Download Illicit Drugs


A drug is any chemical substance that
produces physical, mental, emotional, or
behavioral change in the user
Heroin is an opiate processed directly
from the extracts of the opium poppy.
 Originally created to help cure people of
addiction to morphine.
 mimics the action of endorphins,
creating a sense of well-being
 intravenous injection






obtained from the leaves of the coca plant.
both a stimulant of the central nervous
system and an appetite suppressant
a potent central nervous system stimulant
initial signs of stimulation are hyperactivity,
restlessness, increased blood pressure,
increased heart rate and euphoria
Side effects can include twitching,
paranoia, and impotence
“meth” or “ice”
enters the brain and triggers a cascading
release of norepinephrine, dopamine and
serotonin
 Users may become obsessed or perform
repetitive tasks such as cleaning, handwashing, or assembling and disassembling
objects
 Withdrawal is characterized by excessive
sleeping, eating and depression-like
symptoms, often accompanied by anxiety
and drug-craving


made popular during the early 1980s
 Used to be made using ether which was
extremely dangerous and often deadly
 Now, “crack” is made using baking
soda, or a similar “base” chemical, and
ammonia
 Feelings of “heaven on earth” when it is
smoked and it is highly addictive
 Feel effects almost instantly

A psychedelic
 Considered a recreational drug and
used for out-of-body meditation
 Can cause long-term personality
changes
 “trips” very from one person to another
 Some “acid” trips can be very disturbing
to the taker because it causes powerful
sensory and visual hallucinations






“MDMA”
A psychedelic which gives more stimulantlike effects than other psychedelics
A club drug, used recreationally
effects of MDMA include an increased
awareness of the senses, feelings of
openness, euphoria, empathy, love,
heightened self-awareness, feeling of
mental clarity and an increased
appreciation of music and movement
jaw clenching and elevated pulse, are
common
formed from the latex released by
lacerating (or “scoring”) the immature
seed pods of opium poppies
 contains up to 16% morphine and is
smoked by the user
 Discovered in 1817
 Users may experience problems with
their vision, feelings of claustrophobia
and heaviness

fungi that contain the psychedelic
substances psilocybin and psilocin
 “Shrooms” are ground into a fine powder
and are usually ingested by putting the
powder into tea and drinking it
 Powerful hallucinogen that lasts 3-7 hours
and the user can feel exhilarated or very
distressed
 Some people do not experience any
effects

You can’t predict the effect that a drug
can have on you—especially if it’s the
first time you try it, and even if it’s a small
amount or dose. Everyone's brain and
body chemistry are different. Everyone's
tolerance for drugs is different.
 Using drugs can lead to abuse,
addiction, serious health problems, and
even death.


Drug abuse is the use of a drug for any
reason other than medical purposes,
which results in the impaired physical,
mental, emotional, or social well-being
of the user.

A physical or psychological
dependence on a drug
the wish or belief that drugs can solve
every problem
 the pressure from friends to experiment
 the enjoyment of drug effects

Possession: Having controlled legal drugs
that are not obtained either directly from a
doctor, or from a pharmacist using a valid
prescription OR having controlled drugs
which are illegal for use under any
circumstance, like heroine or cocaine
 Dealing: is illegally supplying or selling
controlled drugs to users on a small scale
 Trafficking: the illegal manufacture,
distribution, and sale of these drugs to
dealers on a large scale.

Treatment approaches for narcotics
abusers principally include drug-free
maintenance in residential or out-patient
facilities.
 Rehabilitation services such as career
development, counseling, and job skills
training are also available
