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Unnatural Ways Of Achieving A High
Ecstasy
Other Names: E, doves, XTC,
fantasy, disco biscuits etc
Purity: They are rarely
pure and often made with
amphetamines, caffeine
and substances found in the
kitchen. Therefore their effects
can be very different and may
take longer to kick in, with a risk
of double dosing to compensate...and double the side
effects.
Effects: E gives people an energy buzz that makes them
feel alert and alive. Clubbers may feel they can dance
for hours. Sound, colour and emotions seem much more
intense. Lots of people feel loving and chatty. On the flip
side effects can include anxiety, panic attacks, confusion,
first time epileptic fits and paranoia. Long term use can
cause depression, personality change and memory loss.
Ecstasy blues is the term given to the bad mood users suffer
when the effects have worn off. Also, no one knows what
an E tablet has got in it until the pill has been swallowed, so
there may be negative side effects from other ingredients
in the tablet.
Heroin
Other Names: Smack,
brown, horse, gear, junk, H,
jack, skag
Purity: Dealers often mix
heroin
with other substances
to pad it out, so users have
no way of knowing what they
are
taking. Recent tests have shown it
can contain nutmeg, brick dust and ground up gravel.
Effects: First dose can bring about dizziness and vomiting.
A small dose can give the user a feeling of warmth and
well being and bigger doses can make the user feel very
relaxed and sleepy. Heroin generally slows down body
functioning.
Health Risks: Heroin is very addictive and users who form
a habit may end up taking the drug just to feel normal.
Excessive doses can lead to coma and even death from
respiratory failure. There’s also a risk of death due to
inhaling vomit, as heroin stops the body’s cough reflex
from working properly.
Health Risks: There have been over 200 ecstasy related
deaths in the UK since 1996. Ecstasy affects the body’s
temperature control, so there is a risk of overheating,
dehydration and heat stroke. Using E has been linked to
liver, kidney and heart problems. Users can feel tired and
depressed for days. Taking E is a gamble.
Speed
Other Names: Whizz, billy,
phet, dexies, paste etc
Purity: Most of it only
contains 5 – 10%
amphetamine.
It can be mixed with caffeine
or any other substance.
Effects: Speed makes people feel wide
awake, excited, chatty and clubbers can dance for hours.
However, speed can make some people panicky and
have hallucinations. It is impossible to sit still or sleep on
speed.
Health Risks: An overdose can be fatal. Speed puts a
strain on your heart and can depress your immune system.
The come down can make users irritable, aggressive and
depressed and can lead to mental illness.
Cocaine & Crack
Other Names: Cocaine is
known as coke, Charlie
C, white etc. Crack is a
smokeable form of cocaine.
Purity: It is not unusual to
find cocaine padded out with
sugar, starch or talcum powder.
Effects:
Makes users feel on top of the world,
confident and alert. Some people act like they’re the
greatest dancer, lover or comedian – but usually they
are not. On the flip side after a ‘high’ comes a long, low
crash which can be associated with massive cravings,
hallucinations, mood swings, paranoia, aggression,
violence, sickness, tiredness and depression.
Health risks: Crack and cocaine users have died from an
overdose. High doses can raise the body’s temperature,
cause convulsions and respiratory arrest. It can cause chest
pain, high blood pressure and heart problems which can
be fatal. Injecting any drug can cause vein damage, ulcers
and gangrene. Dirty needles can help the spread of HIV
and hepatitis.
Cannabis
Other Names: Marijuana,
weed, draw, blow, spliff,
ganja, hashish etc
Purity: The most impure
cannabis is called ‘soap
bar’. Some unsuspecting
people have been known
to buy blocks of mud, stock
cubes and garden herbs.
Effects: Users may feel relaxed, chilled out and happy.
However, other effects include hunger pangs, anxiety,
giggles and some people may become panicky or
suspicious. Coordination may also be effected, which is
why drug driving is just as dangerous as drink driving.
Health Risks: Some people think that because cannabis
is a plant it is harmless, however that is NOT true. Long
term use can cause respiratory problems such as lung
cancer and cannabis can make asthma worse. It causes
an increase in blood pressure, which has many risks
associated with it. It causes increased tiredness and
decreased concentration. There is increasing evidence of
a link between cannabis and mental health problems such
as schizophrenia. Frequent use can also cut a man’s sperm
count and suppress ovulation in women.
