Routes of Exposure and How It Affects the Toxicity, Essay Example

The four categories of street drugs include depressants, stimulants, hallucinogens, and narcotics, although some drugs are classified as “other”. Depressants work by decreasing the alertness of an individual by slowing down their central nervous system. Stimulants can increase the brain’s activity. Hallucinogens have brain altering properties that cause the five senses to react to stimuli that are not present. Narcotics alter the brain in a manner that relieves pain and induces sleep. Drugs that call into the “other” category often share properties that can be used to describe one or more of the aforementioned categories (Watershed, n.d.).

Examples of depressants include heroin and alcohol, stimulants include caffeine and nicotine, hallucinogens include LSD and magic mushrooms, and narcotics include cocaine and opium. “Other” drugs are best described using marijuana as an example because it exhibits depressant, stimulant, narcotic, and hallucinogenic activity.

A majority of these drugs can be consumed in different ways. Many narcotics can be taken in pill form, while depressants can be ingested, injected, or smoked. Stimulants and hallucinogens can be taken in the same manner, and this method of entry depends on the particular drug. The route of exposure impacts the degree of toxicity. Injection and smoking are the fastest acting routes, and therefore have the most toxic effects. Ingestion is typically a slower method of consumption and is therefore less toxic.

The particular treatment used depends on the drug that an individual has become dependent on. Medications can be used to ease withdrawal symptoms, which often block brain pathways that are triggered as a consequence of the craving. Furthermore, many health facilities are available to help people overcome their drug dependence by providing them with exclusive treatment options and counseling (Drug Facts, 2009).

References

Drug Facts. (2009). DrugFacts: Treatment Approaches for Drug Addiction. Retrieved from http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/treatment-approaches-drug-addiction

Watershed. (n.d.). Drug & Alcohol Recovery and Education Centre. Retrieved from http://watershed.org.au/drug-information.html