Types of Drug Addictions

Drug addiction patients often show the following categories of symptoms:

1) Illicit Drugs

• Cocaine: A powerful stimulant derived from coca leaves, known for its euphoric effects and high potential for addiction.
• Heroin: An opioid derived from morphine, often used recreationally for its intense euphoric effects and is highly addictive.
• Methamphetamine: A potent stimulant that affects the central nervous system, known for its high potential for addiction and severe health consequences.
• Ecstasy (MDMA): A synthetic drug that alters mood and perception, often used in social settings and parties.
• LSD (Lysergic Acid Diethylamide) : A hallucinogenic drug that can cause profound alterations in thought, perception, and emotion.

2) Prescription Medications

• Opioids : Medications like oxycodone, hydrocodone, and fentanyl used to treat pain but often misused for their euphoric effects.
• Benzodiazepines: Drugs such as Xanax, Valium, and Ativan prescribed for anxiety and sleep disorders but can lead to dependence and overdose when misused.
• Stimulants : Medications like Adderall and Ritalin, prescribed for ADHD but often misused by individuals seeking increased focus or energy

3) Alcohol

While legal, excessive alcohol consumption can lead to abuse, dependence, and a range of health issues, including liver disease, addiction, and negative social consequences.

4) Inhalants

Substances such as glue, paint thinners, and aerosol sprays that produce psychoactive effects when inhaled. Abuse can lead to serious health risks, including brain damage and sudden death

5) Cannabis (Marijuana)

Although increasingly legalized in various regions, cannabis can still be abused, leading to dependence and negative impacts on mental health and motivation.

6) Synthetic Drugs :

• Synthetic Cannabinoids : Often marketed as “K2” or “Spice,” these substances mimic THC (the active compound in cannabis) but can have unpredictable and dangerous effects.
• Synthetic Stimulants: Synthetic Stimulants
• Mephedrone MD : often referred to by its street names like "meow meow," "MCAT," or "bath salts," is a synthetic stimulant that is chemically similar to both amphetamines and cathinones. It has gained popularity as a recreational drug, particularly among young people.

Drug Addiction Causes

• Genetic Factors : Individuals with a family history of drug abuse are more susceptible to acquiring addictive behaviours due to their genetic predisposition.These genetic variables can influence the way a person’s brain reacts to amphetamine, leading to the drug’s euphoric experience and the risk of developing addiction.


• Environmental Factors : Environmental variables such as peer pressure, particularly among adolescents and young adults, can cause early drug usage.Stressful living situations, such as workplace issues, financial challenges, exposure to a drug-using environment, or marital problems, can lead to addictive behaviours. Furthermore, the access to and widespread availability of drugs, whether through illegal sources or prescriptions, play a vital role in the early onset of addiction.


• Psychological Factors :Mental health issues play a critical role in the development of drug addiction. People often use amphetamines as self-medication to alleviate symptoms of depression, ADHD, and anxiety. People with psychiatric disorders find drug appealing due to its potential to improve attention, increase energy, and cause excitation. However, self-medication can develop into dependency and worsen pre-existing mental health issues at a fast pace, leading to a vicious cycle of addiction.

Drug Addiction Symptoms

Physical Symptoms : Elevated heart rate and blood pressure lead to cardiovascular difficulties. Insomnia or an altered sleep pattern leads to a decrease in appetite, which in turn leads to excessive weight loss. Perspiration, dry mouth, and dilated pupils. Drug use can cause tremors, muscular twitches, and common tooth problems known as “meth mouth.

Psychological Symptoms : Extreme drug cravings, anxiety, and paranoia. There are auditory and visual hallucinations, along with delusions. Symptoms include extreme emotional instability, heightened agitation, impatience, and mood swings that range from severe melancholy to euphoric highs. Cognitive deficits such as memory loss, disorientation, and difficulty concentrating are common.

Behavioural Symptoms : Extreme risk-taking behavior and impulsivity. They are withdrawing and isolating themselves socially from the world. Severe restlessness for the drug results in financial pestering from friends, relatives, and family members. In extreme cases, this leads to harmful practices like stealing and vandalism. Personal cleanliness and obligations are neglected. The drug Addiction Treatment Centre in Delhi, NCR can help to mitigate and treat these symptoms.

Recovery and Treatment

• Recovering from Dug addiction requires a comprehensive strategy that addresses the physical, social, and psychological aspects of rehabilitation. Physically, drug abuse addiction recovery starts with the detoxification process under medical supervision in order to manage withdrawal symptoms and relapse, as well as to maintain general health.


• Socially, an individual can gain from recovery by mending connections disrupted by addiction, reintegrating into supportive groups, and participating in constructive activities that promote personal fulfilment, growth, and development.Establishing a supportive network after recovery is crucial for maintaining sobriety and avoiding relapse, emphasising the need for a continued support system from family members, peers, and counsellors throughout the process of recovery.


• Athena being a licened drug addiction treatment centre in Gurgaon Delhi, NCR, India specifically works for this purpose.