Drugs of Abuse
Drug
Update!
Listed below are some of the drugs used in our area. The
information you see has been collected and gathered by the United States
Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Agency.
**Please remember that all drugs have one thing in common.
They change you and the kind of person you are. Drugs are addictive, and the
more you use them, the more important they become to you, more important than
friends, more important than family, and sometimes more important than life. **
Cocaine and Crack
Cocaine is a powerful and fast acting central nervous
stimulant that comes from the processed leaves of the Coca, plant, a native of
South America. Cocaine may be "snorted through the nose, injected into the
vein, or smoked to obtain what users call an intense "high" or
euphoria. Another well-known form of Cocaine is called "Crack". Crack
is a smokeable form of cocaine that is relatively cheap and easy to use.
Physical Effects of Cocaine
Regardless of how the
drug is used and abused, Cocaine may produce the following physical effects:
Increased Blood Pressure and heart rate, that can lead to
heart attacks,
Strokes
Nausea, headaches, seizures
Chest pain, breathing difficulties, respiratory failure
Trouble sleeping, loss of sex drive, reduced appetite
Addiction
Loss of sense of smell,
nosebleeds, sores around nose and upper lip
problems swallowing and hoarseness,
Sinus problems,
AIDs, Hepatitis, infections, if injected
Bleeding in the Lungs coughing up blood
When the drug is used up, abusers fell depressed, anxious,
paranoid, and may hallucinate.
Heroin and
other Narcotics
Narcotics are a group of natural semi-synthetic and
synthetic drugs that relieve pain and produce serious withdrawal symptoms after
a period of repeated use. Some of the more well known drugs of this class are:
Heroin, Codeine, Hydromorphone, Dilaudid, Demerol,
Fentamyl, Methadone
Some of these drugs can be legally possessed with a doctor’s
prescription, but most problems associated with treatment by these drugs can be
treated with medications that have fewer side effects or threat of addiction.
While all of these drugs find their way to the illegal market, Heroin is
probably the most widely used by drug addicts across the United States.
These drugs are usually injected, but can be taken in pill form as well. Any type of intravenous drug use is risky. Addicts often reuse needles and are careless about sharing them with others. Some of the diseases contracted this way are: AIDS, Hepatitis, Tetanus, Sexually transmitted diseases including syphilis, collapsed veins, skin infections, and heart valve infections.
Physical Effects of Illegal
Narcotics
Nausea and vomiting,
Problems concentrating
Constricted Pupils, Droopy eyelids, impaired night vision,
Reduced appetite and sex drive
Chronic Constipation
Itchy Clammy skin and skin infections
Slow, irregular Heart rate and low blood pressure
Mood Swings
Menstrual irregularity
more likely chance of contracting Tuberculosis, pneumonia,
tetanus, and viral hepatitis,
Endocarditis
HIV Infection
Deep sleep, progressing to Coma
Drug Dependence, Addiction
DEATH
Inhalants
Inhalants are a group of products found in most homes and
workshops. They reportedly produce a "high" when they are
deliberately inhaled or sniffed. Inhalants in various forms have been and
continue to be among the most abused drugs worldwide.
Among the most commonly abused inhalants today are:
Gasoline, glue, typewriter correction fluid, spray paint,
lacquer thinner, butane, cooking spray, fabric protectors, and nitrous oxide.
Abusers claim that they receive a 15 to 45 minute
"high" or light-headedness. Once the high is over, most experience
pounding headaches, upset stomachs, and bad breath.
Physical Effects of Abusing
Inhalants
Impaired Judgement,
Decreased Coordination,
Coughing, nasal irritation and nosebleeds,
increased heart rate, irregular heart beat,
heart failure (known as sudden sniffing death),
respiratory depression, suffocation,
hangover,
DEATH
Signs of Possible Inhalant abuse
Chemical odor on body, clothes, or in room.
Red, glassy, watery eyes, and dilated pupils,
Slurred Speech,
Staggering gait and lack of coordination,
Inflamed nose, nosebleeds, and rashes around nose and mouth,
loss of appetite,
intoxication,
Seizure,
coma,
DEATH
LSD, PCP
Ecstasy, and Ice
LSD, or lysergic acid diethyl amide, was a drug that became
popular in the 60's, and is one of the most powerful of the hallucinogenic
drugs. It has regained that popularity with teens, college students, and many
young adults. LSD is usually sold as "blotter acid". Users chew or
swallow these small sheets of paper, which have been imprinted with liquid LSD.
