How do drugs affect consciousness

In time past, people have discovered that the intake of certain drugs and other substances can change their mental state in different ways. Most of these changes in their mental state can be enjoyable and pleasurable for a short period while some over an extended period may have adverse effect or consequences.

What is consciousness?

Wikimedia Commons
Content is available under CC BY-SA 4.0 u

In a simple sentence, consciousness is the state of awareness or being aware of something or any external object.
Most societal problems are originated and caused by drug abuse are well known and severe. Many people are addicted to drugs; they ingest some commonly abused drugs such as alcohol, illegal substances, prescription drugs, if we include nicotine and caffeine, we will come to realize that most people are already drug addicts even unknown to them. Psychological science ask questions across different levels as to why do people use drugs? Why do people become addicted to drugs? Why do drug addicts continue to abuse drugs when doing so causes turmoil and suffering.

Psychoactive drugs

Psychoactive drugs are drugs or chemical substance that can alter the brain function. They are also known as psychotropic substances which is a chemical that acts upon the central nervous system where it affects the brain function, resulting in temporal changes in perception, mood consciousness and behavior. These drugs are used for different purposes; they can be used in controlling a severe pain or as a therapy for mental and emotional disorders. The intake of these drugs repeatedly can lead to addiction which results in drug abuse.

Use and abuse of psychoactive drugs

As I said earlier, drugs are used for different purposes, the use of drugs have both positive and negative effect. The right ones can provide calm relief from severe pain or a headache and can also lift people’s mood who are depressed; some can help children in deficits regarding attention such as forgetting their homework, daydream and act without thinking, making them pay attention more and learn better. But most of these drugs can also be used for recreational purposes to alter their level of consciousness, mood, behavior, physical sensation, and thoughts in ways that users of these drugs believe to be enjoyable and these recreational purposes produces negative consequences.

Psychoactive drugs divided into various categories, and they are:

• Stimulant: These are categories of drugs that increase the brain activity to improve the state of the body’s arousal. Examples of stimulants are nicotine, cocaine, amphetamines, ecstasy, etc.
• Depressants: These are categories of drugs that delay or reduces the activity of the central nervous system to lower body alertness. They also can produce sluggishness and lethargic behavior ( symptom causing you to feel sleepy, fatigued or sluggish). Examples are alcohol, heroin, sedatives, analgesics, methaqualone, etc.
• Hallucinogens: These are categories of drugs that change the feelings, perception, and can result in hallucination such as seeing or hearing imaginary things. Examples are ketamine and mescaline, psilocybin(also known as a magic mushroom), etc.
• Others: There are other categories of psychoactive drugs, there are some that have the combination of two or more of the groups discussed above. Other psychoactive drugs that fall under this category may include cannabis, opioids, an, etc.

Types of drugs and their effect

There are different types of drugs that affect our brain, personality, the way think and other areas of our life, some of these drugs include;
• Cocaine
• Alcohol
• Tobacco
• Heroine
• Meth
• Crack, etc.
These drugs will be discussed one after the other to know their effect and how they affect one’s consciousness.

Cocaine

Pixabay: Cocaine

Cocaine is a type of psychoactive drug that affects the brain. It is made from coca plant which is usually grown is south American region. This plant is used for different purposes, and it is harmless, but when refined to cocaine it can be very harmful. It comes in powder form, and it can be sniffed or inhaled through the nose. It is said to be the most reinforcing drug known. Cocaine is mostly used by people to reduce or prevent depression and pain; they can lead to euphoria, an excess of energy and talkativeness. Continuous consumption and intake of this drug lead to addiction. The drug is taking to reach a certain level. Therefore users need to take it continuously to able to achieve the effect of that level. Because of this dependence of this drug, the brain can function in this new level without it.

