Download Quick Notes WHAT ARE STIMULANTS?

Illegal Drugs
LESSON 6.5
WHAT ARE STIMULANTS?
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Quick Notes
psychoactive drug
a chemical that affects
the central nervous system
and distorts brain functions
such as perception, learning
and coordination
timulants are drugs that speed up the activity of the central
nervous system. They temporarily increase alertness and cause a
general feeling of euphoria or well-being. Stimulants are one type
of psychoactive drug—chemicals that affect the central nervous
system and distort brain functions such as perception, learning
and coordination.
Caffeine and nicotine are examples of mild, legal stimulants.
Much stronger stimulants include cocaine, methamphetamine
and other amphetamines. These drugs are illegal and highly
addictive. Possession of illegal stimulants is a federal crime
punishable by fines and prison time. Selling or supplying cocaine,
amphetamines or methamphetamine to others carries severe
penalties, including life in prison in some states.
stimulant
a drug that speeds up
the activity of the central
nervous system
dopamine
the pleasure producing
neurotransmitter that makes
a person feel pleasure
tolerance
needing more and more
of the drug to achieve the
same high
The Special Danger of Stimulants
Stimulants are notorious for being among the most addictive class
of drugs in existence. Very few drugs are able to hijack the brain’s
chemical balance in the same way as powerful stimulants such as
methamphetamine or cocaine.
These powerful stimulants wreak
havoc on the brain’s reward center
(also known as the pleasure center).
They cause neurons to accelerate
the production of dopamine,
the pleasure-producing
neurotransmitter that makes the
user feel high. However, to keep
getting the same high requires
the use of more and more of the
stimulant. This is called tolerance.
The result is that when the drug
is not present, it becomes harder
and harder to feel pleasure—this
leads to dependence on the drug.
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6.5-4
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HOW STIMULANTS AFFECT THE BRAIN
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W
hen a powerful stimulant is consumed, a series of chemical reactions occur in the area of the brain that
controls pleasure. The steps below describe how the body reacts to the presence of a stimulant like cocaine
or methamphetamine:
Step 1:
The stimulant upsets the brain’s natural chemical
balance by taking control of the pleasure center.
Step 2:
The stimulant causes the brain’s neurons to accelerate
the production of dopamine, the pleasure-producing
neurotransmitter that makes the user feel high. The
dopamine flows freely and the user feels a tremendous
high until the stimulant wears off.
Step 3:
Overloaded with dopamine, the body’s balance system reacts—the
neurons produce less dopamine to compensate for the extra, druginduced dopamine flooding its system. Since the body is producing less
dopamine naturally, the user will need a greater amount of the drug
to get high again. This happens each time the user gets high—every
episode requires a larger dose than the last to achieve the same feeling.
Step 4:
The brain’s pleasure center is depleted of dopamine, so it gets harder
and harder for the user to feel any sort of normal pleasure without the
stimulant drug. This process is called tolerance and is a sign of physical
dependence on the stimulant drug. Without continued use of the drug,
the user’s body will begin to go into withdrawal.
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EFFECTS OF STIMULANTS ON THE MIND AND BODY
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Short-Term Effects of Stimulants
l increased heart and breathing rate
l elevated blood pressure
l dilated pupils, blurred vision
l decreased appetite
l rapid or irregular heartbeat
l loss of coordination
l dizziness, collapse
l anxiety, restlessness
l delusions
l high fever
l hyperactive behavior
Long-Term Effects of Stimulants
l insomnia
lbronchitis and other respiratory complications
l severe depression
l
inability to resist and combat infection
l aggressiveness
l
hepatitis or AIDS through shared needles
ldamage to the nasal cartilage
(from snorting)
l
addiction
l
heart attack
l
seizures
l stomach disorders
l possible liver damage
l paranoid psychosis
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THE BINGE ABUSE CYCLE
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P
eople who regularly abuse stimulants can quickly find themselves riding a rollercoaster of ups and downs
called the binge abuse cycle:
The Binge Abuse Cycle
Rush
(5 - 30 minutes)
Heartbeat races, blood pressure soars, user experiences
a wave of intense pleasure.
High
(4 - 16 hours)
Rush is replaced with feelings of power and aggressiveness.
Binge
(3 - 15 days)
User becomes physically and mentally hyperactive while continuing to use stimulants to maintain the high.
Tweaking
(3 - 25 days)
User becomes irritable, paranoid and unable to sleep. The body’s energy reserves are used up.
Craving intensifies and no amount satisfies the user.
Crash
(1 - 3 days)
Total physical and emotional exhaustion. Lethargy and long periods of restless sleep are interrupted only
by severe hunger.
