classification of drugs and their effects_31p

7/28/2019 Classification of Drugs and Their Effects_31p

1/31

Classification of Drugs and Their Effects

Psychoactive

Drugs

Range of Effects Development

of Tolerance

Prolonged Use of

Large Amounts

Withdrawal Symp

After ProlongedFrom To

Alcohol

- Beer- Wine- Hard Liquor

DepressantRelaxation, loweredinhibitions, reducedintensity of physical

sensations, digestiveupsets, body heat loss,reduced muscularcoordination.

Loss of body control, passingout (also causing physicalinjuries), susceptibility topneumonia, cessation of

breathing.

ModerateLiver damage, ulcers,chronic diarrhea,amnesia, vomiting,brain damage, internal

bleeding, debilitation.

Convulsions, shakehallucinations, lossmemory, uncontrolmuscular spasms,psychosis.

Sedative

Hypnotics

Barbiturates:- Nebutal- Phenobarbital- SeconalTranquilizers:- Valium- Librium

- Quaaludes

DepressantRelaxation, loweredinhibitions, reducedintensity of physicalsensations, digestiveupsets, body heat loss,reduced muscularcoordination.

Passing out, loss of bodycontrol, stupor, severedepression of respiration,possible death. (Effects areexaggerated when used incombination with alcohol -synergistic effect).

ModerateAmnesia, confusion,drowsiness,personality changes.

Opiates

- Opium- Morphine- Heroin- Codeine- Dilaudids- Percodan- Darvon- Methadone

DepressantSuppression of pain,lowered blood pressureand respiratory rate,constipation, disruption ofmenstrual cycle,hallucinations, sleep.

Clammy skin, convulsions,coma, respiratory depression,possible death.

HighDepressed sexualdrive, lethargy, generalphysical debilitation,infections, hepatitis

Water eyes, runninnose, severe back pstomach cramps,sleeplessness, nausdiarrhea, sweating,muscle spasms.

Stimulants

Amphetamines- Dexedrine- Metham-phetamines- Speed- Diet PillsOtherStimulants- Ritalin- Cocaine- Caffeine

Stimulation of CentralNervous SystemIncreased blood pressureand pulse rate, appetiteloss, increased alertness,dilated and dried outbronchi, restlessness,insomnia.

Paranoid reaction, temporarypsychosis, irritability,convulsions, palpitations.(Not generally true forcaffeine.)

HighPsychosis, insomnia,paranoia, nervoussystem damage. (Notgenerally true forcaffeine.)

Severe depression, physical and menta(Not true for caffein

Psychedelics

- LSD

- Mescaline- Psilocybin- PCP

Alteration of MentalProcess

Distorted perceptions,hallucinations, confusion,vomiting.

Psychosis, hallucinations,vomiting, anxiety, panic,

stupor.With PCP: Aggressivebehavior, catatonia,convulsions, coma, highblood pressure.

HighPsychosis, continuedhallucinations, mental

disruption.

Occasional flashbacphenomena, depres

THC

- Marijuana- Hashish

Sedation, euphoria,increased appetite, alteredmental process.

Distorted perception, anxiety,panic. Moderate

Amotivation (loss ofdrive).

No true withdrawalsymptoms exceptpossible depression


2/31


3/31

Drug Name: Ecstasy

Drug Type: Stimulants

Facts forParents:

Ecstasy is popular at all-night underground parties (called raves) and is the most common designer drug.

OtherNames:

XTC, Adam, MDMA

HowConsumed:

Orally

Effects: Psychiatric disturbances, including panic, anxiety, depression, and paranoia. Muscle tension, nausea, blurred vision,sweating, increased heart rate, tremors, hallucinations, fainting, chills, sleep problems, and reduced appetite

Drug Name: Ritalin

Drug Type: Stimulant

Facts forParents:

Some children buy or steal from their classmates

OtherNames:

Speed, west coast

HowConsumed:

Tablet is crushed, and the powder is snorted or injected.

Effects: Loss of appetite, fevers, convulsions, and severe headaches. Increased risk of exposure to HIV, hepatitis, and otherinfections. Paranoia, hallucinations, excessive repetition of movements and meaningless tasks, tremors, muscletwitching.

Drug Name: Herbal Ecstasy/Ephedrine

Drug Type: Herbal Ecstasy, Cloud 9, Rave Energy, Ultimate, Xphoria, and X

Facts forParents: The active ingredients in Herbal Ecstasy are caffeine and ephedrine.

HowConsumed:

Orally

Effects: Increased heart rate and blood pressure. Seizures, heart attacks, stroke, and death.

Drug Name: Designer Drugs


4/31

Drug Type: Stimulants

Facts forParents:

Changing the molecular structure of an existing drug or drugs to create a new substance creates Designer drugs.

OtherNames:

Synthetic heroin, goodfella

HowConsumed:

Injected, sniffed, or smoked.

Effects: Instant respiratory paralysis. Potency creates strong possibility for overdose, many of the same effects as heroin.

Drug Name: Cocaine


Facts forParents:

Cocaine is a powerfully addictive drug. Heavy use may produce paranoia, hallucinations, aggression, insomnia, anddepression.

OtherNames:

Coke, snow, nose candy, flake, blow, big C, lady, white, snowbirds.

HowConsumed:

Snorted or dissolved in water and injected.

Effects: Addiction, pupil dilation, elevated blood pressure and heart rate. Increased respiratory rate, seizures, heart attack,insomnia, anxiety, restlessness, irritability, increased body temperature, death from overdose.

Drug Name: Crack


Facts forParents:

A cheaper form of cocaine that may be more addicting.

OtherNames:

Rock, freebase

Effects: Same as cocaine

Drug Name: Heroin

Drug Type: Opiates

Facts forParents:

Heroin users quickly develop a tolerance to the drug and need more and more of it to get the same effects, or even tofeel well.


5/31

OtherNames:

Smack, horse, mud, brown, sugar, junk, black tar, big H, dope.

Effects: Addiction. Slurred speech, slow gait, constricted pupils, droopy eyelids, impaired night vision, nodding off, respiratorydepression or failure, dry itching skin, and skin infections. Increased risk of exposure to HIV, hepatitis, and otherinfectious diseases if injected.

Drug Name: PCP

Drug Type: Hallucinogens

Facts forParents:

Marijuana joints can be dipped into PCP without the smoker's knowledge.

OtherNames:

Angel dust, ozone, rocket fuel, peace pill, elephant tranquilizer, dust.

HowConsumed: Snorted, smoked, orally, or injected.

Effects: Hallucinations. Out-of-body experiences, impaired motor coordination, inability to feel physical pain, respiratoryattack, disorientation, fear, panic, aggressive behavior. Increased risk of exposure to HIV, hepatitis, and otherinfectious diseases if injected. Death.

Drug Name: LSD (Lysergic Acid Diethyl amide)

Drug Type: Hallucinogen

Facts forParents:

LSD is the most common hallucinogen. LSD tabs are often decorated with colorful designs or cartoon characters.

OtherNames:

Acid, microdot, tabs, doses, trips, hits, sugar cubes.

HowConsumed:

Tabs taken orally or gelatin/liquid put in eyes.

Effects: Elevated body temperature and blood pressure, suppressed appetite, sleeplessness, tremors, chronic recurringhallucinations.

Drug Name: Mushrooms

Drug Type: Hallucinogens

Facts forParents:

Many mushroom users purchase hallucinogenic mushroom spores via mail order.

OtherNames:

Shrooms, caps, magic mushrooms.


6/31

HowConsumed:

Eaten or brewed and drunk in tea.

Effects: Increased blood pressure, sweating, nausea, hallucinations.

Drug Name: Inhalants

Facts forParents:

Hundreds of legal household products can be sniffed or huffed to get high. All inhalants can be toxic. Other Names:Laughing gas, whippets, aerosol sprays, cleaning fluids, solvents.

HowConsumed:

Vapors are inhaled

Effects: Headache, muscle weakness, abdominal pain, severe mood swings and violent behavior, nausea, nose bleeds; liver,lung, and kidney damage; dangerous chemical imbalances in the body, lack of coordination, fatigue, loss of appetite,decreases in heart and respiratory rates, hepatitis, or peripheral neuropathy from long-term use.

Drug Name: Marijuana

Facts forParents:

The average age of first use is 14. Can be smoked using homemade pipes and bongs made from soda cans or plasticbeverage containers.

OtherNames:

Weed, pot, reefer, grass, dope, ganja, Mary Jane, sinsemilla, herb, Aunt Mary, skunk, boom, kif, gangster, chronic,420.

HowConsumed:

Smoked or eaten.

