Introduction
Many people understand drugs to be only the illegal substances and do not put alcohol and nicotine in the same category. That is why this article only deals with illegal drugs. However, legal substances are consumed on a large scale and with great consequences in the population.
The most popular illegal drugs are cannabis, amphetamines and MDMA. Cannabis is the botanical name for the hemp plant. The flowers of the female plant are consumed as marijuana (also known as weed or grass) and the pressed resin of the plant as hashish (also known as hash or shit) mostly smoking.
Oral intake is also possible. Amphetamines (also known as speed or pep) are chemically produced drugs that are mainly used at parties. They have a strong stimulating effect and make the user awake and focused.
MDMA is also a synthetically produced substance that belongs strictly speaking to the category of amphetamines, but is often categorized individually due to its extended spectrum of activity. MDMA is usually the main component of ecstasy pills (also called parts), but they often contain other substances as well. Thus, extreme caution is always required when using MDMA, as the exact composition is usually not known.
MDMA can also be consumed in powder form (then called “molly”) or as crystals. Most commonly, consumers administer the substance orally. All the above-mentioned substances are subject to the Narcotics Law in Germany and the sale, purchase and possession is subject to criminal prosecution.
General consequences
Especially the THC contained in female cannabis plants is responsible for the effect on the user. It is a so-called cannabinoid, which has a psychotropic effect, i.e. influences the psyche. The cannabinoids act directly via certain receptors in the brain and thus cause the intoxication effect.
Depending on the user, the intoxication can be very different. It is influenced not only by the health and psychological condition, but also by the active substance content of the drugs. The cannabinoids activate the reward center in the brain, which triggers a euphoric mood.
The psychotropic effect is manifested (to varying degrees) by a change in consciousness, often involving profound thought processes, erratic thinking and short-term memory disorders. All these symptoms can be experienced as positive and relaxing. However, there is also the possibility that the intoxication can turn into a negative one and cause fear, sadness or mistrust.
The (physical) toxicity of cannabis can hardly be assessed in real terms, as the presumed lethal dose for humans is extremely high and can virtually not be achieved by normal use (whether inhaled or oral). So far, no fatalities caused by overdoses are known, but there are many other health hazards. For example, the respiratory organs can be damaged by smoking cannabis.
For example, marijuana is often mixed with tobacco and smoked as a joint. The lung load of a joint is about as high as if 3-5 cigarettes were smoked. However, since cannabis users generally consume less often than normal smokers, the damage potential to the lungs is generally considered to be lower compared to smokers.
Furthermore, there is a negative association between cannabis use and schizophrenia. This means that use may influence (or accelerate) the initial manifestation of the disease, or worsen the symptoms of existing schizophrenia. Various scientific studies have also shown that prolonged use can lead to cognitive impairment (slight intelligence loss), which, however, disappears for weeks after the end of use.
Cannabis has, even if only to a small extent, psychological dependence potential. Furthermore, imaging techniques have been used to detect changes in the nervous system of cannabis users. Amphetamine is a chemical drug that causes the brain to release the neurotransmitters norepinephrine and dopamine.
In addition, the substance has a stimulating and driving effect, reduces appetite and euphoric. The sympathetic nervous system, a component of the vegetative (involuntary) nervous system, is indirectly activated. In addition to the supposedly positive aspects of intoxication, namely increased alertness and the ability to concentrate, the activation of the nervous system also brings about clearly negative symptoms.
The euphoria and the increased self-confidence can turn into an increased willingness to take risks, which, in combination with the reduced sensation of pain, can lead to reckless actions.The consequences of chronic drug use are more likely to be psychological: amphetamines have a high psychological dependence potential. In the long term, they lead to a The lethal dose for adults is 1.3 mg/kg body weight, although repeated use can lead to a development of tolerance.
- Tachycardia
- High blood pressure
- Weld outbreaks
- Urinary retention
- Cardiac arrhythmias
- And seizures
- Unhealthy weight loss
- Insomnia
- Kidney damage
- Psychosis tendency
- And possibly to potency disorders
MDMA (Ecstasy) is a synthetically produced drug that shows a pronounced psychological effect on the user, which is due to the release of serotonin (often referred to as the “happiness hormone”), noradrenaline and small amounts of dopamine.
According to different expert opinions, the intoxication manifests itself in an empathogenic effect or a change in social perception. An empathogenic effect profile is characterized by increased empathy, both towards others and towards oneself. One’s own feelings are perceived more strongly, which is why the circumstances under which MDMA is taken play a major role.
The change in social perception is characterized by the fact that negative attitudes of other people are less recognized and above all positive actions are strengthened. The substance is mainly used as a party drug because it has an activating effect (e.g. increases the desire to dance) and euphoric effects. The drug also reduces appetite, leads to an acceleration of the heartbeat up to palpitations, dilates the pupils, makes the mouth dry and sometimes leads to undesirable side effects such as muscle cramps, sweating and dehydration, nausea and vomiting or to a depressive mood after the effect subsides.
This can also occur several days after consumption (so-called “midweek blues”) and is due to a relative serotonin deficit in the central nervous system. Very few deaths are due to an overdose of MDMA alone. Often, mixed use with other drugs takes place, which can then trigger life-threatening interactions.
Fatal doses vary between 5-fold and 20-fold single doses (50-100mg). The potential for dependence is low, but should not be underestimated. Although ecstasy/MDMA only leads to a very low level of physical dependence (as is the case with alcohol addiction or heroin addiction, for example), the development of a psychological dependence is very possible: the euphoric feeling described above can certainly lead to more frequent use, which then has the consequence that the organic brain damage in particular can be increased. The most dangerous acute consequence of ecstasy use is overheating (hyperthermia) and dehydration (dehydration) of the body while partying and dancing, as it can lead to organ failure, coma or even death. For this reason it is extremely important to drink enough water during the intoxication.
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