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Top Deadliest Street Drugs
Street drugs continue to pose a significant threat to public health, with their devastating impact reaching communities worldwide.
When it comes to the topic of dangerous street drugs, it is crucial to understand the risks associated with their usage. Illicit substances can cause severe harm to individuals and society as a whole.
Street drugs continue to pose a significant threat to public health, with their devastating impact reaching communities worldwide. These illicit substances can be highly addictive and are responsible for numerous fatalities and health issues.
In this article, RNN will provide and detailed list of the top deadliest street drugs that everyone should be aware of.
1. Heroin
Heroin tops the list as one of the most lethal street drugs. Derived from morphine, it is an opioid that leads to intense euphoria but comes with severe risks.
Heroin is a highly addictive synthetic opioid known for its fast-acting effects. It comes from poppy seeds, like other opioids, and is commonly found as a white powder or brown tar-like substance. Some street names for Heroin are Big H, Black Tar, Hell Dust, Smack, and Thunder.
According to the CDC, Heroin caused 4,454 deaths in 2011, which increased to 15,961 deaths in 2016. It remains a major cause of death for people struggling with substance abuse, often when combined with substances like Cocaine, Methamphetamines, and Fentanyl. Heroin can be snorted, smoked, or injected and creates intense euphoric sensations in the mind, leading to easy addiction. Quitting can be extremely challenging due to strong withdrawal symptoms such as cravings and heavy limbs, leading some to continue abusing Heroin.
Overdose symptoms of Heroin include bluish lips, shallow breathing, convulsions, and coma. It can also can cause respiratory failure and death.
2. Alcohol
Alcohol, which includes beer, wine, and liquor, ranks second on this list due to its widespread availability and the severe health problems and injuries it causes. Approximately 95,000 people die each year from alcohol-related causes.
While most alcohol consumers aren’t addicted, many are unaware of its harmful effects on the body and organs. Ashish Bhatt, MD, Addiction Center’s Medical Content Director, emphasizes this point.
Besides leading to health issues like cancer, liver damage, hypertension, heart disease, and fetal damage, alcohol abuse raises the risks of suicide, violence, and motor accidents. Withdrawal from alcohol can be fatal, so detoxing without medical supervision is strongly discouraged. If someone experiences withdrawal symptoms without using alcohol, seeking treatment options is essential.
3. Fentanyl
Fentanyl is an extremely potent synthetic opioid, several times more powerful than heroin. It is often mixed with other drugs without users’ knowledge, leading to accidental overdoses.
The CDC presented concerning data on the highly addictive Opioid, Fentanyl. It’s both synthetic and prescribed for pain relief. According to Rehabspot, Fentanyl is much more potent than Morphine and Heroin, being 50 to 100 times stronger. In 2016, it caused 18,335 deaths, accounting for 28.8% of drug-related fatalities. Quitting Fentanyl without help is often unsuccessful due to its high addictiveness.
Originally used as a prescribed medication in hospitals, Fentanyl was a potent Opioid for treating moderate to severe pain and as an anesthetic in the 1930s. It came in different forms like nasal sprays for pain relief and tablets under the tongue for cancer patients. However, over time, it has been synthesized and used illicitly, resulting in a dangerous analgesic that can be injected, snorted, swallowed, or absorbed through blotting paper. Combining Fentanyl with street drugs like Cocaine, Methamphetamines, or Heroin amplifies its lethality.
Due to its strength, even a small amount of fentanyl can be fatal, making it one of the deadliest substances on the streets.
4. Cocaine
Cocaine is a stimulant drug that affects the central nervous system, leading to increased heart rate, elevated blood pressure, and potentially fatal cardiac events.
According to Rehabspot, Cocaine caused fatalities: 5,070 in 2011, 5,319 in 2013, 7,324 in 2015, and 11,316 in 2016. The drug’s resurgence has drawn attention. Like Heroin, Cocaine floods the brain with dopamine, inducing euphoria. Yet, abuse leads to cardiac arrest, stroke, and death. Users also experience paranoia, excitability, extreme weight loss, anxiety, and depression.
Cocaine greatly harms both the mind and body. Its euphoric effects can lead to emotional dependency for those struggling with depression and stress. The high makes users forget their troubles temporarily, feeling invincible. Once the sensation fades, the craving for more grows, forming a dangerous pattern.
Regular use can result in severe physical and psychological dependence, making it a significant public health concern.
5. Methamphetamine
Methamphetamine, commonly known as meth, is a highly addictive stimulant that causes euphoria and increased energy.
