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Classification of Drugs and Their Effects

Psychoactive Range of Effects Developmen Prolonged Withdrawal


Drugs From To t of Use of Large Symptoms
Tolerance Amounts After
Prolonged
Use
Alcohol Depressant Loss of body Liver damage,
- Beer Relaxation, control, Moderate ulcers, chronic
- Wine lowered passing out diarrhea,
- Hard Liquor inhibitions, (also causing amnesia,
reduced physical vomiting, brain
intensity of injuries), damage,
physical susceptibility internal
sensations, to pneumonia, bleeding,
digestive cessation of debilitation.
upsets, body breathing.
heat loss, Convulsions,
reduced shakes,
muscular hallucinations,
coordination. loss of memory,
Sedative Depressant Passing out, Amnesia, uncontrolled
Hypnotics Relaxation, loss of body Moderate confusion, muscular
Barbiturates: lowered control, stupor, drowsiness, spasms,
- Nebutal inhibitions, severe personality psychosis.
- Phenobarbital reduced depression of changes.
- Seconal intensity of respiration,
Tranquilizers: physical possible death.
- Valium sensations, (Effects are
- Librium digestive exaggerated
- Quaaludes upsets, body when used in
heat loss, combination
reduced with alcohol -
muscular synergistic
coordination. effect).
Opiates Depressant Clammy skin, Depressed Water eyes,
- Opium Suppression of convulsions, High sexual drive, running nose,
- Morphine pain, lowered coma, lethargy, severe back
- Heroin blood pressure respiratory general pains, stomach
- Codeine and respiratory depression, physical cramps,
- Dilaudids rate, possible death. debilitation, sleeplessness,
- Percodan constipation, infections, nausea,
- Darvon disruption of hepatitis diarrhea,
- Methadone menstrual sweating,
cycle, muscle spasms.
hallucinations,
sleep.
Stimulants Stimulation of Paranoid Psychosis, Severe
Amphetamines Central reaction, High insomnia, depression,
- Dexedrine Nervous temporary paranoia, both physical
- Metham- System psychosis, nervous and mental.
phetamines Increased irritability, system (Not true for
Specific Drugs and Their Effects
Drug Name: Alcohol
Drug Type: Depressant
Facts for 25% of 8th graders have admitted to being intoxicated at least
Parents: once.
Other
Beer, wine, liquor, cooler, malt liquor, booze
Names:
How
Orally
Consumed:
Effects: Addiction (alcoholism), dizziness, nausea, vomiting, hangovers,
slurred speech, disturbed sleep, impaired motor skills, violent
behavior, fetal alcohol syndrome, respiratory depression and
death (high doses).

Drug Name: Amphetamines


Drug Type: Stimulant
Facts for Chronic use can induce psychosis with symptoms similar to
Parents: schizophrenia.
Other Speed, uppers, ups, hearts, black beauties, pep pills, capilots,
Names: bumble bees, Benzedrine, Dexedrine, footballs, biphetamine
How
Orally, injected, snorted, or smoked
Consumed:
Effects: Addiction, irritability, anxiety, increased blood pressure,
paranoia, psychosis, depression, aggression, convulsions,
dilated pupils, dizziness, sleeplessness, loss of appetite,
malnutrition. Increased risk of exposure to HIV, hepatitis, and
other infectious diseases if injected.

Drug Name: Metamphetamines


Drug Type: Stimulant
Facts for
Some users avoid sleep 3 to 15 days.
Parents:
Other Speed, meth, crank, crystal, ice, fire, croak, crypto, white cross,
Names: glass. "Ice" is the street name for the smokeable form.
How
Orally, injected, snorted, or smoked
Consumed:
Effects: Addiction, irritability, aggression, hypothermia, stroke,
paranoia, psychosis, convulsions, heart and blood vessel
toxicity, hallucinations, arrhythmia, formication (the sensation
of insects creeping on or under your skin).

Drug Name: Ecstasy


Drug Type: Stimulants
Facts for Ecstasy is popular at all-night underground parties (called
Parents: raves) and is the most common designer drug.
Other
XTC, Adam, MDMA
Names:
How
Orally
Consumed:
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 for
Some children buy or steal from their classmates
Parents:
Other
Speed, west coast
Names:
How
Tablet is crushed, and the powder is snorted or injected.
Consumed:
Effects: Loss of appetite, fevers, convulsions, and severe headaches.
Increased risk of exposure to HIV, hepatitis, and other
infections. Paranoia, hallucinations, excessive repetition of
movements and meaningless tasks, tremors, muscle twitching.

Drug Name: Herbal Ecstasy/Ephedrine


Drug Type: Herbal Ecstasy, Cloud 9, Rave Energy, Ultimate, Xphoria, and X
Facts for The active ingredients in Herbal Ecstasy are caffeine and
Parents: ephedrine.
How
Orally
Consumed:
Effects: Increased heart rate and blood pressure. Seizures, heart
attacks, stroke, and death.

