Download Drug Abuse

Illegal Drugs
Drug Use: A High-Risk
Behavior
Chapter 26 – Lesson 1
Substance Abuse
When medicines are used in ways other
than intended, a problem called
medicine misuse exists.
 Medicine misuse results from carelessness,
although at times medicines are misused
intentionally.
 People will take them deliberately to
achieve a “HIGH”

Substance Abuse
In such cases, the user is guilty not only of
misuse but abuse.
 SUBSTANCE ABUSE: Is any unnecessary or
improper use of chemical substances for
nonmedical purposes.
 Substance abuse includes overuse or
multiple use of a drug, including alcohol
taken in combination with other drugs.

Substance Abuse
Not all substances that are abused are
medicines.
 Many are drugs, chemical substances that serve
no medical purpose and are simply used for
recreational or other unhealthful purposes.
 ILLEGAL DRUGS: or street drugs, these
substances are against the law for people of any
age to manufacture, possess, buy, or sell.
 Their potential for harm is great.

Substance Abuse
Some drugs occur naturally, taking the
form of extracts from plants, animals, or
minerals.
 Others, called SYNTHETIC DRUGS: are
chemical substances produced artificially
in a laboratory.
 Regardless of their source or how they are
taken, the effects of these drugs are
deadly.

Substance Abuse
People who use illegal drugs are guilty of a crime
called ILLICIT DRUG USE: This is the use or sale
of any substances that are illegal or otherwise
not permitted.
 Illicit drug use includes the selling of prescription
medicines on the street.
 Even some drugs that are legal for adults, such
as alcohol, are illegal for teens and can cause
major health, safety, and social problems.

Substance Abuse

For teens, alcohol and nicotine are also
considered GATEWAY DRUGS: drugs that often
lead to other serious and dangerous drug use.

National Study Shows "Gateway" Drugs Lead to
Cocaine Use
Trends in Teen Drug Use






Teens in the U.S. are now using drugs at
younger ages than ever before.
Drug use among 12 to 17-year olds more than
doubled between 1992 and 1996.
In 1996, about 9% of teens in the U.S. used
drugs.
More teens are trying heroin than ever before.
In 1991, only 6% of eighth graders had tried
marijuana, but by 1996, that number has risen to
18%.
More teens than ever mistakenly consider
marijuana to be a safe drug.
Why People Begin Using
Drugs







They are curious about the effects
The drugs are easily available
They see their friends, parents, or older siblings
using them
They enjoy the short-term effects
They see drugs glamorized on TV, in videos, in
the movies, or in song lyrics
As part of growing up, they might want to 'break
the rules'
They are trying to escape from their problems
Dangers of Substance Abuse
Like medicines, some drugs have serious
side effects, which can range from minor
to deadly.
 When taken in conjunction with one or
more medicines or other drugs, including
alcohol, they can also result in a

synergistic effect, that results in a greater
effect than when the medicines are taken
independently.
Dangers of Substance Abuse

Illegal drugs may prove especially
dangerous because, unlike medicines,
there are no controls or means of
monitoring these substances for quality,
purity, or strength.
Dangers of Substance Abuse

Anyone who abuses drugs is also at risk
for overdosing.

An OVERDOSE: is a strong or even fatal
reaction to taking a large amount of a
drug.
Dangers of Substance Abuse
•Shannon Hoon, rock singer for Blind Melon, overdosed 1995
1 June 1926 - 5 August 1962
Los Angeles, California, USA. (drug overdose)
•River Phoenix, actor, overdosed 1993
•Jim Morrison, rock musician, overdosed 1971
•Pamela Morrison, self-described ornament, overdosed 1974
•Janice Joplin, rock singer, overdosed 1970
•John Belushi, comedian, overdosed 1982
Dangers of Substance Abuse
Vernon Creamer Jr
January 29, 1972 -- January 23, 1998
Drug Overdose
Dangers of Substance Abuse
When drug use involves injecting
substances through a needle, there may
be added risks of contracting diseases
such as:
 HEPATITIS B
 HIV / AIDS
 STD’s

Dangers of Substance Abuse

Substance abuse is like riding a “down”
escalator.

Taking that first step onto the moving
stairway may seem harmless, but the
consequences are enormous.

