Other Drugs

Caffeine acts a mild stimulant that prevents drowsiness and promotes mental alertness. It works by mimicking adenosine, a brain chemical that signals sleepiness, and blocking its ability to communicate through the mind and body.

In a college environment, caffeine’s presence can be felt everywhere - many students intake this substance without even realizing they have. On weekends, students trying to relax may even get a headache from withdrawals.

So, what information do you need to know before you decide to grab that coffee before class?

Caffeine and Academics

Students overwhelmingly cite using caffeine as a means of increasing their academic performance. By promoting alertness, students find themselves able to stay awake longer and focus on studying/working.

On the flip side, the stimulant effects of caffeine can impede a restful night of sleep, produce anxiety, and make a person jittery and unable to focus. These effects can hurt a student while trying to finish a paper or take an exam.  

In general, the FDA has found that moderate use of caffeine (300-400mg daily) will give a user the benefits while minimizing the unpleasant side effects. Be sure to note how much you are intaking with your daily coffee, soda, or energy drink.

Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025. 9th Edition. December 2020. Available at DietaryGuidelines.gov.

Cocaine is a highly addictive stimulant drug that has significant harmful effects on an individual’s overall well-being.

Cocaine grants a user a quick, powerful wave of euphoria after use. Many first experiment with use in party settings. Be advised that these powerful stimulant effects may cause anxiety, panic attacks, heart attacks, strokes, bouts of violent behavior, and even overdose.

Cocaine’s effects on the brain

On a microscopic level, cocaine’s shape allows it to block channels in the brain that absorb chemicals with stimulating, “feel-good” properties – dopamine, serotonin, and epinephrine (adrenaline). These cocaine-blockades cause the chemicals in our brain to build up beyond their usual levels.

The increased dopamine and serotonin levels elevate people’s moods, causing euphoria.

The increased adrenaline, on the other hand, puts your body into a fight or flight state, which may also cause fidgeting, anxiety, paranoia, or aggressive behavior.

If a person were to use multiple times, the brain would begin to adapt to cocaine’s shape and release less dopamine in response, which makes two things happen:

1. Without a stimulant, a person may experience withdrawals as their chemical levels are thrown off.
2. A person would need to use more to get the same feelings of euphoria.

This is known as drug tolerance and is a leading reason why overdoses can happen on a drug like cocaine.

Cocaine’s effects on the body

Short-Term (can occur with a single use)

• constricted blood vessels
• dilated pupils
• nausea
• raised body temperature and blood pressure
• fast or irregular heartbeat
• tremors and muscle twitches
• restlessness

Long-Term Effects (can occur over time with repeated use)

• snorting:loss of smell, nosebleeds, frequent runny nose, and problems with swallowing
• smoking:cough, asthma, respiratory distress, and higher risk of infections like pneumonia
• consuming by mouth:severe bowel decay from reduced blood flow
• needle injection:higher risk for contracting HIV, hepatitis C, and other bloodborne diseases, skin or soft tissue infections, as well as scarring or collapsed veins

 (Source- NIDA- Cocaine DrugFacts | National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) (nih.gov)

What are common prescription stimulants?

Adderall, Ritalin, Concerta, Vyvanse, Dexedrine

How do students misuse prescription stimulants?

Misuse is defined as:

• Taking medicine in a way or dose other than how it is prescribed by your physician
• Taking another person’s medication
• Taking the medication for reasons other than its prescribed purpose

Stimulants’ effects on the brain and body

• Brain sees increase in chemicals called dopamine and norepinephrine. Dopamine is responsible for the pleasure feeling you feel, while norepinephrine contributes to affecting blood vessels, blood pressure, heart rate, blood sugar, and breathing.
• At high doses, prescription stimulants can lead to dangerously high body temperature, irregular heartbeat, heart failure, and seizures
• Repeated misuse can lead to episodes of irritability, paranoia/anxiety, and even psychosis.

Can a person overdose on prescription stimulants?

Yes. An overdose can occur when the individual has used enough to elicit life-threatening reactions.

Can prescription stimulant misuse lead to substance use disorder and addiction?

Yes. Continual misuse can cause a person to develop tolerance, causing a need to use more frequently, and eventually lead to a substance use disorder (SUD). An SUD develops when continued use of the drug leads to negative consequences such as health problems or failure to meet responsibilities at work, school, or home.

Adderall:

Adderall is a leading prescription stimulant of choice for most college students, mainly because of its perceived effectiveness for academic studies.

As of now, Adderall is FDA-approved drug to treat ADHD and narcolepsy because of its ability to positively improve the body’s impulse control and hyperactivity.

Sedatives/Benzodiazepines are central-nervous system depressants that produce sedation, sleep, relieve anxiety and prevent seizures. Providers prescribe these medications to treat anxiety, panic disorders, and some sleep disorders. https://www.campusdrugprevention.gov/drugs/benzodiazepines

What are common prescription sedatives?

Xanax, Valium, Klonopin, Ativan

How do students misuse prescription sedatives?

• Taking medicine in a way or dose other than how it is prescribed by your physician
• Taking another person’s medication
• Taking the medication only for its effect, rather than its prescribed purpose

Sedatives’ effects on the brain and body

Prescription sedatives are Central Nervous System Depressants, meaning they slow down activity and communication in the brain and body.

• slurred speech
• poor concentration
• confusion
• headache
• light-headedness
• dizziness
• dry mouth
• problems with movement and memory
• lowered blood pressure
• slowed breathing

Can an individual overdose on sedatives?