Almost Normal
(2 - 14 days)
If no more stimulants are consumed, there is a return to an almost normal state—but it does not last.
Users often go back to abusing stimulants at this point.
Withdrawal
(30 - 90 days)
If no more stimulants are consumed, deep depression and lethargy set in. Intense craving for the drug may
lead to suicidal tendencies. The stage is now set for a return to the cycle, as taking the drug will provide relief.
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COMMON STIMULANTS
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Cocaine
Cocaine is a stimulant made from
the leaves of the coca plant of South
America that is usually sold as a white
powder. Users typically snort cocaine
through the nose with a rolled-up
piece of paper or currency. The high
from snorting cocaine typically lasts
15 to 30 minutes.
Cocaine in powder form
Crack cocaine
Crack
Crack is made from mixing cocaine with baking soda. When heated, it forms crystals or “rocks”
that can be smoked. Crack is named for the sound it produces when smoked. The high usually
lasts only 5 to 10 minutes. When the high is over, the user’s dopamine level plummets, leaving
him or her depressed and desperate to feel better—by using even more crack. Aside from
addiction and depression, other psychological effects are paranoia and delusions. Crack users
often believe that bugs are crawling under their skin. Sudden death can occur due to cardiac
or respiratory arrest.
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6.5-8
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COMMON STIMULANTS CONTINUED
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Methamphetamine
Methamphetamine, a type of amphetamine, is a highly addictive
illegal drug that causes euphoria, anxiety and extreme agitation.
It may be in powder or crystallized form. It can be smoked,
snorted, swallowed or injected. Street names include ice, crank,
meth, zip, speed and chalk.
A person under the influence of meth may begin to talk excitedly,
become extremely energetic, eat less, display reckless sexual
behavior and behave irrationally. Like crack users, meth users
may obsessively pick at imaginary bugs crawling under their skin.
Because meth speeds up the central nervous system, a user may
suffer convulsions, stroke and cardiac arrest.
Methamphetamine use can alter the brain’s chemistry, leading
to memory loss, aggression, violence, psychosis and addiction.
According to the National Institute on Drug Addiction (NIDA),
methamphetamine has many negative effects on the brain.
Some of these may not be reversible. Studies have also shown
that long-term meth users are more susceptible to Parkinson’s
disease later in life.
Meth Mouth
Meth mouth is caused by a
combination of drug-induced
xerostomia (chronic dry mouth),
neglected oral hygiene and
extended periods of tooth
grinding and clenching.
Methamphetamine use can also lead to damaged teeth that may
blacken and fall out. Amphetamine, methamphetamine’s parent
drug, induces similar, but less potent, effects.
Meth in powder form
known as “8-ball”
Meth Bugs
Crystal meth
Many users feel a sensation of
small insects, known as meth bugs,
crawling under their skin. Addicts
obsessively scratch and pick at their
flesh, unsuccessfully trying to relieve
the itch. This creates open sores that
often become infected.
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COMMON STIMULANTS CONTINUED
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Faces of Meth
These are real pictures of meth users
before and after using the drug. The
striking physical changes occurred
rapidly. Meth causes blood vessels to
constrict, which causes the skin to lose
its elasticity and natural luster, thus
making individuals look much older
than they are. Acne is common, as
are small sores known as “meth bugs”
which are often picked at by users
who imagine that bugs are crawling
under their skin.
before
before
after
after
Meth Labs
Being in or around a meth lab is extremely dangerous.
When the ingredients are combined, they often ignite
causing explosions, fires and the release of toxic fumes.
In addition, waste materials are often dumped outside
causing further damage to the environment and the
drinking water. Signs of possible meth labs include a
strong smell of urine or ammonia, little or no activity
during the day but lots of activity at night, extra efforts
made to cover windows and reinforce doors, residents
who never put their trash out and lab materials around
the property. If you see evidence that makes you
suspect a meth lab, call law enforcement immediately.
Do not attempt to gather evidence on your own and
never handle any materials that might be lying around.
Meth lab
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STIMULANTS AND THE LAW
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P
ossession of cocaine, amphetamine
and methamphetamine is a federal
crime punishable by fines and prison
time. Selling or supplying these drugs
to others carries severe penalties,
including life in prison in some states.
Quick Notes
Schedule II drug
Experimenting with illegal stimulants
may lead users into a criminal lifestyle.
