Comparison and Contrast between Stimulants and Opioids

Comparison and Contrast between Stimulants and Opioids

Introduction

Stimulants and opioids are categories of drugs that are the most addictive among users. This paper seeks to compare and contrast stimulant and opioid addictions by focusing on the mechanism of action, receptors and any pathways involved.

Comparison

Both opioids and stimulants can lead to a substance use disorder if abused and have the potential to be addictive. Therefore, in the event that an addiction disorder develops, a professional treatment is required to alleviate the symptoms.

In each class of opioids and stimulants, there are both legal and illicit drugs. The legal once are used for medical reasons and can only be beneficial if taken as directed by the medical practitioner. However, those used for recreational purposes are illegal and harmful to our health.

Both opioids and stimulants cause health issues due to long term abuse and deaths among users.

They both affect the central nervous system, producing a rush of euphoria among users, which increases risks of addiction.

The common methods of drug use in each class include injection, smoking, or snorting (Rosansky, 2018).

Contrast

Opioids are depressants they function by slowing down the central nervous system while stimulants arouse the central nervous system, affecting all the body parts controlled by it. For instance, opioids slows the gastrointestinal, respiratory, and heart rate system causing a feeling of peace, relaxation, and often sleepiness. On the other hand, stimulants increases breathing and hear rates, increases blood pressure, and suppresses appetite (Rosansky, 2018).

Conclusion

It is evident that stimulants and opioids affects the way an individual thinks, feels, and behaves. They share similarities such as they both affect the nervous system and can become addictive if abused. They differ in the sense that opioids slows the central nervous system while stimulants stimulates the nervous system.

References

Rosansky Sr, J. A. (2018). Lifelong Abstainers’ Self-Reported Reasons For Abstinence From Prescription Versus Non-Prescription Stimulants And Depressants (Doctoral dissertation, Bowling Green State University).