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Drugs Information

DRUGS IMPACTS ON CHILDREN
Children whose parents and other family members abuse drugs often are physically or emotionally abused and often lack proper immunizations, medical care, dental care, and necessities such as food, water, and shelter. 

The risk to children is even greater when their parents or guardians manufacture illicit drugs such as methamphetamine, Methamphetamine abusers often produce the drug in their own homes and apartments, using hazardous chemicals such as hydriodic acid, iodine, and anhydrous ammonia. 

Children who inhabit such homes often inhale dangerous chemical fumes and gases or ingest toxic chemicals or illicit drugs. These children commonly test positive for methamphetamine and suffer from both short- and long-term health consequences.

DRUGS AND SOCIETY
The negative consequences of drug abuse affect not only individuals who abuse drugs but also their families and friends, various businesses, and government resources.The most obvious effects of drug abuse which are manifested in the individuals who abuse drugs include ill health, sickness and, ultimately, death. Particularly devastating to an abuser's health is the contraction of needle borne illnesses including hepatitis and HIV/AIDS through injection drug use.

ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF DRUGS
The economic impact of drug abuse on businesses whose employees abuse drugs can be significant. While many drug abusers are unable to attain or hold full-time employment, those who do work put others at risk, particularly when employed in positions where even a minor degree of impairment could be catastrophic; airline pilots, air traffic controllers, train operators, and bus drivers are just a few examples. Economically, businesses often are affected because employees who abuse drugs sometimes steal cash or supplies, equipment, and products that can be sold to get money to buy drugs. Moreover, absenteeism, lost productivity, and increased use of medical and insurance benefits by employees who abuse drugs affect a business financially. 

The economic consequences of drug abuse severely burden federal, state, and local government resources and, ultimately, the taxpayer. This effect is most evident with meth amphetamine. Clandestine methamphetamine laboratories jeopardize the safety of citizens and adversely affect the environment. Children, law enforcement personnel, emergency responders, and those who live at or near methamphetamine production sites have been seriously injured or killed as a result of methamphetamine production. Methamphetamine users often require extensive medical treatment; some abuse, neglect, and abandon their children, adding to social services costs; some also commit a host of other crimes including domestic violence, assault, burglary, and identity theft. Nonetheless, resources of state and local agencies also are significantly affected. Moreover, the time and manpower involved in investigating and cleaning up clandestine laboratories increase the workload of an already overburdened law enforcement system.(http://www.justice.gov)




What is it?
Where does it come from?
What does it look like?
How is it used?
Who uses it?
How does it make you feel?
How long does the feeling last?
Is it dangerous?
Is it addictive?
What are the long-term affects of taking it?


TOBACCO



What it is
Tobacco refers to the dried leaves of the tobacco plant, which is processed into cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, snuff or snus. Tobacco contains nicotine, a poisonous alkaloid to which people can become addicted.

Tobacco is a highly-addictive drug and is known to cause more deaths in Kashmir and Pakistan than any other drug. Every year many people die from smoking-related causes.

Health Effects

Short-term effects
Smoking tobacco is a dangerous activity that has negative short-term and long-term consequences. Some short-term effects include:

Dependent ,addiction and overdose risk

Nicotine is a drug with highly addictive properties. When tobacco is consumed, nicotine is absorbed into the bloodstream and, over time, will create tolerance and dependence. Despite the well-documented harmful effects to the body, people still choose to smoke.

  1. Drugs Trends

    Tobacco is the single largest cause of preventable death in Pakistan and is the second-most common recreational drug after alcohol.

    People who die from smoking tobacco lose, on average, 14 years of life compared to non-smokers. Tobacco is the only known consumer product that kills half of its users, when used as the manufacturer directs.

  2. Reducing the Harm

    Because nicotine is a highly addictive drug, it is strongly suggested that you never start smoking. Parental smoking and peer pressure are common reasons why young people start smoking, but this is a habit that can kill you.

  3. Tobacco and Pregnancy

    Smoking can do significant harm to an unborn child. Babies are more likely to be born underweight, premature or stillborn.

    The toxins in tobacco smoke that you inhale will reach your baby as well. An unborn child's heart rate will increase and it will not receive as much oxygen nourishment that it should.

    Also, children of smoking mothers are more likely to develop asthma, will be more susceptible to coughs, ear infections and respiratory illnesses and are at greater risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (cot-death).

  4. Second- Hand Smoke

    Second-hand smoke
    Second-hand smoke refers to smoke that is breathed out by smokers (mainstream smoke) and the smoke that wafts from a lit cigarette (sidestream smoke). Two-thirds of the smoke from a cigarette is not inhaled by the person smoking the cigarette.



COCAINE
Street names: blow, C, coke, crack, flake, freebase, rock, snow

What is cocaine?

Cocaine is a stimulant drug. Stimulants make people feel more alert and energetic. Cocaine can also make people feel euphoric, or "high."

Pure cocaine was first isolated from the leaves of the coca bush in 1860. Researchers soon discovered that cocaine numbs whatever tissues it touches, leading to its use as a local anesthetic. Today, we mostly use synthetic anesthetics, rather than cocaine.

In the 1880s, psychiatrist Sigmund Freud wrote scientific papers that praised cocaine as a treatment for many ailments, including depression and alcohol and opioid addiction. After this, cocaine became widely and legally available in patent medicines and soft drinks.

As cocaine use increased, people began to discover its dangers. The use of cocaine declined until the 1970s, when it became known for its high cost, and for the rich and glamorous people who used it. Cheaper "crack" cocaine became available in the 1980s.

Where does it come from?

Cocaine is contained in small amounts in the leaves of several species of the erythroxylum (coca) bush, which grow on the slopes of the Andes Mountains in South America. For at least 4,500 years, people in Peru and Bolivia have chewed coca leaves to lessen hunger and fatigue. Today, most of the world's supply of coca is grown and refined into cocaine in Colombia. Criminal networks control the lucrative cocaine trade.

What does it look like and how is it used?

Cocaine hydrochloride - the form in which cocaine is snorted or injected - is a white crystalline powder. It is sometimes "cut," or mixed, with things that look like it, such as cornstarch or talcum powder, or with other drugs, such as local anesthetics or amphetamines.

Powder cocaine can be chemically changed to create forms of cocaine that can be smoked. These forms, known as "freebase" and "crack," look like crystals or rocks.

Cocaine is often used with other drugs, especially alcohol and marijuana. Cocaine and heroin, mixed and dissolved for injection, is called a "speedball."

How does it make you feel?

How cocaine makes you feel depends on:

·         how much you use

·         how often and how long you use

·         how you use it (by injection, orally, etc.)

·         your mood, expectation and environment

·         your age

·         whether you have certain medical or psychiatric conditions

·         whether you've taken any alcohol or other drugs (illicit, prescription, over-the-counter or herbal).

Cocaine makes people feel energetic, talkative, alert and euphoric. They feel more aware of their senses: sound, touch, sight and sexuality seem heightened. Hunger and the need for sleep are reduced. Although cocaine is a stimulant, some people find it calming, and feel increased self-control, confidence and ease with others. Other people may feel nervous and agitated, and can't relax.

Taking high doses of cocaine for a long time can lead to:

·         panic attacks

·        psychotic symptoms, such as paranoia (feeling overly suspicious, jealous, or persecuted), hallucinations (seeing, hearing, smelling, etc., things that aren't real) and delusions (false beliefs )erratic, bizarre and sometimes violent behaviour.

With regular use, people may become tolerant to the euphoric effects of cocaine. This means they need to take more and more of the drug to get the same desired effect. At the same time, people who use the drug regularly may also become more sensitive to its negative effects, such as anxiety, psychosis hallucinations, loss of contact with reality) and seizures.

Cocaine also makes the heartbeat and breathing faster, and raises blood pressure and body temperature.

How long does the feeling last?

Not long. Cocaine is both fast- and short-acting.

·         Intranasal use, or "snorting," takes effect within a few minutes, and lasts 60 to 90 minutes.

·         Injecting produces a "rush" that is felt within minutes, and lasts 20 to 60 minutes.

·         Smoking causes a high within seconds, which lasts only five to 10 minutes.

When the cocaine high fades, the person may begin to feel anxious and depressed, and have intense craving for more of the drug. Some people stay high by "binging," or continually using the drug, for hours or days.

Is it dangerous?

Yes.

While many people use cocaine on occasion without harm, the drug can be very dangerous, whether it's used once or often.

·         Cocaine causes the blood vessels to thicken and constrict, reducing the flow of oxygen to the heart. At the same time, cocaine causes the heart muscle to work harder, leading to heart attack or stroke, even in healthy people.

·         Cocaine raises blood pressure, which can explode weakened blood vessels in the brain.

·         A person can overdose on even a small amount of cocaine. Overdose can cause seizures and heart failure. It can cause breathing to become weak or stop altogether. There is no antidote to cocaine overdose.

·         Snorting cocaine can cause sinus infections and loss of smell. It can damage tissues in the nose and cause holes in the bony separation between the nostrils inside the nose.

·         Smoking cocaine can damage the lungs and cause "crack lung." Symptoms include severe chest pains, breathing problems and high temperatures. Crack lung can be fatal.

·         Injection can cause infections from used needles or impurities in the drug. Sharing needles can also cause hepatitis or HIV infection.

·         Cocaine use in pregnancy may increase risk of miscarriage and premature delivery. It also increases the chance that the baby will be born underweight. Because women who use cocaine during pregnancy often also use alcohol, nicotine and other drugs, we do not fully know the extent of the effects of cocaine use on the baby.

·         Cocaine use while breastfeeding transmits cocaine to the nursing child. This exposes the baby to all the effects and risks of cocaine use.

·         Cocaine use is linked with risk-taking and violent behaviours. It is also linked to poor concentration and judgment, increasing risk of injury and sexually transmitted disease.

·         Chronic use can cause severe psychiatric symptoms, including psychosis, anxiety, depression and paranoia.

·         Chronic use can also cause weight loss, malnutrition, poor health, sexual problems, infertility and loss of social and financial supports.

Is cocaine addictive?

It can be.

Not everyone who uses cocaine becomes addicted, but if they do, it can be one of the hardest drug habits to break.

People who become addicted to cocaine lose control over their use of the drug. They feel a strong need for cocaine, even when they know it causes them medical, psychological and social problems. Getting and taking cocaine can become the most important thing in their lives.

Smoking crack, with its rapid, intense and short-lived effects, is most addictive. However, any method of taking cocaine can lead to addiction. The amount of drug used, and how often people use the drug, has an effect on whether people get addicted.

Cocaine causes people to "crash" when they stop using it. When they crash, their mood swings rapidly from feeling high to distress. This brings powerful cravings for more of the drug. Bingeing to stay high leads quickly to addiction.

Symptoms of cocaine withdrawal can include exhaustion, extended and restless sleep or sleeplessness, hunger, irritability, depression, suicidal thoughts and intense cravings for more of the drug. The memory of cocaine euphoria is powerful, and brings a strong risk of relapse to drug use.