To maintain an adequate supply of drugs, users often must
associate with drug dealers. As their habit increases, it becomes more
costly, forcing many users to steal from friends and family members
because they cannot fight off the intense addiction and withstand painful
withdrawal symptoms.
a drug that has a strong
potential for abuse and
dependence and is
approved for certain
severely restricted medical
uses but not intended for
common medical usage
Cocaine, amphetamine and methamphetamine are classified
as Schedule II drugs, which means that they have a strong
potential for abuse and dependence and are approved for
only a few severely restricted medical uses. Amphetamine,
for example, is used in the drug Adderall®, which treats ADHD.
Most of the stimulant drug abuse in the United States involves
illegal stimulants such as cocaine and methamphetamine.
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Illegal Drugs
LESSON 6.5
HALLUCINOGENS
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H
allucinogens are illegal drugs that alter and distort emotions,
thoughts and sensory perceptions such as seeing, touching, hearing
and smelling. Club drugs such as ketamine and ecstasy as well as LSD,
peyote, mescaline, mushrooms and PCP are examples.
Hallucinogens alter a user’s sense of consciousness. Some forms
of hallucinogens—particularly psychedelic drugs—have been used
in religious rites as far back as 500 B.C. The use of hallucinogens for
recreational purposes peaked in the 1960s and 1970s when Timothy
Leary encouraged youth to “tune in, turn on and drop out.”
Today, hallucinogens are still a major concern and health hazard.
Not only are they illegal to buy, sell or possess in the United States,
they are also extremely risky because their effects are so unpredictable.
Hallucinogens impair a person’s coordination and sensory perceptions
so severely that it becomes hazardous to perform simple tasks.
Hallucinogen users often report distressing reactions (known as “bad
trips”) such as panic attacks, extreme fearfulness, anxiety, depression,
paranoia, delusions and disorientation. In rare instances, hallucinogens
use can trigger drug-induced psychosis—long-lasting symptoms such
as dramatic mood swings and vivid visual disturbances that persist for
weeks and months after ingesting the drug.
Psilocybin is a hallucinogen
contained in certain mushrooms.
These “magic” mushrooms
are generally grown in Mexico
and Central America and have
been used in native rituals for
thousands of years. Effects can
vary, but often include nausea,
paranoia and anxiety. Classified
as a Schedule I drug.
Mushrooms
Mushrooms, a kind of fungus, come in many varieties. Some mushrooms
have hallucinogenic properties that produce distorted perceptions
of sight, sound, taste, smell and touch. These “magic mushrooms” or
“shrooms” usually contain psilocybin, a psychedelic drug similar to LSD.
The hallucinogenic properties of mushrooms have been used in
religious ceremonies for centuries. For example, the Aztecs of modernday Mexico believed that the altered states of consciousness created by
hallucinogenic mushrooms allowed them to communicate with their
gods and other spirits.
Continued on the next page
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LESSON 6.5—Illegal Drugs
6.5-12
Peyote is a small, spineless
cactus whose principal active
ingredient is the hallucinogen,
mescaline. From earliest recorded
time, peyote has been used by
natives in northern Mexico and
the southwestern United States
in religious rites. Mescaline
can be extracted from peyote or
produced synthetically.
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HALLUCINOGENS CONTINUED
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O
ther effects of hallucinogenic mushrooms include restlessness,
increased heart rate, feelings of euphoria, muscle spasms and
increased body temperature. Symptoms appear approximately 30
to 90 minutes after ingestion and can last for hours. Users sometimes
have “bad trips,” which can produce confusion, anxiety and panic.
In rare instances, users can experience flashbacks—recurring episodes
of anxiety and panic.
Hallucinogenic mushrooms are classified as a Schedule I drug and
are illegal. Possession can result in long prison terms and supplying
mushrooms to others carries even longer sentences.
LSD
LSD is the most common
hallucinogen. Each square
or “tab” on this blotter paper
contains a hit of LSD.
LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) is a powerful mood-changing
hallucinogen that distorts a user’s sense of reality. Usually called
“acid,” it is produced from a fungus that grows on rye and other
grains. It is sold in many forms including capsules, microdot tablets,
liquids and thin squares of gelatin known as “window panes.” Liquid
LSD is commonly applied to sugar cubes or colored blotter paper.
Each perforated piece of blotter paper is called a “tab” or “hit.”
PCP
PCP is sometimes classified as a hallucinogen because of its mindaltering effects. A person cannot know in advance how his or her
body will react to PCP because it acts as a stimulant, depressant,
hallucinogen and anesthetic all at once. Its effects are unpredictable.
Some users report feeling detached from reality. Other users may
experience a sensation of increased strength and resistance to pain
in addition to a distorted sense of time and space. Both of these
effects have resulted in users’ sustaining injuries and dying in fires
or other accidents because they felt they were in no danger and
could not feel pain.
