Prescribed stimulant drugs can be helpful for some people with specific physical and mental conditions. However, it can become easy to misuse these drugs and become addicted. Many people won’t notice that they’ve become addicted to these drugs until it’s affecting their life.
So, what are stimulant drugs, and why are they addictive? Here’s a guide on the types of stimulant drugs, why people use them, how they affect the body, and the risks associated with stimulants.
What Are Stimulant Drugs?
Stimulant drugs are categorized as medications or street drugs that work by speeding up the chemical messages that travel between your brain and the rest of your body. Many people will feel a boost physically and mentally, which can become addicting.
These drugs will increase your dopamine levels, giving you a pleasant feeling, but this is short-term and will lead to a desire to have more. This is where people will begin to misuse stimulants.
Several types of drugs can count as stimulants that people use. Some are common and socially acceptable such as coffee or pseudoephedrine. Nicotine can also be a dangerous stimulant that people use regularly. Some stimulants include:
- Caffeine
- Pseudoephedrine
- Nicotine
- Cocaine
- Ice
- Khat
- Synthetic cathinone
- Amphetamines
- Betel nut
- Methylphenidate
What Are Stimulant Abuse Signs?
Since people can feel pleasure when taking these drugs, several become addicted. It can be very hard to stop taking them; it often takes another person to intervene. Some signs of stimulant abuse to look for include:
- Pupils are dilated
- Feeling restless
- Hyperactive
- No appetite
- Losing weight
- Sweating
- Mood swings
- Impulsive behavior
- Being jittery
- Rapid heartbeat
- Higher blood pressure
- Flight of ideas
- Anxiety
- Paranoia
- Decreased sexual function
- Confusion
These signs can also show up as behavior changes that could include lying, stealing, exceeding dose recommendations, using stimulants prescribed to someone else, shopping for different doctors, or using street drugs that are stimulants.
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