Humans use a variety of substances for a wide range of reasons. While many substances are used for medical purposes, people can misuse them to achieve a desired effect, and people can obtain substances illicitly to reach a high.
Whether obtained through a prescription or illicit, it’s always important to understand the risks associated with substance abuse. Take a look below at some of the most addictive substances and how they can affect you.
Nicotine
Nicotine is the highly addictive substance most commonly found in tobacco e-cigarette and cigarette products. It is the most common addiction in America. Besides the damage to the lungs associated with smoking, nicotine itself can be dangerous because it increases your heart rate, putting you at risk for heart disease.
Barbiturates
Barbiturates, also known as downers, are substances that are usually prescribed to treat anxiety and help people sleep. However, they may also be obtained illicitly by anyone who wants to misuse them for their euphoric effects.
Misusing barbiturates is extremely risky because they can suppress the breathing rate to a point at which the user may asphyxiate.
Cocaine
Cocaine is an entirely illicit substance, yet millions of people are able to obtain it and use it to reach a high. It works by causing a surge in your dopamine levels, which induces an extremely euphoric state. However, when this effect wears off, the brain desires more, which leads to an increasing consumption of cocaine as you seek to achieve the desired effect.
Using cocaine is risky because it causes your heart rate to increase. Overdose can occur if the heart rate elevates too much.
Alcohol
Alcohol consumption is extremely common in America. While some people may be able to enjoy an occasional drink responsibly, many misuse alcohol and form a dependency on it. Like many other substances, alcohol works by increasing dopamine levels in the brain.
Your body can easily build a tolerance to alcohol, which means you will require more to achieve the desired effect. Over time, alcohol consumption can physically alter your brain, leading to a dependency. It can be dangerous to try to quit on your own at this point because you need medical supervision to help reduce any health risks associated with withdrawal.
Heroin
Heroin takes the number one spot on addiction because of how quickly a user can become addicted. One in 4 people who try heroin end up becoming addicted after the first time. What’s worse is that heroin use is extremely dangerous and has a high risk of death from overdose and relapse. If you have tried heroin and suspect you are addicted, please don’t hesitate to seek treatment assistance from professionals.
Start your Recovery Journey at Tulip Hill Recovery
At Tulip Hill Recovery, we focus on discovering what factors in your life may be contributing to addiction in order to treat it at its main source. Our treatment model emphasizes the dual diagnosis approach, which means we treat addiction as well as co-occurring mental health disorders that might be fueling the addiction. This helps a person in recovery become better equipped for dealing with the challenges of mental health disorders without feeling like they need substances or alcohol to cope.
Are you ready to talk to someone about treatment for addiction for you or someone you love? Please contact us to get in touch with our team and help start the recovery journey.
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