This is the most widely used stimulant. It’s in coffee, tea, energy drinks, and chocolate. It gives you a boost in alertness and energy, making it the go-to for a lot of people who need to power through long days or study sessions.

Found in tobacco products like cigarettes and vapes, nicotine has a similar effect as caffeine, stimulating the brain and increasing focus. However, it is highly addictive and can cause serious health issues over time.

Medications like Adderall and Ritalin are prescribed for conditions like ADHD. Misusing these can be dangerous and lead to dependence.

An illegal stimulant that gives a powerful high by increasing dopamine levels in the brain. The effects are intense but short-lived, and using it can have serious consequences, including addiction and damage to the heart and brain.

This illegal drug is super addictive and can make you feel euphoric and full of energy. But the high doesn’t last, and the long-term effects can be devastating, affecting everything from your appearance (think meth mouth and sunken, wrinkled skin) to your mental health.

You might notice that someone can’t sit still, talks a mile a minute, or seems to have endless energy. They might go for hours without getting tired, but it’s not the kind of energy that’s healthy or sustainable.

Stimulants can rev up the heart. If someone’s heart is racing or they look on edge, it could be a sign they’ve taken more than usual. High blood pressure is also common with stimulant abuse, which can lead to other health issues over time.

Stimulants keep you awake, so a person using them regularly might have trouble sleeping, even after using up all their energy. They could be up all night, feeling jittery and restless.

Abuse of stimulants can make people feel extremely anxious or even paranoid. They might get nervous over small things, have trouble concentrating, or think people are out to get them.

One minute they might be super energetic and talkative, and the next they could crash, feeling irritable or down. This up-and-down mood swing can be a clear sign that something’s not right.

Someone who’s abusing stimulants might start acting out of character, making impulsive decisions, or getting involved in risky behaviors they wouldn’t usually do. They might also lie or hide their actions.

Look for things like dilated pupils, excessive sweating, or even nosebleeds (if snorting the drug). If you see these signs, it might point to stimulant use or abuse.

When you use stimulants, they mess with your brain’s chemistry, mainly by increasing levels of dopamine, the “feel-good” chemical. This gives you that rush of energy and euphoria, but the more you use them, the harder it gets for your brain to function normally without the drug. Here’s what happens:

• Addiction: Over time, your brain can become dependent on the drug to feel good. This makes it harder to experience pleasure from everyday things, which can lead to cravings and a cycle of addiction.
• Cognitive Problems: Long-term stimulant abuse can mess with memory, attention, and decision-making. People might struggle to focus or remember things, and it can get harder to learn or process information.
• Mood Swings: The crash after using stimulants can make someone feel depressed, anxious, or even paranoid. The highs and lows can create emotional chaos in the brain, leading to mental health problems.

The body feels the effects of stimulants, too, often in dangerous ways:

• Heart Problems: Stimulants speed up the heart, which can lead to high blood pressure and increase the risk of heart attack or stroke.
• Sleep Disruption: Using stimulants regularly can mess with your sleep cycle, leaving you feeling constantly exhausted, even though you’re too wired to sleep.
• Appetite Loss: Many stimulants suppress hunger, so someone using them might stop eating regularly, leading to weight loss and malnutrition.
• Physical Decline: Prolonged stimulant use can take a toll on the body, from skin problems and weight loss to muscle breakdown. The body can start to deteriorate, making people look much older than they are.