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Stimulants
What are Stimulants?
Central nervous system stimulants speed up activity of the nervous and
muscular systems. Heart rate accelerates, blood pressure rises, blood vessels
constrict, and the pupils of the eyes and the bronchial tubes dilate. They are
generally used for their ability to increase alertness and endurance, to keep
users awake for a long period of time, to decrease appetite, and to produce
feelings of well-being and euphoria.
Cocaine
Cocaine is a potent central nervous system stimulant derived from the leaves of
cocoa shrubs from South America. Introduction of “crack” cocaine in the
1980’s made cocaine available in smaller quantities and at lower prices to
more people.
Cocaine - ways of ingestion
Cocaine is usually inhaled or injected intravenously. Effects of intravenous
injections occur in about 20 seconds. Intravenous creates rapid increases of
cocaine in the blood and therefore fast and intense effects.
“Crack” cocaine involves processing the drug with baking soda and water
yielding the powder form of cocaine that is smoked. The term “crack” refers to
the crackling sound heard when the mixture is smoked. Because crack is
smoked, the user experiences a high in less than 10 seconds.
What are the effects of cocaine?
Cocaine’s effects appear almost immediately after a single dose, and
disappear within a few minutes or hours. Taken in small amounts cocaine
usually makes the user feel euphoric, energetic, talkative, and mentally alert,
especially to the sensations of sight, sound and touch. It can also temporarily
decrease the need for food and sleep. Some short-term physiological effects of
cocaine include constricted blood vessels; dilated pupils; and increased
temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure. Large amounts intensify the
user’s high, but may also lead to bizarre, erratic, and violent behavior. These
users may experience tremors, and muscle twitches. Some users of cocaine
report feeling of restlessness, irritability, and anxiety. In rare instances, sudden
death can occur on the first use of cocaine or unexpectedly thereafter.
Cocaine is a powerfully addictive drug. An appreciable tolerance to cocaine’s
high may develop, with many addicts reporting that they seek but fail to
achieve as much pleasure as they did from their first experience. Some users
will frequently increase their doses to intensify and prolong the euphoric
effects.
In addition, research has revealed a potentially dangerous interaction between
cocaine and alcohol. While more research needs to be done, it is noteworthy
that the mixture of cocaine and alcohol is the most common two-drug
combination that results in drug-related death.
Methamphetamine
Methamphetamine is commonly known as “speed,” “meth,” and “chalk.” In its
smoked form it is often referred to as “ice,” “crystal,” “crank,” and “glass.” It
is a white, odorless, bitter-tasting crystalline powder that easily dissolves in
water or alcohol. The drug is made easily in clandestine laboratories with
relatively inexpensive over-the-counter ingredients. These factors combine to
make methamphetamine a drug with high potential for widespread abuse.
Methamphetamine – ways of ingestion
Methamphetamine comes in many forms and can be smoked, snorted, orally
ingested, or injected. The drug alters moods in different ways, depending on
how it is taken. Immediately after smoking the drug or injecting it
intravenously, the user experiences an intense rush or “flash” that lasts only a
few minutes. Snorting or oral ingestion produces euphoria- a high but not an
intense rush.
In the 1980’s, “ice,” a smokable form of methamphetamine, came into use.
Ice is a large, usually clear crystal of high purity that is smoked in a glass pipe
like crack cocaine. The smoke is odorless, leaves a residue that can be
resmoked, and produces effects that may continue for 12 hours or more.
What are the effects of methamphetamine?
As a powerful stimulant, methamphetamine, even in small doses, can increase
wakefulness and physical activity and decrease appetite. A brief, intense
sensation, or rush, is reported by those who smoke or inject methamphetamine.
Oral ingestion or snorting produces a long-lasting high instead of a rush, which
reportedly can continue for as long as half a day. High doses can elevate
body temperature to dangerous, sometimes lethal, levels, as well as cause
convulsions.
Long-term methamphetamine abusers exhibit symptoms that can include violent
behavior, anxiety, confusion, and insomnia. They also can display a number
of psychotic features, including paranoia, auditory hallucinations, mood
disturbances, and delusions (for example, the sensation of insects creeping on
the skin, called “formication”). The paranoia can result in homicidal as well as
suicidal thoughts.
With chronic use, tolerance for methamphetamine can develop. In an effort to
intensify the desired effects, users may take higher doses of the drug, take it
more frequently, or change their method of drug intake. Chronic abuse can
lead to psychotic behavior, characterized by intense paranoia, visual and
auditory hallucinations, and out-of-control rages that can be coupled with
extremely violent behavior.
Other Abused Stimulants
Ephredrine
Ephedrine can be purchased over-the-counter in various weight loss pills. It is
somewhat less potent than amphetamines. Used for centuries as a stimulant
often under it’s traditional Chinese name, Ma huang. It is very common for
ephedrine to be abused and taken in larger amounts than advised.
Ephedrine triggers a mild burst of energy, due to its similarities to the body
hormone epinephrine (or adrenaline) and the street drug methamphetamine.
When abused ephedrine can cause abnormality in heart rhythm and raise
heart beat to dangerously high levels. It has even been known to cause death.
Two very common products with ephedrine in it are Ripped Fuel and
Xenedrine.
Fill In the Blank Questions
Central nervous system stimulants speed up activity of the _____________ and
_______________ systems.
Cocaine is a potent central nervous system _________________ derived from
the leaves of _____________________ from South America.
Cocaine is usually ___________________ or injected intravenously.
“Crack” cocaine involves processing the drug with
_______________________ water yielding the powder form of cocaine that is
smoked.
Cocaine’s effects appear almost __________________________ after a single
dose, and disappear within a few minutes or hours.
In rare instances, _____________ ________________ can occur on the first
use of cocaine or unexpectedly thereafter.
______________________________ is a white, odorless, bitter-tasting
crystalline powder that easily dissolves in water or alcohol.
High doses of methamphetamine can elevate ______________
___________________ to dangerous, sometimes lethal, levels, as well as
cause convulsions.
_______________________ can be purchased over-the-counter in various
weight loss pills.
Ephedrine has been used for centuries as a stimulant often under it’s traditional
Chinese name, _______ ______________.
True/False Questions (Circle correct answer)
When under the influence of a stimulant the heart rate accelerates, blood
pressure rises, blood vessels constrict, and the pupils of the eyes and the
bronchial tubes dilate.
TRUE FALSE
Effects of intravenous injections occur in about 20 minutes.
TRUE
FALSE
The effects of cocaine and alcohol offset each other and can reduce the
negative effects of both. TRUE FALSE
Methamphetamine is commonly known as “speed”, “meth,” and “chalk.” In its
smoked form it is often referred to as “ice,” “crystal,” “crank,” and “glass.”
TRUE FALSE
As a powerful stimulant, methamphetamine, even in small doses, can increase
wakefulness and physical activity and increase appetite. TRUE FALSE
Oral ingestion or snorting of methamphetamine produces a long lasting high
instead of a rush, which reportedly can continue for as long as half a day.
TRUE FALSE
With chronic use, tolerance for methamphetamine can develop.
FALSE
TRUE