Drug usage of any kind may affect and cause potential harm to the user. Drug usage may impact academic performance, work environment, safety, health, and well-being. Listed below are some common health risks of drug usage. Please note this is not a comprehensive list of all possible side effects - for more information, please visit the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
| Drug Classes |
General Overview |
Health Impacts |
Examples |
| Depressants |
Slows the brain and body operations |
Slowed reaction time, disorientation, depression, fatigue |
Alcohol, Xanax, Valium, Ambien |
| Stimulants |
Speeds up the brain and body operations |
Rapid heartbeat, increased respiration, heart attack, seizures |
Nicotine, Adderall, Cocaine, Meth |
| Hallucinogens |
Alters perceptions |
Increased body temperature, sweating, psychosis |
LSD, Psilocybin |
| Dissociatives |
Alters perceptions and causes detachment from reality |
Dissorientation, speech difficulties, anxiety, memory issues |
PCP, DXM, Ketamine, Salvia |
| Opiods |
Can relive pain, induce euphoria and impact mood |
Drowsiness, insomnia, collapsed veins, coma |
Heroin, Fenntanyl, Vicodin, Codeine |
| Inhalants |
Breathable mind altering substances |
Slurred speech, suffocation, brain damage |
Paint Thinners, Gasoline, "Whip-its" |
Depressants slow down the central nervous system, which slows the operations of the brain and body. Short term effects include slow brain function, slurred speech, disorientation, and lack of coordination. Long-term use of depressants can produce addiction, depression, chronic fatigue, breathing difficulties, sexual problems, and sleep problems. High doses may cause coma or death. Some examples of depressants include Xanax, Valium, Klonopin, Rohypnol, and Ambien.
Alcohol is a type of depressant which slows down the brain and results in an impaired cognitive state. Short term effects of alcohol usage include hangover and alcohol poisoning, as well as falls and accidents, conflict, lowered inhibitions, and risky behaviors. Long term, excessive use can lead to development of chronic disease, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, liver disease, cancer, or stroke.
Cannabis is often described as a depressant with stimulant and hallucinogenic qualities. Short term effects include altered senses, changes in mood, impaired body movement, difficulty problem solving, and impaired memory. Long term effects include breathing issues, increased heart rate, impacts on brain development, and Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (which causes the user to cycle severe nausea, vomiting and dehydration).
Stimulants speed up the body’s systems. Short term effects include rapid or irregular heartbeat, increased respiration, and paranoia. Long term effects include addiction and cardiovascular system damage, including heart attack, brain damage, seizures, lung damage, severe depression, paranoia, and psychosis. Some examples of stimulants include Adderall, Ritalin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and Dexedrine.
Nicotine is a type of stimulant that commonly comes in the form of cigarettes, vape juice, chewing tobacco, and cigars. Short term effects include lingering smoke smell, increased heart rate, coughing, and shortness of breath. Long term effects include addiction, lung disease, heart disease, cancer, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Hallucinogens are a diverse group of drugs that alter a person’s awareness of their surroundings, as well as their own thoughts and feelings. Short term effects include nausea, increased blood pressure, breathing rate, or body temperature, uncoordinated movements, numbness, disorientation, and excessive sweating. Long term effects include persistent psychosis, Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder (HHPD), anxiety, and memory loss. Some examples of hallucinogens include LSD, psilocybin, peyote, and DMT.
Dissociative Drugs can produce visual and auditory distortions and a sense of floating and dissociation (feeling detached from reality) in users. Short term effects include numbness, disorientation, hallucinations, and increase in blood pressure, heart rate, respiration, and body temperature. Long term effects include addiction, speech difficulties, memory loss, suicidal thoughts, and anxiety. Some examples of dissociative drugs include PCP, DXM, salvia, and ketamine.
Opioids are also known as "narcotics." The term "narcotic" comes from the Greek word for "stupor" and originally referred to a variety of substances that dulled the senses and relieved pain. Short term effects include drowsiness, slowed breathing, nausea, and unconsciousness. Long term effects include addiction, insomnia, collapsed veins, increased risk of blood-borne illnesses with intravenous users, and coma. Some examples of opioids include heroin, fentanyl, oxycodone, Vicodin, and Codeine.
Prescription Drug Abuse is the use of a prescription medication in a way not intended by the prescribing doctor. Prescription drug abuse or problematic use includes everything from taking a friend's prescription painkiller for your backache to snorting or injecting ground-up pills to get high. While prescription drug abuse can occur with any medication, it often occurs with prescription pain medications (most commonly opioids, due to their high potential for addiction).
Inhalants are volatile substances that produce chemical vapors that can be inhaled to induce a psychoactive, or mind-altering, effect. Short term effects include slurred speech, inability to coordinate movement, hostility, and suffocation. Long term effects include lack of coordination, damage to brain, heart, liver, and kidneys, memory impairment, and death due to asphyxiation. Some examples of inhalants include paint thinner, glue, household aerosol items, and gases found in household products.
