What Are Street Drugs?
Street drugs are substances that are illicitly made by both unscrupulous and unprofessional individuals or criminals. These drugs are sold in an uncontrolled environment and often produce unpredictable effects.
Some of the most common examples are:
- Crystal Meth
- Ecstasy
- Spice
- MDMA
- K2
Those who use street drugs likely don’t know where they were made, who made them, and what exactly is in the product they are about to put into their bodies. Potency is another unknown variable that makes it impossible to properly determine dosage and predict the severity or reaction of the effects the drug will have. The use of these substances are extremely dangerous and even one instance of experimentation can have deadly consequences. These and more are some of the myriad reasons why using one of these substances even a single time could be the start of an addiction difficult to escape, brain damage, or death, and why one might need the help of a detox program.
Length of Detox
In almost all cases of detox connected with street drugs, a professional detox program with group therapy and individual counseling is essential to one’s long-term recovery. This treatment greatly helps manage mild to severe withdrawal symptoms, all while providing the tools for a smooth transition into long-term sobriety. A detox program with follow up treatment will also reduce the rate or even possibility of relapse and other withdrawal related complications.
There are several factors that contribute to the length of time it takes to detox from street drugs. The first of which is determining just what substance or substances were used and how recently. We also need to factor in how much was ingested, frequency of use, and method of ingestion. These all affect the level of dependence the brain and body may have developed to the substances. For some people, the street drug detox period will last about a week. Individuals with a severe chemical dependence and further progressed addiction may experience various withdrawal symptoms over a more extended period of time, even up to months, as the nature of the chemicals put into the body is often unknown. It is possible that some of the damage done by these drugs might even be irreversible.
Symptoms of Withdrawal
- Muscle aches, pains
- Gastrointestinal distress
- Aggression or agitation
- Bone and Joint Pain
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Increased sensitivity to pain
- Suicidal ideations
- Restlessness, irritability
- Other physical symptoms
How to Spot Street Drug Addiction
Due to the nature of manufacturing these compounds, it is impossible to know just what the short or long term physical, emotional or psychological effects will produce when these substances are ingested. These synthetic street drugs are in many ways an unknown and often quickly lead to addiction and physical dependence. These drugs are made by so-called ‘chemists’ or ‘cooks’ that do not have proper training or a scientific background. They are unethical criminals that are primarily motivated by money and do not care about whom they might hurt or the lives they might destroy along the way.
If you sense that a loved one may be abusing street drugs, trust your instincts and take action to intervene now.
Symptoms of Street Drug Abuse
- Lethargy or insomnia
- Skin flushed
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Neglect of hygiene and grooming
- Slow or labored breathing
- Runny nose and cold symptoms
- Impaired speech
- Eyelids hanging low
- Pinpointed or dilated pupils
- Necessity to impulsively scratch
- Nausea and vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Erratic thinking or behavior
The Dangers of Street Drugs
Most illicitly-made drugs are made in dirty apartments, kitchens, bathrooms, and warehouses. They might even be marketed as providing a “safe-high” even though they are made with highly addictive substances such as heroin or fentanyl. This is done intentionally to create a dependency that keeps customers coming back for more, time and time again.
While the use of pharmaceutical drugs carry some risks, street drugs bring with them entirely more dangerous possibilities, as the contents are truly known. MDMA, ecstasy, methamphetamines, and other street and synthetic drugs could have been “manufactured” in any number of environments with unsanitary practices to boot.
Common Health Risks
Although we understand how alcohol, cocaine, and heroin impacts an individual’s health over a long period of time, there is little known about street drugs. This is why it is absolutely critical to avoid the use of these substances or to discontinue use immediately.
A major complication that is brought forth by the unknowns of many variables of street drugs and their composition is that it is very difficult to understand exactly what the long term effects are and their causes. However, brain scans of individuals who have used these synthetic drugs show clear brain damage. Scans using gamma rays and single photon emission tomography technology allow doctors to develop 3D brain images revealing the extent of street drug-related brain damage. Blood vessels become have been seen to become impaired and constrict circulation to various regions of the brain, causing gaps of function that may never heal.
Overdose and Death
Synthetic fentanyl(an opioid) is the number one cause for overdose deaths today, as it is hundreds of times stronger than even heroin, but other street drugs are also major contributors. Overdose and possible death is the greatest risk with taking these illicit substances. As there is so little known about the composition of these substances, there is no way to know how much will cause an overdose. Unaware of what addictive substances are present, a person will not be able to predict if they will develop signs of addiction. Every single time a synthetic street drug is ingested, they may be progressing their addiction in addition to their risk of death.
Here are signs that you or someone you love can look for:
- Craving, urges and a mental obsession to use
- Depression, paranoia & anxiety
- Impaired judgment; memory loss
- Physical dependence, or withdrawal like symptoms when one is not using the drug
- Neglect of responsibilities; failure to meet obligations
- Increased tolerance
- Isolation
- Spending time with nefarious characters; people who share drug habits
- Financial issues
Looking for Immediate Help?
Speak with an Addiction Advisor. Call the number below.
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Level Up Palm Beach County
Florida
(855) 719-1599