Drug Name: Designer Drugs


Drug Type: Stimulants
Facts for Changing the molecular structure of an existing drug or drugs
Parents: to create a new substance creates Designer drugs.
Other
Synthetic heroin, goodfella
Names:
How
Injected, sniffed, or smoked.
Consumed:
Effects: Instant respiratory paralysis. Potency creates strong possibility
for overdose, many of the same effects as heroin.

Drug Name: Cocaine


Drug Type: Stimulant
Facts for Cocaine is a powerfully addictive drug. Heavy use may produce
Parents: paranoia, hallucinations, aggression, insomnia, and depression.
Other Coke, snow, nose candy, flake, blow, big C, lady, white,
Names: snowbirds.
How
Snorted or dissolved in water and injected.
Consumed:
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


Drug Type: Stimulant
Facts for
A cheaper form of cocaine that may be more addicting.
Parents:
Other
Rock, freebase
Names:
Effects: Same as cocaine

Drug Name: Heroin


Drug Type: Opiates
Facts for Heroin users quickly develop a tolerance to the drug and need
Parents: more and more of it to get the same effects, or even to feel
well.
Other
Smack, horse, mud, brown, sugar, junk, black tar, big H, dope.
Names:
Effects: Addiction. Slurred speech, slow gait, constricted pupils, droopy
eyelids, impaired night vision, nodding off, respiratory
depression or failure, dry itching skin, and skin infections.
Increased risk of exposure to HIV, hepatitis, and other infectious
diseases if injected.

Drug Name: PCP


Drug Type: Hallucinogens
Facts for Marijuana joints can be dipped into PCP without the smoker's
Parents: knowledge.
Other Angel dust, ozone, rocket fuel, peace pill, elephant tranquilizer,
Names: dust.
How
Snorted, smoked, orally, or injected.
Consumed:
Effects: Hallucinations. Out-of-body experiences, impaired motor
coordination, inability to feel physical pain, respiratory attack,
disorientation, fear, panic, aggressive behavior. Increased risk
of exposure to HIV, hepatitis, and other infectious diseases if
injected. Death.

Drug Name: LSD (Lysergic Acid Diethyl amide)


Drug Type: Hallucinogen
Facts for LSD is the most common hallucinogen. LSD tabs are often
Parents: decorated with colorful designs or cartoon characters.
Other
Acid, microdot, tabs, doses, trips, hits, sugar cubes.
Names:
How
Tabs taken orally or gelatin/liquid put in eyes.
Consumed:
Effects: Elevated body temperature and blood pressure, suppressed
appetite, sleeplessness, tremors, chronic recurring
hallucinations.

Drug Name: Mushrooms


Drug Type: Hallucinogens
Facts for Many mushroom users purchase hallucinogenic mushroom
Parents: spores via mail order.
Other
Shrooms, caps, magic mushrooms.
Names:
How
Eaten or brewed and drunk in tea.
Consumed:
Effects: Increased blood pressure, sweating, nausea, hallucinations.

Drug Name: Inhalants


Facts for Hundreds of legal household products can be sniffed or huffed
Parents: to get high. All inhalants can be toxic. Other Names: Laughing
gas, whippets, aerosol sprays, cleaning fluids, solvents.
How
Vapors are inhaled
Consumed:
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 for The average age of first use is 14. Can be smoked using
Parents: homemade pipes and bongs made from soda cans or plastic
beverage containers.
Other Weed, pot, reefer, grass, dope, ganja, Mary Jane, sinsemilla,
Names: herb, Aunt Mary, skunk, boom, kif, gangster, chronic, 420.
How Smoked or eaten.
Consumed:
Effects: Bloodshot eyes, dry mouth, impaired or reduced
comprehension, altered sense of time, reduced ability to
perform tasks requiring 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 for Steroid users subject themselves to more than 70 % potentially
Parents: harmful side effects.
Other
Rhoids, juice
Names:
How
Orally or injected into muscle
Consumed:
Effects: Liver cancer Sterility, masculine traits in women and feminine
traits in men, aggression, depression, acne, mood swings.

Drug Name: Tobacco


Facts for 1 in 5 12th graders is a daily smoker. How Consumed:
Parents: Cigarettes, cigars, pipes, smokeless tobacco (chew, dip, and
snuff).
Effects: Addiction, heart disease, cancer of the lung, larynx, esophagus,
bladder, pancreas, kidney, and mouth. Emphysema and chronic
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 from About.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 Brain by 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 the extent that
users need it in order to function in their daily routine. While heroin
use starts out with a rush of pleasure, it leaves the 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 their body 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 only weaken short-term
memory, but can block information from making it into long term
memory. It has also been shown to weaken 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 distorts vision, 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 areas of life,
including school, sports, family, and friends. Use of cocaine can lead to
feelings of paranoia and anxiety. Although often 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
Amphetamines
Wednesday 1 March, 2006
 What are amphetamines?