Alcohol

Pexels: Alcohol

It is a depressant which reduces the vital function leading to inability to respond quickly, unsteady movement and slurred speech. It is an ingredient found in drinks like wine, beer, and spirit which causes intoxication. It is a sedative-hypnotic drug which means it is used to depress the central nervous system with high dosage. While on a lower dosage it can act as a stimulant leading to feelings of talkativeness and euphoria. Alcohol can be mixed with other drugs. Otherwise, the amount of alcohol intake determines the result or effect it is going to have. In low quantity, it can cause a stimulant effect, but too much of it can lead to a depressant effect.

Alcohol content
Alcohol content in different drinks varies for example
Beer 2-6% alcohol
Tequila 40% alcohol
Rum 40% or more alcohol
Cider 4-8% alcohol
Wine 8-20% alcohol
Gin 40-47% alcohol
Liqueurs 15-60% alcohol
Whiskey 40-50% alcohol
Vodka 40-50% alcohol.

Tobacco

Pixabay: Tobacco plant

Tobacco is produced from the leaves of the tobacco plant. It contains alkaloids nicotine which is a stimulant, and the dried tobacco leaves are mainly used for smoking in a cigarette, cigars, pipe tobacco, etc. the intake of tobacco can cause low emotional stability, and also the existence of some mental disorder becomes present as a result of tobacco use.

Heroin

Pixabay: Heroin drug

This Is a type of psychoactive drug which is depressant. It is produced from the poppy plant resin, and it is very deadly as it affects the central nervous system of the body such as the heart and breathing by preventing the activities of the neurotransmitter or brain chemicals. The effect of heroin is dependant upon the amount of consumption. From research, it has been found out that people who are addicted to the use of heroin always combine with other drugs such as alcohol or other depressants that will increase the effect of the drug.

Meth

Wikimedia Commons
Content is available under CC BY-SA 4.0 u

Meth which is also known as Methamphetamine is a white crystalline drug that users take by inhaling, smoking or injecting it. It is an illegal drug in the same class with cocaine and other hard drugs. Like other drugs, meth first acts as a stimulant then gradually destroys the body through continuous usage. It is an incredibly addictive drug which can long and lasting effect on the body. Continuous intake of the drug can decrease the natural feeling of hunger, thereby causing weight loss to the user and it also creates a false sense of energy which tends to make the user push their body more than way it is supposed to go.

Crack

Wikimedia Commons
Content is available under CC BY-SA 3.0 u

A crack is a form of cocaine. It is a stimulant that brings high and rapid euphoria. It became famous as a result of pleasure it gives to drug users that are in need of fast stimulant and a drug that is inexpensive. According to national drug intelligence center, most of its popularity was because almost anybody can make it as long as the equipment and tools needed to make the drug is available. It can quickly be provided, transported and cheaper to buy than cocaine. It is smoked, sniffed or injected. Users prefer smoking the drug than injecting or inhaling it because smoking produces a faster and more intense effect and through smoking of the drug, the substance goes straight to the bloodstream thereby causing addiction.

For a long time now, people have taken drugs that affect the way they think, behave and feel and the use and abuse of drugs have resulted to many societal problems and problems in human health and behavior.

Try to picture the world with human beings without consciousness. How can one live in such a world, consciousness is an essential part of human life which psychologists and philosophers have in time past always wanted to understand. Over the century, researchers on the topic of (consciousness) have mostly been studied. The qualia of consciousness are unable to reach direct observation. But psychologist has been able to examine the different ways people alter their level of consciousness.

Today, Psychology scientist have been making significant progress in understanding the biological foundations of consciousness. So avoid drugs because it affects our behavior and in turn affects the society.

References

https://www.drugfreeworld.org/drugfacts/alcohol.html
https://www.nhp.gov.in/effects-of-tobacco-on-health_pg
https://www.drugfreeworld.org/drugfacts/crystalmeth.html https://www.intervenenow.com/different-type-of-drugs/
https://www.sciencedaily.com/terms/psychoactive_drug.htm
http://gavsappsychmckinneyhartdougherty.weebly.com/main-categories-of-psychoactive-drugs.html