In this blog, we often write about substance use disorders from a general perspective. That is to say, we lump all substance use disorders together without talking about any drug in particular. In one sense, that generalization is appropriate given that the process of overcoming a substance use disorder and then building a life free from drugs is the same no matter what substances have been in play.
In another sense, though, it can be helpful to think about drugs individually. That is true for any number of reasons, including that drugs have different impacts on your wellbeing over time and that some drugs might seem safer than others for one reason or another. Calling out the impacts and very real dangers of a wide array of specific drugs can be a helpful exercise.
To that end, we are going to consider three specific drugs in this blog post, drawing on some material we have shared in the past. The process will be as easy as ABC.
A Is for Ambien
Sleep is so important to every aspect of our lives, but unfortunately, many people struggle mightily to get the rest they need. As we noted in the post titled “Sleep Is Essential—But Be Careful With Ambien,” one in every four people in the United States has at least one bout of insomnia each year.
Ambien (generic name: zolpidem) is a powerful sleep aid that can provide relief from ongoing sleeplessness. It is a prescription medication and—importantly—it is intended as a short-term solution. Some people find themselves ignoring their doctor’s instructions and using the drug in unsafe ways or for long periods of time. That is the path to a substance use disorder.
In the post linked above, we discussed alternatives to sleep aids that you can try if you are having trouble getting the appropriate amount of rest. But we also acknowledged that Ambien—when used carefully and responsibly—can be truly helpful. We provided some warning signs that might indicate you are developing an issue with Ambien, the first of which (You decide to take a little more than the prescribed dose in the hope of a deeper or longer period of sleep) might seem like no big deal, but is, in fact, very dangerous.
We encourage you to read the full blog at the link. Also, we would be remiss if we did not note that A could also be for alcohol. Here’s our latest post about the dangers of drinking.
B Is for Bath Salts
We would be the first to admit that bath salts do not really sound like a dangerous drug. But the fact is, they are one of a number of so-called club drugs that people take in an effort to amplify a good time. We considered them in a blog titled “Ecstasy and Bath Salts – Club Drugs with Different Names but the Same Dangers.”
As we noted in that post, those pushing bath salts are trying to be sneaky:
Purveyors of the club drug known as “bath salts” are actually engaged in a bit of misdirection. In order to avoid detection as someone who is selling drugs, they sell the drug as if it were, in fact, for putting in the bath. They might also disguise it as plant food or as a cleaner for your jewelry or phone screen. But if you are in the know, you will know what you are really getting is a synthetic drug…
That synthetic drug can lead to a whole lot of real problems, so we encourage you to read the post at the link in full (alphabetical bonus: E is for Ecstasy).
C Is for Cocaine
Cocaine might seem glamorous. After all, it shows up in songs and movies and books and—for at least a little while—it seems to offer its users energy and feelings of euphoria. But as we pointed out in an entry titled “It’s a Trap: Taking Cocaine is not the Proper Path to More Energy and Happiness,” the downsides outweigh the upsides in a hurry. We wrote in part:
Those positive feelings are a trap. Once a person has experienced them, they are likely to want to keep feeling them. So they keep taking cocaine. Over time, they build up a tolerance to the drug, which means they must take more and more of it to achieve the same high. The positive feelings are increasingly hard to come by, and so more and more of the drug is ingested.
As a person takes cocaine in increasingly large amounts, a range of negative side effects is going to chip away at any good feelings the drug might still provide.
You can see the full list of terrible side effects related to cocaine—as well as the very serious symptoms of cocaine withdrawal—in the original post at the link.
D Is for Done with Drugs
Located near Wichita, Kansas, Bel Aire Recovery Center provides personalized treatment plans for individuals struggling with drugs or alcohol. We also treat co-occurring mental health disorders that may be entangled with your substance use disorder. When you are ready to make an essential change to your life, we are ready to help you do so.
