The recent high rates of marijuana use among individuals in the U.S. may be attributed in part to the increasing number of states which have approved its use for medical purposes.
Many individuals consume alcohol initially to use alcohol as a stimulant, although alcohol is actually a depressant.
Young adults are particularly prone to take part in binge drinking and to suffer repeatedly from withdrawal from alcohol, which may be a key reason for alcohol's harmful effects on the brain.
Opiate withdrawal can be deadly, particularly for those individuals whose health is already compromised from disease or lack of personal care.