 
Marijuana / Pot: From 2004 to 2005: Teens who believe marijuana use by someone their age is “not morally wrong”
are 19 times likelier to use marijuana than teens who believe it's “seriously morally wrong.”
- Rapid, loud talking & bursts of laughter in early stages of intoxication.
- Sleepy or stuporous in the later stages.
- Forgetfulness in conversation.
- Inflammation in whites of eyes; pupils unlikely to be dilated.
- Odor similar to burnt rope on clothing or breath.
- Tendency to drive slowly - below speed limit.
- Distorted sense of time \ passage - tendency to overestimate time intervals.
- Use or
possession of paraphernalia including roach clip, packs of rolling papers,
pipes or bongs.
- Marijuana
users are difficult to recognize unless they're under the influence of the drug at the time of observation.
Casual users may show none of the general symptoms. Marijuana does have a distinct odor
& may be the same color or a bit greener than tobacco.
48% of teens say illegality has no effect on their decision to use marijuana.
Just a Part of You
Frank
stayed high on marijuana 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. He would tell his friends, “I
know I’m an addict. There’s no 2 ways about it.” Then he'd casually fire
up another jay.
Actually,
there are 2 ways about it. A part of you can be addicted while another part
of you can’t. In fact, a part of you remains non-addicted no matter how much you use.
This
is very important. Why? Because most people label themselves
one thing or another, as addicted
or not addicted, but not something in-between.
Then
they act as if they’re stuck in their description
& have no choice.
Even
if you’re a heavy user, even if you stay high constantly, only a part of you can be
considered “an addict.” Even though all your cells contain traces of your drug & even though each cell craves that drug as soon as the drug
level goes down, each cell still retains some integrity.
This integrity is provided by the alternatives to your drug:
- the food you eat
- the water you drink
- the air you breathe
To
be sure, a definite part of you doesn’t depend on that drug. In fact, this part dislikes the drug intensely & fights
against it. This part works to preserve your body’s natural health.
Cocaine / Crack / Methamphetamines / Stimulants:
From 2004 to 2005: the percentage of teens who know a friend or classmate who has used illegal
drugs such as acid, cocaine, or heroin is up 20%.
- Extremely dilated pupils
- Dry mouth & nose
- Bad breath
- Frequent lip licking
- Excessive activity, difficulty sitting still
- Lack of interest in food or sleep
- Irritable / argumentative / nervous
- Talkative, but conversation often lacks continuity; changes subjects rapidly
- Runny nose, cold or chronic sinus / nasal problems, nose bleeds
- Use or possession
of paraphernalia incl: small spoons, razor blades, mirror, little bottles of white powder & plastic,
glass or metal straws.
Crack & Cocaine
Cocaine is a powerfully addictive
stimulant drug.
The powdered, hydrochloride
salt form of cocaine can be snorted or dissolved in water & injected.
Crack is cocaine that hasn't been
neutralized by an acid to make the hydrochloride salt.
This form of cocaine comes in a rock crystal that can
be heated & its vapors smoked. The term “crack” refers to the crackling
sound heard when it's heated.*
Regardless of how cocaine
is used or how frequently, a user can experience acute cardiovascular
or cerebrovascular emergencies, such as a heart attack or stroke, which could result
in sudden death.
Cocaine-related deaths are often a result of cardiac arrest
or seizure followed by respiratory arrest.
Health Hazards
Cocaine is a strong central nervous system stimulant
that interferes with the reabsorption process of dopamine, a chemical messenger associated with pleasure & movement. The buildup of dopamine causes continuous stimulation of “receiving” neurons, which is associated with the euphoria
commonly reported by cocaine abusers.
Physical effects of cocaine
use include:
- constricted blood vessels
- dilated pupils
- increased temperature
- heart rate
- blood pressure
The duration of cocaine’s
immediate euphoric effects, which include hyperstimulation, reduced
fatigue & mental clarity, depends on the route of administration.
The faster the absorption, the more intense the high.
The faster the absorption, the shorter the duration of action. The high from snorting may last 15 to 30 minutes, while that
from smoking may last 5 to 10 minutes.
