Tag: Substance abuse

While frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is primarily a neurodegenerative disease with genetic and pathological roots, certain medications and long-term substance abuse can induce cognitive and behavioral symptoms that closely mimic FTD. It is crucial to understand these distinctions, as drug-induced cognitive decline may be reversible in some cases, unlike the progressive nature of true FTD. This article explores the relationship between various drugs, substance misuse, and FTD-like syndromes.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, CNS depressants are substances that slow down brain activity, making them effective for treating anxiety and sleep disorders. To answer the question, **which category of drug slows down your brain?**, the primary class is known as Central Nervous System (CNS) depressants, though other types of drugs also have similar effects.

The United States federal government classifies drugs and other substances into five distinct schedules, but over half of US states have adopted their own, more restrictive controlled substance laws. This state-by-state variance is why it is critical to understand that a '1st degree controlled substance' is not a federal classification, but a severe state-level criminal offense that is often tied to large quantities of illegal substances.

According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), controlled substances are classified into five distinct categories or schedules based on their medical use and abuse potential. A **Level 1 or 2 controlled substance**, officially known as a Schedule I or Schedule II drug, represents the highest level of regulatory control due to its severe risks of abuse and dependence.

The acronym OD can be seen in casual texts, but its most serious meaning refers to a potentially fatal medical emergency, not casual exaggeration. A drug overdose occurred in the U.S. approximately 105,007 times in 2023, highlighting the critical importance of understanding what “to OD” means and recognizing its signs.

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.

According to the CDC, over 80,400 people in the U.S. died from opioid-involved overdoses in 2021. In the face of this public health crisis, a critical tool in reversing these overdoses is Narcan, which leads many to wonder **what is another name for Narcan** and how does it actually function?

A wide variety of substances can trigger pupil dilation, or mydriasis, by interfering with the body's autonomic nervous system. Understanding **what drug causes eyes to be dilated** is critical for both medical purposes and recognizing potential substance use.

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.