Drugs
of abuse are:
• Stimulants
• Sedatives – Tranquilizers
• Hallucinogens
• Anabolic Steroids
• Prescribed Drugs
Solvents
Name:
Solvents
Comes
as: Solvents are
in glue, lighter fuel, petrol,
type-writer correction fluids,
and many aerosols.
It's taken:
Sniffed
Effects:
Like getting very drunk,
very quickly - you'll feel light-headed
and dizzy; you may become happy
or sad, aggressive, tired, and
wobbly on your feet.
Side effects
& dangers: You may
feel tired, confused, sick, and
get headaches.
Solvents could kill you by - causing
heart failure, suffocation, choking
on your own sick.
You will be more likely to have
an accident when driving, riding
a bike, or using machinery.
Legal status:
It is not illegal to have solvents.
It is illegal for a shop keeper
to sell you solvents if they know
you are going to sniff it.
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Amphetamine
Name:
Amphetamine
Other names:
Whizz, speed, sulphate
Type of
drug: Stimulant
Comes
as:
Usually a powder, sometimes
a tablet
How it's
taken: Powders are sniffed
or taken in a drink. Tablets are
swallowed.
Effects:
Makes you more lively and keeps
you awake
Side effects
/ dangers: The day after
you will feel tired; some people
may feel depressed.
Frequent use can lead to extreme
mood swings, and even paranoia
(you think everyone is out to
get you).
Legal status:
Possession without a doctor's
prescription, supply, and production
are all illegal.
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Ecstasy
Name:
Ecstasy
Other names:
Whizz, speed, sulphate
Type of
drug: Stimulant
Comes as:
Tablets
It's taken:
Swallowed
Effects:
Firstly you will feel a 'rush'
- increased breathing and heart
rate; followed by a calm and maybe
closeness to those around you,
and an enhanced sense of touch
and hearing.
Side effects
& dangers: Because
of the increased heart rate, people
with heart problems or high blood
pressure are at more risk.
'e' raises your body temperature
which can lead to dehydration
- this can kill. In a club about
1 pint per hour of non-alcoholic
drink should replace the body
fluid lost through sweat.
Legal status:
Possession, supply, and production
are illegal.
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LSD
Name:
LSD
Other names:
Acid, tab, trips
Type of
drug: Hallucinogen
Comes as:
Paper tabs - liquid dried onto
blotting paper
How it's
taken: Swallowed or dissolved
in mouth
Effects:
About 30-45 minutes after taken
you will start going on a 'trip'
- trips are different for different
people, and depend on how much
is taken, your environment and
who your with, and what mood you
are in.
Common effects include visual
and sound distortions, and changes
in your sense of time and environment.
Effects can last for 8 to 12 hours.
Side effects
& dangers: Remember
- once a trip begins you can't
stop it.
Some people can have a 'bad trip'
- panic attacks and feeling anxious,
even paranoia (you think everyone
is out to get you).
People who are unstable or have
mental health problem can really
'flip-out', making their problem
much worse.
Some time after taking LSD some
people experience 'flashbacks'
- vividly reliving part of a trip.
If no more LSD is taken, flashbacks
will get less intense and then
stop happening.
The effects of LSD mean that you
will have a greater chance of
an accident when driving, riding
a bike, or using machinery.
Legal status:
Possession, supply, and production
are illegal.
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Cannabis
Name:
Cannabis
Other names:
Dope, grass, pot, hash, marijuana
Type of
drug: Contains THC (Hallucinogen)
Comes as:
Resin - dark to light brown substance,
scraped off the cannabis plant
and pressed into solid lumps.
Dried leaves - looks like dried
herbs.
Oil - refined from the resin or
the plant
How it's
taken: Usually smoked with
tobacco, but can be smoked on
its own, or eaten (either by it
or in cakes etc.)
Effects:
Getting 'stoned' - feeling relaxed,
content, happy, and maybe laughing
at anything remotely funny.
Side effects
& dangers: Can make
you feel tired, increase your
heart rate and lower blood pressure.
It can effect your concentration
and make you forget what you're
doing.