Effects: Bloodshot eyes, dry mouth, impaired or reduced comprehension, altered sense of time, reduced ability to perform tasksrequiring concentration and coordination --such as driving a car, paranoia, intense anxiety attacks, altered cognition,making acquisition of new information difficult; impairments in learning, memory, perception, and judgment;difficulty speaking, listening effectively, thinking, retaining knowledge, problem solving.

Drug Name: Steroids

Facts forParents:

Steroid users subject themselves to more than 70 % potentially harmful side effects.

OtherNames:

Rhoids, juice

HowConsumed:

Orally or injected into muscle

Effects: Liver cancer Sterility, masculine traits in women and feminine traits in men, aggression, depression, acne, moodswings.

Drug Name: Tobacco


7/31

Facts forParents:

1 in 5 12th graders is a daily smoker. How Consumed: Cigarettes, cigars, pipes, smokeless tobacco (chew, dip, andsnuff).

Effects: Addiction, heart disease, cancer of the lung, larynx, esophagus, bladder, pancreas, kidney, and mouth. Emphysema andchronic bronchitis, spontaneous abortion, low birth weight.

Here are summaries of the effect of select street drugs on the brain. Some of the introductory information is derived fromAbout.com. Select authoritative references for information about effects of drugs on the brain include:

Drug Abuse in the Decade of the Brain, Gabriel G. Nahas and T. F. Burks, Eds., IOS Press, 1997.

Drug Use and Abuse, Jean-Pierre Changeux, in The Brainby G. M. Edelman and J. Changeux, editors, Transaction Publishers,2001.

Heroin

Heroin is a highly addictive opiate (like morphine). Brain cells can become dependent (highly addictive) on this drug to theextent that users need it in order to function in their daily routine. While heroin use starts out with a rush of pleasure, it leavesthe use in a fog for many hours afterwards. Users soon find that their sole purpose in life is to have more of the drug that theirbody has become dependant on.

From Dakota State University, a great resource on the effects of various drugs on the body and brain.

See also, National Institute on Drug Abuse facts about heroin.

Marijuana

The parts of the brain that control emotions, memory, and judgment are affected by marijuana. Smoking it can not onlyweaken short-term memory, but can block information from making it into long term memory. It has also been shown toweaken problem solving ability.

Cannabis and Cognitive Functioning, Nadia Solowi, Cambridge Univ. Press, 1998.

Alcohol

Alcohol is no safer than drugs. Alcohol impairs judgment and leads to memory lapses. It can lead to blackouts. It distortsvision, shortens coordination, and in addition to the brain can damage every other organ in the body.

Cocaine

Cocaine, both in powder form and as crack, is an extremely addictive stimulant. An addict usually loses interest in many areasof life, including school, sports, family, and friends. Use of cocaine can lead to feelings of paranoia and anxiety. Althoughoften used to enhance sex drive, physical effect of cocaine on the receptors in the brain reduce the ability to feel pleasure(which in turn causes the dependency on the drug).

Cocaine: Effects on the Developing Brain, (Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences), John A. Harvey and Barry E.Kosofsky, Eds., New York Academy of Sciences, 1998.

The Neurobiology of Cocaine Addiction: From Bench to Bedside, Herman Joseph and Barry Stimmel, Eds., Haworth Press,1997.

See National Institute on Drug Abuse facts about cocaine and crack.

Inhalants

Inhalants, such as glue, gasoline, hair spray, and paint thinner, are sniffed. The effect on the brain is almost immediate. And
http://www.courses.dsu.edu/drug_action/Default.htmhttp://www.nida.nih.gov/Infofax/heroin.htmlhttp://www.nida.nih.gov/Infofax/cocaine.htmlhttp://www.courses.dsu.edu/drug_action/Default.htmhttp://www.nida.nih.gov/Infofax/heroin.htmlhttp://www.nida.nih.gov/Infofax/cocaine.html


8/31

while some vapors leave the body quickly, others will remain for a long time. The fatty tissues protecting the nerve cells in thebrain are destroyed by inhalant vapors. This slows down or even stops neural transmissions. Effects of inhalants includediminished ability to learn, remember, and solve problems.

See National Institute on Drug Abuse facts about inhalants.

Ecstasy

Extended use of this amphetamine causes difficulty differentiating reality and fantasy, and causes problems concentrating.Studies have found that ecstasy destroys certain cells in the brain. While the cells may re-connect after discontinued use of thedrug, they don't re-connect normally. Like most drugs, this one impairs memory and can cause paranoia, anxiety, andconfusion.

See National Institute on Drug Abuse facts about ecstasy.

LSD

While some people use LSD for the sense of enhanced and vivid sensory experience, it can cause paranoia, confusion, anxiety,and panic attacks. Like Ecstasy, the user often blurs reality and fantasy, and has a distorted view of time and distance.

See National Institute on Drug Abuse facts about LSD.

Steroids

Anabolic steroids are used to improve athletic performance and gain muscle bulk. Unfortunately, steroids cause moodiness andcan permanently impair learning and memory abilities.

See National Institute on Drug Abuse facts about steroids.

Tobacco

Tobacco is a dangerous drug, putting nicotine into your body. Nicotine affects the brain quickly, like other inhalants,

producing feelings of pleasure, like cocaine, and is highly addictive, like heroin.

See National Institute on Drug Abuse facts about nicotine.

Methamphetamine

Known on the street as meth, speed, chalk, ice, crystal, and glass, methamphetamine is an addictive stimulant that stronglyactivates certain systems in the brain.

See National Institute on Drug Abuse facts about methamphetamine.

Ritalin

This drug is often prescribed to treat attention deficit disorder. It is becoming an illicit street drug as well. Drug users lookingfor a high will crush Ritalin into a powder and snort it like cocaine, or inject it like heroin. It then has a much more powerfuleffect on the body. It causes severe headaches, anxiety, paranoia, and delusions.

Amphetamines

Wednesday 1 March, 2006
http://www.nida.nih.gov/Infofax/inhalants.htmlhttp://www.nida.nih.gov/Infofax/ecstasy.htmlhttp://www.nida.nih.gov/Infofax/lsd.htmlhttp://www.nida.nih.gov/Infofax/steroids.htmlhttp://www.nida.nih.gov/Infofax/tobacco.htmlhttp://www.nida.nih.gov/Infofax/methamphetamine.htmlhttp://www.nida.nih.gov/Infofax/inhalants.htmlhttp://www.nida.nih.gov/Infofax/ecstasy.htmlhttp://www.nida.nih.gov/Infofax/lsd.htmlhttp://www.nida.nih.gov/Infofax/steroids.htmlhttp://www.nida.nih.gov/Infofax/tobacco.htmlhttp://www.nida.nih.gov/Infofax/methamphetamine.html


9/31

What are amphetamines?

Effects of amphetamines

Tolerance and dependence

Withdrawal

Treatment options

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Hepatitis and HIV

Reducing the risks

AmphetaminesAustralian Drug Foundation 2005

This information has been adapted from the pamphletHow Drugs Affect You: Amphetamines, produced by the Australian DrugFoundation. For single copies of this pamphlet contact the DrugInfo Clearinghouse on telelphone 1300 85 85 84 or [email protected] (Victoria only). Multiple copies are available through the ADF Bookshop.

What are amphetamines?

Amphetamines belong to a group of drugs called "psychostimulants". Amphetamines stimulate the central nervous system and speedup the messages going to and from the brain to the body.

Most amphetamines are produced in backyard laboratories and sold illegally. People who buy amphetamines illegally are often buyingthese drugs mixed with other substances that can have unpleasant or harmful effects.

What do they look like?

Amphetamines are a whole family of related drugseach with its own recipeand are taken in different ways. They can be in theform of powder, tablets, capsules, crystals or red liquid.

Amphetamines can come as a white through to a brown powder, sometimes even orange and dark purple. They have a strong smelland bitter taste.

Amphetamine capsules vary considerably in colour and are sometimes sold in commercial brand shells. They are packaged in "foils"(aluminium foil), plastic bags or small balloons when sold on the street.

Amphetamine tablets vary in colour, and can be a cocktail of drugs, binding agents, caffeine and sugar.

Crystal methamphetamine, or "ice", generally comes in large "sheet-like" crystals, or as a crystalline powder.

The reddish-brown liquid is sold in capsules.

MDMA, or "ecstasy" as it is more commonly known, is another illicit drug related to amphetamines. It is usually available in smalltablets.

Pictures of amphetamines

Why are they used?