 Effects of amphetamines
 Tolerance and dependence
 Withdrawal
 Treatment options
 Pregnancy and breastfeeding
 Hepatitis and HIV
Amphetamines
 Reducing the risks Australian Drug Foundation © 2005

This information has been adapted from the pamphlet How Drugs Affect You:
Amphetamines, produced by the Australian Drug Foundation. For single
copies of this pamphlet contact the DrugInfo Clearinghouse on telelphone
1300 85 85 84 or email druginfo@adf.org.au (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 speed up 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 buying these drugs mixed
with other substances that can have unpleasant or harmful effects.

What do they look like?

Amphetamines are a whole family of related drugs—each with its own recipe
—and are taken in different ways. They can be in the form 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 smell and 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 small tablets.

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 stay awake for long
periods of time, to improve performance in sport or at work, or to boost their
self-confidence. Amphetamines can reduce tiredness and increase endurance.

For medical purposes, amphetamines are prescribed to treat narcolepsy


(where a person has an uncontrollable urge to sleep) and attention-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. Some people insert them anally
("shafting").

Street names

Common names for amphetamines are "speed", "up", "fast", "louee", "goey",
"whiz", "pep pills", "uppers". Crystal methamphetamine is 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 individual’s 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

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

 Speeding up of bodily functions


Amphetamines speed up the body’s activity. Heart rate, breathing and
blood pressure increase. A dry mouth, increased sweating,
enlargement of the eye’s pupils and headaches may occur.
 More energy and alertness
Users may feel energetic and full of confidence, with a heightened
sense of well being. Other effects include feeling wide awake and alert,
becoming talkative, restless and excited, and having difficulty sleeping.
Panic attacks may also be experienced.
 Reduced appetite
 Irritability
Some 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 of soda and
ephedrine. These additives can be highly poisonous. They can cause
collapsed veins, tetanus, abscesses and damage to the heart, lungs, liver and
brain. And because the person doesn’t know whether they are using 5 per
cent or 50 per cent pure amphetamines, 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 or violent 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 the drug entering the blood stream and
quickly travelling to the brain.

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 and irregular 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:

 Malnutrition
Amphetamines reduce appetite, resulting in people being less likely to
eat properly.
 Psychosis
Frequent heavy use can cause "amphetamine psychosis". Symptoms
may include paranoia as well as delusions, hallucinations and bizarre
behaviour. These symptoms usually disappear a few days after the
person stops using amphetamines.
 Reduced resistance to infections
Regular amphetamine users often don’t eat or sleep properly and are
generally run down, so their resistance to infections is reduced.
 Violence
People who use amphetamines regularly or in high quantities may
suddenly become violent for no apparent reason.
 Brain damage
There is some evidence that amphetamine use may damage brain
cells. This damage can result in reduced memory function and possibly
other impairments in thinking.

Tolerance and dependence

People who are physically dependent on amphetamines usually develop


tolerance to the drug, making it necessary to take more and more to get the
same effect. The quantity taken can reach a stage at which no further
increase in the amount taken will produce the desired effect.

Dependence on amphetamines can be psychological or physical, or both.


People who are psychologically dependent on amphetamines find that using
them becomes far more important than other activities in their life. They
crave the drug and will find it very difficult to stop using it. People who are
physically dependent on amphetamines find that their body has become used
to functioning with the amphetamines present.

Withdrawal

If a person who is dependent on amphetamines suddenly stops taking it, they


will experience withdrawal symptoms, because their body has to readjust to
functioning without the drug.

Amphetamine withdrawal symptoms may include hunger, extreme fatigue,


anxiety, irritability and depression. People may also have a long 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 some people, many
programs recognise that for others this may not be possible or realistic. Most
programs adopt strategies that have an overall aim of reducing the harms
and risks related to the person’s 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.

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

More on treatment

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Amphetamine use during pregnancy can affect foetal development.


Amphetamine use has been linked with bleeding, early labour and
miscarriage. Amphetamine use during pregnancy has also been linked to an
increased risk of foetal abnormalities, including smaller head 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 who regularly 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 poorly and 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 as hepatitis B, hepatitis C
and HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus—the 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 and drug 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 the individuals who use drugs.

Harm-minimisation strategies range from encouraging "non-use" through to


providing the means for people who use drugs to use them 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 professional help
as soon as possible. A quick response can save their life.
 Call an ambulance. Dial 000. Don’t delay because you think you or
your friend might get into trouble. Ambulance officers are 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 or cardiopulmonary
resuscitation (CPR).
 Ensure that the person has adequate air by keeping crowds back and
opening windows. Loosen tight clothing.
 If the person is unconscious, don’t leave them on their back—they
could choke. Turn them on their side and put them in the recovery
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 can—
what drugs were taken, how much was taken, how long ago and any
pre-existing medical conditions.
 Before using amphetamines, make sure you and your friends know
what to do in a crisis.

