Things Drugs Can (And Can't) Do To You

Let's face it, most of us have tried some type of drug. Whether you lived during the 1960s when expanding your mind and experimenting with psychedelic drugs was all the rage, or are part of the new wave of "molly" users, millions of people have used illicit drugs. In fact, in 2013, it was estimated that 245-million people around the world used illicit drugs (cocaine, ecstasy, marijuana or LSD, to name a few). 

We have all heard that drugs are just and can only hurt you in the long run. Of course, abusing certain drugs can injure or kill you, but there is new research out there suggesting that if certain drugs are used in a controlled way, they pack a ton of important psychologically therapeutic benefits.

In this article, I break down the good and the bad associated with them. You really need to hear some of these.

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1. Cocaine, a drug made from the coca plant, has been used as a pleasurable stimulant for some time.

The Good: Cocaine has been used for ages to treat minor cuts or as a topical anesthetic (numbs cuts).

The Bad:  Cocaine literally causes brain cells to become cannibals and eat themselves when exposed to a high enough dose. 

Also, cocaine can be pretty bad for your heart by causing the constriction of blood vessels and huge increases in blood pressure. 

2. LSD,a psychedelic drug that causes mind-numbing visual hallucinations, has a number of benefits. 

The Good: LSD has been found to help patients addicted to alcohol kick their habit. 

Interestingly, the patients find that their use of LSD has opened their minds up to finding a new motivation to beatalcohol. 

LSD is not highly addictive and does not produce cravings like other hard drugs.

The Bad:Your ability to make decisions on LSD is hugely screwed up. 

Other than that, after a drug trip on LSD, users often feel intense anxiety, depression, or even flashbacks.

I mean would you be able to drive if you were experiencing this? Let's be real.

3. Ketamine, otherwise known as "Special K", was originally developed as an animal tranquilizer until humans got a hold of it.

The Good: Ketamine has recently been used to treat depression and seems to work much faster than classic antidepressants like Prozac or Zoloft.

Especially when a depressed person is not helped by classic medications, Ketamine has proven to be helpful.

The Bad:Well, given that it causes hallucinations and dream-like states, it is probably a huge mistake to go out in public or drive.

As with LSD, some people feel confusion or agitation when the drug starts to wear off.

4. Marijuanahas definitely stirred up controversy.

The Good:Given that more and more states are legalizing marijuana for medicinal use, it seems that people are finally discovering its therapeutic effects.

Marijuana has been found to reduce chronic pain, glaucoma, and epileptic seizures. It also makes everything hilarious.

A number of myths about marijuana, including those that claim it can reduce your intelligence or impair your brain after you stop using it, have been proven to be wrong.

The Bad:Yes, there are some negative side effects of marijuana, but most of us know them already.

We know that burning marijuana exposes your throat and lungs to a lot of cancer-causing chemicals called carcinogens. However, evidence of a marijuana/cancer connection has been hard to find.

As with the other drugs, reaction times are generally slowed when you are smoking the ganja, so you probably shouldn't operate machinery.

5. Ecstasy, also known as "molly", is a drug derived from the chemical MDMA. The drug has risen in popularity with young people in recent years.

The Good: Interestingly, recent research has shown that MDMA may be useful in helping to relieve the horrifying flashbacks that come with sexual assault, combat experiences, or other traumatic events.

The Bad: One problem with molly is that there are other chemicals usually added to it that are extremely harmful. You don't realllly want to snort household cleaning products.

It destroys brain cells that produce a vital chemical in the brain, serotonin. This chemical is important for mood and sexual activity.

SHARE this important information about drugs to your friends who like to have a little too much fun on the weekend.

Main image via The Age Victoria

Collage image via Science alert | Shutterstock / Peter Kim