People use amphetamines for different reasons. Some use the drugs to get "high" and dance all night. Others use the drugs to help stayawake for long periods of time, to improve performance in sport or at work, or to boost their self-confidence. Amphetamines canreduce tiredness and increase endurance.
http://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=amphetamines#what%20are%20amphetamines%23what%20are%20amphetamineshttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=amphetamines#effects%23effectshttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=amphetamines#tolerance%23tolerancehttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=amphetamines#withdrawl%23withdrawlhttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=amphetamines#treatment%23treatmenthttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=amphetamines#pregnancy%23pregnancyhttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=amphetamines#hepatitis%23hepatitishttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=amphetamines#reducing%23reducinghttp://www.adf.org.au/store/article.asp?ContentID=product_70212http://www.adf.org.au/store/article.asp?ContentID=product_70212http://www.adf.org.au/store/article.asp?ContentID=product_70212mailto:[email protected]://www.bookshop.adf.org.au/http://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=about_drugs#effetc_classhttp://druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=ice_crystal_methamphetamine_hy&ContainerID=414http://druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=ice_crystal_methamphetamine_hy&ContainerID=414http://druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=ecstasyhttp://druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=ecstasyhttp://druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=ecstasyhttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=pictures_of_amphetamineshttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=amphetamines#what%20are%20amphetamines%23what%20are%20amphetamineshttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=amphetamines#effects%23effectshttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=amphetamines#tolerance%23tolerancehttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=amphetamines#withdrawl%23withdrawlhttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=amphetamines#treatment%23treatmenthttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=amphetamines#pregnancy%23pregnancyhttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=amphetamines#hepatitis%23hepatitishttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=amphetamines#reducing%23reducinghttp://www.adf.org.au/store/article.asp?ContentID=product_70212mailto:[email protected]://www.bookshop.adf.org.au/http://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=about_drugs#effetc_classhttp://druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=ice_crystal_methamphetamine_hy&ContainerID=414http://druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=ice_crystal_methamphetamine_hy&ContainerID=414http://druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=ecstasyhttp://druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=ecstasyhttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=pictures_of_amphetamines


10/31

For medical purposes, amphetamines are prescribed to treat narcolepsy (where a person has an uncontrollable urge to sleep) andattention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

How are they taken?

Amphetamines are most commonly swallowed, injected or smoked. They are also "snorted", or sniffed, through the nose. Somepeople insert them anally ("shafting").

Street names

Common names for amphetamines are "speed", "up", "fast", "louee", "goey", "whiz", "pep pills", "uppers". Crystal methamphetamineis also known as "ice", "shabu", "crystal meth", or "glass".

Effects of amphetamines

The effects of any drug (including amphetamines) vary from person to person, depending on the individuals size, weight and health,how much and how the drug is taken, whether the person is used to taking it and whether other drugs are taken. It also depends on theenvironment in which the drug is used; for example, whether the person is alone, with others or at a party.

Immediate effects

Soon after taking amphetamines, the following effects may be experienced:

Speeding up of bodily functionsAmphetamines speed up the bodys activity. Heart rate, breathing and blood pressure increase. A dry mouth, increasedsweating, enlargement of the eyes pupils and headaches may occur.

More energy and alertnessUsers may feel energetic and full of confidence, with a heightened sense of well being. Other effects include feeling wideawake and alert, becoming talkative, restless and excited, and having difficulty sleeping. Panic attacks may also beexperienced.

Reduced appetite

IrritabilitySome users become anxious, irritable, hostile and aggressive. Sometimes people feel a sense of power and superiority over

others.

Impure amphetamines

Most amphetamines sold illegally contain a mixture of pure amphetamines and other substances such as sugar, glucose, bicarbonate ofsoda and ephedrine. These additives can be highly poisonous. They can cause collapsed veins, tetanus, abscesses and damage to theheart, lungs, liver and brain. And because the person doesnt know whether they are using 5 per cent or 50 per cent pureamphetamines, it is easy to overdose by accident.

In greater quantities

Very high quantities of amphetamines can cause paleness, headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, tremors, irregular heartbeat, stomach

cramps, sweating, restlessness, irregular breathing and loss of coordination. Some users have collapsed after taking amphetamines.High quantities can also create an "amphetamine psychosis", characterised by paranoid delusions, hallucinations and aggressive orviolent behaviour.

Effects of overdosing

Due to the unknown strength and mix of street amphetamines, some users have overdosed and experienced strokes, heart failure,seizures and high body temperature. Some have died as a result. Injecting runs a greater risk of overdosing due to large amounts of thedrug entering the blood stream and quickly travelling to the brain.


11/31

Coming down

As the effects of amphetamines begin to wear off, a person may experience a range of symptoms including uncontrolled violence,tension, radical mood swings, depression and total exhaustion.

Long-term effects

Regular use of amphetamines may result in chronic sleeping problems, anxiety and tension, high blood pressure and a rapid andirregular heartbeat. In order to combat these drug-related effects, people who use amphetamines may also use alcohol,

benzodiazepines, other sedatives/hypnotics, cannabis and opiates.

Other possible long-term effects include:

MalnutritionAmphetamines reduce appetite, resulting in people being less likely to eat properly.

PsychosisFrequent heavy use can cause "amphetamine psychosis". Symptoms may include paranoia as well as delusions, hallucinationsand bizarre behaviour. These symptoms usually disappear a few days after the person stops using amphetamines.

Reduced resistance to infectionsRegular amphetamine users often dont eat or sleep properly and are generally run down, so their resistance to infections isreduced.

ViolencePeople who use amphetamines regularly or in high quantities may suddenly become violent for no apparent reason.

Brain damageThere is some evidence that amphetamine use may damage brain cells. This damage can result in reduced memory functionand possibly other impairments in thinking.


People who are physically dependent on amphetamines usually develop tolerance to the drug, making it necessary to take more andmore to get the same effect. The quantity taken can reach a stage at which no further increase in the amount taken will produce thedesired effect.

Dependence on amphetamines can be psychological or physical, or both. People who are psychologically dependent on amphetaminesfind that using them becomes far more important than other activities in their life. They crave the drug and will find it very difficult tostop using it. People who are physically dependent on amphetamines find that their body has become used to functioning with theamphetamines present.

Withdrawal

If a person who is dependent on amphetamines suddenly stops taking it, they will experience withdrawal symptoms, because theirbody has to readjust to functioning without the drug.

Amphetamine withdrawal symptoms may include hunger, extreme fatigue, anxiety, irritability and depression. People may also have along but restless sleep, often interrupted by nightmares. Some experience severe distress or feelings of panic.

Treatment options

There are a number of drug treatment options available in Australia. While abstinence may be a suitable treatment aim for somepeople, many programs recognise that for others this may not be possible or realistic. Most programs adopt strategies that have anoverall aim of reducing the harms and risks related to the persons drug use.

Some treatment options include counselling, group therapy, withdrawal (detoxification) and medication (pharmacotherapy).Residential and "out-patient" programs are available.

Treatment is more effective if tailored to suit a person's circumstances, and usually involves a combination of methods.
http://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=alcoholhttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=benzodiazepineshttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=cannabishttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=alcoholhttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=benzodiazepineshttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=cannabis


12/31

For referral to a treatment service, contact the alcohol and drug information service in your state or territory.

More on treatment


Amphetamine use during pregnancy can affect foetal development. Amphetamine use has been linked with bleeding, early labour andmiscarriage. Amphetamine use during pregnancy has also been linked to an increased risk of foetal abnormalities, including smallerhead size, eye problems, cleft palate, delayed motor development, limb defects and changes to the brain. Amphetamines also cause the

heart rate of mother and baby to increase.

If amphetamines are used close to birth the baby may be unsettled and may be over-active and agitated. Babies of mothers whoregularly use amphetamines may also experience withdrawal symptoms in the first few weeks after birth.

Not much is known about the effects of amphetamines on the mother during breastfeeding. There is evidence that babies feed poorlyand may be irritable.

See your doctor or other health professional if you are taking or planning to take any substances while pregnant or breastfeeding,including prescribed and over-the-counter medications.

More on alcohol, other drugs and pregnancy

Hepatitis and HIV

Sharing needles, syringes and other injecting equipment can greatly increase the risk of contracting blood-borne viruses such ashepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virusthe virus that causes AIDS).

To find out where to obtain clean needles and syringes, search the Better Health Channel service directory or contact the alcohol anddrug information service in your State or Territory.

Reducing the risks

Australian drug policy is based on harm minimisation. The aim is to reduce drug-related harm to both the community and theindividuals who use drugs.

Harm-minimisation strategies range from encouraging "non-use" through to providing the means for people who use drugs to usethem with reduced risks.

For tips on how to reduce the risks of using amphetamines, contact the alcohol and drug information service in your State or Territory.

Remember: there is no safe level of drug use.

What to do in a crisis

If someone overdoses or has an adverse reaction while using amphetamines it is very important that they receive professionalhelp as soon as possible. A quick response can save their life.

