Party Substances – Defined and Described

Posted by admin on Oct 20, 2009 in Featured Articles | 0 comments

Alcohol
What it is: A chemical called ethanol. It is made from fruits and grains. Alcohol gets into the bloodstream and is absorbed very quickly. It crosses the blood-brain barrier soon after and begins to effect one’s brain and behaviour.

Immediate effects: Alcohol has a disinhibiting effect on one’s behaviour. It makes people feel less inhibited, with different people feeling its effects differently. Eventually alcohol becomes a sedative to the point of unciousness. In the first part of the dose-response curve, the disinhibition can have gearing up effects heightening one’s mood, but overall alcohol is a depressant.

Long-term effects: Several studies have indicated one drink of wine a day has a cardio protective effect. When one goes beyond 1-2 drinks a day, one sees increases in liver disease, stomach ulsers, and high blood pressure.

Tobacco
What it is: Plant leaves that contain nicotine, a poisonous chemical often used as an insecticide. An inhaled substances have an incredibly quick effect because they are inhaled through the lungs. The reason it is so addictive is because the faster something comes into one’s system, the more addictive it will be.

Immediate effects: Nicotine is a stimulant, and has vasoconstrictive activities, increasing heart rate. Feelings of tension and tiredness become relieved, and depending on the person, one may experience sick feelings, dizziness, or lightheadedness.

Long-term effects: Lung and heart damage, a much greater likelihood of contracting lung, mouth, or throat cancer. In addition to the well-known effects, users of tobacco products have increased blood pressure, and reduced senses of taste and smell. Studies also indicate the likelihood of contracting several other diseases also increase dramatically for smokers.

Marijuana
What it is: Leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds of the plant Cannabis sativa. Chemicals found in marijuana effect the nervous system.

Immediate effects: Physical effects include reaction time slowing down, eyes becoming blood shot, dryness felt in throat, mouth, and lips, and an increase in appetite. Psychological effects include feeling calm and sleepy, as well as losing all track of time and having difficulty completing basic tasks. Many users of marijuana users feel an increased ability to think and that using the drug gives them an ability to think differently that normal.

Long-term effects: Lung cancer, difficulty remembering things, and a lower ability to fight off colds and the flu. In addition, studies have indicated men experience a decrease in sperm count and women experience a disruption in menstrual periods and ovulation.

Sleep Deprivation
What it is: The recommended amount of sleep for 18-22 year olds is between 7-8 hours a night. Sleep deprivation is characterized by having too little sleep. This can either be chronic or acute. Some studies indicate North American adults are getting one hour of sleep less than a generation ago.

Immediate effects: Decreased memory and decreased cognitive function are two immediate effects of sleep deprivation. The immune system functions at a lower capacity, and is less able to fight off the diseases one’s body comes in contact with regularly. Studies have also indicated that people that are sleep-deprived are at least as dangerous when driving as people that are drunk. Other effects include an increase in irritability, headaches, sore muscles, and dry mouth.

Long-term effects: Higher stress levels, an increased likelihood of becoming depressed, and weight gain. In extreme cases, sleep deprivation can be fatal.