Your drug questions answered
- Curiosity
From alcohol to cocaine, caffeine to cough syrup, Wits experts shed light on legal and not-so-legal drugs of choice.
Why is alcohol socially acceptable but not cannabis?
One is legal and the other isn’t! Any drug in excess, including alcohol, is dangerous. More people are addicted to tobacco, nicotine, and alcohol, than to other drugs. Alcohol users are much more likely to develop dependence and build tolerance, making alcohol a major drug of addiction.
- Lenore Manderson, Distinguished Professor of Medical Anthropology and Public Health, School of Public Health
What makes Coca-Cola addictive? What happens to your body when you drink Coca-Cola?
Coca-Cola's addictive qualities can be attributed to its high sugar content which triggers dopamine in the brain, creating a temporary sense of happiness and satisfaction. Caffeine provides the stimulating effect. This and other similar drinks’ excessive sugar content is a major cause of obesity, which is linked to heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and some cancers.
- Professor Susan Goldstein, Public Health Medicine Specialist, Centre for Health Economics and Decision Science - PRICELESS SA, School of Public Health
What are the long-term effects of caffeine?
This is dependent on several factors including body weight, genetics, chronic health conditions (including medication) and the amount regularly consumed. Possible effects include insomnia, dehydration, gastric irritation, heart palpitations, tremors, nervousness and anxiety (including panic attacks). Two to three cups of coffee a day (200-300mg of caffeine) is regarded as moderate use unlikely to cause harm. Positive effects have also been ascribed to coffee due to the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of some of its other 1 000 constituents apart from caffeine. These include a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes, liver disease, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, stroke, heart failure and colon cancer.
- Professor Jonathan Patricios, Sport and Exercise Medicine Physician, Faculty of Health Sciences
Studies show that dopamine release in the brain is the specific neuropharmacological mechanism underlying the addictive potential of both caffeine and sugar and is also caused by other drugs of dependence, including amphetamines and cocaine.
- Professor Karen Hofman, Director, Centre for Health Economics and Decision Science PRICELESS SA, School of Public Health
What makes cough syrup and Bioplus addictive?
Cough syrup and Bioplus are two different types of medications, and their potential for addiction and side effects can vary significantly.
Cough syrups can be classified into those containing codeine or other opioids, and those without opioids. Cough syrups that contain opioids like codeine have a higher potential for addiction. Opioids are pain relievers and can cause feelings of euphoria, leading to their abuse. Prolonged use of these syrups can result in physical dependence, tolerance (needing more of the drug to achieve the same effect), and addiction. Over-the-counter cough syrups that do not contain opioids are generally not considered addictive.
Bioplus is a brand of energy supplement that typically contains caffeine whose potential side effects are answered in question 3.
What are the side effects of the long-term use of painkillers?
The long-term use of painkillers, especially opioids, can lead to several adverse effects, including tolerance, physical depe