Drug use is not something that involves homeless people on dark street corners as it may appear on television. Many people use drugs recreationally, including upstanding citizens with jobs, families, and homes to maintain. Unlike the above stereotype, not all people come to drugs out of desperation. Many are looking for an escape from the stress of daily life, a way to feel more relaxed during their downtime, or something to pep themselves up for social events. Regardless of the reason for drug use, a person can develop an addiction and require the assistance of recreational drug detox to get back in control of their life.
At New Start Recovery, we understand the desire for stress relief from today’s fast-paced lifestyles. We can help you overcome addiction to popular recreational drugs and learn healthier ways to alleviate stress and overwhelm. You deserve to feel better without putting yourself in harm’s way. Give us a call at [Direct] to learn more about our recreational drug detox programs.
When people think recreational, they think fun, social, lighthearted, and leisurely. But that mindset leaves people vulnerable to ignorance and wrongful justification. Although recreational drugs may sound more innocent, they present adverse effects like other more ominous-sounding drugs. To raise awareness of the danger of recreational drugs and demonstrate the need for recreational drug detox, we will look at five popular recreational drugs.
Popular Recreational Drugs
Marijuana
Marijuana is one of the most popular recreational drugs, with an estimated 5 million Americans using marijuana daily. Many weed advocates use the drug for its calming effects. Marijuana is technically a depressant, so you can expect it to induce drowsiness and relaxation. It can also enhance sensory perception while slowing reaction time. Some people even experience a minor euphoria with the drug.
Interestingly, marijuana is a Schedule I drug, like LSD and heroin. The federal government has declared that the drug has no known medical use and is likely to abuse. The government deemed Schedule I drugs the most dangerous drugs because of their effects and potential dependency. Yet, many people advocate for the drug that its legalization has become a national debate. Some states have declared marijuana legal within their borders; however, the federal government remains unconvinced.
Negative Side Effects:
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Short-term memory impairment
- Anxiety
- Chronic cough
- Paranoia
Some doctors may prescribe marijuana for ailments, such as cancer-induced nausea, chronic pain, and anxiety. Marijuana can be very addictive, which you should consider when considering using marijuana in recovery.
Ecstasy
Ecstasy, or MDMA, is a synthetic, psychoactive drug, and its effects are similar to amphetamines. Ecstasy was used in warfare tests and medicated psychotherapy, but it is now widely known as a party drug. It was banned in the 1980s for safety reasons but remains incredibly popular today among teenagers and young adults. They see an appeal in the drug’s promised lowered inhibitions, euphoria, and increased sensory perception. Like marijuana, ecstasy is placed on the list of Schedule I drugs.
Because of its popularity paired with the DEA ban, dealers have started selling ecstasy with little to no MDMA. Dealers may lace them with other substances, including LSD, PCP, cocaine, and heroin, and some tabs are even cut with baby powder and rat poison. Not only is this mystery cocktail lacing dangerous on its own, but it severely heightens the risks when a person consumes the drug to seek a previous high.
Negative Side Effects:
- Confusion
- Nausea
- Blurred vision
- Muscle tension
- Anxiety
- Depression (long-term)
Shrooms
Psychedelic mushrooms are popular hallucinogens that contain psilocybin. In the U.S., psilocybin is a Schedule I drug. Shrooms are popular because of the visual hallucinations that they trigger. Many users also claim that the drug promotes a heightened spiritual experience. Shrooms may cause the synesthesia, a perceptual sensation in which one sensory pathway triggers activity within another. For example, a person might see that words or numbers are associated with certain colors.
There is a lot of controversy surrounding these hallucinogens because they are known to be dangerous but are also used in spiritual or religious ceremonies by many cultures.
Negative Side Effects:
- Nausea
- Paranoia
- Extreme anxiety
- Dizziness
- Numbness
- Dehydration
One of the biggest drawbacks of shrooms is that they heighten whatever you’re already feeling. Those feelings will only intensify during the high, also referred to as a bad trip if you lean toward anxiety. That heightened anxiety can lead to paranoia and even psychosis. However, even if someone has what is considered a good trip, their altered perception can lead to risky behavior.
Benzos
Benzos, or benzodiazepines, are popular sedative recreational drugs. They were used with severe psychiatric cases to combat extreme agitation and violence and are now used recreationally for their calming and relaxing effects.
Unfortunately, the U.S. has become a sedative culture, and doctors prescribe these medications without addressing the symptoms behind the ailment. Furthermore, high-stress environments add to the sedative appeal, and many people use benzos to self-medicate for stress and anxiety. About 8,000 deaths were credited to benzos in 2014 in the U.S. alone.
Negative Side Effects:
- Drowsiness
- Confusion
- Dizziness
- Poor concentration
- Lowered blood pressure
- Respiratory depression
Combining benzos with alcohol will severely slow heart rate and breathing, leading to death. Teenagers especially fall victim to this dangerous habit when participating in skittles parties where they bring pills (including benzos) to a social event and pool everyone’s stash into a bowl where everyone can grab whatever they want. Alcohol is a common supplemental substance at these events.
Solvents
Solvents are a group of recreational inhalants found among common household products, like markers, glue, cleaning fluids, and spray paint. Sniffing solvents became popular during the punk rock movement in the 1970s. Today, children and teenagers in poorer communities that struggle with poverty and abuse often use solvents recreationally. However, these recreational drugs are also abused during parties or alone to trigger lightheadedness, warmth, and hallucinations.
Ironically, while most solvents are found underneath your kitchen sink, they have hazardous and potentially lethal side effects. Solvents can cause a person to become unconscious and suffocate, and death can also occur from asphyxiation, seizures, and coma.
Negative Side Effects:
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- Kidney and liver damage
- Lack of oxygen (which can lead to brain damage)
- Pneumonia
- Heart failure
Fortunately, the misuse of solvents has slowly been decreasing over the years.
Get a Fresh Start in Life With Recreational Drug Detox at New Start Recovery
Popular recreational drugs are a choice, but they can quickly lead to addiction and other health risks. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, New Start Recovery can help. Call our addiction staff for a free and confidential screening at [Direct].