Increased use can reduce the period of time a user feels
high & increases the risk of addiction.
Some users of cocaine report feelings of restlessness, irritability & anxiety. A tolerance to the “high” may develop, many addicts report
that they seek but fail to achieve as much pleasure as they did from their first exposure.
Some users will increase
their doses to intensify & prolong the euphoric effects. While tolerance to the high can occur, users can also
become more sensitive to cocaine’s anesthetic & convulsant effects without increasing the dose taken.
This increased sensitivity may explain some deaths occurring
after apparently low doses of cocaine.
Use of cocaine
in a binge, during which the drug is taken repeatedly & at increasingly high doses, may lead
to a state of increasing irritability, restlessness & paranoia. This can result in a period of full-blown paranoid psychosis, in which
the user loses touch with reality & experiences auditory hallucinations.
Other complications associated with cocaine use include:
- disturbances in hearth rhythm
- heart attacks
- chest pain
- respiratory failure
- strokes
- seizures
- headaches
- gastrointestinal complications such as abdominal pain & nausea
Because cocaine has a tendency to decrease appetite, many chronic users can become malnourished.
Different means of taking cocaine can
produce different adverse effects. Regularly snorting cocaine, i.e., can lead to loss of
sense of smell, nosebleeds, problems with swallowing, hoarseness & a chronically runny nose.
Ingesting cocaine can cause
severe bowel gangrene due to reduced blood flow. People who inject cocaine can experience severe allergic reactions & as with any injecting drug user, are at increased risk for contracting HIV & other bloodborne
diseases.
Added Danger: Cocaethylene
When people mix cocaine
& alcohol consumption, they're compounding the danger each drug
poses & unknowingly forming a complex chemical experiment within their bodies. NIDA-funded researchers have found that
the human liver combines cocaine & alcohol & manufactures a 3rd substance, cocaethylene, that intensifies cocaine’s euphoric effects, while potentially increasing the risk of sudden death.
Treatment
The widespread abuse of cocaine
has stimulated extensive efforts to develop treatment programs for this type of drug
abuse.
One of NIDA’s top research priorities is
to find a medication to block or greatly reduce the effects of cocaine, to be used as one
part of a comprehensive treatment program. NIDA-funded researchers are also looking at medications that help alleviate the
severe craving that people in treatment for cocaine addiction
often experience.
Several medications are currently being investigated for
their safety & efficacy in treating cocaine addiction.
In addition to treatment medications, behavioral interventions - particularly cognitive behavioral therapy - can be effective in decreasing drug use by
patients in treatment for cocaine abuse. Providing the optimal
combination of treatment & services for each individual is critical to successful outcomes.
Extent of Use
Monitoring the Future Study (MTF)**
MTF assesses the extent
& perceptions of drug use among 8th, 10th & 12th grade students nationwide. Crack cocaine use decreased among 10th graders for the lifetime, annual & 30-day use categories.***
This was the only statistically
significant change affecting cocaine in any form. These significant decreases were from
3.6% in 2002 to 2.7% in 2003 for lifetime use; 2.3% in 2002 to 1.6% in 2003 for annual use; & 1.0% in 2002 to 0.7% in 2003 for 30-day use.
Overall annual
cocaine use increased in each grade from the early 1990's until 1998 or 1999 & has subsequently stabilized
or declined somewhat. Among 12th graders, the rate increased from 3.1% in 1992 to 6.2% in 1999,
declined significantly to 5.0% in 2000 & remained stable thru 2003 at 4.8%.
Among 10th graders, the
rate increased from 1.9% in 1992 to 4.9% in 1999. In 2003, 3.3% of 10th graders reported annual cocaine use, significantly below the peak in 1999, though year-to-year changes weren't significant.
From 2004 to 2005: The percentage of teens who know a friend or classmate that has used
illegal drugs such as acid,
cocaine or heroin is
up 20% (from 35% to 42%).
Brain Circuitry May Explain Cocaine Behaviors
Rat study suggests the drug disrupts key pathways
THURSDAY, July 21 (HealthDay News)
- The impulsive behavior displayed by cocaine users may stem from the drug's effect on connections between 2 higher
brain regions, a new study suggests.
