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Drug deaths in the U.S. rose at the steepest rate ever to the highest level in recorded history in 2016, claiming more than 60,000 lives, and early data suggest deaths from opioids and other drugs will continue to increase in 2017.

Drug overdose is now the leading cause of death for Americans under the age of 50, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein said Tuesday.

"Drug abuse is crippling families and communities throughout our country," Rosenstein said at a joint news conference with Drug Enforcement Agency officials. "We are not talking about a slight increase. There is a horrifying surge in drug overdoses."

More than two million Americans have some sort of physical dependence on opioids - painkillers that are legally prescribed to many people, but can become addicting if they are taken in excess or for long periods of time.

A new and even more dangerous aspect of the opioid crisis is the increasing prevalence of extremely potent, illegally manufactured variants of existing drugs, such as fentanyl.

Even minute amounts of illicit versions of fentanyl or carfentanil - as little as two or three grains - can be lethal. A troubling side effect of the drug problem is the risk that such potent substances pose to police officers and paramedics trying to help drug overdose victims.

Although DEA does not yet have data quantifying the problem, officials say there is a clear increase in cases where first responders handling evidence or helping overdose victims have become ill, suffering breathing problems, dizziness and even loss of consciousness after accidental inhalation of such opioids. The acting administrator of the federal antidrug agency, Chuck Rosenberg, has warned emergency responders to use caution in drug-overdose cases, and to wear protective gear such as masks and gloves to reduce the chance of accidental contamination.

Even dogs trained to detect illegal drugs are at risk. Their handlers have begun carrying antidotes for the animals as well as for themselves, but the new wave of synthetic drugs is so powerful that multiple doses of antidotes are sometimes necessary to save the rescuers.

Summarizing the DEA advice to emergency teams at an overdose scene, Rosenberg said: "If you don't know what it is, assume there's something in it that will kill you.''
Rising threat in Europe
The extremely rapid rise in opioid problems is not unique to the U.S. The European Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction, in Lisbon, reported Tuesday that dangerous synthetic compounds mimicking the effects of heroin or morphine are a growing health threat in the EU.

Overdose deaths in Europe rose six percent to 8,441 in 2015, rising for the third consecutive year. And the center warned that drug-related deaths in Europe could be much higher, due to "systematic under-reporting in some countries" and delayed reporting.

Legally prescribed opioids, which are estimated to be used by up to 100 million Americans, also are a growing issue in Europe. Opioids are now represented in 38 percent of all requests for drug treatment in the European Union, the center's report said, adding: "In both Europe and North America, the recent emergence of highly potent new synthetic opioids, mostly fentanyl derivatives, is causing considerable concern."

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голос америки

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More US Drug Deaths in 2016 Than Ever Before

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Drug deaths in the U.S. rose at the steepest rate ever to the highest level in recorded history in 2016, claiming more than 60,000 lives, and early data suggest deaths from opioids and other drugs will continue to increase in 2017.

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One way the brain compensates is to reduce the number of dopamine receptors at the synapse. In addition, sending neurons increase their number of dopamine transporters, more quickly clearing dopamine from the synapse. These changes make the brain less responsive to the drug, but they also decrease the brain’s response to natural rewards.

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Marijuana_ Cannabis also known as marijuana among several other names, is a preparation of the Cannabis plant intended for use as a psychoactive drug or medicine, it can use to be medication or maybe use for fun because it makes your pain better but you will depend on it.

Street name: Fire It Up

Commonly used: Smoked, Swallowed

Short-term effect:

Short-term memory problems

Severe anxiety, including fear that one is being watched or followed (paranoia)

Very strange behavior, seeing, hearing or smelling things that aren’t there, not being able to tell imagination from reality (psychosis)

Panic

Hallucinations

Long-term effect:

Decline in IQ (up to 8 points if prolonged use started in adolescent age)

Poor school performance and higher chance of dropping out

Impaired thinking and ability to learn and perform complex tasks

Lower life satisfaction

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Club Drugs are a common drug using in bar for fun_ A drug such as MDMA (Ecstasy), GHB, Rohypnol, ketamine, methamphetamine, and LSD that is used by young adults at all-night dance parties such as "raves" or "trances," dance clubs, and bars.

Street name: raves, trances

Commonly used: Swallowed

Short-term effect:

Impaired judgment

False sense of affection

Confusion

Depression

Sleep problems

Severe anxiety

Long-term effect:

Long-lasting brain damage affecting thought and memory

Damage to portions of the brain that regulate critical functions such as learning, sleep and emotion

It is as if the brain switchboard was torn apart, then rewired backwards

Degenerated nerve branches and nerve endings

Depression, anxiety, memory loss

Kidney failure

Death

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Stimulant is a drug that makes you feel better during using and leaves a bad consequence after that_ Stimulants is an overarching term that covers many drugs including those that increase activity of the body, drugs that are pleasurable and invigorating, or drugs that have sympathomimetic effects.

