Category: Substance abuse

In 1955, enough barbiturates were produced in the USA to treat 10 million people for an entire year [1.3.3]. **What are barbiturates?** They are a class of central nervous system (CNS) depressants now largely replaced due to significant risks [1.2.5, 1.3.1].

In 2020, an estimated 3.7 million Americans aged 12 or older misused prescription stimulants like Adderall [1.4.1]. The pivotal question many ask is, 'What street drug is Adderall close to?' The answer, grounded in chemistry, is methamphetamine.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, over 7 million Americans used hallucinogens in 2021, highlighting the widespread use of substances that alter consciousness. This diverse category of substances, often described by the keyword **What is a drug that alters reality?**, includes psychedelics and dissociative drugs that profoundly distort a person's perception of the world. Understanding their distinct mechanisms and effects is crucial for grasping their impact on the human mind.

Nearly half of people over age 12 in the U.S. have used marijuana, one of many drugs with a distinctive, often bizarre smell. Beyond the recognizable skunky odor of cannabis, a crucial aspect of pharmacology and public health is understanding what drug has a weird smell.

According to the DEA, prescription stimulant use, including misuse of prescription stimulants like Adderall and Ritalin, is rising among adolescents and young adults. A common way to refer to these medications is with various slang terms, but knowing what is the slang term for prescription stimulants is crucial for understanding the risks associated with non-medical use.

Known as central nervous system (CNS) depressants, "downer drugs" are a broad class of substances that slow down brain function to produce a calming and sedative effect. This category of medications and illicit substances has developed a wide variety of slang terms used to conceal their abuse, making it crucial to know **what is the slang for downer drugs?** to understand the scope of the issue.

In 2019 alone, over 17 million prescriptions were written for Xanax, making it one of America's most prescribed anti-anxiety medications. Despite this widespread use, the question of **why is Xanax so controlled?** stems from its significant potential for dependence, abuse, and life-threatening interactions, which led the DEA to classify it as a Schedule IV controlled substance.

According to research on chronic pain, many patients develop a tolerance to their opioid pain medication over time, requiring higher doses for the same pain relief. The prime example of this physiological change is opioid tolerance, which illustrates how the body adapts to a drug's presence and requires increased doses to achieve the initial effect.

The human pupil is involuntarily controlled by the intricate balance of the autonomic nervous system. A variety of substances can disrupt this balance, which is the core reason **why do pupils dilate when using drugs** like stimulants and hallucinogens.

Pupil dilation, known medically as mydriasis, is an involuntary nervous system response that can be triggered by various medications and substances. Understanding the cause of this effect is the first step in learning **how to stop dilated pupils from drugs**, but direct reversal is generally not possible without medical intervention.