In a study involving rats,
scientists at the Univ. of Pittsburgh found that cocaine caused an overstimulation
of neural connections between the prefrontal cortex, which is involved in information processing & the hippocampus,
a key area for learning & memory.
The same brain circuitry has
been implicated in such disorders as schizophrenia, depression & post-traumatic stress disorder, the researchers noted in the July 21 issue of Neuron.
The Pittsburgh team also found
that cocaine-sensitized rats were less able to change strategies when running thru a maze, compared to nonsensitized rodents.
More information
Visit the National Institutes of Health to learn more about cocaine
(www.nida.nih.gov ).
Depressants:
- Symptoms
of alcohol intoxication w/no alcohol odor on breath (remember that depressants are frequently used w/alcohol).
- Lack of facial expression or animation. Flat affect.
Flaccid appearance.
- Slurred speech.
- Note: There are
few readily apparent symptoms.
Abuse may be indicated by activities such as frequent
visits to different physicians for prescriptions to treat "nervousness", "anxiety"," stress", etc.
Narcotics / Prescription Drugs / Opium / Heroin / Codeine /
Oxycontin:
- Lethargy, drowsiness.
- Constricted pupils fail to respond to light.
- Redness & raw nostrils from inhaling heroin
in power form.
- Scars (tracks)
on inner arms or other parts of body, from needle injections.
- Use or possession of paraphernalia, including syringes,
bent spoons, bottle caps, eye
droppers, rubber tubing, cotton & needles.
- Slurred speech.
- While there may be no readily apparent symptoms
of analgesic abuse, it may be indicated by frequent visits to different physicians or dentists for prescriptions to treat pain of non-specific origin.
In cases where patient has chronic pain & abuse of medication is suspected, it may be indicated
by amounts & frequency taken.
Heroin
Heroin is an addictive drug & its use is a serious problem in America. Recent studies suggest a shift from injecting heroin to snorting or smoking because of increased purity & the misconception that these
forms are safer.
Heroin is processed from morphine, a naturally occurring substance extracted from the seedpod of the Asian poppy plant.
Heroin usually appears as a white or brown powder. Street names for
heroin include:
- “smack”
- “H”
- “skag”
- “junk”
Other names may refer to
types of heroin produced in a specific geographical area, such as “Mexican black tar.”
Health
Hazards
Heroin abuse is associated
with serious health conditions, including:
- fatal overdose
- spontaneous abortion
- collapsed veins
- particularly in users who inject the drug
- infectious diseases
- incl. HIV/AIDS & hepatitis
The short-term effects
of heroin abuse appear soon after a single dose & disappear in a few hours. After an
injection of heroin, the user reports feeling a surge of euphoria
(“rush”) accompanied by a warm flushing of the skin, a dry mouth & heavy
extremities.
Following this initial euphoria,
the user goes “on the nod,” an alternately wakeful & drowsy state. Mental
functioning becomes clouded due to the depression of the central nervous system.
Long-term effects of heroin
appear after repeated use for some period of time.
Chronic users
may develop:
- collapsed veins
- infection of the heart lining
& valves
- abscesses
- cellulitis
- liver disease
Pulmonary complications,
including various types of pneumonia, may result from the poor health condition of the abuser, as well as from heroin’s depressing effects on respiration.
Heroin abuse during pregnancy
& its many associated environmental factors (e.g., lack of prenatal care) have been associated with adverse consequences including:
- low birth weight, an important
risk factor for later developmental delay.
In addition to the effects
of the drug itself, street heroin may have additives that
don't readily dissolve & result in clogging the blood vessels that lead to the lungs, liver, kidneys or brain. This can
cause infection or even death of small patches of cells in vital organs.
The Drug Abuse Warning Network*
lists heroin/morphine among the 4 most frequently mentioned drugs reported in drug-related death cases in 2002.
Nationwide, heroin emergency department mentions were statistically unchanged from 2001 to 2002, but have increased 35% since 1995.