        What are the long-term effects of taking cocaine?

Cocaine increases the same chemicals in the brain that make people feel good when they eat, drink or have sex. Regular cocaine use can cause lasting changes in the brain. This may explain the craving and psychiatric symptoms that last even after drug use stops. 



CANNABIS
Street names: marijuana (grass, weed, pot, dope, ganja and others), hashish (hash), hash oil (weed oil, honey oil)

What is cannabis?

Cannabis sativa, also known as the hemp plant, has been cultivated for centuries for industrial and medical use, and for its "psychoactive," or mind-altering, effects. Marijuana, hashish and hashish oil all derive from the cannabis plant.

More than sixty-one chemicals, called cannabinoids, have been identified as specific to the cannabis plant. THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) is the main psychoactive cannabinoid, and is most responsible for the "high" associated with marijuana smoke.

Hemp grown for industrial use has very low levels of THC. Hemp fibres are used to make rope, fabric and paper. Hemp seeds are high in protein and yield an oil with nutritional and industrial value.

Many claims about the medical uses of marijuana have not been scientifically proven; however, research has shown that THC and other pure cannabinoids can relieve nausea and vomiting and stimulate appetite. This can help people who have AIDS or who take drugs used to treat cancer. Further research is needed to establish the medical value of marijauna in relieving pain, reducing muscle spasms and controlling some types of epileptic seizure.

Where does cannabis come from?

Cannabis is native to tropical and temperate climates, but is cultivated around the world. Modern illicit growing operations use sophisticated methods to produce high potency marijuana.

What does cannabis look like?

Marijuana is the dried flower buds and leaves of the cannabis plant. It ranges in colour from grayish green to greenish brown and may contain seeds and stems. Hashish is the dried, compressed resin of cannabis flowertops. It ranges in colour from brown to black, and is sold in chunks. Hash oil is made by boiling cannabis flowertops or resin in an organic solvent, which produces a sticky reddish-brown or green substance. The THC content of each variety of cannabis varies, although hash is generally more potent than marijuana, and hash oil is usually the most potent form. Marijuana, hash or hash oil are sometimes mixed with tobacco, and are most often rolled into a cigarette called a joint, or smoked in a pipe. Cannabis is sometimes cooked in foods, such as brownies, or made into a drink.

Synthetic THC (dronabinol) is produced under the trade name Marinol®. A related synthetic cannabinoid (nabilone) is sold as Cesamet®. Both are prescribed to people who have cancer or AIDS.

How does cannabis make you feel?

How cannabis affects you depends on:

·         how much you use

·         how often and how long you've used it

·         whether you smoke it or swallow it

·         your mood, your expectations and the environment you're in

·         your age

·         whether you have certain pre-existing medical or psychiatric conditions

·         whether you've taken any alcohol or other drugs (illicit, prescription, over-the-counter or herbal).

When people first try cannabis, they often feel no psychoactive effect. With repeated use, however, these effects are felt.

People can have very different experiences with cannabis. Some may feel relaxed, lively, talkative and giggly, while others feel tense, anxious, fearful and confused. What's more, the kind of high a person has can vary from one drug-taking episode to another. People who are familiar with the drug learn to stop when they've had enough, and have more control of the effects, than do people who are new to the drug.

At low doses, cannabis mildly distorts perception and the senses. People who use the drug say that it makes music sound better, colours appear brighter and moments seem longer. They say that it enhances taste, touch and smell and makes them feel more aware of their body. Some enjoy these effects, but others find them uncomfortable.

Smoking larger amounts may intensify some of the desired effects but is also more likely to produce an unpleasant reaction. Too high a dose may result in feelings of losing control, confusion, agitation, paranoia and panic. Pseudohallucinations (seeing things such as pattern and colour that you know are not real) or true hallucinations (where you lose touch with reality) can occur.

The physical effects of cannabis include red eyes, dry mouth and throat, irritated respiratory system (from smoking) and bronchodilation (expansion of breathing passages). Appetite and heart rate increase, while blood pressure, balance and stability decrease. Cannabis may cause drowsiness or restlessness, depending on the amount taken and individual response to the drug.

How long does the feeling last?

When cannabis is smoked, the effect is almost immediate and may last several hours, depending on how much is taken. When swallowed, the effect is felt in about an hour, and lasts longer than when smoked. Although the high lasts only a few hours after smoking, THC is stored in fat cells and expelled from the body over a period of days or weeks, depending on the frequency of use and the amount used. This is why drug tests for cannabis use can give a positive result long after the effect of the drug has worn off.

Is cannabis dangerous?

While no one has ever died of a cannabis overdose, those who use cannabis should be aware of the following possible dangers, and take measures to avoid them:

·         Cannabis impairs depth perception, attention span and concentration, slows reaction time, and decreases muscle strength and hand steadiness - all of which may affect a person's ability to drive safely.

·         Cannabis and alcohol, when taken together, intensify each other's effects and can cause severe impairment.

·         Cannabis intoxication affects thinking and short-term memory. Using cannabis while at school or work may interfere with learning or work performance.

·         Unless you have a medical exemption, it is illegal to grow, possess or sell cannabis.

·         Illicit cannabis products are not subject to any health and safety standards, and may be contaminated with other drugs, pesticides or toxic fungi.

·         Large doses of potent cannabis, especially when swallowed, can cause "toxic psychosis." Symptoms include auditory and visual hallucinations, paranoid delusions, confusion and amnesia. When cannabis use is stopped, these symptoms usually disappear within a week.

·         Cannabis use raises the heart rate and lowers blood pressure. People with angina or other coronary artery disease may increase their risk of heart attack if they use cannabis.

·         Using cannabis during pregnancy may affect the baby. Research suggests there may be a link between cannabis use during pregnancy and subtle cognitive problems in children. Cannabis smoke contains many of the same chemicals found in cigarette smoke, which are dangerous to the fetus.


Is cannabis addictive?

It can be.

People who use cannabis regularly can develop psychological and/or mild physical dependence. People with psychological dependence crave the high. The drug becomes overly important to them, they may feel they need it, and if they can't get it, they feel anxious. Long-term frequent use can lead to physical dependence. People who develop physical dependence may experience a mild withdrawal syndrome if they suddenly stop using cannabis. Symptoms can include irritability, anxiety, upset stomach, loss of appetite, sweating and disturbed sleep. These symptoms generally last for a week or so, although sleep problems may continue longer.

What are the long-term effects of using cannabis?

Healthy adults who occasionally use cannabis in low doses are not likely to have any harmful long-term effects. However, people who use cannabis heavily or regularly, or people with certain medical or psychiatric conditions, risk the following possible long-term effects:

·         Cannabis smoke contains tar and other known cancer-causing agents. People who smoke cannabis often hold unfiltered smoke in their lungs for maximum effect. This adds to the risk of cancer.

·         Smoking cannabis irritates the respiratory system. Chronic marijuana smoking has been linked to bronchitis. One study estimated that three to four joints per day causes the same damage as smoking 20 or more tobacco cigarettes.

·         The constant intoxication associated with heavy cannabis use often reduces motivation for work and study, although this usually returns when drug use is stopped.

·         There is a possible association between heavy regular cannabis use and the onset of schizophrenia. It is not clear, however, whether cannabis use releases latent symptoms of schizophrenia, or whether people use cannabis to help them cope with the symptoms of an emerging psychosis. Evidence suggests that continued cannabis use in people with schizophrenia accentuates psychotic symptoms and worsens the course of the illness.

·         Chronic, heavy use of cannabis may impair people's attention, memory and the ability to process complex information for weeks, months and even years after they have stopped using cannabis.


HERION
Street Names: junk, H, smack, horse, skag, dope, gear, brown

What is heroin?

Heroin is a dangerous and illegal drug with a high addictive potential. It is also an effective painkiller.

Heroin belongs to the opioid family of drugs. Also in the opioid family are the "opiates," such as morphine and codeine, which are natural products of the opium poppy; and "synthetic" opioids, such as Demerol® and methadone, which are chemically manufactured. Heroin is a "semi-synthetic" opioid; it is made from morphine that has been chemically processed, giving it a stronger and more immediate effect. Heroin is converted back into morphine in the brain.

When heroin was first introduced in the late 19th century, it was promoted as a pain reliever and cough suppressant. By the early 20th century, the dangers of heroin were recognized. Laws were introduced throughout North America and Europe to restrict the production, distribution and use of heroin. In some countries, there are circumstances where heroin may be prescribed by physicians. In the UK, for example, doctors may prescribe heroin for extreme pain. This treatment is usually reserved for patients who are terminally ill. In the UK, the Netherlands and Switzerland, a small number of people who are heroin-dependent, and who have not responded to other treatments, receive heroin by prescription in carefully monitored maintenance programs.

Where does heroin come from?

Most heroin is produced in Asia and Latin America, where opium poppies are grown. Morphine is extracted from the opium gum in laboratories close to the fields, and then converted into heroin in labs within or nearby the producing country.

What does heroin look like?

In its pure form, heroin is a fine, white, bitter-tasting crystalline powder that dissolves in water. When it is sold on the street, its colour and consistency vary, depending on the manufacturing process and what additives it has been mixed, or "cut," with. Street heroin may come in the form of a white powder, a brown, sometimes grainy substance or a dark brown sticky gum. The purity of heroin varies from batch to batch, and can range from two to 98 per cent.

Some additives, such as sugars, starch or powdered milk are used to increase the weight for retail sale, or other drugs may be added to increase the effects of the heroin. Quinine may be added to imitate heroin's bitter taste, making it difficult to determine the purity of the drug.

        How is heroin used?

The most common ways of using heroin are:

·         injection - either into a vein ("mainlining," intravenous or I.V. use), into a muscle (intramuscular or I.M. use) or under the skin ("skin-popping" or subcutaneous use)

·         snorting - inhaling the powder through the nostril (also called sniffing)

·         inhaling or smoking - this method is also referred to as "chasing the dragon," and involves gently heating the heroin on aluminum foil and inhaling the smoke and vapours through a tube.

Injection may be chosen because this method gives the greatest and most immediate effect for the least amount of drug. People who are dependent on heroin may inject two to four times a day. The drug is more likely to be snorted or smoked when heroin of high purity is available, or by occasional users who prefer not to inject.

        Who uses heroin?

Heroin use is found among a range of people, from a variety of cultural, social, economic and age groups. Twice as many males as females use heroin. First-time users tend to be young, in their teens or 20s, but most people who use heroin regularly are over 30.

        How does heroin make you feel?

The way heroin, or any drug, affects you depends on many factors, including:

·         your age

·         how much you take and how often you take it

·         how long you've been taking it

·         the method you use to take the drug

·         the environment you're in

·         whether or not you have certain pre-existing medical or psychiatric conditions

·         if you've taken any alcohol or other drugs (illicit, prescription, over-the-counter or herbal).

