Drug Categories

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Drug Categories

The terms “downers,” “upper,” and all arounder mostly describe how drug substances behave on the nervous system. Depressants are generally known as downers, while stimulants are considered as uppers. All-arounder substances distort the perception of the user concerning reality through brain manipulation in senses interpretation. The sensory messages that the user’s brain experiences are intensified, not to mention mixed up sensory messages that lead to impaired judgment. Sedatives and tranquilizers are the commonly known downers. Drugs such as cocaine, amphetamine, and methamphetamine are categorized as uppers. Some other substances carry the depressant effects apart from sedatives, for example, muscle relaxers, opioids, not to mention alcohol. Based on different personal accounts, the vast majority of individuals use downers to remove stimulants’ undesirable effects. Individuals also reduce sedation by using uppers. Seemingly, the approach is seen as a viable option of mitigating the adverse effects associated with those substances. Regrettably, it leads to the risk of severe health issues, without mentioning overdose.

Substances categorized as downers depress the central nervous system (CNS) by reducing the heart rate, thus lowering the blood pressure, and it significantly leads to sedation and impairs cognition. Some prescription downers incorporate sedatives and benzodiazepines. Examples of sedatives include Lunesta and Ambien, while benzodiazepines encompass Valium, Ativan, and Xanax, to mention a few (Porterfield, 2007). Downer substances often lead to fatigue, dizziness, sedation, impaired memory, drowsiness, reduced inhibitions, trembling, among others. Different body processes are triggered differently based on the type of downer that a person uses.

Consequently, downers are classified as either alcohol, opioids, or sedatives. Typically, sedatives or tranquilizers are downers that are used as a remedy for sleep problems, anxiety, or panic. Technically, opioids are considered as painkillers, although they might contain powerful depressant effects, thus coming as either a prescription or illegal forms, like in the oxycodone and heroin cases, respectively (Guina, & Merrill, 2018). For alcohol, it is readily available and legal in many places across the globe, and specifically in the United States, persons of 21 years and above are allowed. An overdose of downers has the potential to cause a profound, life-threatening central nervous system depression in the cases where individuals take too many drugs or alcohol. Slurred speech, death, coma, respiratory arrest, impaired vision, among others, are linked to depressant overdose. In instances where multiple substances are combined with downers can as well lead to a profound central nervous system depression.

Upper substances affect the central nervous system by increasing the heart rate, raising the pressure of the blood, and it leads to boosted energy levels. Additionally, uppers or stimulants trigger the feel-good chemicals in the body (dopamine and adrenaline). Both dopamine and adrenaline are responsible for triggering the well-being feelings and those of reward. Also, upper substances boost the appetite of a person, enhances concentration and alertness, not to mention extended wakefulness. Adderall, Ritalin, and Concerta are examples of prescription stimulants that are often misused. Cocaine and meth are examples of upper substances found in the illicit form. Adderall, Ritalin, and Concerta are prescriptions for Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and in some cases, they also treat narcolepsy (Satel, & Nelson,1989). Uppers also contain Ecstasy in their classification, ecstasy potential to induce hallucination and sensory perceptions alteration makes it to put in its single category. Side effects linked to the consumption of upper substances include severe headache, chest pains, insomnia, tremors, dizziness, among others. A mixture of two or more upper substances can be risky as they amplify the fictionality of a person’s system. An overdose of stimulants often leads to seizures, aggression, hypertension, heart failure, to mention a few.

In the All Arounders category, there exist a set of drugs with varied chemical compositions and effects. Some of these substances include steroids, hallucinogens, inhalants, and marijuana. Hallucinogen drugs have been used for a long time, and the individuals using them experience hallucinations, distorted perception, and induced delusions. Peyote and psilocybin mushrooms are examples of known hallucinogens that exist naturally, and they have been even for religious rituals. All arounder drugs cause nausea, dizziness, sleep disorders, overstimulation, and vomiting. Consumption of all arounder substances may have profound health problems such as memory problems, abstract thinking, attention span, and accidents.

References

Guina, J., & Merrill, B. (2018). Benzodiazepines I: upping the care on downers: the evidence of risks, benefits and alternatives. Journal of clinical medicine, 7(2), 17.

Porterfield, J. (2007). Downers: Depressant abuse. The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc.

Satel, S. L., & Nelson, J. C. (1989). Stimulants in the treatment of depression: a critical overview. The Journal of clinical psychiatry, 50(7), 241-249.