Tolerance,
Addiction & Withdrawal
With regular heroin use,
tolerance develops. This means the abuser must use more heroin to achieve the same intensity of effect. As higher doses are used over time, physical
dependence & addiction develop.
With physical dependence, the body has adapted to the presence of the drug & withdrawal symptoms may occur if use is reduced or stopped.
Withdrawal, which in regular
abusers may occur as early as a few hours after the last administration, produces:
- drug craving
- restlessness
- muscle & bone pain
- insomnia
- diarrhea & vomiting
- cold flashes w/goose bumps (“cold turkey”)
- kicking movements (“kicking the habit”)
- other symptoms
Major withdrawal symptoms
peak between 48 & 72 hours after the last dose & subside after about a week. Sudden withdrawal by heavily dependent
users who are in poor health is occasionally fatal, although heroin withdrawal is considered
less dangerous than alcohol or barbiturate withdrawal.
Treatment
There's a broad range of
treatment options for heroin addiction, including medications as well as behavioral therapies.
Science has taught us that when medication treatment is integrated with other supportive services, patients are often able
to stop heroin (or other opiate) use
& return to more stable & productive lives.
In November 1997, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) convened a Consensus Panel on Effective Medical Treatment
of Heroin Addiction. The panel of national experts concluded that opiate drug addictions
are diseases of the brain & medical disorders that indeed can be treated effectively.
The panel strongly recommended:
- broader access to methadone
maintenance treatment programs for people who are addicted to heroin or other opiate drugs
- the Federal & State
regulations & other barriers impeding this access be eliminated
This panel also stressed
the importance of providing substance abuse counseling, psychosocial therapies & other supportive services to enhance retention & successful
outcomes in methadone maintenance treatment programs.
The panel’s full consensus
statement is available by calling 1-888-NIH-CONSENSUS (1-888-644-2667) or by visiting the NIH Consensus Development Program
Web site at http://consensus.nih.gov.
Methadone, a synthetic opiate medication
that blocks the effects of heroin for about 24 hours, has a proven record of success when prescribed at a high enough dosage
level for people addicted to heroin.
Other approved medications
are naloxone, which is used to treat cases of overdose & naltrexone,
both of which block the effects of morphine, heroin & other opiates.
For the pregnant heroin abuser,
methadone maintenance combined with prenatal care & a comprehensive drug treatment program
can improve many of the detrimental maternal & neonatal outcomes associated with untreated heroin abuse.
There's preliminary
evidence that buprenorphine also is safe & effective in treating heroin dependence
during pregnancy, although infants exposed to methadone or buprenorphine during pregnancy typically require treatment for
withdrawal symptoms.
For women who don't want
or aren't able to receive pharmacotherapy for their heroin addiction, detoxification from opiates during pregnancy can be
accomplished with relative safety, although the likelihood of relapse to heroin use should be considered.
Buprenorphine is a recent
addition to the array of medications now available for treating addiction to heroin & other opiates. This medication is different from methadone in that it offers less risk
of addiction & can be dispensed in the privacy of a doctor’s office.
Several other medications
for use in heroin treatment programs are also under study.
There are many effective
behavioral treatments available for heroin addiction. These can include residential
& outpatient approaches. Several new behavioral therapies are showing particular promise for heroin
addiction.
Contingency management therapy
uses a voucher-based system, where patients earn “points” based on negative drug tests, which they can exchange
for items that encourage healthful living.
Cognitive-behavioral interventions are designed to help modify the
patient’s thinking, expectancies & behaviors & to increase skills in coping with various life stressors.
Extent of Use
Monitoring the Future Survey (MTF)**
According to the 2003 MTF,
rates of heroin use are almost 50% lower than recent peak rates in all 3 grades surveyed. However, only annual use by 10th
graders showed a significant decline.
Moscow Wax Figure Exhibition Highlights Graphic Dangers of
Drugs
Created: 18.11.2005 14:13 MSK (GMT +3), Updated:
14:13 MSK
An exhibition
showing the life of a drug addict - from the very first dose to death - has opened
in Moscow.
