Purchase Solution

The effects of different drugs

Not what you're looking for?

Ask Custom Question

You are interested in finding out more about the effects of different drugs . For each of the following drugs: amphetamine, MDMA (ecstasy), and nicotine, use your available resources to research those drug and then discuss the following:

---What are the current demographics and trends for usage of the drug?
---What are the short- and long-term effects of the drug on the brain and behavior?
---What are the short- and long-term effects of the drug on physical health?
---What are the symptoms of withdrawal from the drug?
---Which of these drugs do you think presents the most serious public health issue for the United States currently? Explain your answer.

Purchase this Solution
Solution Summary

A detailed explanation of the short-term and long term effects and the physical, emotional and mental effects of various drugs. An in-depth look of trends among certain drugs and drug categories, including death rates and usage among various age groups.

Solution Preview

I will answer this posting by addressing each drug separately.

AMPHETAMINES
Current demographics/trends/statistics: Please note that the most recent information that I could find from a reliable source is from 2005.
The Federal Department of Health and Human Services found these trends when they last retrieved data on amphetamine usage:
In 2004, approximately 318,000 people in the United States over the age of 12 tried amphetamines for the first time. The rate was at approximately 195,000 in 2005. Based on these numbers, you see a downward trend in the use of amphetamines. Data showed that amphetamine usage is more prevalent in large, metropolitan areas and the highest rates for amphetamine usage was found in the western part of the United States.
SOURCE: http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/2k7/meth/meth.cfm

In 2007, the National Institute of Drug Abuse found the following trends and statistics for amphetamine usage:
The percentage of 10th grade students across the country that reported amphetamine use declined (consistent with the decline from 2004 to 2005), however they did not give statistics.
SOURCE: http://www.nida.nih.gov/Infofacts/HSYouthtrends.html

As you can see, the overall trend and demographics for amphetamine usage is that while there is an overall decline across the county, young persons, middle school and high school are the primary users of this drug.

SHORT AND LONG-TERM EFFECTS:
Short-term: Increased heart rate, increase in blood pressure, decreased appetite, dizziness, blurred vision, headaches, restlessness, hallucinations, insomnia, overly happy or elated, feelings of power
Long-term: Like any other drug, it is addictive and habit forming; your brain and body can become dependent on the drug, paranoia, violent and/or aggressive behavior, insomnia, weight loss, tremors

The brain can be permanently damaged by the use of amphetamines which in turn can result in a decreased life span; there can be a lost sense of reality and even possibly permanent brain damage that can leave a person in almost a vegetative like state (this is in extreme cases).

SOURCE: ...

Purchase this Solution
Free BrainMass Quizzes
Sociology: Socialization & Social Groups

A refresher quiz on socialization.

Research Methods for Data Collection

This quiz is designed for students to help them gain a better understanding of the different types of research and when to appropriately use them.

View More Free Quizzes
Related BrainMass Solutions

  • Analysis of Variance

    For example it is useful in research such as evaluation of new drugs, where we need to examine the effects of dose, frequency of medication, effects of other drugs. Reference: 1.

  • Cultural Differences in Consumption of Drugs

    The cultural differences in consumption of drugs are examined. The impact of different ages and gender on drug use are determined.

  • Drugs' neurological effects on the brain

    346066 What are the specific neurological effects that drugs have on the brain? What are the specific neurological effects that drugs have on the brain? How is the brain affected physiologically by the presence of drugs?

  • Tricyclic Antidepressant Medications

    Different drugs in this family have different effects, and physicians can choose the drug that best fits the patient's symptoms.

  • Drugs, Amphetamine

    ) • Explain the effects Aaliyah might be experiencing as a result of her regular amphetamine use.

  • Psychoactive Affect of Drugs

    Every drug has different psychoactive effects, some have low abuse potential, meaning that they control symptoms, but do not create other psychoactive effects, like methadone, which few people abuse.

  • Ranking the Health Hazards of Drugs

    Perhaps some would not, however, as there is no consensus as how to classify these drugs and researchers use different criteria (e.g., number of deaths, number of diseases associated with, short-term effects, long-terms effects.

  • Schizophrenia Treatment

    Cite scholarly source using APA format This website seems to be implying that antipsychotic drugs do tend to help individuals that are suffering from schizophrenia, but these drugs have a variety of different side effects that may result in causing individuals

  • The Use of Psychotropic Medications

    Another reason for prescribing drugs differently for children and adults has to do with the side effects. Children are said to experience more adverse effects from psychotropic drugs than adults, because of their level of developmental maturity.

  • Affects of prescription or OTC drugs on the body

    This is different from a side effect of the drug. A side effect of a drug is the effects you get from a drug when you take it (This is usually normal).

View More Related Solutions