The drug is also available in tablets called "microdots" and in thin,
gelatin squares known as "window panes".
LSD is easily absorbed into the human body, and can be
ingested through mere contact. The substance can be absorbed through the
fingertip or any other part of the body that contacts the drug. Many times the
drug is printed to look like cartoon characters on tattoo's similar to those
found in bubble gum wrappers. Unfortunately many smaller children can confuse
this with real tattoos, inadvertently putting the tattoo sticker on their skin
and receiving a drug dosage designed for an average 160-pound adult.
Physical effects of LSD abuse
Anxiety or Panic attacks, also known as bad trips,
Distortion of time, space and body image.
Difficulty concentrating and thinking clearly.
Mood swings, often ranging from a hyper-interested mood to a
withdrawn, disinterested mood.
Unacceptable behavior resulting from the confusion, panic,
and paranoia that bad trips produce.
The possibility of "toxic psychosis" for those
users already suffering from depression.
"Flashbacks" where for no apparent reason, the user
experiences a previous LSD trip days, weeks, months, or even years later.
Flashbacks are usually visual in nature and can be unpleasant and, in some
cases terrifying.
DEATH
PCP
Phencyclidine is a dissociative anesthetic that was removed
from the American market after the discovery that patients became agitated and
disoriented after use. Although PCP is popular in certain urban areas in the
United States, experts believe most people who use it do so unknowingly. PCP is
often used as an additive in or substitute for street drugs marketed as LSD,
marijuana, mescaline and methamphetamine. Ketamine, an animal anesthetic known
on the street as "Special K" is closely related to it and is sometime
mistaken for it.
Harmful Effects of PCP
Mild euphoria and a feeling of relaxation, followed by
depression.
Disorientation, anxiety and feelings of fear and panic may
occur.
feeling of power and hallucinations as well as
"out-of-body sensations".
Some become "spacey", paranoid, lapse into wide-eyed
staring and
having problems speaking and moving properly.
Some users become so depressed that they become suicidal or
hostile towards others. Also, since the drug is an anesthetic and blocks feelings
of pain. Upset or angry users will fight attempts to restrain them beyond
normal limits. They may act superhuman and may not respond to disabling
techniques.
Ecstasy
"Ecstasy," "XTC", and "Adam"
are some of the names given to MDMA, a synthetic drug that acts both as a
stimulant and a hallucinogen. Ecstasy is not a new drug, but is achieving a new
popularity as part of the "Rave" scene. Raves are underground, all
night dance parties that attract teens and college age youth. Although alcohol
is not usually part of the scene, such drugs as LSD and ecstasy sometimes are.
Partygoers use ecstasy for a false sense of well-being and the sensory
distortion it produces and to help them stay awake through an hours long event
like a rave or club party.
Harmful Effects of Ecstasy
Increased Heart Rate
Reduces appetite
Causes sleep problems
Produces depression, anxiety, and drug craving\
Blurred vision
teeth clenching
dry mouth
Nausea and sweating
Stiffness in arms and legs, problems with memory.
Ice
"Ice" is a very pure form of methamphetamine
("speed") that produces an intense, long-lasting high. Ice is an
extremely addictive stimulant. Ice is a clear crystalline substance that looks
like tiny chunks of ice.. Although it may be snorted or injected, it is usually
smoked in a glass pipe.
Harmful Effects of Ice
Loss of appetite
Sleeplessness
Mood swings (elation, depression, paranoia) unpredictable
behavior
Tremors
Dry Mouth
Nausea, cramps and vomiting
High blood pressure, irregular heart beat, cardiovascular
shock
Convulsions
Coma
DEATH
Marijuana
Marijuana is the illegal drug most commonly used in the
United States. An estimated 3 million Americans smoke it everyday in hand
rolled cigarettes, tiny pipes, or water pipes called "bongs".
Marijuana is a mood-altering drug. It comes from the leaves, small stem and
flowering tops of the hemp plant, Cannabis Sativa. Although cannabis contains
over 400 chemicals, one substance, known as THC, is chiefly responsible for the
intoxication it produces.
Harmful Effects of Marijuana
Users have trouble thinking or talking clearly.
Speech becomes choppy and thoughts jump from subject to
subject.
Loss of judgement
Loss of motor skills and coordination
Loss of Memory
Loss of motivation
Withdrawal from social circles
Failure to acquire appropriate social skills
Mood swings and irritability
decreased attention span
damage to respiratory tract and reproductive system.
sore throats, coughs, bronchitis