Research Paper: Pharmacology

Pharmacology
Institution
Date
Introduction
The effects of drugs and their chemical actions are harmful to human life. Consumption of these substances proves fatal to an individual’s body, and their recurrent use leads to damaging consequences. Some of the damaging consequences may include failure to meet one's responsibility, putting an individual into a state of dependence on drugs. Drugs also are considered the number one cause of road accidents and many people who use drugs have problems with the law. The effects of drugs widely vary, and it is imperative that we turn our nations into drug-free environments.
Comparison and Contrasts
Drug classification falls into different ways. They can be structured according to their chemical structure, their common effects, their addiction liability, or by an enforcement schedule (Ahmed, 2014). This classification system is by its common effects. The accepted structure of the classification includes stimulants, narcotics, depressants, and hallucinogens and cannabis.
Stimulants
These types of drugs known for their nature in giving a user a sense of alertness or arousal, an improved sense of well-being, and an enhanced perception of energy. Its physiological responses results in an increased blood pressure increased breathing frequency, flushed skin, heart rate, and perspiration. Excessive consumptions of this drug may cause a user to experience instances of dizziness, mood swings, headache, irritability, chest pains, palpations, death, and hallucinations (Ahmed, 2014). The most commonly known and used Stimulants include nicotine mainly found in tobacco, caffeine, tea and other drinks and food.
Depressants
Depressants as compared to stimulants are drugs mainly used to induce sleep and relaxation upon a user. These drugs act upon the body by depressing or inhibiting an individual’s central nervous systems activities. According to Ray (2014), some aspects of the brain control the outward behaviors of a person when excessively used, an inhibition of these controls inhibits. This results in behavior not happening in a normal way. When persons consume these drugs, they lose the ability to make sound judgments. Some of the physiological responses associated with the use of depressants include reduced tensions, slurred speech, anxiety relief, relaxed muscles, and a staggered gait (Ray, 2014). However, excessive consumptions may result in slowed breathing, weakness, rapid pulses, coma, clammy skin, and death.
Hallucinogens
This type of drug is responsible to alter human perception and mood and are considered complex in the categories of drug. Physiological effects of the drug include elevations in blood pressure, heart rate, pupil dilation, and erratic behavior (Ray, 2014). Hallucinogens are also known to cause impaired social functioning, paranoia, a distortion of time reality, and a disassociation of time and space. Excessive use of this type of substance can lead to difficulties with speech and thinking, memory loss, depression, and weight loss.
Narcotics
Narcotics refer to substances used to ind...