People tend to believe if you are prescribed medication from a GP for example then it’s safe and fine, but this is not always the case. An individual can become reliant on whatever this pharmaceutical substance is. What begins as a short-term measure to relieve pain or aid with trouble sleeping can become a major issue.
Some of the legal highs which have hit the headlines in recent years include:
- Spice – Replicating the doping effect of cannabis, spice is one of the brands which has gained notoriety following reports of its widespread use in prisons. It comes as a smoking mix and has been known to cause paranoia, delirious ranting and hallucinations. Similar drugs go by the names black mamba and annihilation.
- Laughing gas – Otherwise known as nitrous oxide, laughing gas comes in canisters and is used recreationally after being inhaled, often out of balloons. It gives users a light-headed, euphoric feeling that lasts for several seconds, but, due to it depriving the body of oxygen, can be fatal when taken in excess.
- Salvia – Unlike other synthetic legal highs, salvia comes from a plant. It is still sold in many so-called headshops, but only on the proviso that it is not marketed for human consumption. When smoked or chewed, it can create a hallucinogenic experience.
- Mephedrone – The drug which also goes by the name “mcat” and “meow meow” shot into the public spotlight in 2010 following a string of deaths. It mimics the effects of many amphetamines such as speed and MDMA, providing similar feelings of elation, but with a potentially deadly impact on the heart and central nervous system. It was outlawed within months and is currently a class B drug.
The act of swallowing a tablet can trigger the reward centre in the brain and release dopamine. The body may crave the perceived pain relief, or you may believe you cannot sleep or function without a certain medication.
The basis of this addiction mirrors any other short-term relief of a long-term problem, ignoring the long-term consequences. The behaviour tragically duplicates that of street drug addiction. Lies, manipulation, obsession, and declining mental & physical health ensue.
The good news is any addiction is treatable and we deal with an ever-widening spectrum of addictions day in and day out.