Common Substance Addictions, Side Effects and Withdrawal Symptoms

Substance abuse can happen to anyone. I have been a nurse for over 28 years and over the years I have seen substance abuse strike people from all walks of life including any age group.

Many people don't realize that substance abuse is literally an addiction to anything. Older people are likely to find themselves addicted to substances ranging from alcohol to pain killers. Young people often have illegal drug addictions and even children as young as elementary age can be addicted to life threatening substance addictions such as gasoline huffing or glue sniffing.

Over the years I have seen a number of overdoses and deaths connected to many forms of drug abuse. Most people however refuse to acknowledge they have any type of substance abuse until they have reached rock bottom and lost everything. Many older patients can get addicted to pain killing medications that are given to them from some type of injury or medical condition. The medication is intended to give them relief from their pain, however even minor abuse of pain killing medications can cause many people to get hooked especially with long term use.

Commonly abused substances include:

Alcohol

Alcohol effects the central nervous system as a depressant causing lethargy, slurred speech, impaired judgment and reduced motor reaction times. Symptoms of alcohol toxicity include vomiting, loss of consciousness, belligerence, and coma. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms include agitation, tremors known as DTs or delirium tremens. Other alcohol withdrawal symptoms can include seizures, hallucinations, insomnia and anxiety.

Cocaine

Cocaine also effects the central nervous system and acts as a stimulant. Side effects include tachycardia, hypertension, euphoria, weight loss and a reduction to pain and fatigue. Signs of cocaine toxicity include paranoia, irritability, convulsions, restlessness, hallucinations concerning a person's hearing. Toxicity to cocaine can also result in respiratory or cardiac arrest. Cocaine withdrawal includes symptoms of lethargy, inability to concentrate, drug cravings and severe mood depression.

Heroin

Heroin has a depressant effect on the central nervous system. Heroin side effects include sedation, decreased motivation, euphoria and an inability to concentrate. Toxicity symptoms of heroin include respiratory depression, coma and hypothermia. Withdrawal heroin symptoms include anorexia, vomiting, diarrhea, insomnia and cravings for the drug.

If you think you or someone you know has a substance abuse problem, you should immediately seek help. Substance abuse help can be found in a variety of places from medical personnel, drug abuse counseling centers and therapists. Many people can recover from substance addiction with counseling and a good support system. However some long term substance abuse may require long term rehabilitation treatment to overcome their drug addiction.

References for this article include: www.nida.nih.gov/drugpages/
familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/addictions/basics/586.html
www.emedicinehealth.com/substance_abuse/article_em.htm