Other Substances

Marijuana is the dried leaves, flowers, and stems of the cannabis plant (Cannabis sativa or Cannabis indica). The plant contains a mind-altering — or psychoactive — chemical called tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Prolonged use of marijuana can lead to tolerance, dependence, addiction, and a number of negative and potentially harmful effects, such as hallucinations, delusions, or even psychosis. Other physical effects of marijuana use include increased heart rate, breathing problems, intense nausea and vomiting, and damage to the heart and blood vessels.

Long-term marijuana use impacts the brain development of young people and can impair thinking, memory, and functioning.

Lunesta belongs to a class of drugs called sedative hypnotics. A powerful drug, Lunesta is prescribed by physicians to help people suffering with chronic insomnia. It interacts with chemicals in the brain to calm brain activity and slow down the central nervous system. Used in small doses, Lunesta can help people fall asleep. However, it is only to be prescribed for short periods because it is addictive and prone to misuse.

Suboxone is a medication prescribed to treat opioid use disorder so that a person can stop taking more harmful drugs like heroin and prescription opioids. It contains buprenorphine and naloxone. The drug works by binding to opioid receptors in the brain and prevents intoxication from other opioids, and reduces cravings. Suboxone is a partial agonist, meaning it causes less euphoria than other opioids, like heroin, and there is a ceiling-type effect.

The side effects of taking Suboxone include numbness or tingling, insomnia, dizziness, headache, drowsiness, stomach pain, and difficulty concentrating. While the opioid effects of Suboxone are limited, as an opioid, it still can be misused, and those who take it may experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop the medication.

Kratom is a tree native to Southeast Asia and parts of Africa, and its leaves contain two psychoactive compounds (mitragynine and 7-α-hydroxy mitragynine) that interact with opioid receptors in the brain. Kratom is used recreationally and medicinally as an alternative to formal medical treatments. There are a number of negative side effects of taking kratom, including insomnia, seizures, liver damage, sweating, vomiting and nausea, sensitivity to sunburn, hallucinations, and even psychosis. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, kratom may cause dependence, like other drugs that cause opioid-type effects. Therefore, stopping kratom use may result in withdrawal symptoms.