Some people (especially those
taking a lot) may experience panic
attacks and anxiety.
You will be more likely to have
an accident when driving, riding
a bike, or using machinery.
Legal status:
Possession, supply, and cultivation
are illegal.
It is an offence to allow premises
to be used for smoking or supplying
cannabis.
Most people caught in possession
of cannabis for personal use are
cautioned
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Magic Mushrooms
Name:
Magic mushrooms
Type of
drug: Contains psilocin
an hallucinogen
Comes as:
Mushrooms! Fresh or dried
How it's
taken: Eaten raw, cooked,
or made into a tea
Effects:
About 30 mins. after taken you
will have an experience similar
to a mild LSD 'trip' - trips are
different for different people,
and depend on how much is taken,
your environment and who you are
with, and what mood your in.
Common effects include visual
and sound distortions, and changes
in your sense of time and environment.
Effects can last for 6-12 hours
depending on the strength, and
number taken (20-30 is considered
a full dose).
Side effects
& dangers: Remember
once a trip has started you can't
stop it.
Stomach-ache, nausea, and being
sick are common.
Some people, particularly those
taking a high dose, can have 'bad
trips' and 'flashbacks' like with
LSD.Legal status:
It is not illegal to pick wild
magic mushrooms and eat them raw,
but if you process them (e.g.
dry them, cook them, or make them
into a drink) you will
be in possession of a class A
drug (you could be in jail for
a few years).
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Cocaine
Name:
Cocaine
Other names:
Coke
Type of
drug: Stimulant
Comes as:
Normal cocaine (coke) comes as
a white powder.
Crack cocaine is cocaine which
has been processed into small
crystals.
How it's taken: Powder is usually
snorted, but some prepare it for
injecting.
Crystals are smoked.
Effects:
You could feel confident, alert,
and generally feel good.
Side effects
& dangers: After about
30 mins. the effects above (the
high) are followed be the low
- generally you will feel tired,
anxious, and depressed.
If you continue to take it you
may become paranoid, aggressive,
or develop psychosis (you feel
that you're going mad).
Legal status:
Possession, supply, and production
are illegal.
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Crack Cocaine:
(rock, wash and
stone) is cocaine which has been
processed into small crystals
about the size of raisins for
smoking. Crack is a form of cocaine
which has been treated with chemicals
to allow it to be more easily
smoked and more quickly absorbed.
The effects are immediate but
short-lived.
Crack creates the same effects
as cocaine but usually in a more
intens, powerful way. The effects
of crack only last a few minutes
and can leave users immediately
craving for more. Some heavy users
take heroin to "come down"
from the intense high. For some
the craving takes over their lives
but not everybody who tries crack
enjoys the experience and, even
if they do, many will not get
addicted.
As with cocaine, crack use can
lead to unpredictability, restlessness,
nausea, insomnia and weight loss.
Regular users may appear nervous,
excitable, paranoid and exhausted
due to lack of sleep. When somebody
stops regular use, they can feel
very depressed and rundown for
some time. Smoking crack can cause
various breathing problems and
pains in the chest.
Crack is a class A drug - illegal
to have, sell or give away.
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Heroin
Name:
Heroin
Other names:
Harry, junk, skat, smack
Type of drug:
Painkiller - made from the opium
poppy
Comes as:
Brown or white powder
How it's taken:
Sniffed, injected, or smoked
Effects:
It slows you down, giving feelings
of well-being and contentment.
Side effects
/ dangers: High doses lead
to drowsiness and sedation.
Stopping after regular use will
lead to withdrawal symptoms -
these can include aches, cramps,
diarrhea, sweating, the chills,
and insomnia for the first week
or so. But feelings of depression
and weakness may last for months.
Legal status:
Possession, supply, and production
are illegal
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Prescribed Drugs
You may be given prescribed drugs
by your Doctor. Do not take more
than the stated dose and never
mix with alcoholic drink.
If you think that someone has
been mixing alcohol with their
medication and they become ill
phone a doctor stating what the
person has taken.
Action is illegal.
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