The display, called “On the Brink”, was created by the Association
of St. Petersburg Wax Museums in 2002 & has already visited more than 20 Russian cities enjoying the support of the Federal
Service for Drug Control.
Created to promote a healthy way of life by showing what drugs can do to a human being, it creates a strong impression on visitors. The organizers even
have liquid ammonia on hand to resuscitate anyone who faints at the sight of the disfigured faces of drug addicts or the embryo
of an addict’s baby in formalin.
Inhalants:
- Substance odor on breath & clothes.
- Runny nose.
- Watering eyes.
- Drowsiness or unconsciousness.
- Poor muscle control.
- Prefers group activity to being alone.
- Presence of bags or rags containing dry plastic cement or other solvent at home, in
locker at school or at work.
- Discarded whipped cream, spray paint or similar chargers (users of nitrous
oxide).
- Small bottles labeled "incense" (users of butyl nitrite).
Solvents, Aerosols, Glue, Petrol:
Nitrous Oxide - laughing gas,
whippits, nitrous.
Amyl Nitrate - snappers, poppers,
pearlers, rushamies.
Butyl Nitrate
- locker room, bolt, bullet, rush, climax, red gold.
- Slurred speech
- Impaired coordination
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Slowed breathing
- Brain damage
- Pains in the chest,
muscles, joints
- Heart trouble
- Severe depression
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Bronchial spasm
- Sores on nose or mouth
- Nosebleeds
- Diarrhea
- Bizarre or reckless behavior
- Sudden death / suffocation
LSD / Hallucinogens:
From 2004 to 2005: 46% of teens say illegality has no effect on their decision to use LSD, cocaine
or heroin.
- Extremely dilated pupils
- Warm
skin, excessive perspiration
& body odor.
- Distorted sense
of sight, hearing, touch
- Distorted image
of self & time perception.
- Mood & behavior
changes, the extent depending on emotional state of the user & environmental conditions
- Unpredictable
flashback episodes even long after withdrawal (although these are rare).
Hallucinogenic drugs,
which occur both naturally &
in synthetic form, distort or disturb sensory input, sometimes to a
great degree. Hallucinogens occur naturally in primarily 2 forms, (peyote) cactus &
psilocybin mushrooms.
Several chemical varieties
have been synthesized, most notably LSD,
MDA , STP & PCP. Hallucinogen usage reached a peak in the US in the late 1960's, but declined shortly thereafter due to a broader awareness of the detrimental effects of
usage.
However, a disturbing trend indicating a resurgence in hallucinogen usage by high-school & college age persons nationwide has been acknowledged by law enforcement. With the exception
of PCP, all hallucinogens seem to share common effects of use. Any portion of sensory perceptions may be altered to varying degrees.
Synesthesia,
or the "seeing" of sounds & the "hearing" of colors, is a common side effect of hallucinogen use. Depersonalization, acute anxiety & acute depression resulting in suicide have also been noted as a result
of hallucinogen use.
Note: there are some forms of hallucinogens that are considered downers & constrict pupil diameters.
PCP:
- Unpredictable behavior
- Mood
may swing from passiveness to violence for no apparent
reason.
- Symptoms of intoxication.
- Disorientation
- Agitation & violence if exposed to excessive sensory stimulation.
- Fear, terror.
- Rigid muscles.
- Strange gait.
- Deadened sensory
perception (may experience severe injuries while appearing not to notice).
- Pupils may appear
dilated.
- Mask like facial
appearance.
- Floating pupils, appear to follow a moving object.
- Comatose (unresponsive) if
large amount consumed. Eyes may be open or closed.
Ecstasy: From 2004 to 2005: the percentage of
teens who know a friend or classmate who has used Ecstasy is up 28% (8/2005)
- Confusion
- Depression
- Headaches
- Dizziness (from hangover/after effects)
- Muscle tension
- Panic attacks
- Paranoia
- Possession of pacifiers
(used to stop jaw clenching), lollipops, candy necklaces, mentholated vapor rub
- Severe anxiety
- Sore jaw (from clenching teeth after effects)
- Vomiting or nausea (from hangover/after effects)
Signs that your teen
could be high on Ecstasy:
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