A Depressant Versus Amphetamines:The Opposite of a Drug or Drugs like Depressants and Stimulants
Amphetamines are drugs which speed up certain neurotransmitters in the brain. They are also known as stimulants because they increase feelings of energy, well-being, and alertness. A drug like depressants are described as opposites of an amphetamine because stimulants increase breathing and heart rate while depressants slow these functions in the brain.
What are Depressant Drugs?
Depressants are a drug that depresses the central nervous system in the body. Some depressants are actually prescribed to help with symptoms of anxiety or depression. Although some depressants can be given as a prescription medication by a healthcare professional to treat mental health disorders, depressants are often used for recreational purposes. Often, people can become addicted to depressants due to the calming, relaxing effects they cause in the body.
So what drugs are depressants? The most commonly used depressants include alcohol, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, opioids, and cannabis. Some of these drugs can be prescribed by a doctor and are considered illegal, while others are illicit drugs.
Effects of Depressants
Many people want to know what depressants do to the body? Some of the mental and physical effects of depressants include:
Mental side effects of depressants include:
- Confusion or disorientation
- Impaired cognition
- Impaired judgment
- Lowered reaction time
- Amnesia
Physical side effects from abusing depressants include:
- Depressed, slowed, or irregular breathing
- Low blood pressure
- Nausea and vomiting
- Blurry or double vision
- Lightheadedness
- Headaches
- Physical weakness from relaxed muscles
If you or someone you know needs help with any type of drug addiction or substance abuse problem, including a prescription drug or also stimulants please contact our support team for information on our treatment. We can help you make a full recovery.
Mixing Depressants
It can be dangerous and cause serious effects to mix certain drug depressants and also stimulants with other depressants. For example, you may wonder what can happen by mixing alcohol and other depressants. It can also be potentially life threatening to mix a depressant with other depressants due to the serious side effects that can occur when both are taken together.
Mixing alcohol and other depressant drugs, including prescription medications means that the person will become more intoxicated more quickly; this can lead to physical harm from falling after losing balance, becoming the victim of a crime like assault or rape, and drug overdose.
Uppers (Stimulants) Versus Downers (Depressants)
A stimulant drug (uppers) like cocaine or adderall, are drugs that speed up a person’s body and brain. Stimulant drugs are a class of psychoactive drugs that provide health effects such as temporary improvements in mental or physical functioning, thus elevating mood and increasing feelings of wellbeing, energy and alertness. A drug like this is often used as a way of a “pick me up” or strategy to increase someone’s energy.
A depressant drug (downers) works by slowing down the central nervous system, and causes health effects such as drowsiness, relaxation, and decreased inhibitions. This is different from what a stimulant does because it is causing an opposite effect.
Why are Depressants Classified as the Opposite of Stimulants?
Depressants are classified as opposite as stimulants because of the effects that they have on your brain, health and the way that they may a person feel. While stimulants cause a person’s heart, blood, temperature and breathing rates to rise, depressants cause them to fall. Both classes of these drugs can cause abuse in a manner which leads to withdrawal, dependence, tolerance, and overdose while taking these drugs.
A good example is that many people will take a drug from each class of depressants and stimulants together so that they can enjoy the effects of one longer. For instance when people drink alcohol and begin to feel its depressant qualities. They might want to keep partying and stay full of energy, so they take cocaine to reduce the relaxed state, fatigue, and intoxication which accompanies alcohol.
Drug Abuse and Addiction To Stimulants and Depressants in the US
Substance abuse and addiction is a national growing problem that affects many people and their families all over the world, including the US. Some of the most common and legal drugs are often abused despite it being an “acceptable” thing to do in social settings. There are also many drugs that are given as prescription medications or used for health reasons but can still cause addiction or abuse to occur.
There are many treatment programs and therapy available to treat drug addiction. With the right treatment program it is possible to move into recovery and become free from drugs or alcohol. At AToN Center our programs are centered around each person that comes to us, no matter what type of addiction or substance abuse they are struggling with. We treat many addictions including abuse to a substance such as a prescription drug.
Treatment Help at AToN Center
AToN Center is a drug rehab center located in beautiful San Diego, CA on a plush 2 acre estate between hills between the Pacific Ocean and the upscale neighborhood of Rancho Santa Fe. Our treatment programs offer addiction and substance abuse education, drug detox, individualized treatment methods, family counseling, and other holistic care options that are used to treat addiction.
We understand that addiction and substance abuse affect both physical health and also mental health in a person. This is why cognitive behavioral health strategies are highly used in each of our patients. Programs like our treatment facility are unlike any others in the US and we focus on the client and their family. We continue treatment care past recovery, and our alumni clients still check in with us on a constant basis.
At our program we understand the effects that addiction and substance abuse can cause to a person’s mental and physical state but with the right treatment help in our program, individuals can achieve full recovery.
If you or someone you know is suffering from addiction and is looking for a treatment center, please contact us in regards to our addiction treatment and substance abuse program.