These include the following:
Dangers of Substance Abuse

TOLERANCE.
The body of the substance abuser begins
to develop tolerance to the drug, needing
more and more of it to get the same
effects, and eventually needing it just to
function
Dangers of Substance Abuse

PHYSIOLOGICAL DEPENDENCE.
The body develops a chemical need for the
drug.
A person who has developed tolerance and
experiences severe effects when the drug
is taken away is said to be physiologically
dependent on that drug.
Dangers of Substance Abuse

WITHDRAWAL.
Withdrawal occurs when a person stops using a
drug which he or she is physiologically
dependent.
The symptoms of this process can include
nervousness, insomnia, severe nausea,
headaches, vomiting, chills, cramps, and in some
cases even death.
Dangers of Substance Abuse

PSYCHOLOGICAL DEPENDENCE.
With psychological dependence, a person
believes a drug is needed in order to feel
good or to function normally.
He or she has a continual desire to take
the drug for its effect.
Dangers of Substance Abuse

ADDICTION.
Addiction involves physiological and
psychological dependence on a drug.
Cost of Substance Abuse








School
Sports
Relationships
Family life
Emotional health
Social health
Physical health
In a Teen’s Life:
Cost to Others
 $67
 IN
BILLION
HEALTH,
 SOCIAL,
 and
CRIMINAL COST EVERY YEAR
Drugs and Pregnancy
 Harm
to the developing Fetus
 Babies
go through withdrawal for days
after birth
 To
babies who drink breast milk
Illegal Drugs
Psychoactive Drugs
Chapter 26 – Lesson 2
Types of Psychoactive Drugs

There are four main groups of
psychoactive drugs:
I.
II.
III.
IV.


STIMULANTS
DEPRESSANTS
NARCOTICS
HALLUCINOGENS
The first three groups have medicinal
value when properly used.
The fourth group, HALLUCINOGENS,
have no medical use.
Types of Psychoactive Drugs
Stimulants: Drugs that speed up the
central nervous system.
 Some give feelings of alertness, greater
energy and confidence.
 They may also reduce appetite, leading to
hunger when the drug's effects have worn
off and tiredness or exhaustion if there has
been a long period of activity.

STIMULANTS
Cocaine
 Crack
 Ecstasy
 Alkyl Nitrites
 Amphetamines
 Nicotine

STIMULANT - Cocaine
Other names: Coke, charlie, snow, C,
crack (smokeable form of cocaine)
Appearance/use: White powder that
is snorted or injected
Short term effects
 Effects peak after 15-40 minutes,
then diminish quickly
 Sense of well-being, alertness,
confidence, indifference to pain
 Dry mouth, sweating, loss of
appetite, racing pulse
 Low doses may heighten sexual
pleasure, higher doses inhibit male
erection
 Continual users often left craving
more
Long term effects
 Long term users can become
dependent on the way cocaine
makes them feel, and experience
withdrawal symptoms
 Can cause heart problems and chest
pain
 Heavy use can cause convulsions
 Often leaves users feeling tired and
depressed
 Snorting may permanently damage
the inside of the nose
 Constant, frequent use can leave
users restless, confused, paranoid
and sleepless · unsterile injection
and shared needles risks spreading
infections, such as HIV, Hepatitis B
and C
STIMULANT - Crack
Other names: Rock, wash, base freebase,
gravel, stones, Charlie washed-up
Appearance/use: Small crystals the size of
a raisin. Usually smoked, (placed in a
small pipe, tube or plastic bottle, heated
and the vapour inhaled)
Short term effects
 Powerful feelings of well-being and
euphoria, indifference to pain, feelings of
grandeur and strength, fading typically
within 15 minutes
 Dry mouth, sweating, increased heartrate
 Low doses may heighten sexual pleasure
while higher doses may diminish desire
 Large repeated doses can lead to panic,
even paranoia, though such symptoms
usually disappear as the drug wears off
 Fatal overdose is possible, though rare
 What constitutes a lethal dose appears to
vary from person to person
Long term effects
 Chronic cough
 Wheezy breathing
 Partial loss of voice · long term
 Frequent use replaces euphoria with
restlessness
 Insomnia and weight loss
 A series of other problems may
accompany lengthy patterns of heavy
use, including financial pressures,
fractured relationships, and physical
symptoms such as loss of sexual desire,
heart problems, digestive disorders
STIMULANT - Ecstasy
Other names: E, burgers, mitsi's (mitsubishi's),
dolphins, rolexes; chemical name: MDMA
Short term effects

Effects typically begin within an hour and last
from 3-6 hours

Users feel alert and in tune with their
surroundings

Sound, colour and emotions seem much more
intense

Dry mouth and throat and sweating often
accompany tightened jaw and dilated pupils

Users often want to dance for hours and there
is a risk of overheating and dehydration if users
dance energetically without taking breaks or
drinking enough fluids

Orgasm and male erection may be inhibited

More risky for those with heart disease, high
blood pressure, glaucoma, epilepsy or in poor
condition (mentally or physically)

After effects may include anxiety, depression,
paranoia, tiredness and dizziness
Appearance/use: Tablets of different
shapes, size and colour (often white)
which are swallowed; capsules now less
common.
Long term effects
 Many long term effects are uncertain and
are still being researched
 Tolerance develops among regular users
 Menstruation may be heavier, irregular or
absent during long-term use
 Can leave users feeling tired and
depressed for days
 Increased susceptibility to colds, flu
possible
 Nerve damage from ecstasy use may
affect memory and possibly increase
chances of depression
STIMULANT – Alkyl Nitrates
Other names: Poppers, amyl nitrite, butyl nitrite,
isobutyl nitrite.product names include: Ram,
Thrust, Rock Hard, Kix, TNT, Liquid Gold,
Locker Room.
Short term effects

