THE 16 MOST DANGEROUS DRUGS AND THEIR EFFECTS - ARTE - 2024

I show you a list of the most dangerous and common drugs in the world, with serious effects on the nervous system, which can even be irreversible. Drug use has spread over the years, causing great problems for society. Not in vain, many governments try to put an end to this consumption.

The classification of drugs can be done according to their legal status, their pharmacology or whether they are hard and soft. Regarding the former, their status usually varies depending on the country.

Legal drugs are substances that are accepted and their consumption is totally legal. They can be used in accordance with the wishes of the consumer. Examples of this group are alcoholic beverages or tobacco.

Medicinal drugs are used by prescription. They must be prescribed by an authoritative expert. Typically, its use is limited to sleep disorders, mood disorders or painful (pain reliever) diseases.

Drugs or illicit substances are illegal and their consumption is prohibited, prosecuted and punished by law. Next to them is a great hidden market that moves all over the world.

According to its pharmacology, there are depressant drugs (they slow down and make it difficult to rationalize, pulse or blood pressure), stimulant drugs (they activate physical and neurological activity) and hallucinogenic drugs (they produce changes in perception, consciousness or emotions, such as LSD) or opioid drugs (they produce comfort and elimination of pain, such as morphine, methadone or heroin).

Regarding their intensity, hard drugs cause addiction and dependence, both physical and mental together. Among them we can find cocaine, opioids, amphetamines or even alcohol.

Soft drugs are substances whose addition is only physical or psychological, never at the same time. Typical of this group is cannabis or caffeine.

The most dangerous drugs for health

Cocaine

This substance is called as "the champagne of drugs" due to its high price. You have most likely heard about her in various films, most of them being one more protagonist.

The feeling it produces is one of well-being and affects practically the entire body. Its consequences range from a stroke or heart attack to death.

It is one of the most addictive drugs on the market, which has been capable of destroying the lives of thousands of people around the world. Without going any further, ten percent of adults in the United States had used this substance at some point.

Whoonga

Source: BONGINKOSI

Its use is widespread in the most criminal areas of Africa. Considered the cheap alternative to antiretroviral drugs, Whoonga is made by combining HIV drugs and rat poison.

Regarding its effects, it is necessary to point out that it is highly addictive and can cause internal bleeding, stomach ulcers and even death. The form of ingestion is similar to that of marijuana or tobacco.

Bath salts

Source:

Established as the third most dangerous substance on the entire planet earth, its effects are very similar to those of amphetamines and cocaine. This acts on the personality, altering it in such a way that the person is exposed to depression, psychosis or even suicidal thoughts. It can also lead to a heart attack.

Its hallucinogenic effects push the person to extreme limits. One of the most famous cases was that of a young American who was found eating someone else's face.

Krokodile

Possible effects of Krokodile

Considered by the vast majority of experts as the most powerful and deadly drug of all. Its consumption is common in the poorest neighborhoods of Russia and in some areas of Europe. Its low price makes it a very attractive drug for low-income consumers.

Regarding the composition, it is made from a totally explosive combination: painkillers, iodine, fuels and cleaning products. Now, its effects generate gangrene, scabies and putrefaction on the skin that eat the body from the outside in.

Angel dust

Source: Public domain from

Chemically known as phencyclidine, angel dust is considered one of the most fearsome drugs in the world.

The effects that it normally entails are the loss of concentration capacity and logical thinking, blocking brain function. Thoughts and mood are severely affected as well.

In the long term, it produces different depressive symptoms and weight loss, something that can last for years.

Flakka

This substance began to be marketed as a type of legal drug and was later banned.

It is a powerful stimulant disguised as methamphetamine that causes the pulse and activity of the heart to rise to unsuspected levels, which can lead to heart failure.

The brain is not spared from damage either, as flakka directly affects the regulation of setralin and dopamine.

Crystal methamphetamine

Source: Radspunk

One of the most widespread drugs in Latin America - especially in Mexico - as it is one of the most easily available and manageable drugs. It is estimated that only in the Aztec country there are hundreds of clandestine laboratories.

It was created in 1887 and its use was extended during World War II so that soldiers were able to stay awake. Its legality extended until the decade of the seventies.