Call an ambulance. Dial 000. Dont delay because you think you or your friend might get into trouble. Ambulance officersare not obliged to involve the police.

Stay with the person until the ambulance arrives. Find out if anyone at the scene knows mouth-to-mouth resuscitation orcardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

Ensure that the person has adequate air by keeping crowds back and opening windows. Loosen tight clothing.

If the person is unconscious, dont leave them on their backthey could choke. Turn them on their side and put them in therecovery position. Gently tilt their head back so their tongue does not block the airway.

If breathing has stopped, give mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. If there is no pulse, apply CPR.

Provide the ambulance officers with as much information as you canwhat drugs were taken, how much was taken, howlong ago and any pre-existing medical conditions.

Before using amphetamines, make sure you and your friends know what to do in a crisis.
http://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/browse.asp?ContainerID=supporthttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=treatment1&ContainerID=415http://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=aod_pregnancyhttp://www.health.vic.gov.au/ideas/diseases/hepb.htmhttp://www.health.vic.gov.au/ideas/diseases/hepc.htmhttp://www.health.vic.gov.au/ideas/diseases/sti_hiv_questions.htmhttp://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcsite.nsf/pages/service_directory?opendocumenthttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/browse.asp?ContainerID=supporthttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/browse.asp?ContainerID=supporthttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/browse.asp?ContainerID=supporthttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/browse.asp?ContainerID=supporthttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=treatment1&ContainerID=415http://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=aod_pregnancyhttp://www.health.vic.gov.au/ideas/diseases/hepb.htmhttp://www.health.vic.gov.au/ideas/diseases/hepc.htmhttp://www.health.vic.gov.au/ideas/diseases/sti_hiv_questions.htmhttp://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcsite.nsf/pages/service_directory?opendocumenthttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/browse.asp?ContainerID=supporthttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/browse.asp?ContainerID=supporthttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/browse.asp?ContainerID=support


13/31

Cannabis

Wednesday 20 September, 2006

What is cannabis?

Effects of cannabis

Cannabis and psychosis

Medicinal use of cannabis


Withdrawal

Treatment options


Reducing the risks

Cannabis sativa plantAustralian Drug Foundation 2005

This information has been adapted from the pamphletHow Drugs Affect You: Cannabis, produced by the Australian Drug Foundation.For single copies of this pamphlet phone 1300 85 85 84 or email [email protected] (Victoria only). Multiple copies are availablefrom the ADF Bookshop.

What is cannabis?

Cannabis is a drug that comes from Indian hemp plants such as Cannabis sativa and Cannabis indica. The active chemical in cannabisis THC (delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol).

Cannabis is a depressant drug. Depressants do not necessarily make the person feel depressed. Rather, they affect the central nervoussystem by slowing down the messages going between the brain and the body.

What does it look like?

There are three main forms of cannabis:

Marijuana is the most common and least powerful form of cannabis. It is the dried leaves and flowers of the plant.Marijuana looks like chopped grass, and ranges in colour from grey-green to greenish-brown. Marijuana is smoked in hand-rolled cigarettes (joints) or in a pipe (a bong).

Hashish (hash) is dried cannabis resin which comes in small blocks. The blocks range in colour from light brown to nearlyblack. The concentration of THC in hashish is higher than in marijuana, producing stronger effects. Hash is added to tobaccoand smoked, or baked and eaten in foods such as "hash cookies".

Hash oil is a thick, oily liquid, golden-brown to black, that can be extracted from hashish. It is usually spread on the tip orpaper of cigarettes and then smoked. Hash oil is more powerful than the other forms of cannabis. This form is rarely found inAustralia.

A non-potent form of cannabis (Indian hemp) is used to produce fibres for use in paper, textiles and clothing.

More pictures of cannabis

THC

THC (delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol) is the chemical in cannabis that makes you feel "high". This means you experience a change inmood and may see or feel things in a different way. Some parts of the plant contain a higher level of THC. For example, the flowers,or "heads", have more THC than the stems and leaves.
http://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=cannabis#what%23whathttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=cannabis#effects%23effectshttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=cannabis#Cannabis%20and%20psychosis%23Cannabis%20and%20psychosishttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=cannabis#medicinal%23medicinalhttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=cannabis#tolerance%23tolerancehttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=cannabis#withdrawl%23withdrawlhttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=cannabis#Treatment%23Treatmenthttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=cannabis#pregnancy%23pregnancyhttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=cannabis#reducing%23reducinghttp://www.adf.org.au/store/article.asp?ContentID=6750http://www.adf.org.au/store/article.asp?ContentID=6750http://www.adf.org.au/store/article.asp?ContentID=6750mailto:[email protected]://www.adf.org.au/storehttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=pictures_of_cannabishttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=cannabis#what%23whathttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=cannabis#effects%23effectshttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=cannabis#Cannabis%20and%20psychosis%23Cannabis%20and%20psychosishttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=cannabis#medicinal%23medicinalhttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=cannabis#tolerance%23tolerancehttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=cannabis#withdrawl%23withdrawlhttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=cannabis#Treatment%23Treatmenthttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=cannabis#pregnancy%23pregnancyhttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=cannabis#reducing%23reducinghttp://www.adf.org.au/store/article.asp?ContentID=6750mailto:[email protected]://www.adf.org.au/storehttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=pictures_of_cannabis


14/31

THC is absorbed into the bloodstream through the walls of the lungs (if cannabis is smoked), or through the walls of the stomach andintestines (if eaten). The bloodstream carries the THC to the brain, producing the "high" effects. Drugs that are inhaled get into thebloodstream quicker than those eaten.

Street names

"Grass", "pot", "hash", "weed", "reefer", "dope", "herb", "mull", "buddha", "ganja", "joint", "stick", "buckets", "cones", "skunk","hydro", "yarndi", "smoke", "hooch"

Effects of cannabis

The effects of any drug (including cannabis) vary from person to person. It depends on many factors, including an individuals size,weight and health, how the drug is taken, how much is taken, whether the person is used to taking it and whether other drugs aretaken.

Immediate effects

Small doses of cannabis can have effects that last 24 hours after smoking. These effects include:

relaxation and loss of inhibition

increased appetite affected perception of colour, sound and other sensations

impaired coordination

affected thinking and memory.

Other common immediate effects include increased heart rate, low blood pressure and reddened eyes.


Larger quantities of marijuana make the above effects stronger, and also tend to distort a persons perceptions.

Very large quantities of marijuana can produce:

confusion

restlessness

feelings of excitement

hallucinations

anxiety or panic, or detachment from reality

decreased reaction time

paranoia.

Long-term effects

Research shows evidence of some long-term effects in some regular cannabis users.

Respiratory illnessMarijuana cigarettes have more tar than tobacco, placing cannabis users at an increased risk of respiratory illness such as lungcancer and chronic bronchitis. Cigarette smokers who also smoke cannabis have an even greater risk of respiratory disease.

Reduced motivationMany regular users have reported that they have less energy and motivation, so that performance at work or school suffers.

Brain functionConcentration, memory and the ability to learn can all be reduced by regular cannabis use. These effects can last for severalmonths after ceasing cannabis use.
http://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=tobaccohttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=tobacco


15/31

HormonesCannabis can affect hormone production. Research shows that some cannabis users have a lower sex drive. Irregularmenstrual cycles and lowered sperm counts have also been reported.

Immune systemThere is some concern that cannabis smoking may impair the functioning of the immune system.

Cannabis and psychosis

It is believed that cannabis useespecially if heavy and regularmay be linked to a condition known as a drug-induced psychosis, or

"cannabis psychosis". This can last up to a few days. The episodes are often characterised by hallucinations, delusions, memory lossand confusion.

There is some evidence that regular cannabis use increases the likelihood of psychotic symptoms occurring in an individual who isvulnerable due to a personal or family history of mental illness. Cannabis also appears to make psychotic symptoms worse for thosewith schizophrenia and lowers the chances of recovery from a psychotic episode.

Medicinal use of cannabis

Cannabis has been used medicinally for many centuries. There is evidence to suggest it is useful in providing relief from nausea andvomiting caused by chemotherapy, wasting and severe weight loss, pain, glaucoma, epilepsy and asthma.


With regular use, people can develop a mild tolerance to cannabis. This means they need to take more and more to get the same effect.

Heavy and frequent use of cannabis can cause physical dependence. Physical dependence occurs when a persons body has adapted toa drug and is used to functioning with the drug present.

It is possible to become psychologically dependent on cannabis. This means that using cannabis becomes far more important thanother activities in their life. Some people crave the drug and find it very difficult to stop using it.

