Stimulants such as amphetamine, cocaine or other stimulants are popular due to their strong energizing and euphoric effects. In the initial phase, taking these substances can cause a feeling of intense energy, increased concentration and improved mood. Unfortunately, their long-term use leads to serious health, psychological and social consequences. Addiction to stimulants is a serious problem and its effects can be catastrophic.
Physical effects of stimulant use
Chronic use of stimulants is very taxing on the body. The cardiovascular system suffers first, because these substances raise blood pressure and accelerate the heart rate, which can lead to arrhythmia, hypertension, and in extreme cases even to heart attack or stroke. Additionally, amphetamine and other stimulants can damage the kidneys and liver, which results from the toxic effects of the metabolites of these substances.
Addicts often experience drastic weight loss. Stimulants suppress appetite, which leads to malnutrition and serious vitamin and mineral deficiencies, which in the long term can weaken the immune system and cause a number of other health problems. Sleep disorders also often occur - addicts cannot fall asleep, which in turn leads to chronic fatigue and even psychosis.
Psychological consequences of addiction
Addiction to stimulants very quickly affects the mental state of the person taking them. In the initial phase, mood changes, irritability and anxiety appear. The longer these substances are taken, the greater the risk of developing serious mental disorders such as depression, amphetamine psychosis, and serious paranoid states. Stimulants disrupt brain function, leading to permanent damage to the central nervous system. For this reason, people addicted to amphetamines and other stimulants often become aggressive, have hallucinations and live with a sense of constant threat.
In addition, the addict can fall into a vicious cycle: stimulants cause intense euphoria, but after they are stopped, depression appears, which forces another use. This leads to the complete destruction of the body, the inability to function normally, and the neglect of social relationships.
Social and legal consequences of stimulant use
Taking stimulants is not only a health problem, but also a social one. People addicted to them very often get into trouble with the law, lose their jobs and get into financial trouble. Addiction causes social isolation, which is a result of neglecting loved ones, as well as extreme behaviors resulting from psychosis and paranoia.
In Poland, possession, sale and distribution of drugs are severely punished, which further deepens the problems of addicts. If you are caught by the police with drugs, you can be sentenced to several years in prison. All this means that addiction to stimulants is not only a problem for an individual, but for the whole society.
How to help an amphetamine addict?
Helping someone addicted to amphetamines is a difficult challenge that requires both patience and professional support. One of the most important steps is to refer the addict to a specialist addiction treatment facility where they can go through the process of detoxification and therapy.
Psychological therapy and addiction therapy play a key role in the fight against addiction. An addicted person needs support in changing their habits, learning how to cope with stress and emotions without reaching for drugs. Many facilities offering drug rehab in Wrocław, conducts group and individual therapies, as well as family support, which is essential in the recovery process.