Wendy McGurk

 Stimulants are a class of psychoactive drug that increases activity in the CNS  All major stimulants increase alertness, excitation, and euphoria.  In the past, stimulants were used to treat a variety of conditions, including asthma and other respiratory problems, obesity, and neurological disorders.

 Stimulants are very addictive and if an individual chooses to abuse them, they face the risk of physical side effects as well as dependency and addiction. Stimulants are extremely easy to find also, many stimulant drugs are manufactured in clandestine illegal labs and sold on the illicit drug market. Those who abuse stimulants take them orally, snort them, smoke them or inject them.

 PRESCRIPTION: Adderall, Ritalin, Dextroamphetamine, Dopram, T-diet, Doxapram  OVER THE COUNTER: Lucidex, Caffeine, Panax Ginseng, Nicotine, Herbal Stimulants, Ephedrine  ILLICIT OR COMMON: Amphetamines, Cocaine, Crack, MDMA, Methamphetamine

BENNIES, BLACK BEAUTIES, CAT, COKE, CRANK, CRYSTAL, FLAKE, ICE, PELLETS, R-BALL, SKIPPY, SNOW, SPEED, UPPERS, VITAMIN R

 Narcolepsy: Taking low doses of amphetamines helps keep narcoleptic people alert.  Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Stimulants such as methylphenidate (Ritalin).  Weight Reduction: Most common use of stimulants is for the treatment of obesity. Used as anorexiants to control appetite

 Stimulants effect the chemicals in the brain.  Acts in the brain similar to a family of key brain neurotransmitters called monoamines, which include norepinephrine and dopamine.  The increase in dopamine can induce a feeling of euphoria, when stimulants are taken nonmedicaly.  These stimulants produce significantly more dopamine than the brain does on its own.

The psychological effects of stimulants tend to be potent. They can include euphoria, feelings of invincibility, and an exaggerated sense of ability, hostility, anger and panic. Stimulants burn up, the body's cellular metabolism; stimulants artificially speed up our metabolic processes, which in turn must then slow down, often causing harmful side effects.

Some ways you might feel are: Euphoria, anxiety, increased libido, alertness, concentration, energy, self-esteem, sociability, irritability, aggression, psychosomatic disorders, psychomotor agitation, grandiosity, repetitive and obsessive behaviors, paranoia, irregular heartbeat, dangerously high body temperatures, heart failure, seizures, damaged lungs.

 Side effects of central nervous system stimulants (CNS) vary depending on the specific drug. In general, short-term use may cause side effects such as anxiety, insomnia, dry mouth, depersonalization, feeling of euphoria, increased heartbeat, crying, dysphoria, decreased appetite, hyperventilation, irritability, depression, nervousness, paranoia, mood swings, restlessness, and shaking or trembling.

 Long-term use of stimulants may cause side effects such as difficulty breathing, dizziness, changes in mood, and increased or pounding heartbeat

 The severity of withdrawal symptoms varies, depending on the specific drug. For instance, individuals who are addicted to caffeine may experience symptoms of fatigue or headaches when they stop drinking coffee. In contrast, individuals who abuse methamphetamines experience much more severe withdrawal symptoms that may even be life threatening. Examples of these symptoms include intense cravings for the drug, psychotic reactions, anxiety, moderate to severe depression, intense hunger, irritability, fatigue, mental confusion, and insomnia.

 Strain on heart muscle and blood vessels.  Dehydration, lung damage, kidney damage  Bone marrow depression, stroke, HIV/AIDS  paranoia, aggressiveness, extreme anorexia, thinking problems, visual and auditory hallucinations, delusions, and severe dental problem  Changes in brain structure and function, addiction

 SIGNS  elevated body temperature  increased heart rate and blood pressure  decreased appetite  increased attention  weight loss  Scabs on face  Fatigue  SYMPTOMS  Irritability and depression  Restlessness and insomnia  Damaged mucous membrane, regular nose bleeds and nasal congestion are common  Tolerance  Withdrawal

 There is treatment for stimulant drug addiction and dependency and it's available no matter where you live. Many times Behavioral Interventions like cognitive behavioral therapy are necessary and effective and decrease the chance of relapse while working toward recovery. Support groups or therapy combined with substance abuse treatment has helped thousands of addicts change their lives around and start 'living again' instead of just existing and possibly waiting to die.

 substance-abuse-stimulants-addiction/ Stimulant Substance Abuse. substance-abuse-stimulants-addiction/  your-health.html Stimulants and their Risks. your-health.html  and-causes CNS Stimulants. and-causes  drugs/stimulants/how-do-stimulants-affect-brain-body How do Stimulants Effect the Brain and Body. drugs/stimulants/how-do-stimulants-affect-brain-body  Drug Facts Stimulants  What are Stimulant Drugs?  Drugs and Society, Hanson, Venturelli, Fleckenstein. (2012)