Withdrawal

Abrupt termination of cannabis use can produce withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms include sleep disturbance, irritability,loss of appetite, nervousness, anxiety, sweating and upset stomach. Sometimes chills, increased body temperature and tremors occur.The withdrawal symptoms usually last for less than a week, although the sleep disturbances may persist for longer.

Treatment options

There are a number of drug treatment options available in Australia. Some treatment options include counselling, withdrawal(detoxification) and medication. Most programs adopt strategies that have an overall aim of reducing the harms and risks related to theperson's drug use.

Information on cutting down or quitting

More on treatment


If cannabis is used during pregnancy the baby may be born smaller and lighter than other babies. Low birth weight can be associatedwith infections and breathing problems. There is also some evidence that cannabis use during pregnancy may affect the baby'sbehaviour.

Little is known about the effects of cannabis use on breastfeeding. It is believed that some of the drug will pass through the breast milkto the baby, and the baby may become unsettled and demand frequent feeding.

http://www.edas.org.au/publications.htmlhttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=treatment1&ContainerID=415http://www.edas.org.au/publications.htmlhttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=treatment1&ContainerID=415


16/31


Reducing the risks

Australian drug policy is based on harm minimisation. This is about reducing drug-related harm to both the community and individualdrug users.

Harm-minimisation strategies range from encouraging "non-use" through to providing the means for people who use drugs to usethem with reduced risks.

Cocaine

What is cocaine?

Cocaine use in Australia

Effects of cocaine

Dangers in method of use

Cocaine and other drugs


Withdrawal

Treatment options

Pregnancy and breastfeeding Cocaine and the law

Cocaine and driving

Cocaine and social problems

Reducing the risks


More pictures of cocaine

This information has been adapted from the How Drugs Affect You: Cocaine pamphletproduced by the Australian Drug Foundation.For single copies of this pamphlet phone 1300 85 85 84 or email [email protected] (Victoria only). For multiple copies telephone1800 069 700 see the ADF catalogue (review copies are available).

What is cocaine?

Cocaine belongs to a group of drugs known as stimulants. Stimulants speed up the activity of the central nervous system-themessages going to and from the brain. Amphetamines (or speed) and nicotine are also stimulants.

Cocaine most commonly comes in the form of a white, odourless powder called cocaine hydrochloride. It has a bitter, numbing tasteThe powder is extracted from the leaves of the coca bush, found mainly in Peru and Bolivia . The extract is then processed withvarious chemicals.

How is it used?

Cocaine is inhaled (snorted) through the nose, or injected. It is also smoked through a process known as freebasing-where thecocaine is converted to an alkaloid form. Cocaine hydrochloride cannot be smoked, since the drug is destroyed at high temperatures.

Crack is a very pure form of freebase cocaine sold in the form of small crystals or rocks. Crakc is smoked in pipes or in cigarettes,mixed with tobacco ormarijuana. Crack has rarely been seen in Australia .

Like other illegally manufactured drugs, such as speed, there are no controls on factors such as the strength and hygiene of cocaine.Cocaine may be mixed, or cut, with other substances such as sugar, baking soda and talcum powder to increase profits. Thisincreases the risk of experiencing harmful or unpleasant effects.

Cocaine was used as a local anaesthetic for eye, ear and throat surgery. Recently cocaine has been replaced with synthetic anaesthetics(e.g. lidocaine), but it continues to have limited use in certain surgical procedures.
http://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=aod_pregnancyhttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=cocaine_info#what%23whathttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=cocaine_info#cocaine%20use%20in%20australia%23cocaine%20use%20in%20australiahttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=cocaine_info#effects%23effectshttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=cocaine_info#dangers%23dangershttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=cocaine_info#cocaine%20and%20other%20drugs%23cocaine%20and%20other%20drugshttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=cocaine_info#tolerance%23tolerancehttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=cocaine_info#withdrawl%23withdrawlhttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=cocaine_info#treatment%23treatmenthttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=cocaine_info#pregnancy%23pregnancyhttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=cocaine_info#cocaine%20and%20the%20law%23cocaine%20and%20the%20lawhttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=cocaine_info#cocaine%20and%20driving%23cocaine%20and%20drivinghttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=cocaine_info#cocaine%20and%20social%20problems%23cocaine%20and%20social%20problemshttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=cocaine_info#reducing%23reducinghttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=cocaine_info#what%20to%20do%23what%20to%20dohttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=more_pictures_of_cocainehttp://www.adf.org.au/store/article.asp?ContentID=product_37312mailto:[email protected]://www.adf.org.au/store/browse.asp?ContainerID=catalogueshttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=amphetamineshttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=tobaccohttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=cannabishttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=aod_pregnancyhttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=cocaine_info#what%23whathttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=cocaine_info#cocaine%20use%20in%20australia%23cocaine%20use%20in%20australiahttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=cocaine_info#effects%23effectshttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=cocaine_info#dangers%23dangershttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=cocaine_info#cocaine%20and%20other%20drugs%23cocaine%20and%20other%20drugshttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=cocaine_info#tolerance%23tolerancehttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=cocaine_info#withdrawl%23withdrawlhttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=cocaine_info#treatment%23treatmenthttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=cocaine_info#pregnancy%23pregnancyhttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=cocaine_info#cocaine%20and%20the%20law%23cocaine%20and%20the%20lawhttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=cocaine_info#cocaine%20and%20driving%23cocaine%20and%20drivinghttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=cocaine_info#cocaine%20and%20social%20problems%23cocaine%20and%20social%20problemshttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=cocaine_info#reducing%23reducinghttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=cocaine_info#what%20to%20do%23what%20to%20dohttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=more_pictures_of_cocainehttp://www.adf.org.au/store/article.asp?ContentID=product_37312mailto:[email protected]://www.adf.org.au/store/browse.asp?ContainerID=catalogueshttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=amphetamineshttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=tobaccohttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=cannabis


17/31

Street names

C, coke, flake, nose candy, snow, dust, white, white lady, toot, crack, rock, freebase

Cocaine use in Australia

According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfares 2001 National Drug Household Survey 1 of Australians aged 14 andover:

4.4 per cent of Australians reported having used cocaine at some stage in their life.

Of those who had ever used cocaine, the average initiation age was 22.6.

1 Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) 2002 2001 National Drug Household Survey First Results, AIHW, Canberra

More drug statistics

Effects of cocaine

The effects of any drug (including cocaine) vary from person to person. It depends on many factors, including an individuals size,weight and health, how much and how the drug is taken, whether the person is used to taking it and whether other drugs are taken. It

also depends on the environment in which the drug is used-for example, whether the person is alone, with others or at a party.

Immediate effects

Many people have experienced the following effects shortly after taking cocaine:

physiological arousal, including increased body temperature and heart rate

exhilaration

anxiety

feelings of well-being

decreased hunger

panic

poor concentration and judgement

indifference to pain and fatigue

feelings of great physical strength and mental capacity

enlarged pupils

sexual arousal

unpredictable and/or violent behaviour.

When inhaled, the effects of cocaine peak after 15 to 30 minutes, and then diminish.


Using large quantities of cocaine repeatedly over a period of hours can lead to:

extreme agitation

anxiety

paranoia

hallucinations

dizziness

nausea and vomiting

tremors

unpredictable violent/aggressive behaviour

loss of concentration

loss of coordination
http://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=cocaine_info#footnote%201%23footnote%201http://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=drug_statistics&ContainerID=415http://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=cocaine_info#footnote%201%23footnote%201http://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=drug_statistics&ContainerID=415


18/31

loss of interest in sex

loss of ambition and motivation

heart pain

heart attack

paranoid psychosis

increased body temperature

rapid, irregular and shallow breathing.

Overdose

The dosage and method of use that can cause cocaine overdose varies from person to person. The effects of overdose are very intenseand, generally, short in nature. Although uncommon, deaths have been recorded from cocaine overdose due to:

seizures

heart attack

brain haemorrhage

kidney failure

stroke

repeated convulsions.

Long-term effects

People who have used cocaine over longer periods tend to take cocaine in high quantities-binges interrupted by crashes.

A binge is where the drug is taken repeatedly over several hours or days. The person may attempt to end the binge by taking adepressant drug such as alcohol,benzodiazepines orheroin. The binge is followed by the crash-a period characterised by intensedepression, lethargy and hunger.

The unpleasant effects of cocaine increase with more frequent, long-term use. This often results in the person discontinuing their usefor a period of time. Most of the following symptoms will dissipate once cocaine use ceases:

restlessness

nausea

hyper-excitability

insomnia

weight loss

psychosis

paranoia

exhaustion

hallucinations

depression/inability to experience pleasure (anhedonia).

Dangers in method of use

There are a number of dangers relating to the method of using cocaine:

Repeated snorting damages the lining of the nose and nasal passages, and can also damage the structure separating thenostrils.