When heroin is injected into a vein, it produces a surge of euphoria, or "rush." This effect is felt in seven to eight seconds, and lasts from 45 seconds to a few minutes. The initial effect with snorting or smoking is not as intense. Following the rush comes a period of sedation and tranquillity known as being "on the nod," or "gouching" which may last up to an hour. When heroin is injected under the skin or into a muscle, the effect comes on more slowly, within five to eight minutes.

New users often experience nausea and vomiting. The desired effects include detachment from physical and emotional pain and a feeling of well-being. Other effects include slowed breathing, pinpoint pupils, itchiness and sweating. Regular use results in constipation, loss of sexual interest and libido, and an irregular or stopped menstrual cycle in women.

Heroin use causes changes in mood and behaviour. People who are dependent on heroin may be docile and compliant after taking heroin, and irritable and aggressive during withdrawal.

        How long does the feeling last?

Regardless of how it is used, the effects of heroin generally last for three to five hours, depending on the dose.

People who are dependent on heroin must use every six to 12 hours to avoid symptoms of withdrawal. The initial symptoms are intense, and include runny nose, sneezing, diarrhea, vomiting, restlessness and a persistent craving for the drug. Also associated with withdrawal are goose bumps and involuntary leg movements, leading to the expressions "cold turkey" and "kicking the habit." Withdrawal symptoms peak within a couple days, and usually fade within five to 10 days. Other symptoms, such as insomnia, anxiety and craving, may continue for some time. Heroin withdrawal is not life-threatening, but can be extremely uncomfortable.

        Is heroin dangerous?

Yes. Heroin is dangerous in a number of ways. Overdose is the most immediate danger of heroin use. Heroin depresses the part of the brain that controls breathing. In an overdose, breathing slows down, and may stop completely. A person who has overdosed is unconscious and cannot be roused, and has skin that is cold, moist and bluish. A heroin overdose can be treated at a hospital emergency room with drugs, such as naloxone, which blocks heroin's depressant effects.

The risk of overdose is increased by:

·         The unknown purity of the drug. Ironically, many overdoses are due to increases in the quality of the drug sold on the street.

·         Injection, because the drug reaches the brain more quickly than by other ways of taking the drug, and because the dose is taken all at once.

·         Combining heroin with other sedating drugs, such as alcohol, benzodiazepines and methadone.

Other dangers associated with heroin use include:

·         Injection: injection drug use puts the user at high risk of bacterial infection, blood poisoning, abscesses, endocarditis (an infection of the lining of the heart) collapsed veins and overdose. Sharing needles greatly increases the risk of becoming infected with, or spreading, HIV and hepatitis B or C.

·         Unknown content of the drug: the unknown purity and potency of the drug makes it difficult to determine the correct dose and to protect from overdose. In add-ition, heroin is often cut with additives, which may be poisonous, such as strychnine, or that do not dissolve (and can clog blood vessels), such as chalk.

·         Combining heroin with other drugs, such as cocaine (speedballs): when drugs interact inside the body, the results are unpredictable, and sometimes deadly.

·         Dependence: the constant need to obtain heroin, and the repeated use of the drug, can result in criminal involvement or other high-risk behaviour, breakdown of family life, loss of employment and poor health.

·         Pregnancy: women who use heroin regularly often miss their periods; some mistakenly think that they are infertile, and become pregnant. Continued use of heroin during pregnancy is very risky for the baby.

        Is heroin addictive?

Yes. Regular use of heroin, whether it is injected, snorted or smoked, can lead to physical and psychological dependence within two to three weeks.

Not all people who experiment with heroin become dependent. Some use the drug only on occasion, such as on weekends, without increasing the dose. With regular use, however, tolerance to the effects of the drug develop, and more and more heroin is needed to achieve the desired effect. Continuous use of increasing amounts of the drug inevitably leads to dependence.

Once dependence is established, stopping use can be extremely difficult. People who have used heroin for a long time often report that they no longer experience any pleasure from the drug. They continue to use heroin to avoid the symptoms of withdrawal, and to control the powerful craving for the drug, which is often described as a "need." Cravings may persist long after the drug is discontinued, making relapse, or beginning to use again, difficult to avoid.

        What are the long-term effects of using heroin?

Heroin dependence, and the medical, social and legal complications that often result from heroin use, can be devastating to the lives of the people who use the drug.

Research using brain scans has revealed that long-term regular use of heroin results in changes in the way the brain works. While the effect of these changes is not fully understood, this research has shown that it may take months or years for the brain to return to normal functioning after heroin use is stopped.
 


METHADONE
Street Names: juice, meth (also used to refer to methamphetamines)

What is methadone?

Methadone belongs to the opioid family of drugs. It is used most commonly to treat dependence on other opioid drugs such as heroin, codeine and morphine.

Methadone is a "synthetic" opioid, which means that it is made from chemicals in a lab. Other opioid drugs include the "opiates," such as morphine and codeine, which are natural products of the opium poppy, and "semi-synthetic" opioids, such as heroin, which is morphine that has been chemically processed.

Methadone was developed in Germany during the Second World War and was first used to provide pain relief.

Methadone maintenance treatment, which prevents opioid withdrawal and reduces or eliminates drug cravings, was first developed in the 1960s. 

Methadone maintenance is not a "cure": it is a treatment. Through treatment, people who are dependent on opioids receive the medical and social support they need to stabilize and improve their lives. They are encouraged to stay in treatment for as long as it helps them.

What does methadone look like?

Pure methadone is a white crystalline powder. The powder is dissolved, usually in a fruit-flavoured drink, and is taken orally once a day.

Who uses methadone?

Most people who are prescribed methadone are being treated for dependence on opioid drugs. This includes people who are dependent on illicit opioids, such as heroin, and also prescription opioids, such as codeine.

Women who use opioid drugs regularly and who are pregnant are often treated with methadone to protect the fetus. Short-acting opioids such as heroin must be taken frequently to avoid withdrawal. Opioid withdrawal increases the risk of miscarriage or premature birth. Methadone maintenance, combined with medical care, improves the chances of having a healthy baby. There are no known long-term effects of methadone on the baby.

People who use opioid drugs regularly, and who are infected with HIV or hepatitis C, are prescribed methadone treatment to help protect their health, and to reduce the risk of spreading infection through needle sharing.

Methadone is sometimes used to provide pain relief for people who have severe chronic pain or pain associated with terminal illness.

How does methadone make you feel?

When people begin methadone treatment, some experience the euphoria and sedation that are common to all opioid drugs. As treatment continues, and a stable dose of methadone is established, tolerance to these effects develops. Those in treatment often describe the feeling of being on methadone as "normal." Methadone treatment does not interfere with their thinking. They can work, go to school or care for family. Methadone also blocks the euphoric effect of heroin and other opioids, and in this way reduces the use of these drugs.

Most people experience some side-effects from methadone treatment. Possible side-effects include sweating, constipation and weight gain.

How long does the effect last?

A person who is opioid-dependent is kept free of withdrawal symptoms for 24 hours with a single dose of methadone. In contrast, a person who uses heroin to avoid withdrawal must use three to four times a day.

Daily treatment with methadone may continue indefinitely. If, however, the person taking methadone and his or her doctor agree to move toward ending treatment, the methadone dose is tapered down gradually over many weeks or months, easing the process of withdrawal.

If methadone is stopped abruptly, symptoms such as stomach cramps, diarrhea and muscle and bone ache will occur. These symptoms begin within one to three days after the last dose, peak at three to five days, and then gradually subside, although other symptoms such as sleep problems and drug cravings may continue for months.

Is methadone dangerous?

When methadone is taken as prescribed, it is very safe and will not cause any damage to internal organs or thinking, even when taken daily for many years. On the other hand, methadone is a powerful drug and can be extremely dangerous to people who do not take it regularly, as they have no tolerance for its effects. Even a small amount may be fatal for a child. For this reason, the dispensing of methadone is carefully monitored and controlled.

An important benefit of methadone treatment is that it reduces heroin use. The dangers of heroin use include death by overdose, and becoming infected, through needle sharing, with viruses such as HIV and hepatitis C. Methadone treatment helps to protect people from heroin-related tragedies.

Is methadone addictive?

Modern definitions of "addiction" look at many factors in assessing a person's drug use. These include "tolerance," or the need to use increasing amounts to achieve the same effect; "physical dependence," resulting in withdrawal symptoms if drug use is stopped; and "compulsive use," despite the negative consequences of continuing to use the drug.

Some people say that methadone is just as "addictive" as heroin. People in methadone treatment do become tolerant to certain effects of the drug, and will experience withdrawal if they do not take their regular dose. But methadone fails to meet a full definition of "addictive" when we look at how and why the drug is used.

First of all, methadone maintenance is offered as a medical treatment, and is prescribed only to people who are already dependent on opioid drugs. For these people, methadone provides a safe alternative to the routine danger and desperation of securing a steady supply of street drugs such as heroin. It frees them from the nagging compulsion to use, and allows them a chance to focus on improving their lives.

Methadone is sometimes used as a street drug, but when it is, it is usually taken to prevent symptoms of heroin withdrawal. The effects of methadone come on too slowly and last too long to give it much appeal as a substance of abuse.

What are the long-term effects of methadone?

Methadone maintenance can be a long-term treatment. Length of treatment varies.


INHALANTS
Street names: glue, gas, sniff (solvents); whippets (nitrous oxide); poppers, room odourizers, VCR cleaner - some sold under "brand" names such as Rush, Bolt, Kix (nitrites)

What are inhalants?

The term "inhalants" refers to chemical vapours or gases that produce a "high" when they are breathed in. Most of the substances used as inhalants, such as glue, gasoline, cleaning solvents and aerosols, have legitimate everyday uses, but they were never meant for human consumption. Inhalants are cheap, legal and easy to get. They have a high potential for abuse - especially by children and young adults.

There are hundreds of different kinds of inhalants, roughly dividing into four different types:

·         Volatile solvents: These are the most commonly abused type of inhalants. "Volatile" means they evaporate when exposed to air, and "solvent" means they dissolve many other substances. Examples of solvents used as inhalants include benzene, toluene, xylene, acetone, naptha and hexane. Products such as gasoline, cleaning fluids, paint thinners, hobby glue, correction fluid and felt-tip markers contain a mixture of different types of solvents.

·         Aerosol or spray cans: Hair spray, spray paint, cooking spray and other aerosol products contain pressurized liquids or gases such as fluorocarbon and butane. Some aerosol products also contain solvents.

·         Gases: This includes some medical anesthetics, such as nitrous oxide ("laughing gas"), chloroform, halothane and ether, as well as gases found in commercially available products, such as butane lighters and propane tanks.

·         Nitrites: Amyl nitrite, butyl nitrite and cyclohexyl nitrite (also known as "poppers") are different from other inhalants in effect and availability. They are sold as "room odourizer" or "video head cleaner." Amyl nitrite is used medically to treat cyanide poisoning; butyl nitrite is an illegal substance in the United States.

Where do inhalants come from?