Yes. This can occur when someone has taken enough of the drug to the point where brain activity is too sedated to tell the heart to pump and the lungs to breathe.

Can a prescription sedative lead to a substance use disorder and addiction?

Yes. Continual misuse can cause a person to develop tolerance, causing a need to use more frequently, and can eventually lead to a substance use disorder. An SUD develops when continued use of the drug leads to negative consequences such as health problems or failure to meet responsibilities at work, school, or home.

(https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/prescription-cns-depressants)

This class of drugs often works by trapping extra serotonin in your brain and activating uncommonly used connections between brain cells, causing a range of cognitive and emotional effects. Currently, in the US, these drugs have no known medical use and are illegal nationally.  

What are common hallucinogens?

LSD/Acid, Psilocybin/Shrooms, Ecstasy/MDMA/Molly, Peyote, Ketamine, PCP

Note that some of these drugs may produce solely hallucinogenic effects, while others may also have dissociative or stimulant effects.

Hallucinogen’s effects on the brain

• euphoria
• increased sensory sensitivity
• warped perception of time and space
• changes in visual field
  • enhanced colors
  • seeing patterns where none exist
  • “breathing” effect when looking at textures
• thought loops (cannot stop thinking about one thing/concept)
• mood changes/shifts
• paranoia
• anxiety
• ego death – acute perception of loss of one’s identity

Some specific hallucinogens may also have a stimulant (MDMA) or dissociative (Ketamine, PCP) effects, which can increase the risk of negative outcomes for health and safety.

Hallucinogens’ effects on the body

• increased perspiration
  • risk of dehydration
  • dry mouth
• tension in muscles
• clenching of jaw
• increased heart rate and respiration
• nausea

Can you overdose on hallucinogens?

It depends on the substance. Acid and Shrooms, on their own, cannot cause a fatal overdose. Other hallucinogens with stimulant or dissociative effects can cause a fatal overdose as the body’s organs are put under too much stress.

High doses of any hallucinogen can cause a condition called Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder (HPPD). This disorder causes “flashbacks” to the trip and can continue to occur weeks to months after a heavy dose is ingested.

Notably, it is difficult to know whether a drug is purely comprised of one substance or cut with others, so an individual should ALWAYS show caution if deciding to experiment.

Source: https://www.camh.ca/en/health-info/mental-illness-and-addiction-index/hallucinogens

Narcotics, also known as opioids, work by binding brain receptors for pain. They are well-known for their painkilling and addictive qualities. In college, students have reported experimenting with use as a means of reducing academic stress/tensions or to experience a high.

Notably, this class of drugs can quickly cause a buildup of psychological and physical dependence, which can facilitate the progression of experimental use into chronic use/abuse.

What are common narcotics?

Oxycodone, Oxycontin, Morphine, Hydromorphone, Opium

Narcotics’ effects on the brain and body 

• slowing of respiration and heart rate
• reduction of anxiety, tension, and aggression
• euphoria/numbness
• nausea/vomiting
• physical dependence
• flushed skin
• constipation

Can you overdose on narcotics?

Yes, particularly in cases where the user has built up a tolerance to the effects. These overdose effects can be fatal, so it’s important to know the symptoms/signs so a person can seek immediate medical attention for someone in distress.

Physically, a narcotics overdose can be spotted by

• Constricted pupils
• Cold, clammy skin
• Slowed breathing
• Convulsions
• Potential loss of consciousness/Extreme drowsiness

Narcan: You Can Save a Life

Fortunately, there is a medication called Naloxone (Narcan) that can reverse the effects of a narcotic overdose. This nasal spray can be purchased over the counter and comes with easy instructions for application.

To learn more information and find trainings near you, visit this website: https://www.narcan.com/

Source: https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2020-04/Drugs%20of%20Abuse%202020-Web%20Version-508%20compliant-4-24-20_0.pdf

Inhalants are substances, often found in household items, that produce chemical vapors with mind-altering effects. This class of drug is commonly misused given its accessibility. The legality of these substances, however, should not imply their use is not dangerous.  

What are common inhalants?

• Whippets (Nitrous Oxide)
• Poppers (Amyl Nitrites)

Inhalants’ effects on the brain and body

Once inhaled, these chemicals quickly enter the bloodstream through the lungs. Within seconds, they will enter the brain, giving users a high that lasts a few minutes. Inhalants’ effects are similar to an anesthetic – slowing down the body and mind and producing a numbing feeling. Unlike alcohol, these effects are produced by temporarily restricting oxygen supply to the brain.

Short-Term Use

• stimulation/euphoria
• lack of coordination
• dizziness
• muscle relaxation
• changes in or loss of sensations in arms/legs
• loss of consciousness

After a session of heavy use, a user may experience drowsiness and a lingering headache.

Long-Term Use

• irritability
• deterioration of vision
• damage to central nervous system
• heart arrythmia

Can you overdose on inhalants?

Fatal overdose is possible – this occurs with a heavy use session, where a user keeps inhaling to “refresh” their high. If too much of the chemical is inhaled in a sustained time frame, it can overwhelm the respiratory and nervous systems by restricting oxygen for too long, causing a loss of consciousness or heart palpitations.

Section Sources:

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15742-inhalant-abuse

https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2020-04/Drugs%20of%20Abuse%202020-Web%20Version-508%20compliant-4-24-20_0.pdf