Cocaine is often mixed with substances that are poisonous when injected. This may cause collapsed veins, abscesses anddamage to the heart, liver and brain. In addition, because people who use cocaine often dont know the exact purity andstrength of the drug they are taking, chances of overdose and death are also increased.

If injected into the skin, either by intent or accident, cocaine causes severe vasoconstriction, which may prevent bloodflowing to the tissue, potentially resulting in severe tissue damage. This can occur after just one injection of cocaine.

There is increased risk of transmission of blood-borne viruses and infections such as HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C.

Smoking cocaine can cause breathing difficulties, chronic cough, chest pain and lung damage.
http://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=alcoholhttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=benzodiazepineshttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=heroinhttp://www.health.vic.gov.au/ideas/diseases/sti_hiv_questions.htmhttp://www.health.vic.gov.au/ideas/diseases/hepb.htmhttp://www.health.vic.gov.au/ideas/diseases/hepc.htmhttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=alcoholhttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=benzodiazepineshttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=heroinhttp://www.health.vic.gov.au/ideas/diseases/sti_hiv_questions.htmhttp://www.health.vic.gov.au/ideas/diseases/hepb.htmhttp://www.health.vic.gov.au/ideas/diseases/hepc.htm


19/31

Long-term injection can result in:

blood vessels becoming blocked by substances mixed with cocaine, which can lead to major damage to bodily organs

inflamed blood vessels and abscesses.

HIV and hepatitis: sharing needles, syringes and other injecting equipment can greatly increase the risk of contracting blood-borne viruses such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C andHIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus - the virus that causes AIDS).

Call the alcohol and drug information service in your State or Territory to find out where to obtain clean needles and syringes.

Cocaine and other drugs

Cocaine is often mixed with other drugs to enhance its desirable effects or to help the person cope with the undesirable effects ofcocaine. These substances may include alcohol, cannabis, heroin orbenzodiazepines. The consequences of mixing cocaine with othersubstances are often unpredictable. Mixing cocaine with alcohol produces a substance in the blood called cocaethylene, which can bemore toxic to the body than the cocaine itself. Injecting cocaine and heroin at the same time can affect the area of the brain thatcontrols breathing, increasing the chances of coma and death.

Generally, health risks increase when mixing cocaine with other drugs, especially when large quantities are taken.


Tolerance

Initial tolerance to cocaine develops rapidly with continual heavy use. After this initial level is reached, people who use cocaine dontappear to develop tolerance for increasing amounts. Regular users may in fact develop a reverse tolerance, whereby they experiencethe effects of the drug more intensely. Tolerance to cocaine may not be obvious due to the tendency to mix cocaine with other drugssuch as heroin and alcohol.

Dependence

Physical dependence upon a drug occurs when a persons body is used to functioning with the drug present in the system. Physicaldependence on cocaine has not yet been established.

Psychological dependence occurs when using a drug becomes more important than other activities in a persons life. Because of itspowerful euphoric effects, cocaine users may develop a strong psychological dependence upon it. Even after long periods ofabstinence, strong cravings can persist.

A person who has become dependent upon cocaine may find it difficult to stop using it. Those who have stopped using cocaine maybe prone to relapse.

Withdrawal

Withdrawal symptoms occur when a person dependent on a drug stops using it or significantly cuts down the amount they are using.Cocaine withdrawal generally occurs in three phases:

1. Crash, which describes symptoms experienced immediately after the person stops using cocaine-usually in the first two to fourdays. Symptoms include:

agitation

depression

intense craving for the drug

extreme fatigue.

2. Withdrawal, which can last up to ten weeks and is characterised by:

depression
http://www.health.vic.gov.au/ideas/diseases/hepb.htmhttp://www.health.vic.gov.au/ideas/diseases/hepc.htmhttp://www.health.vic.gov.au/ideas/diseases/sti_hiv_questions.htmhttp://www.health.vic.gov.au/ideas/diseases/sti_hiv_questions.htmhttp://www.adin.com.au/content.asp?Document_ID=38http://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=alcoholhttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=alcoholhttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=cannabishttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=heroinhttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=benzodiazepineshttp://www.health.vic.gov.au/ideas/diseases/hepb.htmhttp://www.health.vic.gov.au/ideas/diseases/hepc.htmhttp://www.health.vic.gov.au/ideas/diseases/sti_hiv_questions.htmhttp://www.adin.com.au/content.asp?Document_ID=38http://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=alcoholhttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=cannabishttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=heroinhttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=benzodiazepines


20/31

lack of energy

anxiety

intense craving

angry outbursts.

3. Extinction, which can last indefinitely, and includes symptoms of episodic cravings for cocaine, usually in response to conditionedcues. These cravings may surface months or years after the person has stopped using cocaine.

Other withdrawal symptoms that may be experienced include:

lack of motivation

inability to feel any pleasure

nausea/vomiting

shaking

irritability/agitation

muscle pain

long, but disturbed sleep.

Treatment options

There are a number of drug treatment options available in Australia . While abstinence may be a suitable treatment aim for somepeople, many programs recognise that for others this may not be possible or realistic. Most programs adopt strategies that have anoverall aim of reducing the harms and risks related to the persons drug use.

Some treatment options include counselling, withdrawal (detoxification) and pharmacotherapy. Residential and out-patient programsare available.

More on treatment


Pregnancy

Research indicates that effects of cocaine use during pregnancy may cause bleeding, miscarriage, premature labour and stillbirth.

Cocaine increases the heart rate in both the mother and baby, and the supply of blood and oxygen to the baby is reduced. This meansthe baby is more likely to be small and grow slowly both before and after birth. If cocaine is used close to birth, the baby may be bornintoxicated, showing symptoms of hyperactivity and agitation. Withdrawal symptoms can occur in the babies of mothers who usecocaine regularly. These include sleepiness and lack of responsiveness.

To date, research is inconclusive as to whether children of mothers who use cocaine experience any long-term mental or physicaleffects. Some studies suggest that malformations of the genito-urinary tract, heart, limbs and/or face occur in the babies of womenwho use cocaine.


Breastfeeding

It is likely that cocaine will reach the baby through breast milk. The effect this has on the baby will depend on factors such as theamount and strength of cocaine used, and the time between using cocaine and feeding the baby. Symptoms may include the babybeing irritable, unsettled and difficult to feed.


Cocaine and the law
http://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=treatment1&ContainerID=415http://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=aod_pregnancyhttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=treatment1&ContainerID=415http://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=aod_pregnancy


21/31

Cocaine is illegal in Australia . Federal, State and Territory laws include penalties for possessing, using, making or selling cocaine.Drug laws in Australia distinguish between those who use drugs and those who supply or traffic drugs.

At present in Victoria, penalties range from a $2000 fine and/or one years imprisonment for cultivation (if the court is satisfied thatthe offence is not related to trafficking), $3000 and/or one years imprisonment for possession/use (not relating to trafficking) to finesof up to $250 000 and/or 25 years imprisonment for commercial trafficking.

In Victoria , the police and courts have introduced a number of programs in relation to drug offences. Some of these aim to divertpeople from the criminal justice system; others involve referring people with a drug problem into treatment programs.

More on drug laws

Cocaine and driving

It is illegal for anyone to drive under the influence of any drug (including cocaine). Breaking this law carries penalties includingdisqualification from driving, heavy fines and/or imprisonment. Due to the nature of its psychological and physical effects, it isdangerous to drive a vehicle after taking cocaine. If cocaine is combined with other drugs, such as alcohol, the risk of accident isfurther increased.

More on drugs and driving

Cocaine and social problems

Cocaine users can become preoccupied with purchasing, preparing, using and recovering from the effects of use of cocaine, neglectingother areas of their life. All areas of a persons life, including family, work, and personal relationships, can be affected by drug use.For example, arguments over drug use can cause family and relationship problems that may lead to break-up. Some effects of cocaine,such as anxiety, paranoia and irrational behaviour, may further exacerbate these problems.

Reducing the risks

Australian drug policy is based on harm minimisation. This is about reducing drug-related harm to both the community and individualdrug users.

Harm-minimisation strategies range from encouraging non-use through to providing the means for people to use drugs with fewer

risks.

For further tips on how to reduce the risks of using cocaine, call the alcohol and drug information service in your State or Territory.

Remember there is no safe level of drug use.


If someone overdoses or has an adverse reaction while using cocaine it is very important that they receive professional help as soon aspossible. A quick response can save their life.

Call an ambulance. Dial 000. Don't delay because you think you or the person might get into trouble. Ambulance officers are

not obliged to involve the police.


Ensure the person has adequate air by keeping crowds back and opening windows. Loosen tight clothing.