Many inhalants are widely available as commercial products. It is hard to prevent their use because these products are found in many homes and workplaces. Some manufacturers taint their products to try to make them less appealing to use as inhalants, but this has not prevented use. 

What do inhalants look like, and how are they used?

Solvent and aerosol products - on the store shelf, in the kitchen cupboard or in the workshop - would not be noticed by most people as dangerous drugs.

When solvents are used as drugs, they are either inhaled directly from the container ("sniffed"), from a soaked rag held to the face ("huffed") or from a bag ("bagged"). Sometimes people spray aerosols into a bag or balloon and then inhale the gas.

Nitrous oxide or other anesthetic gases intended for medical use are contained in a gas tank; nitrous oxide is also found in whipped cream dispensers. Because nitrous oxide is pressurized and can be very cold, it is often inhaled from a balloon.

Nitrites are clear yellow liquids that are inhaled directly from the bottle or from a cloth.

Who uses inhalants?

Most of the people who use solvents and aerosols are young - between 10 and 16 years old. Many try inhalants only once or twice, or use them only on occasion. But some people use heavily and may continue using into adulthood. Chronic solvent users are usually in their 20s. Solvent use is associated with poverty, difficulty at school, lack of opportunity, problems at home and a high incidence of substance use in the family.

Nitrite use is most common among gay men, although U.S. statistics indicate that the rate of nitrite use has fallen.

How do inhalants make you feel?

How inhalants, or any drugs, affect you depends on a number of factors:

·         your age

·         how sensitive you are to the drug

·         how much you use

·         how long and how often you've been using it

·         the method you use to take the drug

·         the environment you're in

·         whether or not you have certain pre-existing medical or psychiatric conditions

·         if you've taken any alcohol or other drugs (illicit, prescription, over-the-counter or herbal).

All inhalants are absorbed through the lungs and travel quickly in the blood to the brain. This produces an immediate and brief intoxication. Different types of inhalants produce different effects.

Inhaled solvents usually produce an alcohol-like effect, but with more distortion of perception, such as the shape, size and colour of objects, and distortion of time and space. New users may be initially excited, then become drowsy and fall asleep. People who use solvents more often may feel euphoric, exhilarated and have vivid fantasies. Some feel giddy, outgoing and confident. Physical effects may include dizziness, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, sneezing and coughing, staggering, slow reflexes and sensitivity to light.

Nitrous oxide produces a dreamy mental state, loss of motor control, hallucinations and an increased threshold for pain.

Nitrites dilate blood vessels and relax muscles. The heartbeat quickens and blood rushes to the head, creating a "rush." Nitrites also cause headaches, dizziness, nausea and flushing. Some men use nitrites during sex for the drugs' capacity to relax muscles and promote blood flow.

How long does the feeling last?

Several breaths of solvents will produce a high within a few minutes of use. This high may last up to 45 minutes, if no more breaths are taken. Some people continue to take additional breaths to sustain the effects for several hours. As the effects wear off, the person may feel drowsy and have a hangover with a mild-to-severe headache for up to several days.

The effects of nitrous oxide and nitrites are immediate, and wear off within a few minutes.

Are inhalants dangerous?

Yes. Inhalant use is dangerous in many ways:


SOLVENTS AND AEROSOLS

Suffocation: Solvents are often sniffed from a plastic bag, which is held firmly around the nose and mouth. People who use solvents sometimes pass out with the bag still in place, and suffocate due to lack of oxygen. Choking on vomit when unconscious is another major cause of inhalant-related death.

·         Recklessness: Sniffing reduces inhibition and affects the way people feel about themselves and the world around them. It makes some people feel powerful, which has led to dangerous and destructive behaviour that caused serious harm. Others don't get "high" when they sniff; they get depressed. Self-destructive or suicidal behaviour are common among people who use solvents. Most inhalants are highly flammable; recklessness with lit cigarettes and flames while using inhalants has caused tragic accidents.

·         Sudden sniffing death (SSD): Prolonged sniffing of highly concentrated inhalants can cause a rapid and irregular heartbeat, leading to death from heart failure. SSD can occur after only one sniffing session, and when stress or strenuous exercise follows several deep inhalations.

·         Serious health problems: People who use solvents regularly for a long time can damage their liver, kidneys, lungs, heart, brain, bones and blood. Sometimes this damage heals when drug use is stopped; sometimes it is permanent.

·         Fetal solvent syndrome: Use of solvents during pregnancy, especially chronic use, can result in premature birth, birth defects or stillbirth.

NITROUS OXIDE

·         Lack of oxygen: Sniffing pure nitrous oxide starves the body of oxygen. Some people have died this way.

·         Loss of motor control: People who use nitrous oxide while standing can fall and hurt themselves.

·         Frostbite: The gas is extremely cold as it is released from the cylinder and can freeze skin. In addition, pressure in the tank can damage the lungs.

·         Nerve damage: High levels of nitrous oxide use, even with adequate oxygen, has been shown to damage nerves. This can cause numbness, weakness and loss of balance.

NOTRITES

·         Unsafe sexual practices: An increased risk of contracting HIV and hepatitis is associated with nitrite use.

·         Weakened immune system: Recent animal research shows that nitrites may impair the immune system that protects against infectious diseases.

Are inhalants addictive?

They can be.

Most inhalant use is experimental and occasional. However, people who use inhalants regularly can develop "tolerance." This means that more and more of the substance is needed to produce the same effects. Regular use also leads to a persistent craving for the high, which makes it hard to stop using. When regular use is stopped, withdrawal symptoms may include nausea, loss of appetite, tremors, anxiety, depression and paranoia.

What are the long-term effects of using inhalants?

The long-term effects of inhalants vary depending on which inhalant is used. Some of the possible effects are bloodshot eyes, sores on the nose and mouth, nosebleeds, pale skin, excessive thirst and weight loss. People who use inhalants over a long term may also be confused, tired, depressed, irritable, hostile and paranoid and have trouble concentrating, remembering and thinking clearly. Heavy solvent use can result in numbness, weakness, tremors and a lack of co-ordination in the arms and legs.

Some long-term effects may be reversible, but others are permanent. When inhaled, solvents are carried by the blood and stored in fat tissue in the body. Internal organs that have high blood circulation and that are rich in fat tissue, such as the brain, liver and kidney, are particularly affected. If inhalant use is stopped, damage to the liver and kidneys may heal, but damage to the brain is almost always permanent. Studies using scans of people's brains after chronic long-term solvent use show that solvent use can cause the brain to atrophy, or shrink, which can severely affect thinking, memory and movement control.

Inhalant use can also result in permanent hearing loss and damage to bone marrow. 


AMPHETAMINES
Types of amphetamines: amphetamine, methamphetamine, dextroamphetamine
Street names: speed, bennies, glass, crystal, crank, pep pills and uppers

What are amphetamines?

The different types of amphetamines—and related drugs such as methylphenidate (e.g., Ritalin®)—are stimulant drugs. Stimulants speed up the central nervous system. They act like adrenaline, a hormone that is one of the body’s natural stimulants. Other drugs with similar effects include cocaine, ecstasy, ephedrine, caffeine and many others.

Where do amphetamines come from?

Amphetamines were first introduced in the 1930s as a remedy for nasal congestion, and marketed over-thecounter as an inhaler named Benzedrine. These drugs were also used medically to treat obesity and depression. Different types of amphetamines were available from the 1930s until the 1970s. People eventually found, however, that the medical value of amphetamines is offset by their dangerous effects and high abuse potential (the chance a drug will be abused, cause addiction or be otherwise harmful). Today, only dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine®) and methylphenidate are made for medical use. All other amphetamines are made in illicit laboratories.

What do amphetamines look like and how are they used?

Pure amphetamines are white, odourless, bitter-tasting crystalline powders. Illicitly prepared amphetamines vary in purity. They may be whitish with traces of gray or pink and may be a coarse powder, or in crystals or chunks. They may smell “fishy” or like ammonia. Methamphetamine resembles shaved glass slivers or clear rock salt. Amphetamines are injected, smoked, sniffed or taken as pills.

Who uses amphetamines?

When amphetamines were easy to get, many people used them to stay awake and to have more energy. Truck drivers, students and athletes were especially likely to abuse amphetamines. People with eating disorders may use these drugs to try to lose weight.

Medically, dextroamphetamine is used to treat narcolepsy (uncontrolled attacks of sleep) and hyperactivity. Methylphenidate is also commonly used to treat hyperactivity in adults and children. It is less potent than the amphetamines.

How do amphetamines make you feel?

How amphetamines make you feel depends on:

·         how much you use

·         how often and how long you use them

·         how you use them (by injection, orally, etc.)

·         your mood, expectation and environment

·         your age

·         whether you have certain pre-existing medical or psychiatric conditions

·         whether you’ve taken any alcohol or other drugs (illicit, prescription, over-the-counter or herbal).

When amphetamines are injected or smoked, they reach the brain quickly, and produce a “rush,” or surge of euphoria, immediately. The effects of amphetamines are often different from person to person.

Amphetamines can make people:

·         alert, confident and energetic

·         talkative, restless and excited

·         feel a sense of power and superiority

·         tense and nervous

·         hostile and aggressive.

In children who are hyperactive, however, amphetamines and related drugs, in the correct doses, can have a calming effect. Amphetamines reduce hunger and increase breathing, heart rate and blood pressure. Larger doses may cause fever, sweating, headache, nausea, blurred vision, very fast or irregular heartbeat, tremors, loss of co-ordination and collapse.

How long does the feeling last?

The initial rush after injecting or smoking lasts only a minute. With some types of amphetamines, the stimulant effects can last up to 12 hours. Some people may use amphetamines repeatedly over a period of several days to try to stay high.

Are amphetamines dangerous?

Yes.

·         Overdose can cause seizures, coma and death due to burst blood vessels in the brain, heart failure or very high fever.

·         Amphetamines are linked to risky and violent behaviours, and increased injury and sexually transmitted disease.

·         Amphetamines may cause bizarre or repetitive behaviour, paranoia and hallucinations.

·         Injecting any drug can cause infections from used needles or impurities in the drug; sharing needles with others can transmit hepatitis or HIV.

Are amphetamines addictive?

When taken as prescribed, amphetamines and related drugs do not cause dependence. However, these drugs can cause dependence if they are misused. Methylphenidate is less likely to cause dependence than other amphetamines.

Regular non-medical use of amphetamines can lead to tolerance. This means that the person needs to take more and more of the drug to get the desired effect. Regular use of amphetamines, especially when the drug is smoked or injected, can quickly cause psychological and physical dependence. Dependence means that cravings and compulsive use of the drug become very important to a person. If drug use is stopped, the person usually goes through withdrawal, also called “the crash.” Symptoms of withdrawal can include fatigue, restless sleep, irritability, intense hunger, depression, suicidal behaviour and fits of violence. People who use amphetamines often also use other drugs, such as alcohol, cannabis or benzodiazepines, to help them relax and sleep. This increases the risk for dependence on these other drugs.