Street name: cocaine, methamphetamine

Commonly used: swallowed, injected in liquid form or crushed and snorted.

Stimulants.
Short-term effects: Alertness, focus, sleeplessness, loss of appetite, increased blood pressure and heart rate, high body temperature.
Long-term effects: Addiction, paranoia and long-term insomnia, extreme weight change.

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Hallucinogen is a drug that makes you “dream” on the day_ A hallucinogen is a psychoactive agent which can cause hallucinations, perceptual anomalies, and other substantial subjective changes in thoughts, emotion, and consciousness.

Street name: Black sunshine, Pink robot, Rainbow, Yin Yang, ...

Commonly used: Swallowed, snorted, injected or smoked.

Short-term effects:

High-blood pressure

Hallucinations; an individual may taste, smell or see things that are not there

Becoming out of touch with reality

Dilated pupils

Sleeplessness

Long-term effects:

Flashbacks

Delusional behaviors

Vision problems

Lack of motivation to participate in daily activities

Lack of enjoyment in things that once caused pleasure

Mood swings

Inability to communicate well with other.

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A depressant, or central depressant, is a drug that lowers neutral transmission levels, which is to depress or reduce arousal or stimulation, in various areas of the brain.

Street name: Benzos

Commonly used: Swallowed

Short-term effects:

Slows normal brain functions

Gives a drowsy feeling ,over time the effects fade as body builds tolerance.

Long-term effects:

Addiction can result, withdrawal can be painful.

the drug may cause seizures and death.

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The brain is the command center of the body, and controls everything that a person does. It is made up of many different parts that all work in conjunction, with each having a specific job to do. When someone takes drugs, they will enter the brain and can affect how it works. These changes in the brain are considered one of the hallmarks of addiction. When addiction takes hold, the brain can suffer some serious consequences. Drug abuse mainly affects three different areas of the brain including the brain stem, the cerebral cortex, and the limbic system. These are vital areas of the brain that control function and body needs, control emotional responses, and control functions such as senses and thinking.

What Can Drug Abuse Do To The Brain?

Drugs are chemicals and work by tapping into the brain's communication system, where they interfere with nerve cells that serve to receive, send, and process information. Due to the fact that different drugs have different chemical structures, they will have different effects on the brain. There are some drugs, that when abused, can alter the brain, even once the person has stopped taking the drugs. Some of theses changes in the brain can be permanent. Permanent changes in the brain tend to be more common when the drug is taken repeatedly.

Some types of drugs will activate neurons because they have the ability to mimic a natural neurotransmitter due to their chemical structure. While they have the ability to lock onto receptors, they do not work the same as natural neurotransmitters and therefore will send abnormal messages through the brain. Drugs that cause these issues with the brain include heroin and marijuana among others. Other types of drugs will cause a person's nerve cells to release large amounts of natural neurotransmitters, preventing the normal recycling process of these brain chemicals. This can seriously affect the communication channels of the brain. Drugs that cause these issues with the brain include amphetamines and cocaine among others.

While different types of drugs affect the brain in different ways, all drugs that are abused will affect the limbic system which is the brain's reward circuit. The limbic system responds to pleasure by releasing dopamine. When drugs are abused, the limbic system is essentially hijacked, leading to a large amount of dopamine flooding the system. This is exactly what causes the "high" that is associated with taking drugs.

How Someone Becomes Addicted

When a person chooses to use drugs for the first time, they will experience a feeling of intense pleasure. This begins to change the brain by reducing the amount of dopamine the is produced. Some of the more toxic drugs can also cause neurons to die. As a result of the reduction in dopamine, a person may feel depressed, and will take the drug again in an attempt to bring their dopamine levels back up to a normal level. This is how addiction happens and while it is known what happens to a person's brain when they become addicted, it is not known how many times a person must take any specific drug to become addicted. The person's personality, genetic makeup, and other factors will influence how long it will take for a person to become addicted to drugs.

Drug abuse can cause a host of issues with the brain. In addition to having possible long lasting negative effects on the brain, drug abuse can also cause serious psychical side effects. While there is currently no cure for drug addiction, people can stop taking drugs and learn to manage their addiction. Drug withdrawal can also cause serious side effects so it is important to consult with a medical professional when trying to get help for an addiction. Treatment for drug addiction will not be the same for everyone, and will vary depending on not only the type of drugs abused, but also a person's individual circumstances.

Drug Abuse Resources:

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The brain is the command center of the body, and controls everything that a person does. It is made up of many different parts that all work in conjunction, with each having a specific job to do. When someone takes drugs, they will enter the brain and can affect how it works.

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Drug Awareness: Depressants, Hallucinogens and Stimulants ACPPS089 (clip)

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Drug Awareness: Depressants, Hallucinogens and Stimulants ACPPS089 (clip)