Alcohol
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alcohol for more information.
Tobacco
What: One of the most widely used drugs in
the U.S., tobacco is a bunch of dry leaves that contain the drug nicotine,
which acts as a stimulant or relaxant when ingested. It can be smoked, chewed,
dipped, or snuffed.
Short term effects:
- Increased blood pressure
- Increased heart rate
- At low levels, can act as a stimulant
- At higher levels, can act as a relaxant or
sedative
- Oxygen imbalance
Long term effects:
- Chronic lung disease
- Heart
disease
- Stroke
- Many different types of cancer
- Addiction
How addictive?
- Tobacco
is very addictive. In addition to its effects as a stimulant/relaxant, nicotine
activates the “reward” center of the brain, much in the same way that harder
drugs like opium do. When this happens, smoking produces sensations of pleasure
and euphoria.
- Since
tobacco has almost instant effects on your body, and you can take tons of
“hits” a day, it becomes very easy to make it a habit. Once you start, it’s
really difficult to quit.
- There
are plenty of ways to quit smoking, from nicotine replacement therapies to
behavioural therapies. If you’re ready to quit, don’t hesitate to talk tosomeone.
Hookah
- What: a water pipe used to smoke flavoured tobacco, hookahs are
increasing trend in the U.S., especially amongst the youth set. After being
heated with charcoal, the tobacco smoke passes through water before being
inhaled from the mouthpiece. Smoking hookah is usually a social activity, in
which people smoke from the same mouthpiece and pass it around the group. Like
cigarettes, hookahs contain the addictive drug nicotine, which acts as a
stimulant or relaxant. Many people think that hookahs are a “safer” alternative
to smoking cigarettes; however, this is not true. In fact, smoking hookah is
just if not more toxic than smoking cigarettes.
Slang: narghile, argileh, shisha, hubble-bubble,
goza
Short term effects:
- Similar
to tobacco, the nicotine in hookah acts as a stimulant or relaxant
- Secondhand
smoke for nonsmokers
- Increased
risk of communicable diseases, like hepatitis, tuberculosis, and meningitis
- If
you smoke hookah for an hour, you’ll absorb as much carbon monoxide as a pack
of cigarettes
- Absorption
of tar, nicotine, and other heavy metals and toxins
Long term effects:
- Increased
risk of many types of cancers, including lung and stomach cancers
- Increased
risk of erectile dysfunction
- Heart
disease
- Clogged
arteries
- Lung
problems
How addictive?
There is an
ongoing debate as to whether or not hookah is addictive. It contains nicotine,
the same very addicting substance found in cigarettes, but there is not enough
research to substantiate/prove how addicting it is. But that doesn’t mean that
addiction is out of the question; just because we don’t know for sure doesn’t
mean it’s not possible. Some of the factors that may influence hookah addiction
include: type of tobacco, frequency and duration of smoking, your age, etc.
Study Drugs: Ritalin/Adderall
Ritalin/Adderall
What: Ritalin and Adderall (methylphenidate and amphetamines,
respectively) are stimulants prescribed to patients with ADHD in pill form.
They work by altering the brain’s supply of dopamine, which in ADHD patients
has a calming effect that improves their ability to focus. People abuse Ritalin
and Addreall for performance enhancement (to increase alertness, attention,
focus) by swallowing them, or for the euphoric effects, usually achieved by
injecting, snorting, or crushing them.
Slang: Skippy, the smart drug, Vitamin R, bennies, black
beauties, roses, hearts, speed, uppers, kibbles and bits, pineapple
Short term effects:
- Changes
in blood pressure
- Increased
wakefulness
- Psychotic
episodes
- Paranoia
- Anxiety
- Nervousness
- Insomnia
- Dizziness
- Insomnia
- Palpitations
- Loss
of appetite
- Headaches
- Nausea/vomiting
Long term effects:
- Digestive problems
- Weight loss
- Convulsions
- Headaches
- Irregular heartbeat, breathing
- Withdrawal
symptoms (fatigue, depression) when use is discontinued
- Increased
risk of stroke
- Cardiovascular
complications
How addictive?
