HOW DRUGS AFFECT YOUR BODY

 Different types of drugs affect your body in different ways.

 They can have short-term and long-term effects, which can be both physical and psychological.
 Making sure you know the risks and harms associated with alcohol or drug use can help you stay
safe and reduce harm.
 Not all drug use leads to dependence. And not everyone who uses drugs or alcohol wants (or needs)
help.

Different types of drugs can affect your body in different ways, and the effects associated with drugs
can vary from person to person.

How a drug affects an individual is dependent on:

 body size
 general health
 the amount and strength of the drug
 whether any other drugs have been taken around the same time.
 a person’s mood or the environment they are in.

As illegal drugs are not controlled substances the quality and strength may differ from one batch to
another.

Drugs have short-term and long-term effects. These effects can be physical and psychological. Drugs
can impact the way you think, feel and act. Making sure you know the risks can help reduce the
potential harms you experience.

People use drugs for many reasons, these reasons might include to:

 feel good
 relax
 cope with stress, anxiety or feelings of depression
 deal with emotional pain or a history of trauma
 experiment
 stay awake
 fall asleep
 increase confidence
 enhance social experiences – such as partying

Not all drug use leads to dependence. And not everyone who uses drugs or alcohol wants (or needs)
help.

Tolerance and dependence

People who use drugs regularly for a long period of time can develop dependence and tolerance to it.
Tolerance means they need to take larger amounts to get the same effect.

Dependence can be psychological, physical, or both. People who are dependent on drugs may find
that using the drug becomes more important than other activities in their life.

Remember that there is no safe level of drug use. Be careful when taking any kind of drug.
Different drugs, different effects

Drugs affect the body's central nervous system. They affect how a person thinks, feels and behaves.
The seven main types are depressants, psychedelics, stimulants, empathogens, opioids,
cannabinoids, and dissociatives.

 Depressants slow down the messages travelling between the brain and the body. They can
reduce arousal and stimulation, making a person feel relaxed or drowsy.
 Psychedelics affect all the senses, altering a person’s thinking, sense of time and emotions.
They can also cause a person to hallucinate—seeing or hearing things that do not exist or are
distorted.
 Stimulants are a class of drugs that speed up messages travelling between the brain and
body. They can make a person feel more awake, alert, confident or energetic.
 Empathogens increase a person’s feeling of empathy and kindness towards others, as well as
feelings of being socially accepted and connected.
 Opioids include any drug that acts on opioid receptors in the brain, and any natural or
synthetic drugs that are made from or related to the opium poppy. Opioids slow heart rate and
breathing and provide sensations of pleasure and pain relief.
 Cannabinoids are chemical compounds found in all parts of the cannabis plant. They are
responsible for the psychoactive effect when cannabis is consumed. They can make a person
feel happy, relaxed, anxious or paranoid.
 Dissociatives (also referred to as 'dissociative anaesthetics') can cause people to feel
separated or detached from reality. They can also cause hallucinations or other changes in
thoughts, emotions and consciousness.

Risk factors for drug-related harm

The effects of a drug, and how long they last, depend on a number of factors:

 the type and strength

 how the drug was made
 your height, weight, age, and metabolism
 the amount you take
 how often or how long you have used the drug
 how the drug is taken (orally, snorting or injecting). Compared with swallowing, snorting and
injecting are more likely to lead to overdose. If injecting drugs, there is an increased risk of
tetanus, infection and vein damage. If sharing injecting equipment there is an increased risk of
hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV/AIDS.

Using drugs may increase the risk of experiencing mental health issues for people with a history or
family history of these conditions.

Mixing drugs − including over-the-counter or prescribed medications − can be unpredictable and

dangerous.

Harms from drug use

Drug use can affect short- and long-term health , including physical and mental health.

People may experience some of the following:

 Taking part in risky behaviours such as drink driving or unprotected sex

  Changes in behaviour such as mood swings or increased aggression toward others
 Impacts on sleep or experiencing insomnia
 Cognitive/memory problems
 Reduced appetite or not eating a balanced diet
 Regular colds and flu
 Long term health impacts such as liver, kidney and heart problems or cancer (depending on
the type of drug used and how frequently it was used)
 Dental health problems (cavities and gum disease)
 Mental health issues such as anxiety and depression
 Dependence
 Overdose
 Psychosis
 Infectious disease from shared injecting equipment
 Damage to veins from unsafe injecting practices
 Financial, work or social problems.

