Legal High Drugs
Legal High Drugs-Drug Addiction
A drug is a drug whether legal high or very known hard drugs we must all take the responsibility of stopping their addiction in our lives.
The threat of addiction is not new to us because in many ways we find ourselves being addicted to several things. There are so many elements of addiction that we are associated with and we are not even sure if we are addicted to them. When the word addiction is mention we often think straight to hard drugs and other known social activities that are addictive in nature. This feeling is very much in order because those are also some elements we can be addicted to. What many may not know is that we can be addicted even to some legal drugs that does not necessarily illegal and that is what is going to guide the flow of this article. Known as a collection of drugs which are sold legally and which mimic the effects of illegal drugs such as cannabis, ecstasy and cocaine. Some of these drugs may include herbal smoking mixtures, diet pills (ephedrine), herbal ecstasy and mephedrone. We can also include GHB, BZP (benzylpiperazine) poppers such as amyl nitrite and caffeine drinks/pills.
Legal high
This are kinds of substances with the same effects as an illegal drug but can be bought legally, and openly. They are not regulated by the Misuse of Drugs Act although changes have been, or are being made to control these substances. Many of these drugs are naturally occurring substances but the most recent one -mephedrone, has been synthetically produced in laboratories.
Legal High Drugs-Appearance
They take different looks in the market with some being are herbal solutions which can be mixed with tobacco and smoked normally while others like mephedrone come in as white powder or in tablets or capsules forms. Poppers such as amyl nitrite or butyl nitrite are inhaled while others like ephedrine are found in over the counter medicines or pills used for weight control.
Legal High Drugs-Methods of Usage
They can be taken be taken in several ways that is: orally, smoked, inhaled, added to drinks or injected though this last method of consumption is very rare.
Legal High Drugs-Their street names
Like any other drugs legal high drugs also have their street nouns. Many of these substances have ‘trade names’ that is to say their brand names for marketing purposes for example the herbal smoking mixture or solution is known as ‘Spice’. Other names may include:
- Meow Meow (mephedrone)
- Herbal Viagra
- Eclipse (herbal ecstasy)
- Cloud 9 (herbal ecstasy/ephedrine)
- Liquid gold (poppers)
These drugs are often used by young people and particularly the youth, clubbers and festival goers.
Effects of legal highs
The effects of these drugs vary depending on which substance you are using. For example, if you smoke Spice then you will experience that the effects are similar to those of cannabis also known as marijuana. Such feelings will include:
- Feeling relaxed and ‘chilled out’ or hyperactive
- Talkative and giggly
Majority of users will find that their sensitivities have been altered or that they experience mild hallucinations. Drug like mephedrone will have similar effects to those from using ecstasy or cocaine. The experiences may include:
- Euphoria
- Increased confidence
- Lots of energy
- Empathy with others
- It can also suppress the appetite
- Speed up the heart rate
- Reduce inhibitions.
Spice and herbal Viagra e.g. yohimbine are added to loose tobacco and smoked as a cigarette or through a pipe. They cause hallucinogenic effects and also act upon the body in a similar way to ecstasy.
Herbal ecstasy such as Cloud 9 acts as a stimulant on the body thereby increasing the heart rate and breathing, a sense of euphoria, dilated pupils and being talkative generally. It can also cause hallucinogenic effects such as a heightened awareness of one’s surroundings.
Liquid gold and other types of poppers cause an intense ‘rush’ when inhaled which also includes feelings of disorientation, nausea, dizziness and headaches. They can also improve sexual performance.
How addictive are legal highs?
If these legal highs are legally allowed drugs, one would wonder whether they have any addictive effects and the answer is absolutely yes. Many of these substances are characterized in the same way as synthetic drugs meaning that they can lead to dependency over a period of time of their usage for example a drug like mephedrone is similar to ecstasy in the sense that it is highly addictive and leads to psychological changes in the user. People who use mephedrone find it very difficult to stop. Besides them being addictive, it must be noted that these drugs/substances are more powerful than many people realize and can be as equally as addictive as their illegal cousins or sisters.
Because of their sources it is prudent to note that some of these drugs are not regulated under the Misuse of Drugs Act however an amendment to this effect has been made making it illegal to sell or supply them for human use under the medicines legislation.
But it is very easy to assume that because these drugs are freely available that they are safer than synthetic varieties. Even the herbal substances such as Spice or Salvia have side effects.
The technicality is that a good percentage of these substances contain all kinds of chemicals which have not always been tested for human consumption. So you are not quite sure what you are getting and the effect it will have on your system. Currently we do not have authenticate research or studies confirming the duration of risk and so it is not clear the effects of long term health risks if any. However when combined with other substances like alcohol then this increases the risks and such increased risks can be physical risks e.g. hypertension, heart disease, nosebleeds, weight loss, tremors and diabetes. On the other hand the risks may be psychological risks like anxiety, panic attacks, memory loss, paranoia and even schizophrenia.
Finally when we begin talking of the risks involved then we must also talk about remedies for those risks. If for whatever reason you or your friend is struggling with problems related to legal high drugs then the solution is just a phone call away. Rich out for doctor Dalal Akoury an expert in matter addiction and the founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under Doctor Akoury. Together with her team of experts they will help you get better professionally while focusing on Neuroendocrine Restoration (NER) to reinstate normality through realization of the oneness of Spirit, Mind, and Body, Unifying the threesome into ONE and you will certainly get your life back and enjoy it to the fullest.
Legal High Drugs-Drug Addiction