If not used by
prescription, Ritalin and Adderall can be very addictive. They act on the same
neurotransmitters, dopamine, as cocaine, a highly addictive drug, so their
effects in overstimulating the brain’s “reward” system are also similar. How
addictive they are depends on many factors, including dosage and how they’re
taken. For instance, snorting them unleashes their euphoric effects much more
quickly into the bloodstream than swallowing them in pill form, increasing your
likelihood of addiction.
Steroids
What: Anabolic steroids are synthetic substances resembling
testosterone. Steroids work by binding to the hormone receptors on a cell and
stimulating muscle growth. They can be prescribed for hormone deficiencies or
weight gain by people with body-wasting diseases like cancer or AIDS. People
who abuse steroids usually take them to build muscle mass or enhance their athletic
performance. They are ingested either
orally or by injection, usually in cycles, though some users will take several
different steroids at once to try to maximize their effects, which is called
“stacking.”
Slang: gym candy, pumpers, stackers, A’s, rhoids, juice
Short term effects:
- Mania
- Delusions
- Aggressiveness
- Mood swings
- Paranoid jealousy
- Acne
- Oily hair and skin
- Cysts
- Fluid retention
- Jaundice
Long term effects:
- Premature
balding
- Heart
attacks
- Decreases
in “good “cholesterol
- For men—shrinking of the
testicles, reduced sperm count, infertility, baldness, development of breasts,
increased risk for prostate cancer
- For women—development of
masculine characteristics, such as excessive hair growth, menstrual
irregularities, deepened voice
Withdrawal symptoms – including fatigue,
restlessness, loss of appetite, insomnia, reduced sex drive, steroid cravings, and
depression, all of which may trigger a relapse of steroid abuse
Inhalants
What: any of a number of common industrial or household
substances whose chemical vapors give you a rapid “high” when inhaled. Inhalants
work by displacing oxygen in the lungs with mind-altering chemicals, inducing
effects similar to alcohol intoxication, such as lightheadedness, euphoria, and
lack of coordination. They’re most often abused by young people because they’re
easily accessible and inexpensive.
There
are three main types of inhalants:
Solvents
– paint thinners, gasoline, glues, markers
Gases
– butane, propane, aerosol propellants, nitrous oxide (laughing gas)
Nitrites
- cyclohexyl, butyl, and amyl nitrites
Slang:
laughing
gas, poppers, snappers, whippets
Short Term Effects:
Loss of inhibition
Headache
Nausea or vomiting
Loss of
motor coordination
Wheezing
Unconsciousness
Slurred speech
Excessive secretions from the nose
Watery eyes
Danger of suffocation
Danger of cardiac arrest
Long Term Effects:
Muscle weakness/spasms
Hearing loss
Brain damage
Damage to cardiovascular and nervous systems
Damage to vital organs, including lungs, liver,
and kidneys
Sudden death
Depression
Impaired coordination and movement
Memory problems
Learning impairment
How Addictive?
Although not
very commonly found to be addictive, studies have found that repeated use can
cause you to become addicted.
Heroin
What: the most abused opiate in the U.S., heroin is a white,
brown, or black and sticky substance that can be injected, snorted, or smoked. When
ingested, heroin converts to morphine and binds to opoid receptors in the brain
and spinal cord, which control such important functions as pain perception,
pleasure perception, breathing, and blood pressure. When this happens, heroin
induces sensations of euphoria, drowsiness, and heaviness of the extremities
(reword that)
Heroin use is
associated with serious health problems, and is highly addictive.
Slang: Smack, H, ska, junk, dope, skag, brown sugar
Short term effects:
Euphoria
Drowsiness
Dizziniess
Confusion
Nausea
Sedation
Feeling of
heaviness in the body
Slowed breathing
Long term effects:
Fatal overdose
Collapsed veins
Infection of
heart lining and valves
Liver/kidney
disease
Pneumonia, other
pulmonary complications
Permanent damage
to vital organs such as the lungs and brain
Severe
withdrawal symptoms (such as insomnia, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle and bone
pain)
Addiction
How addictive?
