Justin Guzman The effects of Prescription Drugs 09/26/2018
Prescription drugs are just as addictive as actual street drugs, yet they are being more accessible to the public. The difference between the two is that with prescription drugs you only have to pay out of pocket what your health insurance doesn’t cover and not the street price. With these prescribed drugs being handed out so frequently, the body becomes immune to the drug which will eventually lead for that person to either use a higher dosage of medication or a stronger type of medication. Both options could be very dangerous. The most abused substances are opioids, stimulants, and depressants. Let’s take a further look who prescription drugs mainly affect and the effects of these drugs in abundance.
Take opioids for example, they are classified under narcotics. Opioids are usually prescribed to a patient when a great amount of pain is present. They work by attacking receptors and blocking the transmission of pain to the brain. One of the most popular being Morphine and Codeine. In a small dose, the Morphine can act as a sedative but can also act like anesthesia in a higher dose. Though these medications may work in the moment needed, but they leave side effects for example; cold flashes restlessness, bone pain and even insomnia.
Central nervous systems ( CNS) are mainly for treating sleeping disorders, tension and anxiety. CNS work by slowing down the brains activity through the gamma –amino butyric acid (GABA) by releasing a calming effect. In large doses this drug can cause drowsiness or sleep. Opioids can cause death to the physical exhaustion or the cardiovascular system.
Stimulants on the other hand ae used to treat aliments for example, obesity, narcolepsy and attention deficit disorders. Once the stimulant is released into the body, it enhances brain activity which leads to an increase in alertness and energy. An example of prescription stimulants are methylphenidate and amphetamines. Methylphenidates which are also known as Ritalin is used for attention deficit hyperactivity disorders. Amphetami...
