Drug Facts

Abusing mood-altering drugs can be dangerous.  What begins as experimental use as a teenager or young adult may develop into an addiction that effects families, careers and physical and mental health.  At greatest risk for addiction are those who have a family history of alcoholism and drug dependency.  

Index

Alcohol
Marijuana
Cocaine 
Stimulants
Narcotics
Hallucinogens
Depressants
Inhalants
Steroids

Alcohol 
(booze, beer, wine, liquor)

Alcohol, the most commonly abused mind-altering drug, is a sedative that can change the way a person acts and thinks.  Alcohol affects coordination and judgment.

Symptoms of Abuse

• slurred speech

• unsteady walk 

• impaired co-ordination

• relaxed inhibitions

• preoccupation with drinking

• hidden bottles

• alcohol odor or breath

Forms: alcoholic beverages

Dangers:  addiction, accident resulting from impaired ability, overdose when mixed with other depressants, liver damage, heart disease.

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Marijuana 
(bud, doobie, blunt, pot, dope, weed, grass, reefer, joint, hash, roach)

Marijuana, also a mind-altering drug, is made from the plant cannabis sativa.  It affects many skills, including safe driving.  The amount of the main mind-altering psychoactive ingredient, THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol), determines how strong its effect with be.

Symptoms of Abuse:

• rapid, loud talking

• bursts of laughter

• altered perceptions

• red eyes

• dry mouth

• reduced concentration

• increased heart rate

• unusual appetite

Forms: dried tops of leaves of marijuana plant ranging in color from grey-green to green-brown; smoked in hand-rolled cigarettes or special pipes.

Dangers:  addiction, impaired short-term memory, panic reaction.

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Cocaine 
(snow, blow, crack, coke, rock, base)

Cocaine is a white powdery substance that acts as a central nervous system stimulant. It is generally sniffed and absorbed through the mucous membrane of the nose.  It also can be injected intravenously or smoked in a 'freebased' form called crack.

Symptoms of Abuse

• brief, intense euphoria

• elevated blood pressure and heart rate

• feelings of well-being followed by depression

• hallucinations

• delusions

• irritability

• sleeplessness

Form:  white crystalline powder, rock-like chips that resemble gravel.

Dangers: addiction, seizures, heart attack, severe depression, paranoia, lung damage, sudden death.

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Stimulants
(amphetamines, methamphetamines, crystal, crystal meth, ice, crank, speed, uppers, christmas tree, dex or dexies, white cross, mini-thins, designer drugs, ecstasy, MDMA)

Stimulants refer to many drugs that increase alertness and physical activity.  They often are used to counteract the drowsiness or 'down' feeling caused by sleeping pills or alcohol.  Heavy use may keep an individual awake and active for extended periods of time, but also will make the user edgy, less co-ordinated, and more likely to respond inefficiently to quick-response situations (ie: driving).

Symptoms of Abuse

• mood elevation

• loss of appetite

• disorientation

• sleeplessness

• irritability, argumentativeness

• dilated pupils

• unusual increase in activity

• teeth clenching

Forms:  pills, capsules, powder,

Dangers:  addiction, paranoia, depression, possible hallucinations, fatigue leading to exhaustion, increased heart rate and blood pressure believed to cause brain damage.

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Narcotics
(heroin, H, horse, smack, junk, morphine, Demerol, Dilaudid)

Narcotics, or opiates, are used medically to relieve pain but have a high potential for abuse.  some opiates are derived from the Asian poppy, including opium, morphine, heroine, codeine.  Other, such as meperidine (Demerol) are manufactured synthetically.

Symptoms of Abuse

• euphoria

• constricted pupils

• needle marks on arms

• watery eyes

• runny nose

• drowsiness

Forms: powders, capsules mixed with liquid and injected.

Dangers:  addiction, weight loss, contamination from unsterile needles (hepatitis, AIDS), accidental overdose.

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Hallucinogens
(LSD, acid, PCP, 'shrooms, psilocybin, peyote, mescaline, angel dust, crystal cyclone)

Also called psychedelics, hallucinogens affect the user's perceptions, sensations, thinking process, self-awareness and emotions.  Some hallucinogens, such as mescaline, come from natural sources.  Others, like LSD, are manufactured synthetically.

Symptoms of Abuse

• distorted senses of sight, hearing, touch.

• anxiety, panic

• altered mood/behavior

• withdrawn or silent state

Forms: capsules, tablets, 'micro-dots', blotter squares

Dangers:  addiction, violent and unpredictable behavior, flashbacks (LSD), emotional instability, psychosis.

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Depressants
(barbiturates, benzo-diazepines, Valium, Xanex, sedatives, downers, alcohol, yellow jackets, red devils)

Depressants affect the central nervous system, and in small amounts, are used to induce sleep, produce calmness or relax muscles.  In high doses or when abused, many depressants can cause poor judgment and slow, uncertain reflexes.  Large doses may cause unconsciousness or even death. 

Symptoms of Abuse

• depressed breathing

• depressed heart rate

• staggering, stumbling

• drowsiness

Forms:  capsules, pills, alcoholic beverages

Dangers:  addiction, possible overdose, muscle rigidity.

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Inhalants
aerosols, ames, rush, correction fluid, glue, nitrates, gas, freon, poppers

Inhalant abuse primarily involves glues, toxic solvents or hydrocarbon (gasoline).  These substances are collected for use in plastic or paper bags, or on rags and inhaled to achieve a 'high'.  These substances are dangerous not only because of their effects on users, but also because many are highly combustible.

Symptoms of Abuse

• odor of the substance on breath and clothes

• excess nasal secretions

• watery eyes

• blue lips due to lack of oxygen

• red irritation above the mouth

• slurred speech

• dizziness

Forms:  aerosols, liquids.

Dangers:  unconsciousness, suffocation, nausea, vomiting, brain and central nervous system damage, sudden death.

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Steroids
roids

Derived from the male hormone testosterone, anabolic steroids are used to build body tissue, including muscle.  Steroids typically are abused by athletes and body builders seeking to improve athletic performance and physique.  Research shows little evidence of enhanced strength or athletic performance resulting from steroid use.  Over long periods of time, high doses can have harmful physical and psychological effects. 

Symptoms of Abuse

• breast enlargement in men

• baldness in men

• testicle atrophy

• low sperm count

• increased facial hair in women

• breast reduction in women

• deepened voice tone in women

• acne

Forms:  injectable liquids, tablets

Dangers:  prostate enlargement, infertility, liver disorder, high cholesterol level, hostile or aggressive behavior, cancer, cessation of bone growth among teenagers.

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