Data from the NIH National Institute on Drug Abuse
The National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Drug Abuse lists commonly used drugs. Drugs include many substances that impair a person’s thinking and may carry significant risks to a person’s health. Many drugs are addictive and may have increased risks of infectious disease. If you are using drugs and unable to stop, you may have a substance use disorder. Millions of individuals have substance use disorder, but few people seek treatment.
Commonly used drugs include:
- Alcohol
- Cannabis
- Cocaine
- Heroin
- Prescription Opioids
- Prescription Stimulants
- Salvia
- Synthetic Cannabinoids
Each of these drugs and others can carry a serious risk of harm to the user. Alcohol, for instance, is one of the most commonly used drugs in the country. It can directly impact your brain including affecting a person’s balance, memory, judgment, and speech. It can also calls blackouts which may cause short- or long-term memory loss.
Cannabis can also have several possible health effects including mental health problems, respiratory infections, slowed reaction time, and more. Using pot in combination with alcohol can also cause an increased heart rate and high blood pressure. Additionally, it may slow mental processing and reaction time.
Seeking Treatment for Alcohol and Drug Addiction
There are treatment options for alcohol and drug addiction. It is important to seek treatment as early as possible and to continue treatment until released by a medical professional. Treatment can help a person overcome a substance use disorder. To learn more about commonly used drugs that may lead to addiction, visit the National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Drug Abuse.