Effects of common drugs

Cannabis (hash, pot, dope, weed, grass, skunk, marijuana)

 may cause relaxation and altered perception

 can lead to increased heart rate and blood pressure
 can make you feel relaxed and happy, but can also cause lethargy, anxiety, paranoia, and
psychosis in extreme cases. A history or family history of mental illness may increase the
possibility of more extreme psychotic reactions
 is linked to mental health problems such as schizophrenia and, when smoked, to lung
diseases such as asthma, chronic bronchitis and lung, throat, mouth and tongue cancer
 affects how your brain works. Regular use can make it hard for you to concentrate, learn and
retain information
 reduces your fertility
 when mixed with tobacco, is likely to increase the risk of heart disease and lung cancer.

Cocaine (powder cocaine, coke, blow, Charlie, crack)

 gives you increased energy

 makes you feel happy, awake, confident and less inhibited, but has a nasty 'come down' that
makes you feel depressed and unwell. (Using depressant drugs to help with the severity of
come downs can increase the chances of the development of negative cycles of dependence.)
 can overstimulate the heart and nervous system and lead to a seizure, brain haemorrhage,
stroke or heart attack (people have died from cocaine-induced heart failure)
 reduces your pain perception and may result in injury
 carries greater risk if mixed with alcohol or other stimulants, especially if you have high blood
pressure or if you have an existing heart condition
 can harm your baby during pregnancy, and may cause miscarriage
 can increase the risk of mental health issues such a s anxiety, paranoia and psychosis
 if snorted, can cause damage to the lining of the nasal passage and nose
 if injected, can cause vein collapse and increased risk of HIV and hepatitis infection.

Mephedrone (meow meow, m-cat, plant food, bubble, meph)

 can induce feelings of happiness, euphoria and confidence, but can also cause anxiety and
paranoia
  causes vomiting, sweating and headaches in some people
 can overstimulate your heart and nervous system
 can cause periods of insomnia
 can lead to fits and agitation and hallucinatory states
 if used in large amounts, can cause tingling of the hands and feet, seizure and respiratory
failure
 has been linked to a number of deaths
 if injected, can cause vein collapse and increases the risk of HIV and hepatitis infection.

Ecstasy (MDMA, pills, E, eckies)

 can make you feel alert, warm and chatty

 can make sounds and colours seem more intense
 may cause anxiety, confusion, paranoia and even psychosis
 is linked (in cases of long-term use) to memory loss, depression and anxiety
 can lead to overheating and dehydration
 tends to stop your body producing enough urine, so your body retains fluid.

Speed (amphetamine, billy, whizz)

 can make you feel alert, confident and energetic

 can reduce appetite
 may make you agitated and aggressive
 may cause confusion, paranoia and even psychosis
 can make you very depressed and lethargic for hours or days, when used a lot
 can cause high blood pressure and heart attacks
 is more risky if mixed with alcohol, or if you have blood pressure or heart problems
 puts you at risk of overdose, vein and tissue damage, and infectious disease (such as hepatitis
C and HIV), if you inject speed.

Ice (crystal meth, shabu, crystal, glass, shard, P):

 may create feelings of pleasure and confidence

 can make you feel alert and energetic
 can cause you to repeat simple things like itching and scratching
 can cause enlarged or dilated pupils and a dry mouth
 may make you grind your teeth
 can cause excessive sweat
 can increase your heart rate and breathing
 may reduce your appetite
 may increase your sex drive
 puts you at risk of infectious diseases (such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV) if you inject it
 can damage your nasal passages and cause nose bleeds if you snort it.

The Alcohol and Drug Foundation has a list of drugs and their effects.

Effects of a 'come down'

If you are planning on taking drugs and alcohol, it's likely you’ll experience a come down afterwards.

Comedowns don’t last forever but they can feel unpleasant.

How long it lasts depends on the type of drug, it’s strength and the amount you took along with your
general health.

Common effects are:

 feeling anxious, depressed or irritable

 tiredness
 shaky
 dizzy
 sweaty
 headaches
 nauseous
 lack of appetite
 sleepy or unable to sleep.

