When abused, prescription drugs such as Dexedrine and Adderall and illicit stimulants like ecstasy and methamphetamine can lead to addiction. Learning how these drugs work in the body and what symptoms they manifest when taken in excess is essential to help prevent their adverse effects. The following are the dangers these stimulants cause.
1) Dependency
Even though you can get amphetamines through prescriptions, not everyone can access them through a prescription. The availability of stimulants makes most people misuse them, thus leading to dependency. No one is free from drug dependency, whether you are using them for recreation or treatment.
Using the drugs creates a high, and you may have to use more to get the same effect as in the initial stages. As the body gets used to the feelings of pleasure and euphoria, it becomes dependent on them to function.
2) Addiction
Dependency on stimulants gradually ends up in addiction where your body cannot function without taking the drugs. Addiction to any drug is harmful to the body both physically and psychologically. Prolonged use of stimulants can make you develop powerful cravings that make it hard for you to stop using them.
Without using the drugs, a person feels lonely and may get suicidal. The urge to use the drugs increases, and it can be tough to stop using them.
3) Overdose
When one uses stimulants for a long time, they are at a higher risk of overdose. An overdose can manifest chest pain, stroke, unconsciousness, extremely high blood pressure, heart attack, and psychosis. The effects of the drugs can get worse if the patient does not receive immediate medical help and can even lead to death.
4) Injuries
When a person gets intoxicated, they may not be able to perform their duties well. Using drugs can impair your balance and coordination, which can make you injure yourself when you fall. Driving under the influence of drugs can lead to accidents or even getting arrested for the offense.
Besides, since these drugs can make one aggressive, they may start confronting others around them, creating an altercation. The violence that will emanate from the confrontation can lead to fights.
5) Withdrawal Symptoms
When one decides to quit using the stimulants, they will go through a hard time due to the withdrawal symptoms. As you seek treatment, some of the symptoms you may experience are anxiety, irritability, suicidal thoughts, nightmares, paranoia, solid cravings for stimulants, and confusion. Though it can be a difficult moment, it is essential to understand that following the correct treatment channel can help you overcome the effects of withdrawal.
6) Side Effects
After prolonged use of stimulants, you may suffer from long- and short-term side effects. The most common short-term effects are high body temperature, increased blood pressure, sleep problems, mood swings, paranoia, and aggression. Symptoms that may manifest after the long-term are damage to the heart and blood vessels due to increased blood pressure, unhealthy eating habits due to low appetite, and damaged organs due to the high body temperature.
Methamphetamine can worsen the effects leading to dental problems such as teeth loss and infection due to inadequate saliva and bad eating habits. Skin problems also occur because the patient tends to pick their skin to remove the imaginary crawling things when one hallucinates.
