New Delhi: Drug abuse remains to be a major threat and global health burden. Millions of people across the world are impacted by the drug problem, which affects both individuals and communities. Over 35 million people suffer from drug use health conditions. According to the United Nations, around 269 million people used drugs in 2018, which is nearly 30 per cent more than in 2009. In India millions of people are dependent on alcohol, cannabis and opiates and drug misuse is a prevalent belief in the Indian society, as per a report published by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime and India’s Ministry of Social Justice.
Drug abuse has emerged as a serious concern that affects both the physical and the socio-economic well-being of India. According to UNODC, India accounts for 10 per cent of the total pharmaceuticals produced in the world. As per the report, the law required all drugs with “abuse potential” to be sold only on prescription. On World Drug Day, let’s understand how different drugs affect the body’s central nervous system.
Different drugs, different effects on the body
Drugs affect the body’s central nervous system. People who use drugs regularly and for a long time can develop a dependence and tolerance to them. Drug abuse affects how a person thinks, feels and behaves. On World Drug Day, here are seven types of drugs and their impact on the body:
Depressants: This drug slows down the messages that travel between the brain and the body. They can reduce the arousal and stimulation that makes a person feel relaxed and drowsy.
Psychedelics: It mainly affects the senses of a person, it alters the way a person thinks or behaves and it also impacts the thinking and emotions of a person. It can also cause a person to hallucinate which is a way of seeing or hearing things that do not exist.
Stimulants: This drug speeds up the messages that travel between the brain and body. They can make a person feel more awake, conscious, alert and energetic.
Empathogens: Empathogens raise a person’s feeling of empathy and kindness towards others. It raises the feelings of being socially accepted and connected.
Opioids: Opioids include those drugs that act on opioid receptors in the brain or synthetic drugs that are made from or related to the opium poppy. Opioids also reduce the heart rate and breathing provide a sensation of pleasure and relieve pain.
Cannabinoids: These are the type of drugs found in all parts of the cannabis plant. They are responsible for the psychoactive effect when cannabis is consumed. They can make a person happy, relaxed, anxious or paranoid
According to the United Nations, around 269 million people used drugs in 2018, which is nearly 30 per cent more than in 2009. In India millions of people are dependent on alcohol, cannabis and opiates and drug misuse is a prevalent belief in the Indian society. On World Drug Day, let’s understand how different drugs affect the body’s central nervous system. Health Conditions Health News: Latest News from Health Care, Mental Health, Weight Loss, Disease, Nutrition, Healthcare