What are the long-term effects of taking amphetamines?

Chronic use of amphetamines can lead to serious physical and mental health problems. Because amphetamines reduce appetite and fatigue, they can cause vitamin and sleep deficiencies and malnutrition, and make people more prone to illness. Regular use of amphetamines can also cause amphetamine psychosis. Symptoms include hallucinations, delusions, paranoia, and bizarre and violent behaviour. These symptoms usually disappear a few days or weeks after the drug use has stopped. Longer-term studies support the efficacy and safety of methylphenidate when taken as prescribed to treat hyperactivity, but more information is needed to evaluate its long-term effects. 


ANABOLIC STEROIDS
Generic and trade names: oxymotholone (Anadrol®), methandrostenolone (Dianobol®), stanozolol (Winstrol®), nandrolone decanoate (Deca-Durabolin®), testosterone cypionate (Depo-Testosterone®), boldenone undecylenate (Equipoise®) and others

Street names: the juice, the white stuff, roids

What are they?

Many kinds of steroids occur naturally in various hormones and vitamins. Drugs known as “anabolic steroids” are made in laboratories and have the same chemical structure as the steroids found in the male sex hormone, testosterone. The musclebuilding (anabolic) and masculinizing (androgenic) effects of these drugs make them appealing to athletes and bodybuilders.

Anabolic steroids have few medical uses. Their primary use is to promote weight gain and muscle development in farm animals. They are rarely prescribed to humans; however, they are sometimes used to treat delayed puberty, some types of impotence, and wasting of the body caused by AIDS and other diseases.

Steroidal “supplements,” such as dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), are converted into testosterone or a similar compound in the body. Although little research has been done on steroidal supplements, if taken in large quantities, they likely produce the same effects, and the same side-effects, as anabolic steroids. 

Where do steroids come from?

Anabolic steroids manufactured by pharmaceutical companies are available legally only by prescription. Most steroids used by athletes are smuggled, stolen or made in clandestine laboratories. Veterinary drugs are often used.

What do steroids look like, and how are they used?

Anabolic steroids come in the form of tablets, capsules, a solution for injection and a cream or gel to rub into the skin. Weightlifters and bodybuilders who use steroids often take doses that are up to 100 times greater than those used to treat medical conditions.

Regimented methods of taking steroids are believed to enhance the effects of these drugs and lessen harm to the body. However, there is no scientific evidence to back up these claims. Such methods include the following:

·         Cycling: a period of taking and then not taking the drugs in the belief that the drug-free cycle allows the body to recover normal hormone levels

·         Pyramiding: taking doses in cycles of six to 12 weeks, starting with a low dose, then slowly increasing it, and then decreasing the amount to zero, believing this allows the body time to adjust to the high doses

·         Stacking: taking two or more types of steroids, mixing oral and injectable forms, believing the different drugs interact to have greater effect.

Who uses steroids?

Most non-medical use of steroids is by athletes who believe that these drugs will help them to win, and by bodybuilders and young men who think they will look better with bigger muscles.

People who use steroids to improve athletic performance and build muscles are mostly men; however, the highest increase in use is among young women. U.S. studies have also noted a disturbing increase in use among adolescents concerned about body image. Some people take steroids because they have a disorted body image where they believe their muscles are small or that they have too much body fat, even when they are lean and muscular.

Steroid use has also been found among people with a history of abuse or assault who wish to build muscles in order to protect themselves better. Steroid use is banned by the International Olympic Committee and many other amateur and professional sports organizations. But because drug testing is costly, tests of professional athletes are generally “random,” and are often preceded by a warning. Regular mandatory testing is standard only at the international level of competition.

Successful prevention of steroid abuse focuses on teaching people about how to refuse drugs and about other ways to build muscle bulk and strength.

How do steroids make you feel?

Steroids can produce a variety of psychological effects ranging from euphoria to hostility. Some people who take steroids say the drugs make them feel powerful and energetic. However, steroids are also known to increase irritability, anxiety and aggression and cause mood swings, manic symptoms and paranoia, particularly when taken in high doses.

Variations in how people respond to steroids may be due in part to individual differences, or depend on which type of steroid was taken. Scientific understanding of the effects of non-medical anabolic steroid use is limited.

High doses, especially when taken orally, causenausea, vomiting and gastric irritation. Other effects include fluid retention and trembling.

Are steroids dangerous?

Yes. Taking high doses of steroids increases risk of:

·         enlargement and abnormalities of the heart, blood clots, high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke. Steroid-related heart failure has occurred in athletes younger than 30.

·         aggression and violence (“roid rage”), negative personality change, mania and depression, which may lead to suicide. Depression may persist for a year after drug use is stopped.

·         hepatitis, liver enlargement and liver cancer

·         reduced fertility in both women and men

·         tendon ruptures, cessation of growth in adolescents

·         hepatitis or HIV if steroids are injected using shared needles, and infections if steroids are injected with dirty needles.

Are steroids addictive?

Yes, they can be.

Addiction to steroids differs from many other drugs in that tolerance to the effects does not develop. However, some people who abuse steroids meet criteria for drug dependence in that they:

·         continue to take steroids, even when they experience negative physical or emotional effects 

·         spend large amounts of time and money obtaining the drugs

·         experience withdrawal symptoms such as mood swings, fatigue, restlessness, depression, loss of appetite, insomnia, reduced sex drive and the desire to take more steroids.

What are the long-term effects of taking steroids?

Some of the effects of steroids disappear when drug use is stopped, but others are permanent. The effects of long-term use include:

·         acne, cysts, oily hair and skin, and thinning scalp hair in both sexes

·         feminization in men, including permanent breast development

·         testicle shrinking, difficulty or pain urinating and increased risk of prostate cancer in men

·         masculinization in women, including breast size and body fat reduction, coarsening of the skin, enlargement of the clitoris, deepening of the voice, excessive growth of body hair, loss of scalp hair and changes or cessation of the menstrual cycle; with long-term use, some of these effects may be permanent

·         in children or adolescents, the high levels of testosterone stop bone growth, preventing them from ever growing to full height

·         aggression and violence; personality changes revert when drug use is stopped. 


ALCOHOL


How does alcohol make you feel?

The way alcohol affects you depends on many factors, including:

·         your age, sex and body weight

·         how sensitive you are to alcohol

·         the type and amount of food in your stomach

·         how much and how often you drink

·         how long you’ve been drinking

·         the environment you’re in

·         how you expect the alcohol to make you feel

·         whether you’ve taken any other drugs (illicit, prescription, over-the-counter or herbal).

For many people, a single drink of alcohol releases tension and reduces inhibition, making them feel more at ease and outgoing. Some people feel happy or excited when they drink, while others become depressed or hostile. Suicide and violent crimes often involve alcohol.

Women are generally more sensitive to the effects of alcohol than men, and all adults become increasingly sensitive to alcohol’s effects as they age. When someone is more sensitive, it takes less alcohol to cause intoxication, and more time for the body to eliminate the alcohol consumed.

Early signs of alcohol intoxication include flushed skin, impaired judgment and reduced inhibition. Continued drinking increases these effects, and causes other effects, such as impaired attention, reduced muscle control, slowed reflexes, staggering gait, slurred speech and double or blurred vision. A severely intoxicated person may “black out,” and have no memory of what was said or done while drinking. Effects of extreme intoxication include inability to stand, vomiting, stupor, coma and death.

        How long does the feeling last?

It takes about one hour for the liver of a person weighing 70 kg (154 lbs.) to process and eliminate eight to 10 grams of alcohol, or about two-thirds of the alcohol contained in a standard drink. This rate is constant, no matter how much alcohol has been consumed, or what food or non-alcoholic beverages are taken.

Drinking heavily usually results in a “hangover,” beginning eight to 12 hours after the last drink. Symptoms can include headache, nausea, diarrhea, shakiness and vomiting. A hangover is caused in part by acetaldehyde, a toxic chemical that is created as alcohol is processed by your liver. Other causes include dehydration and changes in hormone levels.

Some people think that having a drink before bed helps them to get to sleep. While alcohol does bring on sleep more quickly, it disturbs sleep patterns, and causes wakefulness in the night.

        Is alcohol dangerous?

Yes, alcohol can be dangerous in a number of ways.

The impact of alcohol’s effect on judgment, behaviour, attitude and reflexes can range from embarrassment, to unwanted or high-risk sexual contact, to violence, injury or death. Alcohol is involved in more regrettable moments, crimes and traffic fatalities than all other drugs of abuse combined. Young people, who are less familiar with the effects of alcohol, may be especially prone to act in an impulsive or dangerous manner while intoxicated.

Extreme intoxication can kill, often as the result of the person “passing out,” vomiting and choking. A person who has been drinking heavily and is unconscious should be laid on his or her side and watched closely. Clammy skin, low body temperature, slow and laboured breathing and incontinence are signs of acute alcohol poisoning, which can be fatal. Seek emergency medical care.

Women who drink during pregnancy risk giving birth to a baby with behaviour problems, growth deficiency, developmental disability, head and facial deformities, joint and limb abnormalities and heart defects. The risk of bearing a child with these birth defects increases with the amount of alcohol consumed. The first trimester may be a time of greatest risk for the fetus, although there is no time during pregnancy when it is known to be safe to drink alcohol.

Mixing alcohol with other drugs — prescribed or recreational — can have unpredictable results. Alcohol may either block the absorption of the other drug, making it less effective, or it may increase the effect of the other drug, to the point of danger. The general rule is to never mix alcohol with any other drugs; for exceptions, ask your doctor.

        Is there a safe level of drinking?

While there is no precise “safe” level of drinking, there are guidelines for adults who wish to lower the risks of drinking. People who are pregnant, who have certain medical conditions such as liver disease or mental illness, or who will be driving a vehicle or operating machinery, should avoid alcohol.

The “low-risk drinking” guidelines suggest spacing drinks an hour apart, and drinking no more than two standard drinks per drinking occasion. Men should have no more than 14 drinks a week, and women no more than nine.

Is alcohol addictive?

It can be.

Most alcohol-related illnesses, social problems, accidents and deaths are caused by “problem drinking.” This term describes alcohol use that causes problems in a person’s life, but does not include physical dependence. Problem drinking is four times as common as severe alcohol dependence.

Physical dependence involves tolerance to alcohol’s effects, and withdrawal symptoms when drinking is stopped. As people develop tolerance, they need more and more alcohol to produce the desired effect. People who are physically dependent on alcohol can develop withdrawal symptoms, such as sleeplessness, tremors, nausea and seizures, within a few hours after their last drink. These symptoms can last from two to seven days and range from mild to severe, depending of the amount of alcohol consumed and the period of time over which it was used. Some people experience delirium tremens, or “the DTs,” five to six days after drinking stops. This dangerous syndrome consists of frightening hallucinations, extreme confusion, fever and racing heart. If left untreated, severe alcohol withdrawal can result in death.

