Recreational Drugs Addiction, Withdrawal and its Impact on the body: A Literature Review
Mustafa Zaman, Aseel Aljeshi, Kuragamage Kuraga, Saif Bunni, Tonmoy Sarker, Aiza Kashif, Jyothsnaa Sathish, Hussien Abouzeid, Hamza Alouf, Jessarij Chinthamraks, Adhved Krishnan, Shaan Patker, Simone Talreja, Datta Pentapati
Medical Research Archives 2025 DOI: 10.18103/mra.v13i3.6295 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Addiction |
| Keywords | Recreational drug Street drugs Pharmacology Ecology |
| Citations | 1 |
| Key findings | Recreational drug abuse leads to addiction, withdrawal, and health complications through mechanisms involving endocannabinoid dysregulation, opioid receptor activation, and altered neurotransmission by hallucinogens, requiring comprehensive treatment approaches. |
Abstract
The use of drugs for recreational purposes has changed dramatically, involving a variety of substances such as opioids, hallucinogens, and cannabinoids. Although these substances are often initially used for recreational purposes, their psychoactive properties can contribute to the development of addiction, withdrawal syndromes, and significant physical and mental health complications. The mechanisms behind addiction, symptoms of withdrawal, and the pathophysiology of frequently abused recreational drugs are all examined in this literature review. Dysregulation of the endocannabinoid system is associated with cannabinoid addiction, which can result in physical dependence, mental health issues, and cognitive impairment. A public health emergency has been exacerbated by opioid abuse, and withdrawal is marked by intense psychological and autonomic symptoms. Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), and Phencyclidine (PCP) are examples of hallucinogens that change neurotransmission and can cause neurotoxicity, long-lasting perceptual abnormalities, and mental illnesses. Long-term recovery is still difficult to achieve, despite the promise of pharmacological treatments like opioid agonists and cannabinoid receptor modulators. To lessen the worldwide burden of recreational drug abuse, comprehensive treatment approaches that include pharmacotherapy, psychosocial interventions, and harm reduction techniques are essential.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on addiction, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic psychedelics: An integrative review of epidemiology, therapeutics, mystical experience, and brain network function. General population | 2019 | Integrative review | |
| Mindfulness meditation–based pain relief: a mechanistic account | 2016 | Review | |
| Psychedelics as anti-inflammatory agents Animal models and cellular studies | 2018 | Review | |
| A narrative review of yoga and mindfulness as complementary therapies for addiction. | 2013 | Review | |
| The neuropsychopharmacology of cannabis: A review of human imaging studies | 2018 | Review |