Heroin
has a high risk of addiction. When used regularly, the user’s tolerance
increases, and more is needed to achieve the same effects. Regular heroin users
may become physiologically and psychologically dependent on it.
Prescription Drugs
Painkillers (i.e., oxycontin,
Vicodin), oxycodone (e.g.,
OxyContin—an oral, controlled-release form of the drug), morphine, fentanyl,
codeine, and related medications, Lortab, Oxycontin, Percocet, Vicodin, and
Demerol)
What: as their name suggests, this variety of opiate drugs is
prescribed for pain relief. They work by binding to opoid receptors in the
brain and spinal cord, altering the body’s perceptions of pain and pleasure. People
usually abuse them to induce sensations of euphoria, which can be more rapid
depending on the method of ingestion. They can be swallowed
injected, supposited, chewed, crushed, or snorted.
Slang (for various types): oxy 80s, oxycotton, oxycet, hillbilly
heroin, percs, pain killer, juice, dillies
Short term:
Drowsiness
Pain
relief
Euphoria
Depress
breathing
Life-threatening
respiratory depression if taken in combination with other substances, such as
alcohol, antihistamines, barbiturates, or benzos.
Long term:
Respiratory
depression and arrest
Nausea
Confusion
Constipation
Sedation
Unconsciousness
Severe withdrawal symptoms, including vomiting,
insomnia, and muscle and bone pain.
Coma
Death from overdose
Addiction
How addictive?
When taken as
prescribed, opoids rarely cause addiction. However, if regularly abused, users
may develop an increased tolerance or become addicted to them.
CNS depressants
·
CNS depressants
What: a group of
medications used to treat anxiety and sleep disorders. They work by attaching
to a neurotransmitter, GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) that slows down
normal brain activity. This usually makes the user feel drowsy or calmer. They
usually come in pill form and are swallowed.
Types of CNS
depressants:
1) Barbiturates ( such as (Mebaral) and
(Nembutal), are used as preanesthetics, promoting sleep.
Slang: barbs, reds, red
birds, phennies, tooies, yellows, yellow jacket
2) Tranquilizers (benzodiazepines, aka benzos,
such as Valium, Xanax, and Librium) – used to treat anxiety, panic attacks,
short-term relief for sleep disorders due to high risk of addiction
Slang: candy, downers, sleeping pills, tranks
3) Newer sleep medications (such as such as
zolpidem (Ambien), zaleplon (Sonata), and eszopiclone (Lunesta), - more
commonly used to treat sleep disorders due to lower risk of addiction.
Short term
effects:
Reduced pain and anxiety
Feeling of well-being
Lowered inhibitions
Slowed pulse and breathing
Lowered blood pressure
Poor concentration
Can cause drowsiness or even death if combined
with any medication or substance that causes drowsiness (i.e. allergy meds,
alcohol, etc.)
Long term
effects:
Confusion
Fatigue
Impaired coordination
Memory
Judgment
Respiratory depression and arrest
Addiction
Severe withdrawal symptoms, including seizures
Death
How addictive?
CNS depressants can be very addictive. Tolerance
increases quickly with repeated, regular use, and as a result you may become
physiologically or psychologically dependent on their effects. They should only
be used as prescribed.
Cocaine
What: a strong central nervous system stimulant that gives a
powerful, short-lived “high” when used. Cocaine blocks the brain from recycling
its supply of dopamine, neurotransmitters linked to the brain’s reward circuit.
This suppression leads to a dopamine overstimulation, resulting in feelings of
euphoria, as well as increased energy and alertness, for the user. The
intensity and duration of the high depends on how it’s taken. Injecting or
smoking it produces a quicker, stronger high than snorting it, but it doesn’t
last as long, maybe no longer than 5 to 10 minutes. That’s why some cocaine
users may go on a “binge,” snorting increasingly higher doses of cocaine in a
short amount of time.
Cocaine is
associated with severe short and long term health problems, and has a high rate
of addicton. BTW.
