pidemic.
Benzos include drugs such as:
- Rohypnol (known widely as the “date rape” drug)
Symptoms resulting from benzo addiction may include:
- Loss of coordination or muscle weakness
- Slurred speech
- Cognitive impairment
- Drowsiness or fatigue
- Depression or moodiness
Similar to the issues found with other prescription drug abuse, people who are addicted to benzos may obtain multiple prescriptions from different doctors or pharmacies, or pills may be used up too quickly or stolen.
As described by the National Institutes of Health’s MedLine encyclopedia, methamphetamine is a highly potent stimulant drug ingested as a pill, snorted or injected in powder form, or smoked in its crystal form. Use results in an intense, quick high that has a powerful effect on the brain, resulting in quick addiction. It creates a feeling of energy, control, and intense focus, and it produces euphoria during the initial high.
Visual images of people who are addicted to methamphetamine (meth or crystal meth) have saturated the media in many places. This is because addiction to meth has some specific physical effects that are easy to spot, including:
- Meth mouth: loose, rotting teeth or tooth loss, and dry mouth
- Open, irritated sores on the body that will not heal
- Potentially dangerous weight loss
- Excessive muscle twitching and nervousness
Other symptoms of addiction to meth include:
- Itchiness and constant picking at the skin
- High body temperature and increased heart rate and breathing
- Agitation or mood swings
- Aggression or violent behavior
- Depression and fatigue between uses
Cocaine is another type of stimulant that NIDA describes as having once been used medically. In some rare cases, it still is; however, cocaine has also become a highly popular street drug. Along with the usual feeling of euphoria that comes from using most addictive substances, cocaine can also make a person feel particularly alert and energetic.
People who are addicted to cocaine may experience symptoms of:
- Dilated pupils and hypersensitivity to light and sound
- Increased heartbeat and respiration
- Nausea and stomach upset
- Problems with nosebleeds and loss of sense of smell, if snorted
- Damage to the stomach or intestines from decreased blood flow
- Agitation or paranoia
The addictive substance in marijuana is called THC, a compound that, according to Live Science, affects thinking, coordination, memory, and pleasure responses in the brain, and can alter perceptions of time and physical senses. Marijuana can cause hallucinations and delusions, as well as create euphoria. Symptoms of marijuana addiction and use may include:
- Abnormal heartbeat (tachycardia)
- Problems with memory recall
- Motor impairment and delayed reactions
- Lowered IQ and problems with cognitive function, especially in young people
- Breathing problems related to smoking the drug
There is some evidence that prolonged use of marijuana can result in psychosis in some individuals.
Alcoholism is the condition of addiction to ethyl alcohol, or ethanol, a substance that is achieved through fermenting beverages from the sugars and starches in grains, fruits, and other plant materials. Alcohol is a sedative that can cause euphoria, a sense of deep relaxation, and slowed motor response.
According to Healthline, symptoms experienced by those who are struggling with alcoholism may include:
- Depressed motor function
- Inability to concentrate
- Heart or liver disease
- Sexual problems
- Depression or anxiety
- Slowed or suppressed breathing
Cigarette smoking is a well-known addictive behavior. The substance that makes smoking tobacco addictive is nicotine, a drug that acts as both a stimulant and a sedative, according to Psychology Today. Along with the familiar euphoria, nicotine can cause increased energy, while at the same time producing a sense of wellbeing. However, these feelings are very short-lived, which is what drives many people who are addicted to nicotine to smoke repeatedly throughout the day.
Symptoms that may indicate nicotine addiction include:
- Agitation or anxiety
