The drugs most commonly used for sedation are tobacco and alcohol. Those who are addicted find that it is difficult to relax in the evening without a glass of wine or a shot of whiskey. At first, a few ounces of wine will help one relax, but as time goes on, additional quantities are required to have the same relaxing effect. Alcohol causes a decrease in brain activity and in time it can result in heart disease, cirrhosis of the liver, and other disorders. The most potent drug in tobacco is nicotine.
Nicotine tends to calm the nerves.
These substances are often the source of cancer of the lips, mouth, throat, and lungs of tobacco users. Recent studies have shown that tobacco smoke is harmful even to non-users of tobacco when it is breathed into the body. It grows like a wild weed and thrives in different types of soils. The American Medical Association has reported that prolonged use of marijuana can lead to serious harm to the brain, the circulatory system, and the nervous system. Marijuana use leads to a rapid heart rate, redness of the eyes, dryness of the mouth, an altered state of consciousness, and a distortion of the senses.