To help reduce the effects of a comedown you can:

 avoid using again straight away

 eat some healthy food to recover and restore energy
 stay hydrated
 rest as much as you can – your body and brain need time to heal
 get some fresh air
 be kind to yourself – avoid people or places that stress you out, and do things that make you
feel good like a hot bath or listening to music.
CLASSIFICATION OF DRUGS & EXAMPLES
 1. GATEAWAY DRUGS

TOBACCO

It increases the risk of heart disease, which can lead to stroke or heart attack. Smoking has also
been linked to other cancers, leukemia, cataracts, and pneumonia. Smokeless tobacco increases
the risk of cancer, especially mouth cancers

ALCOHOL

 Like all drugs, alcohol can damage your body, especially if you drink heavily every day
or in binges.
 Potential short-term effects of alcohol include hangover and alcohol poisoning, as well as
falls and accidents, conflict, lowered inhibitions and risky behaviours.
 Long-term alcohol consumption contributes to more than 200 different types of diseases
and injury.
 If you choose to drink alcohol, low level drinking is less risky than heavy drinking or
binge drinking.
 There is no level of safe alcohol consumption.
MARIJUANA

The flower of the cannabis plant is used for its recreational or medicinal purposes. The stalk or
stem of the cannabis plant is used for industrial purposes (e.g., hemp fiber). The seed of the
cannabis plant is used for food and household purposes (e.g., hemp seed or hemp oil).
Cannabis is also known as pot, weed, and dozens of other names.
While many people smoke or vape it, you can also use cannabis as an ingredient in food,
beverages, tinctures, or topicals.
Different methods of ingesting cannabis may affect your body differently. When you inhale
cannabis smoke into your lungs, the compounds immediately enter your bloodstream and quickly
make their way to your brain and other organs. The effects may onset within seconds to minutes.
THC is responsible for the intoxicating effects of cannabis. It also has potential medicinal effects
for conditions like:
 pain
 nausea
 reduced appetite
 insomnia
CBD is nonintoxicating. It has potential medicinal effects for conditions like epilepsy and
anxiety.
However, there’s still much we don’t know about THC and CBD.

2. DEPRESSANTS

Drugs that are classed as depressants include:

 Ethyl alcohol
 Barbiturates
 Benzodiazepines
ETHYL ALCOHOL

Alcohol, also known as ethyl alcohol, is the second most widely used psychoactive drug in the
world (caffeine is number one). While alcohol is a legal drug, it also has a high potential for
abuse.

A 2014 survey conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
found that nearly 61 million people in the U.S. over the age of 12 reported being binge alcohol
users. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) defines binge
drinking as a pattern of alcohol consumption that brings blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to
0.08% or higher.1 Another 16 million people over the age of 12 reported being heavy alcohol
users.2

Alcohol use and abuse also have high social costs.

According to the American Psychiatric Association, approximately 50% of all assaults,

homicides, and highway deaths involve alcohol.3 One-third of all U.S. suicides involve alcohol.4

BARBITURATES
Barbiturates sometimes referred to as downers, are a type of CNS depressant that causes
euphoria and relaxation when taken in small doses. During the early half of the 1900s,
barbiturates were viewed as a safe depressant, but problems with addiction and deadly overdoses
soon became apparent.

Barbiturates have a dramatic impact on sleep patterns, resulting in suppressed REM (rapid eye
movement) sleep. Because the potential for addiction and overdose is so high, barbiturates are no
longer commonly used to treat anxiety and sleep problems.5

BENZODIAZEPINES

Benzodiazepines are a type of CNS depressant widely prescribed to treat anxiety and sleep
disorders. In 1999, four different benzodiazepines were among the top 100 most prescribed drugs
in the U.S.6
Because of their low toxicity and high effectiveness, benzodiazepines have been popularly used
as a short-term treatment for anxiety problems and insomnia. However, the potential for
dependency makes them a less preferred long-term treatment for such things as generalized
anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorders, and panic disorders.7

Benzodiazepines have sleep-inducing, sedative, muscle-relaxing, and anticonvulsant effects.

Because of these effects, benzodiazepines have been used to treat a number of issues including
sleep difficulties, anxiety, excessive agitation, muscle spasms, and seizures.