LSD
Other Names: Acid, trips,
dots, tab, blotters etc
Purity: Usually comes in its
pure form. Some acid
can take up to two hours
to make itself known, so
some people make the mistake
of thinking it hasn’t worked so
take more and find it is too much for them to handle.
Effects: Effects are known as a ‘trip’ and can give very
random and frightening experiences. Trips feed off a
person’s imagination, so some people can spend 12 hours
in a very happy place whilst others may spend 12 hours
lost in their own fears and paranoia. A trip can speed up
and slow down time and movement. Colour, sound and
objects can be distorted.
Health Risks: Once a trip starts it cannot be stopped. Bad
trips can be terrifying and flash-backs from it can be relived from it for weeks and months after the LSD is taken.
LSD can complicate mental health problems and people
have been known to harm themselves during a bad trip.
Tobacco
Other Names: Fags, rollies,
smokes, ciggies
Purity: Tobacco
contains over 400
chemicals, many of
which have harmful
effects on the human body.
Effects: Regular smokers say it helps
them relax and feel less hungry. Nicotine from cigarettes
reaches the brain in 8 seconds and speeds up the heart
rate and increases blood pressure. First time smokers
often feel sick and dizzy.
Health Risks: Smoking contributes to 120 000
premature deaths in the UK every year. Smokers have
an increased chance of getting chest infections, other
respiratory disorders such as emphysema, cancer or
heart disease. Passive smokers could also end up with
respiratory disorders or even cancer. Smoking has also
been linked to the amputation of 2000 limbs a year.
Anabolic Steroids
Other Names: Roids
Purity: Many counterfeits
are sold so users can end
up paying for tablets that don’t contain any
active ingredient at all. It’s not
unusual for anabolic steroids
intended for veterinary use to be sold.
Effects: Sports enthusiasts claim steroids make them train
harder, build up muscle mass and help them to recover
from strenuous exercise faster. However, some users claim
the drug makes them feel more aggressive.
Health Risks: Steroids can increase blood pressure and
increase risk of liver failure, stroke and heart attacks. Users
can become aggressive, violent, paranoid, confused,
have mood swings, have trouble sleeping and become
depressed. Risks for men include erection problems, breast
growth, shrinking testicles, sterility and acne – quite a
big price to pay for impressive muscles. Risks for women
include growth of facial hair, deepening voice, shrinking
breasts and possible miscarriage or still birth if pregnant.
West Midlands Regional Adult Cystic Fibrosis Centre
Ways To Get High
Naturally & ... Unnaturally
DRUGS...and what they do
Ways To Get ‘High’ Naturally!
Drugs are a reality in
everyday life. They can
be unpredictable.
For people with cystic fibrosis
or other lung disease, the
effect of these drugs can
contribute to a deterioration
in health.
Eat
Well
What you
eat has a
big influence on how you
feel. Eating healthily enables you to
sleep better, have more energy and
look better. Please speak to the CF
dietitians for advice.
There are many alternative
ways of achieving a natural
high....
If you have any questions
or wish to discuss any drug
related issues, please speak
to a member of the CF Team
in confidence. You can also
refer to other sources of
information listed here.
Listen to
music!
This helps to reduce stress and anxiety.
Exercise
When you exercise your body
produces more endorphins –
these are the body’s natural
painkillers and ‘feel good’
chemicals. Regular exercise also alters
the serotonin levels in your brain. Serotonin is another
chemical that helps lift mood, maintain your appetite,
improve sleep and generally makes you feel good.
Please speak to the CF physiotherapists for advice on
exercise. An exercise regimen can be recommended to suit
your individual needs.
Local Sources:
National Sources:
Phone Numbers:
Local Health Authority
GP
Local Police
www.talktofrank.com
www.drugscope.org.uk
www.drug-concern.co.uk
www.lunguk.org www.givingupsmoking.co.uk
Frank 0800 77 66 00
Families anonymous (020) 7498 4680
British Lung Foundation 0845 50 50 20
Midlands branch 01332 834 753
NHS Smoking helpline 0800 169 0 881
Textphone 0800 169 0 171
NHS Asian Tobacco Helplines 0800 169 0881
The information on this poster has been taken from: http://www.talktofrank.com
A parent’s guide to drugs and alcohol – published by the Health Education Authority
West Midlands Regional Adult Cystic Fibrosis Centre