Liquid LSD on sugar cube
PCP in crystalline form and a vial
of PCP dissolved in water
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Illegal Drugs
LESSON 6.5
CLUB DRUGS
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T
he term club drug is used to describe a number of drugs that first became popular among young
people at all-night dance parties called “raves.” Users have reported many harmful effects including
hallucinations, amnesia, paranoia, elevated body temperature and death. It is illegal to buy, sell or
use club drugs.
Ecstasy
MDMA or ecstasy
DMA or ecstasy (3-4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) is a synthetic club drug with
M
stimulant and hallucinogenic properties. Street names include X, E, Roll and Adam. The drug
comes in a round tablet form that is usually imprinted with designs such as smiley faces, hearts
or peace signs.
Physical effects of ecstasy include muscle spasms, involuntary teeth clenching, nausea, blurred
vision, rapid heartbeat and sweating. Some ecstasy users have died of severe dehydration and
hyperthermia (extremely high body temperature).
Psychologically, ecstasy can make a person feel more self-confident and empathetic with
lowered inhibitions. Users may also experience depression, sleep problems, anxiety and
paranoia long after taking the drug.
Repeated use of ecstasy damages the brain cells that produce serotonin, which has an
important role in the regulation of mood, appetite, pain, learning and memory.
Continued on the next page
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LESSON 6.5—Illegal Drugs
6.5-14
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CLUB DRUGS CONTINUED
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GHB
GHB (gamma hydroxybutyrate) is an
addictive and powerful sedative club drug.
Originally sold in health food stores as a food
supplement, it was banned in 1990 due to
overdoses, date rapes and numerous fatalities.
In the United States, it is now a federal crime to
possess, manufacture or distribute GHB.
GHB may be produced as a clear liquid, as a
tablet or capsule made of white powder. It
is colorless, odorless and virtually tasteless
except for a slight salty taste. GHB looks just
like water, so a person may not realize that he
or she has consumed it.
GHB in liquid form
GHB depresses the central nervous system,
causing a person to feel weak and confused.
At low doses, it can cause nausea, vomiting,
dizziness, confusion, drowsiness and loss of
coordination. At high doses, it can result in
unconsciousness, seizures, coma or death.
forms
GHB in powder and liquid
Ketamine
etamine is an anesthetic that causes
K
profound depression and numbness.
Its primary use has been as a general
anesthetic by veterinarians. At low
doses, ketamine causes a floating,
dreamlike, euphoric state. At higher
doses, it can cause vomiting, impaired
vision, convulsions, severe breathing
problems, coma and death.
Ketamine
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Module 6—Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs
LESSON 6.5—Illegal Drugs
Illegal Drugs
LESSON 6.5
CLUB DRUGS CONTINUED
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Rohypnol
Rohypnol is a powerful, addictive club drug. It may be
legally prescribed as a sedative in other countries but it
is illegal in the United States. Tasteless and odorless, it
dissolves easily in drinks, can cause amnesia of recent
events and has been implicated in sexual assaults and
date rapes. Possession of Rohypnol can result in long
prison sentences. Slang terms for Rohypnol include
roofies, forget-me pill, the date rape pill, Mexican
Valium, roach and roaches.
Rohypnol
GHB, ketamine and Rohypnol are the three most common date rape drugs or drugs used to facilitate
sexual assault. Date rape can be committed by anyone—an acquaintance, a friend, a stranger, a male
or a female. Stay alert to protect yourself from becoming a victim.
Always get your own drink at parties and never leave your drink unattended—not even for a few
seconds. It is easy for someone to slip GHB, ketamine or Rohypnol into a drink (alcoholic or nonalcoholic). These drugs can make a person feel paralyzed and may lead to unconsciousness. Usually,
the person will have no memory of events that unfolded while under the influence of the drug.
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CLUB DRUGS AND YOUR BRAIN
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R
ecently, scientists have discovered that the use of many club
drugs causes extensive damage to areas of the brain critical for
thought, comprehension and memory.
Quick Notes
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that regulates mood, learning,
memory, sleep and pain. Club drugs like ecstasy cause harm to
serotonin neurons, reducing the supply by 20 to 60%. Although
these neurons can regrow, they do not grow back normally and
might not grow back in the right location.
serotonin
a neurotransmitter that
regulates mood, learning,
memory, sleep and pain
Scientists conducted a study in which they gave monkeys
ecstasy twice a day for four days. The brain scan on the left is
taken from a monkey who was not given the drug. It shows
many areas of active serotonin sites. The middle and right
brain scans belong to monkeys who did receive ecstasy. There
are many dark sections where serotonin is not present—even
seven years after the study was completed.