Cannabis
Wednesday 20 September, 2006
 What is cannabis?

 Effects of cannabis
 Cannabis and psychosis
 Medicinal use of cannabis
 Tolerance and dependence
 Withdrawal
 Treatment options
 Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Cannabis sativa plant
 Reducing the risks Australian Drug Foundation © 2005

This information has been adapted from the pamphlet How Drugs Affect
You: Cannabis, produced by the Australian Drug Foundation. For single copies
of this pamphlet phone 1300 85 85 84 or email druginfo@adf.org.au (Victoria
only). Multiple copies are available from 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 cannabis is THC (delta-9
tetrahydrocannabinol).

Cannabis is a depressant drug. Depressants do not necessarily make the


person feel depressed. Rather, they affect the central nervous system 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 nearly black. The
concentration of THC in hashish is higher than in marijuana, producing
stronger effects. Hash is added to tobacco and 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 or paper of
cigarettes and then smoked. Hash oil is more powerful than the other
forms of cannabis. This form is rarely found in Australia.

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 in mood 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.

THC is absorbed into the bloodstream through the walls of the lungs (if
cannabis is smoked), or through the walls of the stomach and intestines (if
eaten). The bloodstream carries the THC to the brain, producing the "high"
effects. Drugs that are inhaled get into the bloodstream 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 individual’s 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 are taken.

Immediate effects

Small doses of cannabis can have effects that last 2–4 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.

In greater quantities

Larger quantities of marijuana make the above effects stronger, and also
tend to distort a person’s 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 illness
Marijuana cigarettes have more tar than tobacco, placing cannabis
users at an increased risk of respiratory illness such as lung cancer and
chronic bronchitis. Cigarette smokers who also smoke cannabis have
an even greater risk of respiratory disease.
 Reduced motivation
Many regular users have reported that they have less energy and
motivation, so that performance at work or school suffers.
 Brain function
Concentration, memory and the ability to learn can all be reduced by
regular cannabis use. These effects can last for several months after
ceasing cannabis use.
 Hormones
Cannabis can affect hormone production. Research shows that some
cannabis users have a lower sex drive. Irregular menstrual cycles and
lowered sperm counts have also been reported.
 Immune system
There is some concern that cannabis smoking may impair the
functioning of the immune system.

Cannabis and psychosis

It is believed that cannabis use—especially if heavy and regular—may 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 loss and confusion.

There is some evidence that regular cannabis use increases the likelihood of
psychotic symptoms occurring in an individual who is vulnerable due to a
personal or family history of mental illness. Cannabis also appears to make
psychotic symptoms worse for those with 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 and vomiting caused by
chemotherapy, wasting and severe weight loss, pain, glaucoma, epilepsy and
asthma.

Tolerance and dependence

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 person’s body has adapted to a 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 than other 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 the person's drug use.

Information on cutting down or quitting

More on treatment

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

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

Little is known about the effects of cannabis use on breastfeeding. It is


believed that some of the drug will pass through the breast milk to the baby,
and the baby may become unsettled and demand frequent feeding.

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

Reducing the risks

Australian drug policy is based on harm minimisation. This is about reducing


drug-related harm to both the community and individual drug users.

Harm-minimisation strategies range from encouraging "non-use" through to


providing the means for people who use drugs to use them with reduced
risks.

Cocaine

 What is cocaine?
 Cocaine use in Australia
 Effects of cocaine
 Dangers in method of use
 Cocaine and other drugs
 Tolerance and dependence
 Withdrawal
 Treatment options
 Pregnancy and breastfeeding
 Cocaine and the law
 Cocaine and driving
 Cocaine and social problems
 Reducing the risks
 What to do in a crisis

More pictures of cocaine

This information has been adapted from the How Drugs Affect You: Cocaine
pamphlet produced by the Australian Drug Foundation. For single copies of
this pamphlet phone 1300 85 85 84 or email druginfo@adf.org.au (Victoria
only). For multiple copies telephone 1800 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-the messages 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 taste. The powder is
extracted from the leaves of the coca bush, found mainly in Peru and Bolivia .
The extract is then processed with various 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 the cocaine 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 or marijuana. 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. This increases 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.

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 Welfare’s 2001 National


Drug Household Survey 1 of Australians aged 14 and over:

 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 individual’s 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.

In greater quantities

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
 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 intense and, 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 a depressant drug such
as alcohol, benzodiazepines or heroin. The binge is followed by the ‘crash’-a
period characterised by intense depression, lethargy and hunger.

The unpleasant effects of cocaine increase with more frequent, long-term


use. This often results in the person discontinuing their use for 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 the nostrils.
 Cocaine is often mixed with substances that are poisonous when
injected. This may cause collapsed veins, abscesses and damage to
the heart, liver and brain. In addition, because people who use cocaine
often don’t know the exact purity and strength 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 blood flowing 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.

