Some 11 million adults have used an illicit drug in their lifetime, according to the British Crime Survey.
Humans have been using substances for thousands of years, to change the way they feel, behave or
simply to have a different experience.
Some substances are extremely effective at changing the way they feel. If people are trying to block out negative thoughts and feelings, they may find a substance which does this.
For someone with depression, using a stimulant such as an amphetamine can give a feeling of increased energy and euphoria that they have not experienced for some time. Understanding the effects substances produce can provide clues about why an individual might use that particular drug.
People have used psychoactive drugs for their medicinal effects or as part of spiritual rituals. Cannabis is an example of a psychoactive drug that has been thought of and used in all these ways; it is a recreational drug, is used medicinally and is regarded as sacred by some religions.
Psychoactive drugs are categorised into three broad groups:
Stimulants: amphetamines (speed), cocaine, crack cocaine, ecstasy, anabolic steroids;
Depressants: cannabis (dope), alcohol, benzodiazepines (such as diazepam),
opiates (heroin and morphine), GHB;
Hallucinogens: LSD (acid), psilocybin mushrooms (magic mushrooms), strong cannabis (skunk).
Table 1. Effects and risks of common drugs
|
Street name |
Effects |
Risks |
Alcohol |
Booze |
Relaxant, feel less anxious and more sociable |
Slurred speech, nausea, psychological and physical dependence |
Amphetamines |
Speed, whizz, billy, uppers |
Euphoria, increased energy |
Anxiety, panic, paranoia |
Benzodiazepines |
Blues, downers, tranqs |
Sedation, relaxation |
Quickly develop dependence, drowsiness, overdose |
Cannabis |
Dope, hash, skunk |
Relaxation, disinhibition, increased sensory awareness |
Red eyes, anxiety, confusion, psychosis |
Cocaine |
Charlie, coke, snow, crack, blow, C |
Exhilaration, alertness, excitement, high energy |
Sweating, tremor, depression |
Ecstasy |
Es, dove, MDMA, adam, disco biscuits |
Increased energy, heightened perception of colour and sound |
Lack of sleep, dehydration, death |
GHB |
R2, rib, blue juice, roofies, liquid e |
Relaxation, induces sleep |
Memory loss, associated with rape |
Heroin |
H, brown, gear, smack |
Intense pleasure, warmth, detachment |
Nausea, drowsiness, overdose |
LSD |
Acid, trip, tab, blotter, stars |
Time distortion, perceptual changes |
Impaired judgement, disorientation, anxiety |
(https://www.nursingtimes.net/clinical-archive/substance-misuse/substance-use-1-background-risks-and-effects-of-commonly-used-drugs-and-current-issues/5003578.article)
The most commonly used illegal drug is marijuana. According to the United Nations 2008 World Drug Report, about 3.9% of the world’s population between the ages of 15 and 64 abuse marijuana. In Europe, recent studies among 15- and 16-year-olds suggest that use of marijuana varies from under 10% to over 40%, with the highest rates reported
by teens in the Czech Republic (44%), followed by Ireland (39%), the UK (38%) and France (38%). In Spain and the United Kingdom, cocaine use among 15- to 16-year-olds is 4% to 6%. Cocaine use among young people has risen in Denmark, Italy, Spain, UK, Norway and France.
Current situation through the example of Cannabis:
The legality of cannabis for medical and recreational use varies by country, in terms of its possession, distribution, and cultivation, and (in regards to medical) how it can be consumed and what medical conditions it can be used for. These policies in most countries are regulated by the United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs that was ratified in 1961, along with the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances and the 1988 Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances.
The use of cannabis for recreational purposes is prohibited in most countries; however, many have
adopted a policy of decriminalization to make simple possession a non-criminal offense (often similar to a minor traffic violation).
Others have much more severe penalties such as some Asian and Middle Eastern countries where possession of even small amounts is punished by imprisonment for several years.
Uruguay and Canada are the only countries that have fully legalized the consumption and sale of
recreational cannabis nationwide. In the United States, nine states and the District of Columbia have legalized sales and consumption although it remains federally illegal. Court rulings in Georgia and South Africa have led to the legalization of personal cultivation and consumption of cannabis,
but not legal sales. A policy of limited enforcement has also been adopted in many countries, in particular Spain and the Netherlands where the sale of cannabis is tolerated at licensed
establishments.
Countries that have legalized the medical use of cannabis include Australia, Canada, Chile, Colombia,
Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, Peru, Poland, Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom (effective November 1, 2018). Others have more restrictive laws that only allow the use of certain cannabinoid drugs, such as Sativex or Marinol. In the United States, 31 states and the District of Columbia have legalized the medical use of cannabis, but at the federal level its use remains prohibited for any purpose.
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legality_of_cannabis)