III. Stimulants

What are stimulants?

As the name suggests,§ stimulants increase alertness, attention, and energy, as well as elevate blood pressure and increase heart rate and respiration.

Stimulants historically were§ used to treat asthma and other respiratory problems, obesity, neurological disorders, and a variety of other ailments.

As their potential for abuse and addiction became apparent, the medical use of stimulants began to wane.§

Now, stimulants are§ prescribed for the treatment of only a few health conditions, including narcolepsy, ADHD, and depression that has not responded to other treatments.

How do stimulants affect my brain and body?

Stimulants increase your blood pressure and heart rate§

Constrict your blood vessels§

Increase blood glucose§

Open up the pathways of your respiratory system§

They may also induce in you a sense of euphoria§

What happens to me when I abuse a stimulant?

As with other drugs of abuse, you risk becoming dependent upon or addicted to stimulants.§

By repeatedly use of some stimulants over a short period may induce in you feelings of hostility or paranoia.§

When you take high doses of a§ stimulant you risk exposing yourself to dangerously high body temperature and an irregular heartbeat.

When using stimulants you risk suffering cardiovascular failure or lethal seizures.§