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 and HIV (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 of cocaine. These
substances may include alcohol, cannabis, heroin or benzodiazepines. The
consequences of mixing cocaine with other substances are often
unpredictable. Mixing cocaine with alcohol produces a substance in the blood
called ‘cocaethylene’, which can be more toxic to the body than the cocaine
itself. Injecting cocaine and heroin at the same time can affect the area of the
brain that controls 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 and dependence

Tolerance

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

Dependence

Physical dependence upon a drug occurs when a person’s body is used to


functioning with the drug present in the system. Physical dependence on
cocaine has not yet been established.

Psychological dependence occurs when using a drug becomes more


important than other activities in a person’s life. Because of its powerful
euphoric effects, cocaine users may develop a strong psychological
dependence upon it. Even after long periods of abstinence, 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 may be 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 four days. 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
 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 conditioned cues. 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 some people, many
programs recognise that for others this may not be possible or realistic. Most
programs adopt strategies that have an overall aim of reducing the harms
and risks related to the person’s drug use.

Some treatment options include counselling, withdrawal (detoxification) and


pharmacotherapy. Residential and ‘out-patient’ programs are available.

More on treatment

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

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 means the 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 born intoxicated, showing symptoms of
hyperactivity and agitation. Withdrawal symptoms can occur in the babies of
mothers who use cocaine 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 physical effects. Some studies
suggest that malformations of the genito-urinary tract, heart, limbs and/or
face occur in the babies of women who use cocaine.

More on alcohol, other drugs and pregnancy

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 the amount and strength of
cocaine used, and the time between using cocaine and feeding the baby.
Symptoms may include the baby being irritable, unsettled and difficult to
feed.

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.

Cocaine and the law

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 year’s
imprisonment for cultivation (if the court is satisfied that the offence is not
related to trafficking), $3000 and/or one year’s imprisonment for
possession/use (not relating to trafficking) to fines of 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 divert people 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 including disqualification from
driving, heavy fines and/or imprisonment. Due to the nature of its
psychological and physical effects, it is dangerous to drive a vehicle after
taking cocaine. If cocaine is combined with other drugs, such as alcohol, the
risk of accident is further 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, neglecting other areas of their
life. All areas of a person’s 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 individual drug 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.

What to do in a crisis

If someone overdoses or has an adverse reaction while using cocaine it is


very important that they receive professional help as soon as possible. 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.
 Stay with the person until the ambulance arrives. Find out if anyone at
the scene knows mouth-to-mouth resuscitation or cardiopulmonary
resuscitation (CPR).
 Ensure the person has adequate air by keeping crowds back and
opening windows. Loosen tight clothing.
 If the person is unconscious, don’t leave them on their back—they
could choke. Turn them on their side and into the recovery position.
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 any pre-existing
medical conditions.
 Arrange with friends before cocaine is taken about what to do in a
crisis

Heroin
Wednesday 20 September, 2006
 What is heroin?

 Effects of heroin
 Tolerance and dependence
 Withdrawal
 Treatment options
 Pregnancy and breastfeeding
 Heroin, hepatitis and HIV

 Reducing the risks

Heroin
Australian Drug Foundation © 2005

This information has been adapted from the pamphlet How Drugs Affect
You: Heroin, produced by the Australian Drug Foundation. For single copies of
this pamphlet phone 1300 85 85 84 or email druginfo@adf.org.au (Victoria
only). Multiple copies are available from 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 activity of 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 is generally 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 its name from the
opium poppy, Papaver somniferum, which grows in many parts of the world—
commonly 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 are still 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. The potency 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.

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, or snorted.

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

In greater quantities

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 becomes irregular.

Overdose may occur if:

 too much heroin is injected


 the strength or purity is high
 heroin is used with alcohol or sedatives (alcohol or benzodiazepines).

To reverse the effects of a heroin overdose, the attending ambulance officer


will inject the drug naloxone (such as Narcan) to restart breathing. The
Narcan may not last as long as the heroin, so the person will feel "stoned"
again and may even become unconscious again. It is important that another
quantity of heroin is not taken again on that day, as it may combine with the
original quantity of heroin taken and could cause an overdose.

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 can result 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 are some 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, drug impurities 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. They can cause
collapsed veins, tetanus, abscesses and damage to the heart, lungs, liver and
brain.

Tolerance and dependence

People who are physically dependent on heroin usually develop tolerance to


the drug, making it necessary to take more and more to get 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 withdrawal symptoms 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, but some
symptoms, such as chronic depression, anxiety, insomnia, loss of appetite,
periods of agitation and a continued craving for the drug, may last for periods
of months and even years. Sudden withdrawal from heroin rarely causes
direct death, unless the user is also using other drugs and is in poor health.
Withdrawal from heroin or opioids is much less dangerous than withdrawal
from some other drugs like alcohol or benzodiazepines.