If the person is unconscious, dont leave them on their backthey could choke. Turn them on their side and into the recoveryposition. Gently tilt their head back so their tongue does not block the airway.

If the person has stopped breathing, give mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. If there is no pulse, apply CPR.

Provide the ambulance officers with as much information as you can-how much cocaine was taken, how long ago, and anypre-existing medical conditions.

Arrange with friends before cocaine is taken about what to do in a crisis
http://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=laws&ContainerID=415http://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=alcoholhttp://www.drugsdriving.adf.org.au/browse.asp?ContainerID=drugdriving_cocainehttp://www.adin.com.au/content.asp?Document_ID=38http://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=laws&ContainerID=415http://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=alcoholhttp://www.drugsdriving.adf.org.au/browse.asp?ContainerID=drugdriving_cocainehttp://www.adin.com.au/content.asp?Document_ID=38


22/31

Heroin

Wednesday 20 September, 2006

What is heroin?

Effects of heroin


Withdrawal

Treatment options


Heroin, hepatitis and HIV

Reducing the risks

HeroinAustralian Drug Foundation 2005

This information has been adapted from the pamphletHow Drugs Affect You: Heroin, produced by the Australian Drug Foundation.

For single copies of this pamphlet phone 1300 85 85 84 or email [email protected] (Victoria only). Multiple copies are availablefrom the ADF Bookshop.

What is heroin?

Heroin is one of a group of drugs known as "opioids". Other opioids include opium, morphine, codeine, pethidine, oxycodone,buprenorphine and methadone.

Heroin and other opioids are depressants. Depressants do not necessarily make you feel depressed. Rather, they slow down the activityof the central nervous system and messages going to and from the brain and the body.

What does it look like?

Heroin can range from a fine white powder to off-white granules or pieces of brown "rock". It has a bitter taste but no smell and isgenerally packaged in "foils" (aluminium foil) or small, coloured balloons.

More pictures of heroin

How is it made?

When the seedpod of the opium poppy is cut, a sticky resin (opium) oozes out. This resin is refined to produce opium. Opium takes itsname from the opium poppy,Papaver somniferum, which grows in many parts of the worldcommonly in Asia and the Middle East,but also in the United States and Australia.

For centuries, opium has been used by many cultures as a medicine and as a recreational drug. Morphine, codeine and pethidine arestill widely used for medical purposes.

Heroin is made from morphine or codeine by a chemical process, but has a stronger painkilling effect than either of these drugs. Thepotency and purity of heroin used can vary substantially, depending on a number of factors, including:

how it is manufactured

the ingredients used (for example, morphine and codeine)

what the final products is diluted ("cut") with.
http://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=heroin#what%23whathttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=heroin#effects%23effectshttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=heroin#tolerance%23tolerancehttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=heroin#withdrawal%23withdrawalhttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=heroin#treatment%23treatmenthttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=heroin#pregnancy%23pregnancyhttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=heroin#hiv%23hivhttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=heroin#risks%23riskshttp://www.adf.org.au/store/article.asp?ContentID=product_70912http://www.adf.org.au/store/article.asp?ContentID=product_70912mailto:[email protected]://www.adf.org.au/storehttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=buprenorphinehttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=methadone&ContainerID=459http://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=more_pictures_of_heroinhttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=heroin#what%23whathttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=heroin#effects%23effectshttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=heroin#tolerance%23tolerancehttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=heroin#withdrawal%23withdrawalhttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=heroin#treatment%23treatmenthttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=heroin#pregnancy%23pregnancyhttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=heroin#hiv%23hivhttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=heroin#risks%23riskshttp://www.adf.org.au/store/article.asp?ContentID=product_70912mailto:[email protected]://www.adf.org.au/storehttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=buprenorphinehttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=methadone&ContainerID=459http://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=more_pictures_of_heroin


23/31

How is it used?

Heroin is most commonly injected into a vein. It is also smoked ("chasing the dragon"), added to marijuana or tobacco cigarettes, orsnorted.

Street names

smack, skag, dope, H, junk, hammer, slow, gear, harry, horse, black tar, china white, Chinese H, white dynamite, dragon, elephant,homebake, poison.

Effects of heroin

The effects of heroin may last 3 to 5 hours.

Immediate effects

Intense pleasure and a strong feeling of wellbeing

Confusion

Pain relief

Slowed breathing

Decreased blood pressure and heart rate

Constricted pupils

Dry mouth

Suppressed cough reflex

Reduced sexual urges

Drowsiness

Slurred and slow speech

Reduced coordination

Nausea and vomiting


The immediate effects intensify and last longer with higher quantities of heroin. The following effects are also likely to occur:

The ability to concentrate is impaired.

The user is likely to fall asleep ("on the nod").

Breathing becomes shallower and slower.

Nausea and vomiting are more likely to occur.

Sweating, itching and increased urinary output are also likely.

Overdose

Using a large quantity of heroin can cause death. Breathing becomes very slow, the body temperature drops and the heartbeat becomesirregular.

Overdose may occur if:

too much heroin is injected

the strength or purity is high

heroin is used with alcohol or sedatives (alcohol orbenzodiazepines).

To reverse the effects of a heroin overdose, the attending ambulance officer will inject the drug naloxone (such as Narcan) to restartbreathing. The Narcan may not last as long as the heroin, so the person will feel "stoned" again and may even become unconsciousagain. It is important that another quantity of heroin is not taken again on that day, as it may combine with the original quantity ofheroin taken and could cause an overdose.
http://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=benzodiazepineshttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=benzodiazepineshttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=benzodiazepines


24/31

After an overdose, it is strongly advisable to seek advice at a hospital.

Short-term effects

Apart from overdosing, the major problem with short-term use of any opiate is the way it is used. For example, injecting heroin canresult in skin, heart and lung infections, and diseases like hepatitis and HIV.

Long-term effects

In its pure form, heroin is relatively non-toxic to the body, causing little damage to body tissue and other organs. However, there aresome long-term effects, including dependence, constipation, menstrual irregularity and infertility in women, loss of sex drive in men,intense sadness and cognitive impairment.

Many of the other long-term problems may be the result of other factors, such as the person's poor general care of the self, drugimpurities and contaminants and blood-borne viruses.

Heroin is usually a mixture of pure heroin and other substances, such as caffeine and sugar. Additives can be highly poisonous. Theycan cause collapsed veins, tetanus, abscesses and damage to the heart, lungs, liver and brain.


People who are physically dependent on heroin usually develop tolerance to the drug, making it necessary to take more and more toget the desired effects. Eventually, a dose plateau is reached, at which no amount of the drug is sufficient. When this level is achieved,the person may continue to use heroin, but largely for the purpose of delaying withdrawal symptoms.

Dependence on heroin can be psychological, physical or both.

People who are psychologically dependent on heroin find that using it becomes far more important than other activities in their lives.They crave the drug and will find it very difficult to stop using it, or even to cut down on the amount they use.

People who are physically dependent on heroin find that their body has become used to functioning with the drug present.

Withdrawal

If a dependent person suddenly stops taking heroin, or severely cuts down the amount they use, they will experience withdrawalsymptoms because their body has to readjust to functioning without the drug. This usually occurs within a few hours after last use.

Withdrawal symptoms can include:

a craving for the drug

restlessness

yawning

low blood pressure

elevated heart rate

stomach and leg cramps, muscle spasms

loss of appetite, vomiting and diarrhoea goose bumps

tears and a runny nose

increased irritability

insomnia

depression.

These withdrawal symptoms get stronger and usually peak around 2 to 4 days after last use. They usually subside after 6 to 7 days, butsome symptoms, such as chronic depression, anxiety, insomnia, loss of appetite, periods of agitation and a continued craving for thedrug, may last for periods of months and even years. Sudden withdrawal from heroin rarely causes direct death, unless the user is alsousing other drugs and is in poor health. Withdrawal from heroin or opioids is much less dangerous than withdrawal from some otherdrugs like alcohol orbenzodiazepines.
http://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=alcoholhttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=benzodiazepineshttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=alcoholhttp://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=benzodiazepines


25/31

Treatment options

A number of drug treatment options are available in Australia. Some aim solely for the user to achieve a drug-free lifestyle, whileothers recognise abstinence as one option among a number of strategies that have an overall aim of reducing the harms related to theperson's drug use.

Treatment is more effective if tailored to suit a persons specific situation, and usually involves a combination of methods. Thedifferent options include counselling, group therapy, medication (pharmacotherapy) and supervised home withdrawal.

Pharmacotherapy based treatments

Methadone

A synthetic opioid that can be used as a substitute for heroin. The intention is to reduce the impact that heroin has on the lives ofpeople who are dependent on heroin by reducing the harms associated with injecting an expensive illicit drug of unknown strength andpurity.