3. STIMULANTS
COCAINE
Cocaine is one of the most well-known stimulants in the world. A highly addictive drug, it is
made from and named for the South American coca plant. Cocaine usually comes in the form of
a fine white powder, though the popular “crack” form comes as crystallized rocks. Cocaine and
crack cocaine can be used via a multitude of methods; the most common form of ingestion for
powdered cocaine is snorting the drug, and the most common method for crack cocaine is to
smoke it.
Signs of cocaine use include but are not limited to:
 Excitability
 Dilated pupils
 Runny nose
 Weight loss
 Nosebleeds
The average age for initial use of cocaine appears to be getting lower. A survey conducted by
the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) in 2016 showed that 1.4 percent of 8th graders
surveyed had tried cocaine in their lifetime, while 0.8 percent had used the drug within the past
year and 0.3 percent in the last month. A comparison to the results from 12th graders in the same
survey showed increased use with advanced age, with the lifetime use rate at 3.7 percent, past-
year use at 2.3 percent, and past-month use at 0.9 percent.
Oftentimes, childhood use of a substance translates into adult use. In fact, according to NIDA,
adolescents who use drugs are more likely to develop substance use disorders than those who
begin using drugs as adults. Since the brain is still developing throughout the teen and early adult
years, it is particularly vulnerable to the formation of addiction during this time. Per 2015 NIDA
information, more than 16 percent of surveyed adults 26 or older had used cocaine in their
lifetime.

METHAMPHETAMINE
 Methamphetamine is a highly addictive stimulant, more commonly known simply as “meth.” It
is usually found in either powder or crystal form, and it can be used in a multitude of fashions,
from smoking the drug to injecting it intravenously. Its popularity as a recreational drug is due to
the initial rush of euphoria that accompanies it. However, once that initial rush has passed,
emotions generally get more negative, with feelings of anger and fear being common during the
“crash.”
According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, medical issues that can arise due to
methamphetamine use include:
 Extremely high body temperatures that can result in fainting
 Severe itching
 Broken teeth and dry mouth, commonly referred to as “meth mouth” due to poor dental hygiene
and nutrition associated with use of the drug
 Cognitive issues
Users of methamphetamine can easily overdose, which can lead to extreme physical problems
and death.
Law enforcement appears to be cracking down on methamphetamine in recent years due to its
rise in popularity. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), methamphetamine
seizures more than doubled from 2010 to 2012.

4. NARCOTICS
OPIUM
Effects of opium

There is no safe level of drug use. Use of any drug always carries some risk. It’s important to be
careful when taking any type of drug.

Opium affects everyone differently, based on:

 the person’s size, weight and health

 regularity of use
 whether other drugs are taken around the same time
 the amount taken
 the strength of the drug (which varies between batches).

Short term effects may include:

 euphoria
 relaxation
 analgesia
 slower, shallower breathing
 lower heart rate
 impaired reflexes
 temporary constipation
 loss of appetite.3, 4

TRAMADOL
Nausea, vomiting, constipation, lightheadedness, dizziness, drowsiness, or headache may occur.
Some of these side effects may decrease after you have been using this medication for a while. If
any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.

MORPHINE

Morphine is typically injected into the bloodstream via a syringe (in illicit scenarios) or IV drip.
The drug is absorbed into the blood and carried to other organs in the body, where it affects
specific receptors in the nervous system. These receptors will trigger different responses based
on what they do in the body.

5. HALLUCINOGENS

LSD (d-lysergic acid diethylamide)

is one of the most potent mood- and perception-altering hallucinogenic drugs. It is a clear or
white, odorless, water-soluble material synthesized from lysergic acid, a compound derived from
a rye fungus. LSD is initially produced in crystalline form, which can then be used to produce
tablets known as “microdots” or thin squares of gelatin called “window panes.” It can also be
diluted with water or alcohol and sold in liquid form. The most common form, however, is LSD-
soaked paper punched into small individual squares.

Psilocybin(4-phosphoryloxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine)

is extracted from certain types of mushrooms found in tropical and subtropical regions of South
America, Mexico, and the United States. In the past, psilocybin was ingested during religious
ceremonies by indigenous cultures from Mexico and Central America. Psilocybin can either be
dried or fresh and eaten raw, mixed with food, or brewed into a tea, and produces similar effects
to LSD.

