Drugs are inherently dangerous. They can cause massive damage to the user’s organs, including the brain. They can also be dangerous for communities as addicts resort to theft, violence, and other crimes in an effort to get high or stay high. Some drugs like cocaine, methamphetamine, and heroin may be more commonly thought of as addictive, while others are brushed aside. It is important to take note of all dangerous drugs that impact individuals and communities, not just the illegal ones sold on street corners. Addictive prescription medications and legal substances can be equally dangerous for individuals. Here are ten of the most dangerous drugs in the world:
1. Cocaine
Cocaine presents a multitude of threats on the global level. Many people die each year as a result of gang related violence associated with the cocaine trade. Cocaine can also cause people to act violent and erratic which can jeopardize neighborhoods and communities. Cocaine overdoses can kill or cause permanent irreversible physical and mental damage. Crack cocaine is a specific form of adulterated cocaine that can cause particularly notable damage in communities.
2. Heroin
Heroin addiction kills in many different ways. Shared needle use contributes to disease epidemics like HIV, AIDs, and hepatitis. Heroin overdoses can also be deadly or permanently damaging. It is important to note that legal alternatives to heroin are not necessarily safer. Heroin also presents dangerous situations because of the evasion required for growth and distribution. Drug mules can die or suffer from permanent injury when they are forced to participate in the attempted transport of heroin across state and national borders.
3. Semi-synthetic opiods
Semi-synthetic, legal opiods like Oxycodone and Fetanyl can be just as dangerous as opiates like heroin, if not more dangerous. These drugs are meant to be used for short periods of time under extremely specific doctor recommended conditions. Even then, they can be highly addictive. When drugs like Fetanyl are added to heroin, they make drug use even more dangerous. It is important to note that withdrawals from semi-synthetic opiods are dangerous and can even be deadly. Some users need to be weaned off of the drugs under direct doctor supervision because they are so dangerously addicted to them.
4. Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines like Valium, Klonopin, and Xanax can be prescribed by doctors in order to treat very specific medical mental health conditions. When these drugs are used as recreational drugs or used against a doctor’s recommendation, they can become extremely dangerous. For people with severe anxiety, benzodiazepines can help to calm the mind and prevent or end panic attacks. For recreational users and addicts, these same medications can cause reckless behavior, blackouts, violence, and severe disorientation. People who abuse benzos can remain dangerous for weeks and sometimes even years into their withdrawals.
5. Cough syrup
Both prescription and non-prescription cough syrups can be misused and abused in a dangerous manner. One reason that cough syrup abuse is a particularly large threat is that popular music, movies, and television shows have normalized and even encouraged it. Death can occur even the first time that a user tries abusing cough syrup. It can also have a horrifying effect on internal organs, even with short term or intermittent use.
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+18442884672 6. Alcohol
The normalization of alcohol abuse in popular media around the world has made it an especially dangerous issue. Beer, wine, liquor, and homemade illegal brews consumed in excess can have dangerous effects on individuals and communities. Alcohol can cause or further a multitude of diseases and it can cause internal organ failure with prolonged exposure. Some people may think that alcohol addiction is less serious than heroin or cocaine addiction, but it can be equally deadly. Alcohol abuse can cause erratic behavior and violent tendencies in some individuals which presents added danger.
7. Nicotine
Nicotine may not be the most deadly substance on this list, but it is still dangerous for other reasons. In developed nations, cigarette and cigar smoking may be less popular than it used to be, but high nicotine content vapes now get in the hands of younger and younger children each year. Any substance that threatens teens and preteens is worth noting as dangerous. Smoking and vaping can cause lung disease, stroke, and death, even in young people.
8. Methamphetamine
Methamphetamine is a highly addictive, highly volatile substance and its trade and distribution can be extremely dangerous as well. Methamphetamine labs can be biologically hazardous and they sometimes cause large fires or explosions. The dealing and distribution of methamphetamine is associated with assaults and murders around the world. This drug can also cause users to stay awake for days at a time, acting erratic and uncontrollable.
9. Other Amphetamines
Other amphetamines like Vyvanse and Adderall may be legal, but they are not necessarily any less dangerous than their illegal counterparts. Legal amphetamines can also be addictive and cause erratic behavior. These drugs can also be prescribed to very young children, some of whom have been improperly diagnosed with mental disorders. It is important to consult a doctor thoroughly and carefully before using any amphetamine drugs to treat ADD or ADHD.
10. Flakka
Flakka is a new, homemade, highly dangerous type of drug that threatens communities and major cities worldwide. The drug has immediate and serious physical side effects that cause users to move like zombies. Flakka users are likely to be violent, erratic, and completely disconnected from reality. They may be liable to commit violent crimes without any forethought, intention, or concern for repercussions.
