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Barbiturates are a class of drugs developed from barbituric acid. This acid has no medicinal value on its own, but drugs derived from it can increase the action of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). GABA is a neurotransmitter that can affect nerve cell activity in the brain. Barbiturates are depressant drugs that slow down the central nervous […]

What is Fentanyl? Fentanyl is a fully synthetic opioid 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. Fentanyl is sometimes prescribed for legitimate medical reasons; however, it is also commonly synthesized in illicit labs and sold on the black market.2 Prescription fentanyl may be prescribed to treat relatively severe pain. In its various formulations, prescription […]

Effects on Mood, Emotions, and Mental Health Both freebase (crack) and powdered cocaine can cause long-term damage to mental health, which appears in the form of mood or emotional disturbances. Because the drug interferes with dopamine re-uptake, long-term use may alter the brain’s ability to regulate dopamine activity.1 Other serious long-term changes to mood and […]

What is PCP? Phencyclidine, otherwise known as PCP, is a hallucinogenic, dissociative drug that comes in the form of a white crystalline powder or a clear, yellowish liquid. It’s often referred to as angel dust, amp, rocket fuel, and animal tranquilizer, among other names. Introduced as an intravenous anesthetic in the 1950s, the drug is […]

Including aerosol sprays, solvents, gases, nitrites, and more, inhalants can generate a host of short- and long-term effects.3 Additionally, long-term misuse of some inhalants can lead to a host of issues such as liver injury, hearing loss, asphyxia-related brain damage, and bone marrow disease.2 Plus, in some instances, first-time use of inhalants can be fatal.4 […]

Can Substance Misuse Impact the Eyes? Misusing certain substances can have serious adverse effects on the eyes—ranging from dilated pupils related to alcohol consumption to vision loss, which may be associated with intravenous drug misuse.1 Thus, the type and severity of the ocular manifestations brought on by substance use depend on the substance, the method […]

Methamphetamine (d-methamphetamine, crystal meth, or meth) is a man-made central nervous system stimulant. The substance often appears as bluish-tinted or white rocks or pieces of glass. It is most commonly smoked or snorted, and it is manufactured in private home laboratories using pseudoephedrine or ephedrine along with other substances that can be purchased at drugstores […]

What is Marijuana? Marijuana is a botanically-derived drug composed of the dried leaves, stems, seeds, and flowers of the Cannabis sativa or Cannabis indica plant.2 Colloquially referred to as pot, weed, herb, grass, bid, ganja, and Mary Jane, among others, marijuana is used in a variety of ways.2,3 Some individuals smoke it in hand-rolled cigarettes […]

When taken as directed, Klonopin is generally safe but there are risks associated with its use and misuse.2 Klonopin is a Schedule IV controlled substance under the Controlled Substances Act. This means it has a known potential for misuse and dependence.2,3 Misuse of clonazepam may include taking a higher dose than was prescribed; taking it […]

Suboxone Side Effects Common side effects of Suboxone include headache, diarrhea, constipation, and nausea. In addition, some people become attached to the relaxation Suboxone can cause, and that can lead to addiction and/or drug relapse. Suboxone treatment can include a number of side effects, the most severe of which are caused by Suboxone’s status as […]