes them so dangerous (Elevate Recovery Center, n.d.).

Some of the most abused stimulants:

• Amphetamines - major stimulant that targets the central nervous system
• Cocaine and Crack Cocaine - one of the quickest reacting stimulants and has euphoric and addictive properties
• Adderall and Ritalin -  prescription stimulant used to slow hyperactive children down while improving their concentration (related to Amphetamines but is milder)
• Ecstasy - mostly used as a recreational drug, very rarely prescribed, causes euphoria and is known to increase the feelings of empathy and passion
  (Elevate Recovery Center, n.d.).

[Image] Retrieved from https://adf.org.au/drug-facts/stimulants/

History of Stimulants:

Scientists have discovered ephedra plants that are considered to be 60,000 years old, and the Chinese started using ephedra for medicinal reasons 5,000 years ago (Fetting, 2016). In 1930 ephedra was used for asthma. It is because of ephedra's high demand that Amphetamines were synthesized (Fetting, 2016). In the 1930s, Amphetamines were used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder and Schizophrenia (Elevate Recovery Center, n.d.). Cocaine is derived from the pulped leaf of the South American coca plant, and has been cultivated by natives of South America for thousands of years (Fetting, 2016). It was first created for therapeutic treatment for psychological disorders (Elevate Recovery Center, n.d.). Ecstasy, for its recreational use, was used by psychotherapists with the hope that it will help people open up and enhance their understanding of each another (Elevate Recovery Center, n.d.).

How Are Stimulants Used?

Illicit stimulants are typically snorted, swallowed, smoked or injected. Prescribed stimulants are usually taken orally, and how long their effects last will differ depending on the type (ADF, n.d.). Amphetamine enters the bloodstream very fast when it is injected or smoked, leading to a rapid high as well as a greater chance of toxicity (Fetting, 2016). Stimulants will affect everyone differently, based on things such as a person's size, weight and health, whether the person is used to taking it, whether other drugs have also been taken, the amount taken, and the strength of the drug (ADF, n.d.).

[Image] Retrieved from https://www.raps.org/news-and-articles/news-articles/2018/10/study-finds-stimulants-in-supplements-after-fda-ac

Psychological Effects

• Psychological - high
• Effects experienced with lower doses: euphoria, heightened feelings of wellbeing, increased heart rate and blood pressure, increased alertness, talkativeness, reduced appetite (ADF, n.d.).
• Stimulant withdrawal symptoms vary and can include: craving, irritability, agitation, aggressiveness, restlessness, insomnia, fatigue, depression, anhedonia (the inability to experience pleasure), paranoia, chills, nausea, headache, vomiting, and muscle tremors (Fetting, 2016).

Other Information About Stimulants

• Repeated use can severely damage the brain's pleasure centers (Fetting, 2016).
• A combination of a CNS stimulant and a CNS depressant has a street name of "Speedball" (Fetting, 2016).
• In addition to Cocaine's stimulant properties, it is an eye anesthetic (Erikson, 2011).
• No stimulants scientifically improve the performance of depressant-intoxicated people (Erikson, 2011).
• According to Schuckit, 2010 (as cited by Fetting, 2016), an estimated 60%-80% of amphetamine and cocaine users also drink alcohol.
• Chronic alcoholics may have less ability to metabolize stimulants (Erikson, 2011).
• Chronic alcoholics may have a greater health risk with their combined use because of their increased blood pressure and nervousness (Erikson, 2011).
• When taken in large amounts, stimulants increase psychopathology in the form of anxiety, rebound depression, agitation, and restlessness (Erikson, 2011).

References

ADF. (n.d.). Stimulants. Retrieved from https://adf.org.au/drug-facts/stimulants/

Elevate Recovery Center. (n.d.). Stimulants. Retrieved from https://elevaterecoveryma.com/stimulants/

 Erickson, C.K. (2011). Addiction Essentials (1st ed.) New York, Norton & Company.

 Fetting, M. (2016). Perspectives on Substance Use, Disorders, and Addictions with Clinical Cases (2nd ed.) Thousand Oaks, CA. Sage Publications Inc.