Its constant intake causes a gradual destruction of the body, affecting the brain and bones.

It is estimated that with three years of use of this drug, the psychotic level is equivalent to that of a high-grade schizophrenic.

Crack

Source: DEA

Crack appeared in the 1980s and, since then, more than 10 million people have succumbed to this drug until they became addicted.

From the beginning, its rarity raised its price to exorbitant figures, but with the passage of time, its composition was reduced to a mixture of sodium bicarbonate so that it could be available to more people and be able to be sold at low cost.

Its use can occur in kidney, liver and lung problems, in addition to causing permanent damage to the different blood vessels in our body.

Heroin

Heroin is a "classic" in the world of drugs. Known for its high level of addiction, it is said that just trying it once will make you dependent.

Its use dates back to the 19th century, being devised in 1874 by the chemist Alder Wright. It was originally used to treat severe chronic pain and physical trauma, but over the years it eventually became an illegal drug.

Its effects could be summarized in muscle weakness, insomnia, chills and damage to the circulatory system, leading to gangrene.

Scopolamine

Chemical structure of scopolamine

Commonly referred to as the "rape drug" or burundanga, scopolamine has spread around the world, especially in shantytown clubs and gambling dens. It comes from the nightshade plant, native to areas such as Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela and can be found in the form of powders.

As its nickname indicates, it is used to render the person incapable of reacting to some type of harassment. Whoever consumes it does not know how to distinguish between reality and fantasy. After the effect wears off, victims lose their memory for several hours.

On the other hand, the CIA recognized that in 1993 it had used the drug as a truth serum during the period corresponding to the Cold War. However, the results were not as expected.

Purple drank

Source: Stickpen

In liquid form and purple in color, it is made up of gas mixed with cough syrup, codeine, and promethazine. At other times, you can change the gaseous liquid for simple mineral water.

Its effects are of maximum euphoria, also accelerating motor skills. However, one of the greatest risks to which the consumer is exposed is to suffer from heart failure and multiple respiratory problems.

As a curiosity, it is common to hear it mentioned in the rap songs of artists like Jay Z or Big Moe.

AH - 7921

Structure of HA - 7921. Source: Aethyta

This synthetic opioid drug has been legal until January 2015 in Spain, hence its nickname “legal heroin”. Its composition was characterized by having 80% morphine.

The problems to which it leads are respiratory and circulatory, such as gangrene. So far there has only been a single death, although experts constantly emphasize the danger involved.

Amphetamines

One of the few medical treatments using amphetamines is for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

The risk of addiction is present, although it is usually once you have started using it routinely. More and more doses are needed, something that can lead to psychosis and schizophrenia with hallucinations and delusions.

12- Khat

Source: User: Katpatuka

Coming from a flowering plant between 1.5 and 20 meters, it has a powerful narcotic effect, producing a state of euphoria followed by a strong stupor.

The feeling of joy and liberation will be accompanied by laughter and loquacity to lead to a "downturn" that can end in a delirium tremens.

In the long term, it can cause different types of cancer such as oral or gastric, as well as brain hemorrhage, hypertension or degeneration of the genitals.

13- Ketamine

Ketamine 3D molecular structure. Source: Benjah-bmm27

Ketamine is known as "the horse reliever", since its use is intended for these. As for the effects that we can find there is the hallucinogen. It lasts about two hours, during which time we will feel different feelings, sometimes reaching extreme points.

The consumer can be so far from reality that the risk of putting himself in danger is very high.

Its continued use causes side effects on the bladder, memory loss and different psychological disorders. On the other hand, an overdose can lead to respiratory failure and later death.

14- Popper

Source: UK Home Office

The Popper drug has a pleasant function, returning an energy that we have lost.

Its effect is immediate, since it only takes a few minutes to notice it. It is considered as a synthetic recreational substance, which is usually consumed in different bars, clubs, parties and concerts with the main objective that the consumer does not decline at any time.

The highest use of Popper occurs in young people between 18 and 24 years of age. The problems that it carries are rapid heartbeat, high heart rate, flushing of the face and hands, breathing problems, vomiting, headaches and nosebleeds.