Treatment options

A number of drug treatment options are available in Australia. Some aim


solely for the user to achieve a drug-free lifestyle, while others recognise
abstinence as one option among a number of strategies that have an overall
aim of reducing the harms related to the person's drug use.

Treatment is more effective if tailored to suit a person’s specific situation, and


usually involves a combination of methods. The different 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 of people who are
dependent on heroin by reducing the harms associated with injecting an
expensive illicit drug of unknown strength and purity.
More on methadone

Buprenorphine

Can help treat heroin dependence by preventing withdrawal symptoms and


by blocking the effects of heroin, so using heroin will not provide 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 abstinence from 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-hour period or less along
with heavy sedation. By the end of the process, the patient should be
physically withdrawn from opiates. UROD is currently under trial in Australia.

More on treatment

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Using heroin while pregnant can affect foetal development. Heroin use has
been associated with an increased risk of miscarriage and premature birth,
and babies may be born smaller than average and may be prone to illness.
The substances that are cut with heroin may 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 and HIV. Heroin can pass
through the placenta to the foetus, and after birth the baby can experience
heroin withdrawal, known as Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS). Most
babies can be comforted with supported care, but some babies with severe
NAS may need 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 and increase 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 adverse effects on the baby.
It is recommended that you check with your doctor or other health
professional if you are taking or planning to take any substances during
pregnancy, including prescribed and over-the-counter medications.

More on alcohol, other drugs and pregnancy

Heroin, hepatitis and HIV

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

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

Reducing the risks

Australian drug policy is based on harm minimisation. The aim is to reduce


drug-related harm to both the community and individuals who use drugs.

Harm-minimisation strategies range from encouraging "non- use" through to


providing the means for people who use drugs to do so 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 as possible. A quick
response can save their life.

 Call an ambulance. Dial 000. Don’t delay because you think you or
your friend might get into trouble. Ambulance officers are 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 or cardiopulmonary
resuscitation (CPR).
 Ensure adequate air by keeping crowds back and opening windows.
Loosen tight clothing.
 If the person is unconscious, don’t leave them on their back — they
could choke. Turn them on their side and into the recovery 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 can—
how much heroin was taken, how long ago, and any pre-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-term
effects: The more a person drinks in one sitting, the more pronounced
short-term effects become. Small amounts (1-2 drinks) generally
produce pleasant feelings. Larger amounts produce depressant
effects on the brain. Judgment, reaction time, speech and motor
control are increasingly impaired with increasing amounts of alcohol.
Drunk drivers kill about 23,000 Americans a year. Very large amounts
of alcohol can cause death from overdose by reducing the number of
messages the brain sends to the chest muscles that regulate
breathing. The drinker stops breathing and dies. Long-term effects:
Over time, alcohol can produce tolerance, physical dependence and
addiction. Alcohol can cause many kinds of cancer and can
permanently damage the brain. In severe cases, alcohol destroys the
part of the brain where short-term memory occurs, making it
impossible to learn anything new. Women should not drink during
pregnancy. Fetal alcohol syndrome is the leading, preventable cause
of mental retardation 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, which
grows primarily in South America. Cocaine is processed into a white
powder which people snort or melt and inject. Crack is further
processed into a substance that can be smoked

Effects
Cocaine acts on the brain and is a highly
addictive drug. Because crack is smoked,
and allows high doses to reach the brain
rapidly, crack is even more addictive. Both forms of the drug trap a
chemical called dopamine in the spaces between the brain's nerve
cells in a part of the brain called the reward system. Dopamine
stimulates and restimulates these nerve cells, making the user feel
intense pleasure. The brain responds to the overabundance of
dopamine by destroying some of it, making less of it, and shutting
down the cells' receptors so they can no longer receive dopamine's
messages. The person consumes more cocaine more often in an
effort to re-experience the pleasure felt at first use, gradually losing
control over his or her cocaine-taking behavior and becoming
addicted.

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

Common Street Names


Coke, blow, powder, sugar, nose
candy, rock, crack, base.

Legal Status
Cocaine 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 as an anesthetic,
doctors may use it in surgery.
Heroin Heroin is one of several highly addictive drugs derived from the
opium poppy plant, along with morphine, opium, Dilaudid, and
others. People inject opiates, snort them or take them by mouth.