Treatment for alcohol dependence usually begins by treating withdrawal symptoms, but most people will need additional treatments to help them stop drinking. Even after long periods of abstinence, a person may continue to crave alcohol, and may begin to drink again. Treatment may include residential or outpatient treatment, individual or group therapy, self-help or mutual help groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, and certain medications, such as naltrexone. Some people respond well to one form of treatment, while others do not. There is no single most effective treatment approach.

What are the long-term effects of drinking alcohol?

How alcohol affects you in the long term depends on how much and how often you drink.

For middle-aged and older adults, as little as one drink of alcohol every other day can help protect against heart disease. On the other hand, heavy drinking raises blood pressure and puts people at risk of stroke and heart failure.

Heavy alcohol use can result in appetite loss, sexual impotence or menstrual irregularities, vitamin deficiencies and infections. Alcohol irritates the lining of the stomach, which can be painful and is potentially fatal. Alcoholic liver disease is a major cause of illness and death in North America. Alcohol also increases the risk of liver, throat, breast and other cancers.

Chronic use of alcohol can damage the brain, which can lead to dementia, difficulties with co-ordination and motor control, and loss of feeling or painful burning in the feet. Alcohol dependence often results in clinical depression, and the rate of suicide among people who are alcohol-dependent is six times that of the general population.

Although women’s average lifetime alcohol intake is less than half that of men, women are just as likely as men to develop alcohol-related diseases, and are twice as likely to die from these conditions

 

BENZODIAZAPINES
Generic and trade names: alprazolam (Xanax®), clonazepam (Rivotril®), diazepam (Valium®), flurazepam (Dalmane®), lorazepam (Ativan®), temazepam (Restoril®), triazolam (Halcion®) and others
Street names: benzos, tranks, downers...

What are they?

Benzodiazepines are a family of prescription drugs that are used mainly to relieve anxiety and to help people sleep. These are sedative drugs, which reduce activity in certain parts of your brain, resulting in a calming effect.

Other uses of benzodiazepines include:

·         inducing sedation for surgical and other medical procedures

·         treatment of alcohol withdrawal

·         controlling seizures

·         relaxation of skeletal muscles, such as the back and neck.

Because they are safer and equally effective, benzodiazepines have replaced older drugs with similar effects, such as barbiturates. There are currently over 50 benzodiazepines in use throughout the world. In the UK, benzodiazapines are only available legally with a prescrirtion. 

Where do benzodiazepines come from?

All drugs in this family are chemical compounds that are made in the laboratories of pharmaceutical companies.

What do benzodiazepines look like?

Benzodiazepines are usually in the form of tablets or capsules, in various colours, which are taken orally. A few of them are also prepared as a solution for injection.

Who uses benzodiazepines?

Although use of these drugs has declined in recent years, they are still one of the most widely prescribed drugs in the UK. Women are prescribed benzodiazepines twice as often as men, and a large proportion of these drugs are prescribed to older adults.

Non-medical use of benzodiazepines does occur, especially among people who abuse other drugs. Some people who abuse other drugs use benzodiazepines to enhance the effect of other sedative drugs, such as opioids and alcohol, or to ease the agitation of drugs that have stimulant effects, such as ecstasy or cocaine. Taking benzodiazepines in combination with other drugs can be dangerous. Even though women are prescribed benzodiazepines more often than men, an equal number of women and men are treated for misuse of benzodiazepines.

How do benzodiazepines make you feel?

Low to moderate doses of benzodiazepines can relieve mild to moderate anxiety and make you feel relaxed and calm. Higher doses can relieve insomnia and severe states of emotional distress, and may make you feel drowsy and possibly clumsy.

Benzodiazepines can impair the ability to learn and remember new information, as well as interfere with the ability to perform certain physical and mental tasks. Learning, memory and performance return to normal once the effect of the drug has worn off.

Side-effects such as confusion, disorientation, amnesia, depression and dizziness may be experienced by some people who take benzodiazepines. Other possible effects, which are extremely rare, include agitation and hallucinations.

The way benzodiazepines affect you depends on many factors, including:

·         what condition the medication was prescribed to treat, and the severity of the condition

·         the type of benzodiazepine you take

·         how much you take and how often you take it

·         how long you’ve been taking it

·         if you’ve taken any alcohol or other drugs (illicit, prescription, over-the-counter or herbal).

How long does the feeling last?

When taken by mouth, the effects of benzodiazepines may be felt within 30 to 40 minutes or within two to four hours, depending on the type taken. Most benzodiazepines have effects that are felt for several hours. The time it takes to eliminate these drugs from the body also varies depending on the type taken, and ranges from days to weeks.

Are benzodiazepines dangerous?

When taken as prescribed, for only a few weeks or months, benzodiazepines are safe. However, as with any other medications, there can be dangers associated with the use of these drugs:

·         Benzodiazepines can affect your ability to drive a vehicle or operate equipment safely, and increase the risk of collision, especially if taken in combination with alcohol or certain other drugs.

·         When used to induce sleep, benzodiazepines may have some “hangover” effects, such as morning and daytime drowsiness, which may impair your ability to perform tasks requiring alertness.

·         Sensitivity to the effects of benzodiazepines increases with age. When older adults take these drugs, they may become confused and have reduced muscle co-ordination, putting them at greater risk of falls, hip fractures and automobile accidents.

·         Regular use of benzodiazepines should be reduced gradually. When high doses have been used, medical help may be required. Stopping high-dose use abruptly may cause severe withdrawal symptoms. 

·         Dying from an overdose of benzodiazepines alone is rare. Risk of overdose increases when benzodiazepines are combined with other sedatives, such as alcohol or barbiturates, or with medications containing codeine or other opioid drugs. Possible overdose symptoms include slurred speech, confusion, severe drowsiness, weakness and staggering, slow heartbeat, breathing problems and unconsciousness.

Combined use of benzodiazepines and methadone is particularly dangerous, and may be fatal.

·         The risk of birth defects from taking benzodiazepines while pregnant has not been well established. If benzodiazepines are used regularly during pregnancy and particularly close to delivery date, there may be withdrawal symptoms in the newborn.

·         Benzodiazepines are excreted through breast milk, which means they are passed on to the baby.

·         Certain benzodiazepines have been associated with the facilitation of sexual assault, or “date rape.

 

Are Benzodiazepines addictive?

Psychological and/or physical dependence may develop with the use of benzodiazepines in some people in certain circumstances. The risk of dependence increases when benzodiazepines are taken regularly for more than a few months, especially when they are taken in higher than normal doses.

People who use benzodiazepines may develop tolerance to some of their effects. This means that the same dose taken over time no longer has the desired effect. Some people who develop tolerance may take higher and higher doses to feel the same intensity of effect as when they started taking the drug.

People who use benzodiazepines for insomnia often develop tolerance to the sleep-inducing effects within a few weeks of regular use; however, tolerance does not usually develop with occasional use. People who use benzodiazepines for anxiety rarely develop tolerance to the anxiety-relieving effects, and rarely increase their dose or lose control over their use of the drug. Tolerance to the effects of one type of benzodiazepine leads to tolerance to other benzodiazepines, and to other drugs with similar effects, including alcohol.

People are said to be psychologically dependent when they have a strong craving for the effects of the drug, and feel compelled to take it, even when the drug does not produce the desired effects. Stopping use of benzodiazepines can be difficult for these people.

People who are psychologically dependent may or may not also be physically dependent. People who are physically dependent will experience withdrawal symptoms if they stop using the drug abruptly. The severity of withdrawal symptoms depends on the type of benzodiazepine used, the amount used and length of time it is used, and on whether the drug is stopped abruptly. Withdrawal symptoms can include headache, insomnia, tension, sweating, difficulty concentrating, tremor, sensory disturbances, fear and fatigue, stomach upset and loss of appetite. Severe withdrawal symptoms from regular use of benzodiazepines in high doses may include agitation, paranoia, delirium and seizures. Long-term regular use of benzodiazepines should be reduced gradually, with medical supervision.

What are the long-term effects of taking benzodiazepines?

If prescribed by your physician, taken at recommended doses for periods of only weeks or months, and not taken with alcohol or certain other medications, benzodiazepines are safe medications.


OPIOIDS


Street names: junk, H, horse, smack, shit, skag (for heroin); M, morph, Miss Emma (for morphine); meth (for methadone); percs (for Percodan®, Percocet®); juice (for Dilaudid®)...

What are opioids?

Opioids are a family of drugs that have morphine-like effects. Their primary medical use is to relieve pain. Other medical uses include control of coughs and diarrhea, and the treatment of addiction to other opioids. Opioids can also produce euphoria, making them prone to abuse.

Laws regulate the possession and distribution of all opioids. Penalties for the illicit possession and distribution of opioids range from fines to lengthy imprisonment.

Where do opioids come from?

Some opioids, such as morphine and codeine, occur naturally in opium, a gummy substance collected from the seed pod of the opium poppy, which grows in southern Asia. Other opioids, such as heroin, are made by adding a chemical to morphine. Today, many drugs in the opioid category don't actually come from opium. Instead, they are made synthetically from chemicals. Examples of opioids produced by pharmaceutical companies include oxycodone (Percodan/Percocet), meperidine (Demerol®), hydrocodone (Tussionex®) and hydromorphone (Dilaudid).

What do opioids look like?

Prescription opioids come in various forms - tablets, capsules, syrups, solutions and suppositories.

Opium comes in dark brown chunks or powder, and is usually eaten or smoked. Heroin is usually a white or brownish powder.

Who uses opioids?

Doctors and dentists prescribe opioids to people with acute or chronic pain resulting from disease, surgery or injury. Opioids are also prescribed to people with moderate to severe coughs and diarrhea. Opioids such as methadone and buprenorphine are used to treat addiction to other opioids, such as heroin.

Because of the risk of abuse, opioids are prescribed cautiously for chronic pain. However, opioids are of particular value in controlling pain in the later stages of terminal illness, when the possibility of physical dependence is not significant.

Some people use opioids for their ability to produce a mellow, relaxed "high." Much attention is given to the use of illegal drugs, such as heroin, but some of the most commonly used and abused opioids are prescription drugs, such as codeine-containing Tylenol® (1, 2, 3 and 4), hydromorphone (Dilaudid), oxycodone (Percocet, Percodan), morphine and others.

Sometimes people who are prescribed opioids use them inappropriately. One warning sign is the early renewal of prescriptions. People who abuse opioids sometimes "double doctor," an illegal practice of filling an opioid prescription from more than one doctor, without letting the others know. These drugs are also stolen from pharmacies, and sold on the street.

Health professionals with access to prescription drugs are also at risk of opioid abuse. Some become dependent.

How do opioids make you feel?

The way opioids affect you depends on:

·         how much you use

·         how often and how long you use

·         how you take them (e.g., by injection, orally)

·         your mood, expectations and environment

·         your age

·         whether you have certain pre-existing medical or psychiatric conditions

·         whether you've taken any alcohol or other drugs (illicit, prescription, over-the-counter or herbal).

