Types of drugs
Castle Craig has experience in treating addiction to alcohol and various drugs. We have gained a lot of knowledge over the years. From common drugs to substances that are less likely to be thought of, such as medicines. Look here for an overview of all types of drugs.
Below you will find information about the types of drugs and substances that we most often identify.
Alcohol
Many people drink without problems, but alcohol addiction is a big problem. Long-term and heavy drinking can have serious consequences for your health, personal relationships and career. Alcohol addiction can develop as a result of alcohol abuse. From that moment on, controlled drinking has become a thing of the past.
Make no mistake about it: when overused is alcohol an unadulterated drug. It is a drug with a psychotropic effect. This means that the drug affects the user's psyche. This allows you to develop both mental and physical dependence.
Read more about this here alcohol addiction
Cocaine
The effect of cocaine is noticeable almost immediately. Locally it has a narcotic effect, but centrally it is a strong stimulus on the brain. Cocaine mimics the body's natural adrenaline response to stress. In small amounts, cocaine makes you feel euphoric, cheerful, clear and alert. The user becomes chatty and self-confidence increases. It can also cause a temporary decrease in appetite and less need for sleep.
With repeated use of cocaine, long-term changes can occur in the brain, especially in the reward system. This usually leads to an addiction that is physically and mentally damaging. Cocaine also often causes financial problems due to the high price.
Heroin
Heroin works quickly on the body. It starts with euphoria and a feeling of peace and satisfaction. The user does not experience hunger or sexual desires and it disguises all fears and guilt. This makes heroin considered one of the most addictive drugs.
The most damaging long-term effect of heroin is the addiction itself. The user builds up a high tolerance and becomes physically heavily addicted. This creates a great urge to use more and more often. As with other addictive substances, the user is increasingly looking for it and eventually it becomes the primary goal of life. Heroin addicts tend to eat very little, resulting in malnutrition. This attack on the immune system makes heroin addicts susceptible to all kinds of diseases.
Cannabis / weed
The main psychoactive substance in it cannabis is THC. This is the part of the cannabis plant that gets users high. There is a lot of difference between the strengths of THC in mutual cannabis products. But the amount of THC in illegal cannabis has increased dramatically in the last 50 years. High doses of cannabis can cause psychosis or panic. Some people have an acute psychotic reaction or panic attacks when under the influence of cannabis.
Long and frequent use of cannabis can lead to memory loss, depression, weakening of the body's immune system and feelings of paranoia.
Ecstasy (Ecstasy)
Although XTC often viewed as a form of relatively low-risk drug, it can be very dangerous to the user. The highest risk of this drug is that it causes an elevated body temperature in the short term. Users sweat a lot and dry out faster. To combat this, users often drink excessive amounts of water, which in turn increases the risk of brain swelling. In some cases this can be fatal.
The active ingredient in Ecstasy is the chemical MDMA. This substance increases the activity of three important neurotransmitters in the brain: Serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine. The hyperactivity of serotonin in the brain creates a loving and social feeling that gives a user the impression that everyone is nice. When Ecstasy wears off, dopamine levels in the brain drop rapidly, which can cause a feeling of depression and irritability. Long-term use of Ecstasy can lead to paranoia, depression, confusion and aggression.
Signs of regular use include disrupted sleep patterns, unusual outbursts of euphoria, and decreased alertness to pain. Physical effects are: sweatiness, increased blood pressure and heart rhythm, feeling sick / weak, weight loss and damage to the teeth (due to teeth grinding).
GHB
GHB is highly addictive. The GHB user can become dependent after just a few weeks of frequent use. Because GHB only works briefly, dependent users should take a new dose every two to four hours - day and night - to avoid withdrawal symptoms. These withdrawal symptoms are another reason why GHB is so dangerous: suddenly stopping GHB can cause very serious and even life-threatening complications, including delirium, seizures, increased blood pressure and hallucinations. Stopping GHB without supervision is therefore not recommended.