Effects
Scientists first began to understand how drugs act on the brain with
the discovery of the opiate receptor. Why would the human nervous
system have a receptor for an illegal drug? This question led
scientists to the discovery of two natural substances in the brain,
which they named endorphins and enkephalins, that bind to this
receptor and relieve pain. Opiate drugs such as heroin fit into this
receptor, 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 with the
transmission of HIV/AIDS because most users inject the drug, often
with used, contaminated needles.
As heroin leaves the brain and body, users experience withdrawal
symptoms (often described as feeling like a severe case of flu.) They
include watery eyes, runny nose, yawning, loss of appetite, tremors,
panic, chills, sweating, nausea, muscle cramps, and insomnia. Blood
pressure, pulse, respiration, and temperature all elevate. People can
overdose on heroin, which reduces the number of messages the brain
sends to the chest muscles. The person's breathing slows, and, if the
dose is high enough, stops. Heroin use during pregnancy is
associated with low birth weight, stillbirths, placental abruptions, and
sudden death syndrome. Babies of addicts are born dependent on the
drug and must go through withdrawal as their first task in life.

Common Street Names


Lady, white girl, horse, black tar, brown sugar, smack, goods, H, junk.

Legal Status
Heroin is a Schedule I drug in the U.S. Controlled Substances Act. It is
illegal to grow, process, sell or use heroin. Morphine and other opiate
derivatives are in lower schedules because they have been approved
by the Food and Drug Administration as safe and effective for use in
medicine. They are potent pain relievers.
Ice Ice is methamphetamine that has been crystallized so it can be
smoked. Ice is a stimulant. It stimulates the central nervous system,
resulting in increased activity and alertness.

Effects
Physical effects of ice include: heart palpitations, blurred vision,
extended wakefulness, and damage to the brain, lungs and liver.
Methamphetamine can interfere with vision, judgment, coordination,
and reflexes, which may lead to automobile and other machinery
accidents. Effects of the drug may last from 2 hours to 20 hours
depending on how much is smoked. Behavioral effects include
violence, hallucinations, depression and psychosis.

Common Street Names


Crystals, crystal-meth, batu, glass.

Legal Status
Ice is made from methamphetamine which is a schedule II drug in the
U.S. Controlled Substances Act. It is illegal to produce, sell, or use
methamphetamine for nonmedical purposes.

Inhalants Inhalants are legal products abused by those who sniff or inhale them
for the purpose of getting high. Inhalants fall into three
categories: volatile solvents such as glue, gasoline, aerosols;
anesthetics such as nitrous oxide; and nitrites such as amyl and butyl
nitrite.

Effects
Inhalants act on the brain and destroy the outer lining of nerve cells,
making it impossible for those cells to communicate. Symptoms of
use include dilated pupils, blisters or rash around the nose or mouth,
chronic cough, nausea and headaches, disorientation, and a chemical
odor on breath. After only six months of use, the brain, lungs, nerves,
liver, kidneys and bones may be permanently damaged. More than
60 young people died from sniffing inhalants in 1993 in the United
States.

Common Street Names


Glue, whipped cream, poppers, rush.

Legal Status
Legislation varies from state to state. In some states it is illegal to
inhale fumes intentionally for the purpose of intoxication
LSD LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) is one of the major hallucinogenic
drugs and one of the most potent mood-changing chemicals. LSD is
sold on the street in tablets, capsules, or occasionally in liquid form. It
is odorless, colorless and tasteless and is usually taken by mouth.
Often it is added to absorbent paper, such as blotter paper, and
divided into small squares with each square representing a dose.

Effects
Effects are unpredictable and depend on the amount taken, the user's
personality, mood and expectations, and the surroundings in which
the drug is used. Physical effects include higher body temperature,
increased heart rate and blood pressure. Sensations and feelings
change much more dramatically than the physical signs. The user
may experience delusions and visual hallucinations which can cause
panic. Users refer to acute negative reactions to LSD as "a bad trip."
Many users experience flashbacks, a recurrence of certain aspects of
a person's drug experience without the user having taken the drug
again.

Common Street Names


Acid, beast, blue cheer, blue heaven, dot, Lucy in the sky with
diamonds, cid (or sid).

Legal Status
LSD is a Schedule I drug in the U.S. Controlled Substances Act.
Schedule I includes drugs with a high potential for abuse and no
accepted use in medicine.
Marijuana Marijuana Research Reports
Marijuana is derived from the cannabis plant, which grows in many
countries, including the United States. People put it in rolling papers
to make marijuana cigarettes, smoke it in bongs or pipes, or mix it in
baked goods or tea and eat or drink it. The cannabis plant also yields
hashish, a stronger form of marijuana, and hash oil, the strongest
form that has very high levels of THC, the psychoactive ingredient in
cannabis.

Effects
Marijuana contains chemicals that act on the marijuana receptor in
the brain. Scientists have recently identified the natural chemical,
anandamide, designed to fit the marijuana receptor. While scientists
do not know all of the drug's effects, several studies have established
that marijuana interferes with memory and learning. A new study
confirms that heavy (daily) marijuana use impairs critical skills
related to attention, memory and learning. In this study, "Heavy users
could not pay attention to the material well enough to register the
information in the first place so that it could be recalled and repeated
later," say the researchers in the Journal of the American Medical
Association (2/21/96).

