Stimulants
What is it?
Stimulants are types of drugs that raise levels of physiology or nervous activity in the body that could lead to addiction.
What can it do to your body
Stimulants enhance the effects neurotransmitters called monoamines, which include norepinephrine and dopamine that are in your brain. It also increases alertness, attention, and energy, as well as elevate blood pressure, heart rate, and respiration.
Short-term effects
- depression
- exhaustion
- ”ups and downs”
Long-Term Effects
- high doses of some stimulants over a short period can lead to feelings of hostility or paranoia
- such doses may also result in dangerously high body temperature and an irregular heartbeat
drug examples
- the most common stimulant used is cocaine and amphetamines
- nicotine
- caffine
- they come in tablets or capsules
- when used they're swallowed, crushed, snorted, or formed into liquids
Why do people begin using Stimulants
Most teenagers begin using them to either fit in, to experiment, to seem "grown up", to escape or relax, or to seem "cool". For example, someone might start using stimulants at a party where they notice that everyone else is either drinking or snorting it and they probably would want to fit in, so they would try it too. From then they would become addicted and can't stop.
How/where can you get help
The first thing you should do when you notice that you are a parent, or someone that you trust, preferably a parent so they could help you stop. If that doesn't work, then you should contact a counselor. A Certifies Addictions Counselour can effectively perform an assessment to determine what level of care is most appropriate for you.