Peyote (Mescaline)
is a small, spineless cactus with mescaline as its main ingredient. It has been used by natives in
northern Mexico and the southwestern United States as a part of religious ceremonies. The top,
or “crown,” of the peyote cactus has disc-shaped buttons that are cut out, dried, and usually
chewed or soaked in water to produce an intoxicating liquid. Because the extract is so bitter,
some users prepare a tea by boiling the plant for several hours. Mescaline can also be produced
through chemical synthesis.

DMT (Dimethyltryptamine)

is a powerful hallucinogenic chemical found naturally occurring in some Amazonian plant

species (see “Ayahuasca”) and also synthesized in the laboratory. Synthetic DMT usually takes
the form of a white crystalline powder and is typically vaporized or smoked in a pipe.

Ayahuasca
is a hallucinogenic brew made from one of several Amazonian plants containing DMT (the
primary psychoactive ingredient) along with a vine containing a natural alkaloid that prevents the
normal breakdown of DMT in the digestive tract. Ayahuasca tea has traditionally been used for
healing and religious purposes in indigenous South American cultures, mainly in the Amazon
region.
Dissociative Drugs
Image

PCP (Phencyclidine)

was originally developed in the 1950s as a general anesthetic for surgery. While it can be found
in a variety of forms, including tablets or capsules, it is usually sold as a liquid or powder. PCP
can be snorted, smoked, injected, or swallowed. It is sometimes smoked after being sprinkled on
marijuana, tobacco, or parsley.
Image

Ketamine
 is a dissociative currently used as an anesthetic for humans as well as animals. Much of the
ketamine sold on the street has been diverted from veterinary offices. Although it is
manufactured as an injectable liquid, ketamine is generally evaporated to form a powder that is
snorted or compressed into pills for illicit use. Because ketamine is odorless and tasteless and has
amnesia-inducing properties, it is sometimes added to drinks to facilitate sexual assault.
Image

DXM (Dextromethorphan)

is a cough suppressant and expectorant ingredient in some over-the-counter (OTC) cold and
cough medications that are often abused by adolescents and young adults. The most common
sources of abused DXM are “extra-strength” cough syrup, which typically contains around 15
milligrams of DXM per teaspoon, and pills and gel capsules, which typically contain 15
milligrams of DXM per pill. OTC medications that contain DXM often also contain
antihistamines and decongestants.
Salvia divinorum
is a psychoactive plant common to southern Mexico and Central and South America. Salvia is
typically ingested by chewing fresh leaves or by drinking their extracted juices. The dried leaves
of salvia can also be smoked or vaporized and inhaled.

6. INHALANTS

VOLATILE SOLVENTS
Volatile solvents are liquids that easily vaporize into a gas. When inhaled, the gas can cause a
state of intoxication and long-term nerve and organ damage. Volatile solvents are found in many
common household products, such as adhesives, paint, and cleaning fluid. Thus, children and
adolescents can easily obtain them.

AEROSOLS

The health impacts of aerosols consist of both short-term acute symptoms, like asthma and
bronchitis, and long-term chronic irritation and inflammation of the respiratory track, which can
potentially lead to cancer.

GASES
include medical anesthetics as well as gases used in household or commercial products. Medical
anesthetics include ether, chloroform, halothane, and nitrous oxide (commonly called "laughing
gas"). Nitrous oxide is the most abused of these gases and can be found in whipped cream
dispensers and products that boost octane levels in racing cars. Other household or commercial
products containing gases include butane lighters, propane tanks, and refrigerants. While
exposure to low levels of natural gas is not harmful, long-term exposure can affect your health.
Burning natural gas produces nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, and methane. These chemicals
can trigger respiratory problems, depression, and decrease the quality of your health.

NITRITES

often are considered a special class of inhalants. Unlike most other inhalants, which act directly
on the central nervous system (CNS), nitrites act primarily to dilate blood vessels and relax the
muscles. While other inhalants are used to alter mood, nitrites are used primarily as sexual
enhancers. Nitrites include cyclohexyl nitrite, isoamyl (amyl) nitrite, and isobutyl (butyl) nitrite.
In the body, nitrites can turn into nitric oxide (NO), a signaling molecule that causes blood
vessels to dilate and reduces blood pressure.