Dangerous Effects of “Street Drugs” 

Street drugs also called club drugs have become increasingly popular among today’s young people. “Club Drugs” is a general term that describes a range of drugs that are usually associated with the recreational drug-taking. Consuming club drugs is dangerous because there is no way to know how and where they are manufactured and what ingredients they contain. Street drugs can be sold in hugely concentrated forms. Sometimes they are much more powerful than the dose a human body can safely handle. Additionally, they can also contain harmful impurities. 

Here are several common street drugs and health threats they can pose: 

Cocaine: Cocaine is made from the coca plant and is a highly addictive stimulant. It triggers the brain to release dopamine and creates a euphoric feeling. The “high” is intense but it lasts only for a very short time, that is why people use it repeatedly to try to keep the feeling going. It may cause health risks such as increased heart rate, increased body temperature, loss of appetite, heart damage, and heart attack. 

Ecstasy: Ecstasy is a party drug and is often taken to enable the user to dance through the night. It is a human-made stimulant drug. Ecstasy increases the levels of serotonin and dopamine in the brain and causes an enhanced sense of pleasure, increased self-confidence and loads of energy. The high lasts between four and six hours, but when the drug wears off, confusion, depression, anxiety and sleep problems are most likely to follow.  

LSD: LSD is a hallucinogen and causes one to see, hear, and feel things that seem real, but aren’t. These hallucinations are called “trips” and can last as long as 12 hours. LSD can cause physical effects such as dilated pupils, increased heart rate and blood pressure, sweating, loss of appetite, dry mouth. 

Marijuana: Marijuana refers to the dried leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds of the hemp (cannabis sativa) plant. Its consumption causes changes in sensations, mood, body movements, thinking, and memory. When used regularly it can affect brain development. Over time it can become addictive for some people, and cause health problems such as breathing issues, increased heart rate, and a higher risk of heart attacks, depression, anxiety.  

Methamphetamines:  Meth is a stimulant which creates an immediate high that quickly fades. As a result, users often take it repeatedly, making it extremely addictive. The physical effects are very similar to cocaine and amphetamines. With repeated long-term use, meth can lead to extreme weight loss. 

For more information, read: https://www.emedicinehealth.com/club_drugs/article_em.htm#what_are_club_drugs