Slang: blow, bump, dust, candy, girl, coke, crack, flake, snow,
Short term effects:
Increased heart rate, blood pressure, and body
temperature
Increased energy
Feelings
of exhilaration
Increased
mental alertness
Tremors
Dilated pupils
Reduced appetite
Irritability
Anxiety/Panic
Paranoia
Depression
Aggressiveness
Psychosis
When combined with alcohol, risk of sudden death
Long term effects:
Weight loss
Insomnia
Cardiac or
cardiovascular complications
Stroke
Seizures
Addiction
Nasal damage from snorting
How addictive?
Cocaine can be a
powerfully addictive drug. Repeated use builds tolerance, and the user has to
ingest increasing amounts to try to achieve the same high, a habit which can quickly
lead to addiction. This is especially true because cocaine’s effects are
associated with the reward circuit of the brain, meaning that the user may
become physiologically and psychologically dependent on the “pleasurable”
effects of cocaine as their brain chemistry is altered.
The danger of cocaine
addiction for first-time users is still possible: in fact, even trying cocaine
once does not predict or control how addicted you could be.
Hallucinogens
LSD
What: one of the most potent hallucinogens, it’s made from
lysergic acid, which is found in a fungus that grows on certain grains. It’s
usually taken orally in tablet or capsule form, but it’s sometimes taken in
liquid form. It disrupts levels of the neurotransmitter serontonin, which
regulates such important functions as mood, behavior, muscle control, and
sensory perception. Taking LSD induces hallucinations, distorted perceptions,
and intense emotional swings. In some people, it can also cause flashbacks,
which may impair social functioning, panic, and fear of insanity or death. These
effects, known as “trips,” can last up to 12 hours.
Slang: acid, blotter, cubes, microdot yellow sunshine, blue heaven
Short term effects:
- Altered states of perception and feeling
- Hallucinations
- Nausea
- Increased body temperature
- Heart rate
- Blood pressure
- Loss of appetite
- Sweating
- Sleeplessness
- Numbness
- Dizziness
- Weakness
- Tremors
- Impulsive behavior
- Rapid shifts in emotion
Long term effects:
- Flashbacks
- Increased tolerance
- Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder
How addictive?
LSD is not considered an
addictive drug, since most users are able to decrease or stop using it.
However, regular or repeated can cause the user to develop a tolerance to it,
so that they have to take increasingly high levels of it to achieve the same
effects, which is incredibly dangerous and unpredictable. Research has found
that LSD tolerance may also be associated with increased tolerance to other
hallucinogens.
Mushrooms
What: certain types of mushrooms they contain a chemical
compound, psilocybin, that acts as a hallucinogen. Like LSD and PCP, mushrooms
disrupt levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin, which regulates such
important functions as as mood, behavior, muscle control, and sensory
perception. Mushrooms are typically swallowed, and can be taken fresh or dried.
Their effects begin to manifest within 20 minutes of taking them and last about
6 hours.
Slang: Magic mushrooms, purple passion, shrooms, little smoke
Short term effects:
- Altered states of perception and feeling
- Hallucinations
- Nausea
- Nervousness
- Paranoia
- Panic
- Psychosis
Long term effects:
- Flashbacks
- Risk of
psychiatric illness
- Impaired
memory
- Tolerance
How addictive?
Mushrooms have
not been shown to be addictive. However, tolerance builds quickly, and may lead
to a physiological and/or psychological dependence on them.
PCP
What: a “dissociative drug” usually in the form of white
crystalline powder. It used to be used as an intravenous anesthetic, but the
frequent dissociative side effects from patients prompted its discontinuation
on the legal market. Like LSD, PCP can cause hallucinations, distorted
perceptions, and intense emotional swings by disrupting levels of the
neurotransmitter serontonin, which regulates such important functions as mood,
muscle control, and sensory perception. It also interacts with a glutamate
receptor in the brain that regulates pain perception, learning, and memory. It
can be snorted, smoke, or taken orally. Depending on how it’s taken, its
effects can last from 4 to 6 hours.
Slang: angel dust, boat, hog, love boat, peace pill
Short term effects:
- Feelings of being separate from one’s body and
environment
- Impaired
motor function
- Analgesia
- Psychosis
- Aggression
- Violence
- Slurred
speech
- Loss of
coordination
- Hallucinations
Long term effects:
- Anxiety
- Tremors
- Numbness
- Memory loss
- Nausea
How addictive?