More on methadone

Buprenorphine

Can help treat heroin dependence by preventing withdrawal symptoms and by blocking the effects of heroin, so using heroin will notprovide the "high" that would normally be expected.

More on buprenorphine

Naltrexone

Naltrexone works by blocking the analgesic and euphoric effects of heroin and other opioids. It can assist in maintaining abstinencefrom heroin because the person is aware that they cannot achieve a "high" from using heroin.

More on naltrexone

Ultra Rapid Opiate Detox (UROD)

UROD is a quick method of withdrawing or detoxifying from opioids. It involves high doses of naltrexone given over a 48-hourperiod or less along with heavy sedation. By the end of the process, the patient should be physically withdrawn from opiates. UROD iscurrently under trial in Australia.

More on treatment


Using heroin while pregnant can affect foetal development. Heroin use has been associated with an increased risk of miscarriage andpremature birth, and babies may be born smaller than average and may be prone to illness. The substances that are cut with heroinmay also cause problems during the pregnancy and affect the developing foetus.

Injecting heroin can increase the risk of both the mother and baby becoming infected with blood-borne viruses, such as hepatitis andHIV. Heroin can pass through the placenta to the foetus, and after birth the baby can experience heroin withdrawal, known asNeonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS). Most babies can be comforted with supported care, but some babies with severe NAS mayneed to be treated with medication to help with the withdrawal.

Pregnant women who want to stop taking heroin need to be very careful. Sudden withdrawal from heroin may harm the baby andincrease the risk of miscarriage, premature birth and stillbirth.

If a mother continues to use heroin while breastfeeding, it is possible that the drug will be present in her milk and may have adverseeffects on the baby.
http://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=methadone&ContainerID=459http://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=naltrexone&ContainerID=459http://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=treatment1&ContainerID=415http://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=methadone&ContainerID=459http://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=naltrexone&ContainerID=459http://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=treatment1&ContainerID=415


26/31

It is recommended that you check with your doctor or other health professional if you are taking or planning to take any substancesduring pregnancy, including prescribed and over-the-counter medications.


Heroin, hepatitis and HIV

Sharing needles, syringes and other injecting equipment can greatly increase the risk of contracting blood-borne viruses such ashepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV (human immunodeficiency virusthe virus that causes AIDS).

The alcohol and drug information service in your state or territory can provide information on where to obtain clean needles andsyringes.

Reducing the risks

Australian drug policy is based on harm minimisation. The aim is to reduce drug-related harm to both the community and individualswho use drugs.

Harm-minimisation strategies range from encouraging "non- use" through to providing the means for people who use drugs to doso with fewer risks.

For tips on how to reduce the risks of using heroin, call the alcohol and drug information service in your state or territory.

What to do in a drug crisis

If someone is suspected of having overdosed while using heroin, it is very important that they receive professional help as soon aspossible. A quick response can save their life.

Call an ambulance. Dial 000. Dont delay because you think you or your friend might get into trouble. Ambulance officersare not obliged to involve the police.


Ensure adequate air by keeping crowds back and opening windows. Loosen tight clothing.

If the person is unconscious, dont leave them on their back they could choke. Turn them on their side and into therecovery position. Gently tilt their head back so their tongue does not block the airway.

If breathing has stopped, give mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. If there is no pulse, apply CPR.

Provide the ambulance officers with as much information as you canhow much heroin was taken, how long ago, and anypre-existing medical conditions.

Plan what to do in a crisis.

Remember, there is no safe level of drug use

Alcohol Alcohol comes in many forms, including liquor (bourbon,gin, scotch), beer, wine, and wine coolers. In general,one ounce of liquor, one beer, and one glass of wine

(5 ounces) contain equal amounts of alcohol.

Effects

Alcohol acts on the brain and can produce addiction. Short-termeffects: The more a person drinks in one sitting, the more pronouncedshort-term effects become. Small amounts (1-2 drinks) generallyproduce pleasant feelings. Larger amounts produce depressant effectson the brain. Judgment, reaction time, speech and motor control areincreasingly impaired with increasing amounts of alcohol. Drunkdrivers kill about 23,000 Americans a year. Very large amounts ofalcohol can cause death from overdose by reducing the number ofmessages the brain sends to the chest muscles that regulate breathing.
http://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=aod_pregnancyhttp://www.health.vic.gov.au/ideas/diseases/hepb.htmhttp://www.health.vic.gov.au/ideas/diseases/hepc.htmhttp://www.health.vic.gov.au/ideas/diseases/sti_hiv_questions.htmhttp://www.adin.com.au/content.asp?Document_ID=38http://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=aod_pregnancyhttp://www.health.vic.gov.au/ideas/diseases/hepb.htmhttp://www.health.vic.gov.au/ideas/diseases/hepc.htmhttp://www.health.vic.gov.au/ideas/diseases/sti_hiv_questions.htmhttp://www.adin.com.au/content.asp?Document_ID=38


27/31

The drinker stops breathing and dies. Long-term effects: Over time, alcohol can producetolerance, physical dependence and addiction. Alcohol can cause many kinds of cancer and canpermanently damage the brain. In severe cases, alcohol destroys the part of the brain whereshort-term memory occurs, making it impossible to learn anything new. Women should notdrink during pregnancy. Fetal alcohol syndrome is the leading, preventable cause of mentalretardation in the United States.

Common Street Names

Juice, cold ones, brewskies, poison, booze, hooch, sauce.

Legal Status

In the United States, it is legal to produce and sell alcohol to adults and legal for adults to buy it.It is illegal to sell alcohol to those under age 21, and illegal for them to buy it.

Cocaine Cocaine and crack come from the leaves of the coca plant, whichgrows primarily in South America. Cocaine is processed into a whitepowder which people snort or melt and inject. Crack is furtherprocessed into a substance that can be smoked

EffectsCocaine acts on the brain and is a highlyaddictive drug. Because crack is smoked,

and allows high doses to reach the brainrapidly, crack is even more addictive. Both forms of the drug trap achemical called dopamine in the spaces between the brain's nervecells in a part of the brain called the reward system. Dopaminestimulates and restimulates these nerve cells, making the user feelintense pleasure. The brain responds to the overabundance ofdopamine by destroying some of it, making less of it, and shuttingdown the cells' receptors so they can no longer receive dopamine'smessages. The person consumes more cocaine more often in aneffort to re-experience the pleasure felt at first use, gradually losingcontrol over his or her cocaine-taking behavior and becomingaddicted.

Addicts are preoccupied with getting their drug, and most of theirthoughts and behaviors are directed to that end.Cocaine interferes with judgment and produces exaggerated feelings of well-being andconfidence. High doses can produce paranoia, and users can become aggressive and violent. Inrare cases, cocaine can produce death, after first use or after prolonged use. Death occurs fromcardiac arrest (the person's heart stops beating), or seizures followed by respiratory arrest (theperson stops breathing). Pregnant mothers should never use any drug during pregnancy.Scientistsare trying to understand the precise effect of cocaine on the developing fetus. They know that amother who is addicted to drugsdoes not take care of herself properly, that her fetus does notreceive adequate nutrition needed to develop properly, and thataddicted mothers rarely care for their newborns properly.

Common Street NamesCoke, blow, powder, sugar, nosecandy, rock, crack, base.

Legal StatusCocaine is a Schedule II drug in the U.S. Controlled Substances Act. It is illegal to grow,process, sell or use cocaine or crack. However, because cocaine has limited use in medicine asan anesthetic, doctors may use it in surgery.


28/31

Heroin Heroin is one of several highly addictive drugs derived from theopium poppy plant, along with morphine, opium, Dilaudid, andothers. People inject opiates, snort them or take them by mouth.

EffectsScientists first began to understand how drugs act on the brain withthe discovery of the opiate receptor. Why would the human nervoussystem have a receptor for an illegal drug? This question ledscientists to the discovery of two natural substances in the brain,

which they named endorphins and enkephalins, that bind to thisreceptor and relieve pain. Opiate drugs such as heroin fit into thisreceptor, change the way the brain works, and produce addiction.

Heroin may depress the body's ability to withstand infection. It produces euphoria, drowsiness,respiratory depression, constricted pupils and nausea. It is the drug most often associated withthe transmission of HIV/AIDS because most users inject the drug, often with used, contaminatedneedles.As heroin leaves the brain and body, users experience withdrawal symptoms (often described asfeeling like a severe case of flu.) They include watery eyes, runny nose, yawning, loss ofappetite, tremors, panic, chills, sweating, nausea, muscle cramps, and insomnia. Blood pressure,pulse, respiration, and temperature all elevate. People can overdose on heroin, which reduces thenumber of messa

classification of drugs and their effects_31p

Documents