Low doses of opioids suppress the sensation of pain and the emotional response to pain. They may also produce euphoria, drowsiness, relaxation, difficulty concentrating, constricted pupils, slight decrease in respiratory rate, nausea, vomiting, constipation, loss of appetite and sweating. With higher doses, these effects are more intense and last longer.

The speed and intensity of the effects of opioids vary depending on how the drugs are taken. When taken orally, the effects come on gradually, and are usually felt in about 10 to 20 minutes. When injected into a vein, the effects are most intense and are felt within a minute.

How long does the feeling last?

When opioids are taken to relieve pain, how long the effect is felt varies somewhat depending on the type of opioid taken, although a single dose of many opioids can provide pain relief for four to five hours.

Are opioids dangerous?

Yes. Opioids can be dangerous if they are used without medical supervision. Here are some of the reasons:

·         All opioid drugs, especially heroin, are particularly dangerous when taken in large quantities or when taken with other depressants, such as alcohol or benzodiazepines. Opioids slow down the part of your brain that controls breathing. Signs of overdose include slow breathing, bluish skin and coma. Death can result, usually because breathing stops. If caught in time, overdose can be treated with drugs such as naloxone, which blocks the effects of opioids, including the effect on breathing.

·         People who seek the euphoric effects of opioids may take more and more of the drug as they develop tolerance to its effects. As the amount taken increases, so does the risk of overdose. If people with tolerance stop taking the drug, they lose their tolerance. If they then resume taking the same amount they took before they stopped, the risk of overdose is extreme.

·         Some people inject opioids to increase the intensity of the euphoric effect. Non-medical injection drug use carries a high risk of infection and disease due to dirty needles, sharing needles and impurities in the drug. The incidence of HIV and hepatitis is particularly high among injection drug users. Street drugs are almost never pure, and pharmaceutical tablets or capsules, when diluted for injection, contain substances that can permanently damage veins and organs.

·         Taking short-acting opioids, such as heroin, during pregnancy can result in premature delivery, low birth weight, infant withdrawal and infant death. Pregnant women who are dependent on opioids are treated with the long-acting opioid methadone to prevent withdrawal symptoms.

Are opioids addictive?

They can be.

When opioids are used occasionally under medical supervision, there is little risk of addiction. However, people who use opioids regularly for their pleasurable effects soon develop tolerance to these effects. They may then use more of the drug to achieve the original intensity of effect. Chronic use or abuse of opioids can lead to psychological and physical dependence.

People are psychologically dependent when a drug is so central to their thoughts, emotions and activities that the need to continue its use becomes a craving or compulsion.

With physical dependence, the body has adapted to the presence of the drug, and withdrawal symptoms occur if use of the drug is reduced or stopped abruptly.

The person who is physically dependent will experience withdrawal symptoms about six to twelve hours after last taking a short-acting opioid, such as heroin, and about one to three days after last taking a long-acting opioid, such as methadone. With short-acting opioids, withdrawal comes on quickly and is intense; with longer-acting opioids, withdrawal comes on more gradually, and is less intense.

Symptoms of withdrawal include uneasiness, yawning, tears, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, goose bumps and runny nose. These symptoms are accompanied by a craving for the drug. Symptoms usually subside after a week, although some symptoms, such as anxiety, insomnia and drug craving, may continue for a long time. Unlike alcohol withdrawal, opioid withdrawal is rarely life-threatening.

What are the long-term effects of taking opioids?

Long-term use of opioids can cause mood instability, constricted pupils (impaired night vision), constipation, decreased libido and menstrual irregularities. Addiction to opioids can have devastating long-term social, financial and emotional effects.


KETAMINE
Street Name: special K, K, ket, vitamin K, cat tranquilizers

What is ketamine?

Ketamine is a fast-acting anaesthetic and painkiller used primarily in veterinary surgery. It is also used to a lesser extent in human medicine.

Ketamine can produce vivid dreams or hallucinations, and make the user feel as though the mind is separated from the body. This effect is called "dissociation," which is also the effect of the related drug PCP. When ketamine is given to humans for medical reasons, it is often given in combination with another drug that prevents hallucinations.

What does ketamine look like?

The ketamine that is manufactured for medical use is sold in a liquid form, though it is usually converted into a white powder before it is sold illicitly. The powder is snorted, mixed into drinks or smoked with marijuana or tobacco. The liquid is added to drinks, or injected, usually into a muscle, because injecting it into a vein usually causes loss of consciousness.

Who uses ketamine?

Ketamine is legally available only to veterinarians and medical doctors. It is then stolen or diverted, and sold illegally on the street or in clubs for recreational use.

Ketamine has been used for its veterinarians effects for nearly 30 years. Users include those who take the drug for the feeling that it allows them to enter another reality. A recent increase in the popularity of the drug among young people may be related to its availability as a "club drug" at parties and "raves."

Ketamine dissolves in liquid, allowing it to be slipped into drinks, and its sedative effects have been used to prevent victims from resisting sexual assault. For this reason it has been commonly referred to in the media as a "date rape" drug. Take caution at parties and bars - watch your drink.

How does ketamine make you feel?

The way ketamine - or any other drug - affects you depends on many factors, including:

·         your age and your body weight

·         how much you take and how often you take it

·         how long you've been taking it

·         the method you use to take the drug

·         the environment you're in

·         whether or not you have certain pre-existing medical or psychiatric conditions

·         if you've taken any alcohol or other drugs (illicit, prescription, over-the counter or herbal).

The effects of ketamine are usually felt between one and ten minutes after taking the drug. Users report a drunken and dizzy feeling and a quick numbness in the body. The range of visual experiences are reported to include blurred vision, seeing "trails," "astral travel" and intense and terrifying hallucinations. Some report feelings of weightlessness, and "out-of-body" or "near-death" experiences.

When ketamine is taken in lower doses, users may feel sleepy, distracted and withdrawn. They may find it more difficult to think clearly, feel confused and have a distorted perception of time and body. At higher doses they may babble, not remember who or where they are, stumble if they try to walk, feel their hearts race and find it difficult to breathe. Too high a dose of ketamine causes loss of consciousness.

How long does the feeling last?

The effects of ketamine usually last about an hour. Some users may feel low or anxious, have some memory loss and experience flashbacks of their drug experience long after the effects of the drug have worn off.

Is ketamine dangerous?

Yes. If it is not used under the care of health professionals in a medical setting, users of ketamine put themselves at risk a number of ways.

Like all anaesthetics, ketamine prevents the user from feeling pain. This means that if injury occurs, the user may not know it. Depending on the amount of drug taken, those under its effects may have difficulty standing up or speaking, resulting in an increased risk of injury.

As with other anaesthetics, ketamine may cause vomiting.  Eating or drinking before taking the drug increases the risk of choking on vomit.

When taken in higher doses, ketamine may depress the central nervous system. This can reduce the level of oxygen that gets to the brain, heart and other muscles, and may even cause death.

The ketamine sold at clubs may be mixed with other drugs, which in combination could make it even more dangerous. Combining ketamine with alcohol or other sedatives can be fatal.

Driving or operating machinery while under the influence of ketamine, or any drug, increases the risk of physical injury to the user, and increases the risk of injury to others.

Is ketamine addictive?

If ketamine is used regularly, the user becomes more tolerant to the effects of the drug; meaning more and more is needed to achieve the same effect. There have been no reports of typical symptoms of drug withdrawal when users stop taking ketamine.

What are the long-term effects of using ketamine?

Since there has been little research about the long-term non-medical use of ketamine, the long-term effects are not known.

Causes of Addiction

Factors that contribute to the onset of addiction.


The risk factors that contribute to addiction are biological and environmental, and are usually combinations of both. Research on addiction indicates that drug abuse often begins in adolescence. There are several reasons for this. For one, the parts of the brain that control judgement, self-control, and future planning do not fully mature until young adulthood. As a result, the teen brain is wired for risk-taking and experimenting. Trying new things is part of the process of maturing and developing the brain’s ability to evaluate risk and make decisions. Another important reason why drug use frequently begins in adolescence is that teens are often strongly influenced by their peers, who may convince them that “it’s ok because everybody’s doing it.” The good news is that teens can control factors that put them at risk of engaging in harmful behaviors, such as drug abuse. However, in order to do so, they need to understand what those risk factors are. 

 

HASHISH
What is 

Hashish

?

Hashish is a cannabinoid, like marijuana. It consists of the THC-rich resinous material of the cannabis plant, which is collected, dried, and then compressed into a variety of forms, such as balls, cakes, or cookie-like sheets. The Middle East, North Africa, and Pakistan/Afghanistan are the main sources of hashish. The THC content of hashish that reached the States, where demand is limited, averaged 6 percent in the 1990s. 


What does it look like?

Hashish is a reddish-brown to black colored resinous material of the cannabis plant, which is collected, dried, and then compressed into a variety of forms, such as balls, cakes, or cookie-like sheets.





OPIUM
What are the street names/slang terms for 

Opium

?
Big O, Black stuff, Block.
What is 

Opium

?
An opioid or narcotic, made from the white liquid in the poppy plant.
What does it look like?
A black or brown block of tar like substance.
How is it used?
Smoked.
What are its short-term effects?
Opium can cause euphoria, followed by a sense of well-being and a calm drowsiness or sedation. Breathing slows, potentially to the point of unconsciousness and death with large doses. Other effects can include nausea, confusion and constipation. Use of opium with other substances that depress the central nervous system, such as alcohol, antihistamines, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, or general anesthetics, increases the risk of life-threatening respiratory depression.
What are its long-term effects?
Long-term use can lead to drug tolerance, meaning the user needs more of the drug to get similar euphorix effects.  Opium use can also lead to physical dependence and addiction.  Withdrawal symptoms can occur if long term use is reduced or stopped


Biological Factors

A person’s unique biology—their genes, age, gender, and other factors—plays a role in the risk of experimentation with drugs and the possible onset of addiction. Biological factors that can contribute to someone’s risk for drug abuse and addiction include:

Genetics 

You may have heard that alcohol and drug addiction can run in families. This is true, but just because someone in your family has struggled with addiction does not mean that you are destined to do the same. However, having a family member who has experienced addiction does mean that a person may be at increased risk of becoming addicted. Genes, combined with other factors, are estimated to contribute about 40%–60% of the risk for drug addiction.



Developmental stage

Research shows that the earlier a person begins to use drugs, the greater the risk for addiction later in life. There are likely many reasons for this, but one is that the human brain undergoes dramatic changes during adolescence, which continue into early adulthood. Teens’ brains are especially at risk because they are still maturing. Drugs exert long-lasting influences on a developing brain that can increase a person’s vulnerability to later drug abuse and addiction.

 

Sensitivity to drugs

Have you ever wondered why some people can drink a caffeinated beverage and it has no effect on them, while others are bouncing off the walls and can’t sleep? People have different sensitivities to a drug’s effects—in fact, what one person likes, another may hate. These differences affect the likelihood that someone will continue to take drugs and become addicted to them.