PCP can be
addictive. With repeated or regular use, users can develop an addiction
that leads them to crave it despite its negative health consequences.
Ketamine
What: a dissociative anesthetic usually used in veterinary
practice. It’s called “dissociative” because it can distort perceptions and
cause you to feel detached from your body and environment. It works similarly
to that of the drug PCP, by interacting with a glutamate receptor, induces such
effects as impaired memory and motor ability. At higher doses, it can induce
more dangerous effects, including hallucinations, delirium, or even death. It’s
usually snorted or injected into the muscles.
Slang: cat Valium, K, Special K, vitamin K
Short term effects:
- Feeling like you’re separated from you body and
environment
- Impaired
motor function
- Impaired memory
- High blood pressure
- At high doses, hallucinations and amnesia
- Delirium, amnesia at really high doses
- Potentially fatal respiratory problems in high
doses
Long term effects:
- Anxiety
- Tremors
- Numbness
- Memory
loss
- Nausea
- Severe withdrawal symptoms
- Addiction
How addictive?
Ketamine
can be addictive. Reports have shown addiction behaviours in ketamine users
similar to that seen in some cocaine or amphetamine addicts. Regular, and/or
repeated use of ketamine can build tolerance and potential dependence on the
drug.
Rophynol
What: a potent CNS depressant notoriously known as the “date
rape drug,” it’s available in pill or other odorless, colorless, and tasteless
forms, and is frequently combined with alcohol and other drinks. Like other CNS
depressants, it attaches to the GABA neurotransmitters in the brain, slowing
down normal brain function to induce sedative effects. Not only is it cited as
a drug used in many sexual assaults, but some people use it to counteract the
effects of other stimulants.
Slang: forget-me pill, Mexican Valium, R2, roach, Roche, roofies,
roofinol, rope, rophies
Short term effects:
- Sedation
- Muscle
relaxation
- Confusion
- Memory
loss
- Dizziness
- Impaired
coordination
- Associated
with increased risk of sexual assault
- Possibly
lethal when mixed with alcohol and/or other CNS depressants
Long term effects:
How addictive?
Rophynol can be very addictive. Tolerance
increases quickly with repeated, regular use, and as a result you may become
physiologically or psychologically dependent on their effects.
Amphetamines (speed)
What: a stimulant drug sometimes prescribed for people with ADHD
(attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder). Amphetamines increase levels of
dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with such important brain functions as
pleasure, movement, and attention, which induces effects such as wakefulness,
increased focus, and reduced fatigue. Usually taken in tablet form, they can be
swallowed,
snorted, smoked, or injected. People abuse amphetamines to get high or for
performance enhancement. If ingested in crushed form, it may also produce
euphoric effects.
Slang: bennies, black beauties, crosses, hearts, LA turnaround,
speed, truck drivers, uppers
Short term effects:
- Increased heart rate
- Blood pressure
- Body
temperature
- Feelings of exhilaration
- Increased
energy
- Mental
alertness
- Tremors
- Reduced appetite
- Irritability
- Anxiety
- Panic
- Paranoia
- Violent behavior
- Psychosis
-
Long term effects:
- Weight loss
- Insomnia
- Cardiac/cardiovascular complications
- Stroke
- Seizures
- Severe withdrawal symptoms (such as fatigue,
depression, disturbed sleep patterns)
- Addiction
How addictive?
If taken in a
nonprescribed way, amphetamines can be very addictive. Their interactions with
dopamine interfere with the brain’s “reward” circuit, so repeated and/or
regular use can quickly build a tolerance, and possibly a
physiological/psychological dependence, on achieving the same effects. These
factors can quickly develop into an addiction.
Ecstasy
What: a synthetic, psychoactive drug that’s usually taken orally
in capsule or tablet form. Ecstasy intensifies the effects of serotonin, a
neurotransmitter that regulates such important functions as mood, sexual
activity, sleep, and sensitivity to pain. It also intensifies the effects of
another neurotransmitter, norepinephrine. As a result, ecstasy induces effects
of increased energy, euphoria, and distortions in time and tactile perception.
