Know what are legal drugs and their effects

Drugs are substances that can be used in medicine (legal drugs) to cure diseases or recreationally (illegal drugs, although it may vary depending on the country) because the mind and body are altered. However, in most cases the term "drugs" is often used to refer to illegal substances that individuals consume for pleasure (either recreationally or abuse them) and that usually lead to dependence.

Find out which are the most popular legal drugs

On this occasion we will talk about the drugs that can be bought legally in any store or business, such as nicotine, alcohol, cough syrups, among others. Where we will explain what they are, what their effects are and relevant information about them.

Nicotine

It is among the drugs with legality most popular, addictive and harmful in the world. According to various studies, nearly a billion people smoke daily (although the number has managed to drop by almost 30% compared to the 90s) and in addition, approximately seven million people die each year from tobacco (the main source of nicotine, since it is not harmful but it is one of the strongest physical and psychological addictions).

Nicotine can be found in cigarettes, chewing tobacco, cigars, hookah essences or even in the liquids for vaper; where by just trying it a few times, the person can quickly create a dependency on the substance. However, there are thousands of ways to quit smoking and this increases the chances of being able to quit tobacco (including that it is an expensive addiction); although most relapse again at some point in their lives.

The effects of nicotine, as in most substances, will depend on the dose consumed. Typically used as a stimulant, it also reduces irritability and can improve memory. On the other hand, the negative effects are the following:

• High grade dependency.
• If consumption is stopped, the withdrawal syndrome can really be a nightmare; which includes symptoms such as anxiety, depression, drowsiness, headache and problems with concentration.

Alcohol

This is the first of the most widely used legal drugs in the world, which apart from causing harm to the individual who consumes it, also puts their environment at risk (violent attitudes, traffic accident, among others). People who consume it can quickly become tolerant, requiring more alcohol to become drunk. This drug is addictive both physically and psychologically.

Between the effects of alcohol we can find differences according to the amount ingested, as in most cases. If consumed in small amounts, it can produce euphoria, pleasure and a feeling of greater energy; while in greater numbers, individuals become socially uninhibited and may find antidepressant effects (one of the reasons that cause dependence on the substance).

It is considered that alcoholism (of which we will speak on another occasion) a common health problem in various parts of the world; which in excess causes negative effects on the human body, such as sleep problems, damage to neurons or heart, depression (ironically), various problems with the pancreas or liver and different disorders.

Opioids and opiates

They modify or alter the nervous system of the people who consume it, where the substances usually act as an analgesic but also have other effects of interest. Among them are several legal and illegal drugs, such as heroin, buprenorphine, methadone, papaverine, noscapine, thebaine, codeine and morphine. Each one with of them with different effects and duration of the same (although similar to each other).

Its use is usually in traditional medicine, since for example, it allows a patient with terminal cancer not to suffer from the intense pain that this disease generates. However, they are part of the more addictive legal drugs, which could lead a clinical patient to overuse the drug.

The main problem with opioids is that tolerance is also high, which means that the patient may need a higher dose to treat the symptoms they present; a problem that doctors should be aware of, as some people may be developing tolerance due to abuse of the substance.

Among the effects of opioids and opiates we find: reduce pain, drowsiness, nausea, constipation, and mental confusion. In larger quantities it can cause brain problems, especially in the areas responsible for reward or gratification; as well as they may have problems with breathing.

Caffeine

Among the most popular legal drugs we find caffeine, usually consumed in coffee; although it is also possible to find it in other drinks such as tea or foods such as dark chocolate, among others.

The effects of coffee are usually stimulating, which is why people drink coffee in the morning or evening to increase performance. Although this type of consumption can generate dependence on the substance, which despite not being harmful in low amounts (several studies have even shown that it is beneficial for health); if it is consumed in excess it can present health problems (especially for young people), such as:

• Problems in the digestive and gastrointestinal system.
• Difficulty getting to sleep.
• Nervousness.

Anabolic steroids

It is a legal drug Among the best known, they are used legally to treat problems such as below-average testosterone levels or to build muscle mass in patients with diseases such as AIDS or some types of cancer.

On the other hand, its illegal use is carried out by the majority of bodybuilders and fans of modifying the human body with respect to the size of their muscles; since it aims to build greater body mass.

The negative effects of anabolics are varied, since abuse presents mood swings more easily, predisposition to violence and paranoid attacks.

Benzodiazepines

These legal drugs have a widespread use in medicine, since it is a drug used to calm anxiety and other disorders that can produce it. It is commonly consumed in recognized medications such as Valium o rivotril for therapeutic purposes, but these can easily generate addiction due to the rapid tolerance of it and the physical dependence caused by the action of the components in the human body.

Its effects are similar to those of other drugs such as alcohol, although with a kind of sedative effect on a higher level. Its abuse can have serious consequences for the body.

Energy drinks

Energizers are also considered as drugs that can be acquired legally, since it produces stimulating effects in the body and as we saw at the beginning, any substance that modifies the body is considered as such.

The substances that stand out from the energy drinks they were the already named caffeine and also, taurine. The first being the main responsible for causing addiction or dependence and health problems when it is abused in consumption (these drinks have high doses of caffeine).

Finally, in addition to the problems mentioned in terms of abuse, it should also be noted that the drawbacks usually occur when they are combined with other substances such as alcohol, since the combination of both can be dangerous.

Cough syrups

For some time (and now more famous thanks to the musical genre Trap), the consumption of cough syrups has been a relief for addicts who cannot get strong drugs. However, today many people recreationally consume high doses of syrup to achieve intoxication and thus enjoy the effects it produces.

Among the best known compounds is codeine and the DMXBoth used to suppress a dry cough, but as we mentioned, it can alter the body in higher doses (which are easy to get just by buying a bottle).

• Codeine is part of the substances that are extracted from opium, that is, it is part of opioids. It generates sedative and analgesic effects. In some countries it is possible to get it without a prescription, although lately they have become more strict.
• DMX for its part is also an opioid, which causes intoxications similar to those of marijuana and alcohol, stimulating effects and in high doses it can be highly dissociative, that is, similar to a hallucinogen.

Both are legal drugs that can be purchased in pharmacies with a wide variety of options, since they are not only present in some cough syrups, They can also be found in cold lozenges.

The negative effects of the substances are usually blurred vision, problems in the digestive system, psychological problems that can last for different periods of time depending on the dose ingested and in high doses can present psychotic outbreaks or cause brain damage (if also use constantly).

We hope that this post with the most popular legal drugs and a brief description of their characteristics has been to your liking. If you have any doubts or questions, don't forget to write us in the comment box.