 

The Substance

Certain substances are more addictive than others, and risk of full-blown addiction is higher for drugs such as heroin, crack cocaine and methamphetamine because of their ability to create dependence after just a few uses.

 

Injury/Disease

Painkillers that are legitimately prescribed by the doctor following an illness or disease can cause the person to develop both physical and psychological dependencies. If the prescription is stopped, reduced or not increased as the individuals tolerance level increases, an inadvertent addiction can be caused. Sometimes the person does not realise they have an addiction until the substance is denied or reduced.

 

 Mental illness/Emotional disorders

Mental disorders, such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and others, may put people at greater risk of using drugs and becoming addicted. Many people suffering from these disorders, especially when undiagnosed or misdiagnosed, effectively self-medicate with drugs in the belief they make them feel better and more able to cope with life. Also, mental disorders affect the same brain circuits and chemicals as do drugs of abuse. The overlapping effects of a mental disorder and a drug may increase the risk for addiction.

 

Low Frustration Tolerance

One common factor found amongst addicts of all types is a low frustration tolerance. Addicts are highly susceptible to the negative effects of stress, often experiencing distress at a relatively low level of frustration. They become easily upset over everyday stress factors, creating a need for escape. They find this escape in their addiction.

 

Gender

Studies show differences in the way drugs affect male and female bodies, as well as how and why men and women use drugs. For example, women are more likely than men to become addicted to drugs designed to treat anxiety or sleeplessness, while men are more likely than women to abuse alcohol and marijuana. In the past, studies showed that, overall, there was a higher rate of drug use and addiction among men than among women. However, in recent years, this gender gap is closing—current studies show that equal numbers of male and female teens are reporting that they are using drugs. The consequences of this shifting pattern remain to be seen.

 

Ethnicity

Ethnicity is a factor that has both biological and environmental components. For instance, some ethnic groups show different rates of metabolism of drugs (how drugs are broken down by the body), which can affect drug sensitivity. But there are also cultural factors that influence drug use, and societal factors that impact the consequences of drug use. For example, while overall drug use by African-Americans and Hispanics is lower compared to white Americans, the consequences—such as trouble with the law or risk for disease such as HIV/AIDS—disproportionately affect minorities.

 

Environmental Factors

Environmental factors are related to a person’s surroundings and the influences he or she lives with. Environmental factors that can contribute to someone’s risk for drug abuse and addiction include:

 

Home and family

The home environment has an important impact on a person’s risk for drug abuse and addiction. Teens are at greater risk if they live in chaotic homes where there is little parental or adult supervision. This type of home environment can be the result of parents or older family members who suffer from a mental disorder, engage in criminal behavior, or abuse drugs or alcohol. On the other hand, a nurturing home environment, as well as clear rules of conduct at home, can be protective factors that reduce the potential for drug abuse.

 

Availability of drugs

Research has clearly shown that the availability of drugs in a person’s home, school, or community is one of the key risk factors for a person developing drug problems. For example, the abuse of prescription drugs, which has been on the rise for the last several years, is occurring at the same time as a sharp rise in medical prescriptions. This increased availability, combined with a lack of understanding about the dangers of misusing prescription drugs, affects the risk of addiction.

 

Social and other stressors

Stress, and particularly early exposure to stress, is linked to early drug use and later drug problems. For example, stressors such as physical or sexual abuse, or witnessing violence, may contribute to someone’s risk for addiction. In addition, poverty is often linked to stress, and to chaotic lifestyles, which may increase the risk for drug abuse. In contrast, involvement in social networks that are supportive, and where disapproval of drug use is the norm, can protect against drug use. These groups might be sports teams, religious groups, or community groups.

 

Peer influence

Associating with peers who engage in risky behaviors and who use drugs is another key risk factor, especially for teens. Choosing friends who do not use drugs can protect a person from drug abuse and addiction.

 

School performance

Academic failure may be a sign that a teen is currently abusing drugs and is in need of intervention, or it may be a risk factor for later drug abuse. On the other hand, teens who are successful in school, have positive self-esteem, and develop close bonds with adults outside their families (such as teachers) are less likely to abuse drugs.

Loneliness

Addiction, especially to substances can provide a comfort blanket or a coping mechanism to those who are lonely, are withdrawn from society or who carry emotional pain. For example, those suffering from bereavement, relationship break-up, and other traumatic experiences. Drugs are frequently used by some people to numb the feelings they believe are too painful to cope with. Also, to help them sleep, feel 'normal', and generally cope with the stresses of everyday life.

 

The bare facts

76.3 million persons with alcohol use disorders worldwide.
At least 15.3 million persons who have drug use disorders.
Injecting drug use reported in 136 countries, of which 93 report HIV infection among this population.
For every dollar invested in drug treatment, 7 dollars are saved in health and social costs.
The global burden

Psychoactive substance use poses a significant threat to the health, social and economic fabric of families, communities and nations. The extent of worldwide psychoactive substance use is estimated at 2 billion alcohol users, 1.3 billion smokers and 185 million drug users.

Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALY) are calculated by adding the years of life lost due to premature mortality and the years of life lost due to living with disability. The years of life lost due to disability are determined from morbidity, where each disease has been given a certain disability weight, which is multiplied with the time spent with that disease, to arrive at the years of life lost due to disability.

In an initial estimate of factors responsible for the global burden of disease, tobacco, alcohol and illicit drugs contributed together 12.4% of all deaths worldwide in the year 2000. Looking at the percentage of total years of life lost due to these substances, it has been estimated that they account for 8.9%.

The disease burden in Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) is significantly higher in Europe and the Western Pacific than in Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean. Also the share of the burden for the different substances varies, tobacco is the largest burden in Europe and South-East Asia while alcohol poses the largest burden in Africa, the Americas, and Western Pacific.

The level of economic development in countries also plays an important role. The burden from psychoactive substance use is higher in the developed countries than especially in the high mortality developing countries. The sex ratio for the attributable deaths of psychoactive substance use varies from 80% male for tobacco and illicit drug use and 90% for alcohol. With regard to DALYs it is between 77 and 85% for all substances. The largest proportion of DALYs is on males in the developed countries, where psychoactive substance use accounts for 33.4% of all DALYs.

One of the differences between these three categories of psychoactive substances is the fact that they inflict their disease burden on different age groups. Illicit drug use inflicts its mortality burden earliest in life, alcohol also mainly (65%) before the age of 60, while 70% of the tobacco deaths occur after the age of 60. 


Drugs on the Brain
Experts are constantly researching the effects of recreational drugs on the brain, from paranoia to depression. Martin Barnes, of independent charity DrugScope, explains what they've discovered.

Speed and crystal meth 
(amphetamine and methamphetamine)
Short term: speed can quickly make you feel energetic and confident but with the high can come panic, irritability and ‘is-everyone-looking-at-me’ paranoia. Smoking a version of speed called methamphetamine (crystal meth) can give an intense and prolonged high but a severe comedown, when feelings of hopelessness and sadness are common.

Long term: there’s no research on the long-term heavy use of speed but Professor David Nutt of the psychopharmacology department of Bristol University has seen users, especially those who have injected speed regularly, who appear to be permanently depressed. They have difficulty thinking straight, remembering things, problem solving and coping with their emotions.

Steroids
Short term: steroids pump up muscle mass but can bring on ‘roid rage’ with users becoming physically violent and sexually abusive. Steroids can make sleep difficult and cause confusion, depression and paranoia.

Long term: they can lead to psychological dependence, where people become convinced they cannot perform well without the drug.

Valium (tranquillisers, benzodiazepines)
Short term: valium is a sedative and may be taken to relax or help a comedown from drugs such as cocaine or speed.

Long term: the body quickly gets used to benzodiazepines and soon needs more to get the same effect. It’s possible to become addicted in just a few weeks and withdrawal can be difficult and make people feel sick, unable to sleep and very anxious. Sudden withdrawal from high doses can be very dangerous and result in serious convulsions (fits).

Marijuana, weed, dope, skunk (cannabis)
Short term: people smoke cannabis to relax and get high, but it can make it difficult to remember things, even if they’ve only just happened. It can cause anxiety attacks or feelings of paranoia. "If you use a lot of cannabis regularly, you’re putting yourself at risk of some temporary problems, such as confusion or delusions," says Barnes.

Long term: "It’s possible that cannabis might trigger long-term mental health problems, including psychosis, schizophrenia and depression," says Barnes. "If you or someone in your family has mental health problems, it’s best to avoid cannabis altogether."

Cocaine and crack cocaine
Short term: coke makes you feel high, confident and full of energy but this can tip over into feeling anxious, panicky and paranoid. People can feel tired and depressed after taking coke and excessive use can trigger paranoia.

Long term: giving up coke and crack can be very difficult for dependent users. There's little available evidence on the long-term mental effects of coke use.

Ecstasy (E)
Short term: E makes you feel relaxed, high, ‘loved-up’ and ready to dance all night. But bad experiences of paranoia or feeling ‘out of it’ can happen with high doses or to people who are already feeling anxious.

Long term: regular use may lead to sleep problems, lack of energy, drastic weight loss, depression or anxiety. People can become psychologically dependent on the feelings of euphoria and calmness that E gives them. Professor Nutt says:

"There’s no evidence so far of permanent depression after using ecstasy. Once people stop taking it their brains recover well."

Heroin (smack)
Short term: heroin slows down the body functions and so stops both physical and emotional pain.

Long term: heroin can be physically addictive. "The withdrawal from heroin is really unpleasant," says Professor Nutt. "Long-term heroin users are often depressed because of their overall lifestyle." Coming off and staying off heroin can be very difficult.

Ketamine (K)
Short term: ketamine is an anaesthetic that makes people feel relaxed and high. But its effects are unpredictable. "It’s like drinking a whole bottle of vodka: you don’t have any control over what you’re doing," says Professor Nutt. "The biggest danger is wandering off in a daze and having an accident or getting lost and staying out all night, resulting in hypothermia."

Long term: tolerance develops quickly so people need more K to get high.

"The longer term effects are more difficult to pinpoint but may include flashbacks and losing your memory and ability to concentrate," says Barnes. "Occasionally people get psychotic symptoms. Some people find it hard to stop taking K."

Acid (LSD) and magic mushrooms
Short term: LSD and magic mushrooms are hallucinogenic, making people see, hear and experience the world in a different, ‘trippy’ way. But users may also become panicky and suffer from paranoia. Acid can last 12 hours or more which, if it’s a bad trip, can be very frightening. "Hospitals see significant numbers of teenagers coming in during the October ‘mushroom season’ with temporary psychotic problems," says Professor Nutt.

Long term: some LSD users experience flashbacks.

"Sometimes people get psychotic and paranoid, believing or seeing things that aren’t really there," says Barnes.

Solvents
Short term: solvents make you feel drunk and sometimes cause hallucinations.

Long term: heavy use of solvents poisons your brain and can damage it, making it hard to control your emotions, think straight, or remember things.

(Source:http://www.nhs.uk)