Some people take it along with other illicit and legal drugs, such as marijuana
or cocaine.
Slang: Ecstasy, Adam, clarity, Eve, lover's speed, peace, uppers
Short term effects:
- Mild hallucinogenic effects
- Increased
tactile sensitivity
- Empathic
feelings
- Lowered
inhibition
- Anxiety
- Chills
- Sweating
- Teeth
clenching
- Muscle
cramping
- Hyperthermia at high doses, which can lead to
organ failure or death
- Exacerbating effects in people with heart
disease or circulatory probs, which could result in other symptoms such as muscle tension,
involuntary teeth clenching, nausea, blurred vision, faintness, and chills or
sweating.
- Screwed
over by drug dealer
- In
combination with other drugs
Long term effects:
- Sleep disturbances
- Depression
- Impaired memory
- Hyperthermia
- Anxiety
- Addiction
- Withdrawal symptoms (fatigue, loss of appetite, depressed
feelings, and trouble concentrating.2
- Death
How addictive?
MDMA can be addictive. Repeated use of ecstasy increases the risk of tolerance
and physiological and/or psychological dependence on it. In addition to the
risk for addiction, MDMA carries other serious health risks, including the
possibility of being mixed with other illegal drugs, such as ecstasy, which may
make its ingestion neurotoxic.
GHB
What: GHB (Xyrem) - a central nervous system (CNS) depressant prescribed
for narcolepsy (a sleep disorder), its effects and use mirror that of Rophynol.
GHB increases the neurotransmitter GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), which
induces sedative effects. It’s usually taken orally, in either liquid or powder
form. Also like Rophynol, it’s available in odorless, colorless, and tasteless
forms frequently combined with alcohol and other beverages. At high doses, it
can induce sleep, coma, or even death. Its use has also been associated with sexual assault.
Slang: G, Georgia home boy, grievous bodily harm, liquid ecstasy,
soap, scoop, goop, liquid X
Short term effects:
- Drowsiness
- Nausea
- Headache
- Disorientation
- Loss
of Coordintion
- Memory
Loss
- Nausea,
breathing difficulties if combined with other drugs like alcohol
- At
high doses, sleep
- Use
associated with poisonings, date rapes, overdoses
Long term effects:
- Builds
muscle (body builders use it for its anabolic effects)
- Unconsciousness
- Seizures
- Coma
- Severe
withdrawal effects (such as insomnia anxiety, sweating)
- Addiction
- Death
How addictive?
Like other CNS depressants, GHB can be very
addictive. Tolerance increases quickly with repeated, regular use, and as a
result you may become physiologically or psychologically dependent on their
effects.
Methamphetamine
What: a central nervous system stimulant, it’s usually found as
a white, odorless, crystalline powder. It can be swallowed, snorted, injected,
smoked, or dissolved in water or alcohol. It disrupts levels of the
neurotransmitter dopamine, which is associated with the brain’s “reward”
circuit, resulting in rapid euphoric effects.
Slang: meth, ice,
crank, chalk, crystal, fire, glass, go fast, speed
Short term
effects:
- Increased heart rate
- Increased blood pressure
- Increased body temperature
- Metabolism
- feelings
of exhilaration
- increased
energy
- mental
alertness
- tremors
- reduced
appetite
- irritability
- anxiety
- panic
- paranoia
- violent
behavior
- psychosis
- Increased risk of HIV, hepatitis
Long
term effects:
- Weight loss
- Insomnia
- Cardiac
or cardiovascular complications
- Stroke
- Seizures
- Addiction
- Severe dental problems
- Emotional and cognitive problems
How addictive?
Methamphetamine
abuse has a high risk of addiction. Repeated and/or regular use of
methamphetamine also significantly alters brain chemistry, impairing your
cognitive and emotional abilities.
References
CDC Fact sheets.
http://cdc.gov
NIDA for Teens. http://teens.drugabuse.gov/
NIDA Infofacts. http://www.drugabuse.gov/infofacts/infofactsindex.html