Meth, a Stimulant, has fluctuated in popularity and is known for its crystal-shape form and highly addictive nature. The CDC reported Methamphetamine overdoses, increasing from 1,887 in 2011 to 3,747 in 2014, and further to 6,762 in 2016. Additionally, 21% of Meth-related deaths involved Heroin use.
Abusing Meth leads to lasting physical changes, including rapid weight loss, elated moods, and severe dental decay. It triggers a dopamine high in the brain that can last for days. Meth is easily accessible and can be made from toxic household items. Much of America’s Meth supply is illegally imported or manufactured in labs using flammable chemicals.
Prolonged use can lead to severe health problems, including cardiovascular issues, dental problems (“meth mouth”), and mental health disorders.
6. Nicotine
Nicotine, a highly addictive substance in tobacco products, remains a significant concern despite extensive marketing of Nicotine-filled items like e-cigarettes. The popularity of e-cigarettes among young people has raised the risk of Nicotine addiction, with over 2 million US youth using vape pens. Smoking traditional cigarettes is the leading preventable cause of death in the US, causing 90% of all lung cancer deaths according to the CDC. Tobacco smoking harms numerous organs, increases stroke risk, and can lead to premature death. Quitting assistance is available for those seeking to break free from Nicotine addiction.
7. Synthetic Cannabinoids
Synthetic Cannabinoids, also known as synthetic Marijuana or “fake weed,” contain lab-made, mind-altering chemicals similar to those in Marijuana. Despite being marketed as safer, they can have dangerous and unpredictable effects, even life-threatening.
In fact, Synthetic Cannabinoids can impact the brain more intensely than Marijuana, causing extreme anxiety, confusion, paranoia, and hallucinations. They also lead to severe mental and physical health issues like vomiting, violent behavior, increased heart rate, and suicidal thoughts. Synthetic Cannabinoid products are labeled as “not safe for human consumption” and are highly prone to abuse. If someone uses these substances, treatment options must be considered.
8. Methadone
Methadone, a synthetic opioid, is often used as a drug substitute for treating morphine and heroin addiction. Although it reduces painful opiate withdrawal symptoms and blocks their effects, the CDC reported frequent references to Methadone in overdose deaths from 2011 to 2016. When combined with other depressants like alcohol or benzodiazepines, Methadone, being a central nervous system depressant, can cause dangerously low blood pressure and respiratory depression.
Methadone is available in tablet, liquid, or injection forms and has sedative effects on the body and mind. According to the CDC, Methadone caused 4,545 deaths in 2011, declining to 3,700 in 2013, then 3,376 in 2015, and finally 3,493 in 2016. Its potential for dependence, withdrawal, and addiction raises concerns. Common symptoms of Methadone abuse, apart from cravings, include sweating, itchiness, or drowsiness. Prolonged Methadone use can lead to constricted pupils, high blood pressure, and loss of consciousness.
9. Morphine
Morphine, a schedule II synthetic narcotic derived from the Opium plant, is highly prone to abuse and is used in hospitals for pain relief. It can be snorted, injected, or smoked, and its euphoric effects on the mind and body, including drowsiness and reduced anxiety levels, make it a common target for abuse.
Severe pain can lead to anxiety and depression, which is why powerful analgesics like morphine can become highly addictive. Similar to heroin, morphine’s intense feelings of pleasure and easy accessibility contribute to its abuse. Despite being viewed as less harmful in the United Nations’ drug classification system due to its medicinal qualities, taking excessive amounts of morphine can be fatal, particularly when mixed with alcohol or other central nervous system depressants. This can result in extreme drowsiness, respiratory difficulties, and even coma.
In 2011, there were 3,290 deaths related to morphine, and by 2016, that number increased to 5,014. Stopping morphine use can be challenging due to withdrawal symptoms such as depression and nausea. Combining morphine with other substances further increases the risk of a fatal overdose.
10. Oxycodone
Closing out the list of the 10 most dangerous drugs is Oxycodone, also known as OxyContin, is a prescription Painkiller for severe pain or terminal conditions. However, recreational use, misuse, and abuse of Oxycodone can be life-threatening.
Taking high doses or combining it with alcohol or illicit drugs like Heroin or Cocaine can lead to respiratory distress, overdose, or death. Recreational use is never safe due to the high risk of addiction and dependence. If someone experiences withdrawal symptoms, struggles to stop using, or contemplates overdose, it may be time to seek treatment for Oxycodone addiction.
Conclusion:
The list of the deadliest street drugs highlights the urgent need for comprehensive drug education, prevention programs, and effective addiction treatment options. Understanding the risks associated with these substances is crucial to protect individuals and communities from the devastating consequences of drug abuse. By raising awareness and offering support, we can work towards reducing the toll of these dangerous substances on society.