Drug dependency and commonly used drug effects

This is a list of the most commonly used drugs associated with drug dependency in the United States, excluding alcohol and tobacco.

1- Marijuana.

The most common illegal drug in the U.S., with a current estimate of over 14 million users. The short term effects of this drug include anxiety, paranoia, and difficulties in concentrating, thinking, learning and staying focused. If its consistently used in the long term, substance abuse can lead to strong drug dependence, breathing difficulties, increased risking of developing head and neck cancer, and inability to process complex information or to perform complex tasks, among others.

2- Prescription drugs.

This refers to the non-therapeutical use of prescribed medication. The most common drugs in this category include codeine, barbiturates, amphetamine and morphine. The drug effects will vary depending on the substance, but some could be generalized across most types, and can include addiction, increased tolerance to the substance, drowsiness, confusion, unconsciousness and coma.

3- Cocaine.

The second most commonly used illegal drug in the U.S. Cocaine is a very dangerous drug, and even short-term users are exposed to strong drug dependence and high risk of developing cardiac arrest and respiratory failure. Other common drug effects include strokes, seizures and chronic head aches. Another drug that is closely related to cocaine is crack, a substance derived from powder cocaine.

4- Inhalants.

These are breathable vapors that come from chemicals contained in common household products. They include volatile solvents (e.g. thinner, paint remover), aerosols (e.g. spray paint), organic nitrites and other gases, such as ether and chloroform. Repeated use of inhalants causes injury to the mouth, throat and lungs, in addition to generalized damage to the central nervous system and the immune system. Drug dependence for inhalants is more related to young people, since this drugs are cheap and easy to obtain.

5- Hallucinogens.

Several substances are included here, with LSD, PCP and psilocybin mushrooms being the most abused ones. These drugs are usually called "dissociative drugs", because they distort the user's perception of reality, which can trigger paranoid and dangerous behavior. The drug effects of hallucinogens are completely unpredictable, which makes the risk of taking them even higher.

6- Heroin.

Heroin is a depressant drug that inhibits the central nervous system, and is extremely addictive just like cocaine. Until recently the most common way of administering this drug was by injection, but apparently this is shifting to a new trend in which users are now smoking or snorting the drug. Its main effects include liver malfunction, infection of the heart lining, pneumonia and overdose, not to mention the intense withdrawal symptoms that appear once the drug is suddenly discontinued.

7- Ecstasy.

Ecstasy is a synthetic mind-altering drug which is believed to cause brain damage. The drug apparently damages and degenerates specific neurons that contain a neurotransmitter called dopamine. This type of damage is related to the lesions that cause Parkinson's disease. Drug dependency to this substance increases the risk for depression, paranoia, and psychosis.