Ecstasy
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LESSON 6.5
NARCOTICS
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N
arcotics are drugs that can be legally
obtained only by a prescription and are
used to alleviate pain, suppress coughing
and induce anesthesia. Natural narcotics are
derived from the opium poppy. Synthetic
narcotics like OxyContin® and Vicodin® are
prescribed as pain relievers but are often
used illegally as recreational drugs. For
more details on prescription pain relievers,
consult Lesson 6.6.
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Heroin and syringe
Heroin
Heroin is an opiate drug processed from morphine, a naturally
occurring substance in the Asian poppy plant. Morphine has been
used as a narcotic for thousands of years.
Common names for heroin include horse, smack, junk, H, mud and
China white. In the early 1900s, some addicts supported their habit by
collecting and selling scrap metal, hence the term “junkie.” Large doses
of heroin may result in death as well as increasing the risk of HIV and
hepatitis B due to using infected needles.
In recent years, a new form of heroin-laced powder known as cheese
or starter heroin has appeared in middle and high schools in Texas. It
is made from the ingredients in some over-the-counter cold remedies
mixed with heroin. Cheese heroin arrived on the scene in 2005. Over
the next two years, it was implicated in 21 teen deaths in the Dallas
area. The name “cheese” is thought to be derived from its resemblance
to Parmesan cheese.
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Poppy plants
Cheese heroin
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STUDY POINTS
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N o t e t o s e lf .. .
S T U D Y t h is !
1. Psychoactive drugs are chemicals that affect the brain and the central nervous system.
They impair brain functions such as perception, learning and coordination.
2. Stimulants are drugs that speed up the activity of the central nervous system. Some
stimulants are legal—such as tobacco or caffeine—although many are against the
law. Cocaine, methamphetamine and other amphetamines are examples of extremely
addictive, potent and illegal stimulant drugs. Possession of these drugs is a federal
crime punishable by fines and long prison terms.
3. Tolerance means users need to take more and more of the drug to get the same high.
Addiction means the body craves the drug and it becomes the most important factor
in a person’s life.
4. The binge abuse cycle is a rollercoaster of ups and downs that happen to people who
abuse stimulants. The cycle includes these stages: rush, high, binge, tweaking, crash,
almost normal and withdrawal.
5. Cocaine is a stimulant made from the leaves of the coca plant from South America.
It is usually sold in the form of a white powder. Crack is a powerful form of crystallized
cocaine. Both cocaine and crack are highly addictive. Sudden death can occur from
cardiac or respiratory arrest.
6. Methamphetamine (also known as “meth”) is a highly addictive amphetamine that
causes euphoria, anxiety and extreme agitation. Meth users are known for obsessively
picking at imaginary bugs crawling under their skin.
7.Meth speeds up the central nervous system and can cause convulsions, stroke and
cardiac arrest. It is highly addictive. Amphetamines are closely related drugs with
similar, but less potent, effects.
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LESSON 6.5
STUDY POINTS
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N o t e t o s e lf .. .
S T U D Y t h is !
8.Methamphetamine is manufactured throughout the U.S. in “meth labs,” typically
found in homes or hotel rooms. These labs produce large quantities of toxic waste
that is dangerous to local residents and the environment.
9. Hallucinogens are drugs that alter and distort emotions, thoughts and sensory
perceptions. LSD, peyote, mescaline, mushrooms and PCP are hallucinogens.
10. Club drugs is a nickname given to a number of drugs that have become popular
at raves and other types of parties. Ecstasy, the most common club drug, causes
muscle spasms, involuntary teeth clenching, nausea, blurred vision, rapid heartbeat
and sweating. Other club drugs include GHB, ketamine and Rohypnol.
11. GHB is a powerful sedative. GHB depresses the central nervous system causing
feelings of weakness and confusion. It also causes nausea, vomiting, dizziness,
drowsiness and loss of coordination.
12. Ketamine is a veterinary drug that causes profound depression and numbness
in humans. It causes vomiting, impaired vision, convulsions, severe breathing
problems, coma and death.
13. Rohypnol is a powerful sedative that may be legally prescribed in other countries,
but is against the law in the United States. It is tasteless and odorless and is often
referred to as a “date rape” drug because it is difficult to detect in a drink.
14. Heroin is a narcotic made from poppy flower seeds. It is more addictive than
morphine, which also comes from the poppy plant.
End of Lesson 6.5
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LESSON 6.5—Illegal Drugs
6.5-20
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