These deficits persisted up to 24 hours after users stopped feeling


high. Marijuana also impairs judgment and reaction time. Road tests
for marijuana intoxication are not routinely done, but a special study
in Memphis, Tennessee, showed that one-third of drivers stopped for
reckless driving were high on marijuana. Another study revealed that
of drivers involved in accidents who were treated at a trauma center,
15 percent had been smoking marijuana. Daily use of from 1 to 3
marijuana cigarettes appears to produce the same lung damage and
cancer risk as smoking 5 times as many cigarettes. Finally,
researchers have found for the first time that marijuana can cause
withdrawal symptoms in laboratory animals, and that marijuana acts
on the brain and nervous system as do other addictive drugs.

Common Street Names


Pot, weed, herb, green, Mary Jane, MJ, joints, bong toke, reefer, blunt
(cigar filled with marijuana).

Legal Status
Marijuana is a Schedule I drug in the U.S. Controlled Substances Act.
It is illegal to grow, sell, buy or use marijuana, hashish or hashish oil.
Synthetic THC capsules have been approved by the Food and Drug
Administration as safe and effective to treat the nausea that cancer
patients sometimes suffer with some forms of chemotherapy, and to
treat wasting in AIDS patients. Therefore, THC is in Schedule II
because it has accepted use in medicine. No form of the smoked drug
has been approved as safe or effective for any medical use.
PCP (phencyclidine) was originally developed as an anesthetic for humans
and large animals. Legal (prescription) use of PCP in humans was
discontinued in 1965. It is illegally manufactured in clandestine
laboratories and is sold as tablets, capsules and colored powders. PCP is
usually snorted, smoked or eaten.

"PCP is most commonly sold as a powder (left), or a liquid (center) and


applied to a leafy material such as oregano (right) which is then smoked."
Drugs of Abuse, 1996 Edition, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

Effects
PCP produces feelings of invulnerability and a numbing effect on the mind
that can often result in anger and rage. At high doses, there is a drop in blood
pressure, pulse rate, and respiration. PCP can cause effects that mimic
certain primary symptoms of schizophrenia.

Common Street Names


Angel dust, crystal supergrass, killer joints, ozone, wack, rocket fuel.

Legal Status
PCP is a Schedule II drug in the U.S. Controlled Substances Act.

Tobacco Tobacco is a plant grown in the United States that is harvested and
processed into cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco, chewing tobacco and
snuff.

Effects
Tobacco contains nicotine, a drug that acts on the brain and rapidly
produces addiction. Scientists estimate that 90 percent to 95 percent
of tobacco users are addicted. Nicotine itself is toxic--high doses can
kill, but do so rarely. Its most destructive property is its ability to
addict users rapidly. Once addicted, smokers repeatedly expose their
brains and bodies to hundreds of toxic chemicals contained in
tobacco and tobacco smoke. The list of cancers that tobacco causes
is impressive, from cancers of the mouth, head and neck to cancers
involving most of the vital organs. Smoking also causes heart
disease, emphysema, and other lung diseases. Moreover, cigarette
smoke can also harm nonsmokers. Children whose parents smoke
suffer higher rates of bronchitis and other lung infections, and
nonsmoking spouses of smokers have higher rates of lung cancer
than those whose spouses do not smoke. Every year, tobacco kills
more than 400,000 Americans. This is more deaths than all
Americans killed in World War I, World War II, and the Korean and
Vietnam wars combined. Every year the tobacco industry loses 2
million smokers; 80 percent quit, the rest die. The industry recruits
teenagers to replace those losses.

Common Street Name


Smokes, cancer sticks, chew, snuff.

Legal Status
In the United States, it is legal to produce tobacco in all forms and sell
it to adults, and it is legal for adults to buy and use tobacco. It is
illegal to sell tobacco to those under age 18 and illegal for them to
buy it. There's a good reason for this law. Research shows the longer
we can delay the onset of tobacco use among adolescents, the less
likely they are to become addicted to any drug. (The same is true for
alcohol.)
Other Rohypnol is Hoffman-LaRoche's registered trade name for
Drugs: flunitrazepam, a benzodiazepine agonist which is illegal in the U.S. In
Rohypnol other countries Rohypnol is used to treat severe sleep disorders and
serious psychiatric disorders. Rohypnol is known as the "date-rape
drug" because of its disinhibiting effect, especially when combined
with even a moderate amount of alcohol. It is often added to young
people's drinks without their knowledge at dance clubs, bars or
parties.

Effects
Slowing of psychomotor performance, sedation, amnesia, muscle
relaxation, restlessness, agitation and aggressiveness. Use may also
lead to physical and psychic dependence.

Common Street Names


Rophies, R2's, Mexican Valium, Rib, Rope, Roach.

Legal Status
Rohypnol is currently listed as a Schedule IV drug. The DEA is
considering placing it in Schedule I because of increased availability
in the U.S. and increasing abuse.

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