Brief, intense 'head-rush', sometimes causing
light-headedness and a feeling that time has
slowed

Flushed face and neck

Relaxes anal muscles

Pounding headache

Feeling faint and sick

Effects fade after 2-5 minutes

Possibility of losing consciousness

If spilled, can burn the skin

Has been fatal when swallowed

Dangerous for people with anaemia, glaucoma,
low blood pressure or breathing problems.
Appearance/use: Pharmaceutical source: strawcoloured liquid in a glass phial, with a
breakable glass top for quick access. Vapours
sniffed to counter the effects of cyanide
poisoning. Non-medical source: clear or strawcoloured liquid in a small screw-top bottle,
often with brown glass. Vapour inhaled from
bottle or material, (sleeve, handkerchief, etc).
Long term effects:

Tolerance develops with continual use over 2-3
weeks

Regular use can cause skin problems around
the mouth and nose

No evidence of dependence or longer-term
damage
Legal status

Prescription only

Possession is not illegal, but unlicensed supply
technically an offence against the Medicines
Act, though seldom enforced

Class A drugs and the law
STIMULANT – Amphetamines
Other names:
 Speed, whizz, uppers, amph, billy,
sulphate
 Appearance/use: Grey or white powder
or tablets.Snorted, swallowed, smoked,
injected (when dissolved).
Short term effects
 Excitement - the mind races and users
feel confident and energetic
 Effects may last 3-4 hours
 Suppressed appetite and sleeplessness
 Some users become tense, anxious,
talkative, aggressive
 Leaves users feeling hungry and tired
for one or two days or longer
 Higher doses repeated over a few days
can cause panic, paranoia and
hallucinations as well as leaving the user
exhausted and depressed
 Overdoses have been known to be fatal,
usually among injectors.
Long term effects
Tolerance
develops rapidly, and psychological
dependence possible
Long-term
use can lead to paranoid feelings,
confusion, delusions and uncontrolled (sometimes
violent) behaviour. Symptoms generally clear up
after a few days
Long-term
use puts a strain on the heart
Unsterile
injection and shared needles risks
spreading infections, such as HIV, hepatitis B
and C.
Legal status
Prescription
only
Possession
is not illegal, but unlicensed supply
technically an offence against the Medicines Act,
though seldom enforced
Class
B (but Class A if prepared for injection)
drugs and the law
STIMULANT – Nicotine

One downside of nicotine is that
it appears to create a
dependency or addiction.
Research shows that nicotine
activates neurochemical
addiction responses that are
similar to other drugs of abuse.
Nerve cells release the brain
chemical dopamine, which is
associated with pleasure, in the
brain area known as the nucleus
accumbens. Researchers hope
that new therapies that target
only certain nicotine receptor
subtypes will bypass this
undesirable effect of nicotine.
Types of Psychoactive Drugs
Depressants: or sedatives, are drugs that
tend to slow down the central nervous
system.
 Drugs that act on the central nervous
system and slow down brain activity.
 Impaired co-ordination, balance and
judgement are common.
 Higher doses can lead progressively to
drowsiness, vomiting, coma and even

DEPRESSANTS
Volatile substances or sniffable substances
(e.g glues, gases, aerosols)
 Alcohol
 Tranquilizers
 GHB (Gamma hydroxy-butyrate)

DEPRESSANTS – Volatile substances
or Sniffable Substances














Other names:
Products such as lighter gas refills, aerosols
containing products such as hairspray, deodorants
and air fresheners, tins or tubes of glue, some
paints, thinners and correcting fluids
Short term effects:
Substances vary widely as do their effects
Users feel, euphoric dizzy, giggly and dreamy
Sometimes similar to being drunk
Some users report hallucinations
Perceptual distortions may be fun or frightening,
even compelling
Effects don't last very long, but users can remain
intoxicated all day by repeating the dose
Nausea, vomiting may accompany heavy doses
Squirting a pressurised substance (such as gas)
into the mouth and throat causes sudden
temperature drop which can swell the tissues,
blocking them and causing death by asphyxia
If the substance is inhaled from a plastic bag
covering nose and mouth there is high risk of
suffocation
Accidents can happen when the user is
intoxicated, and balance, co-ordination and
judgement are impaired
Strenuous activity following sniffing can cause

Appearance/use: Vapour sniffed or
breathed into the lungs from container,
cloth, sleeve or bag. Gas products are
sometimes squirted directly into the mouth
and throat

Long term effects
Immediate dangers of death are real - long
term health risks are much harder to assess
Wide range of symptoms from confusion
and headache to recurrent nose-bleeds and
weight loss have been reported
Sniffing may damage the brain, though
studies are inconclusive
Chronic use of toluene and 1,1,1trichloroethane have been associated with
permanent damage to kidney, liver and
heart.




DEPRESSANTS - Alcohol
DEPRESSANTS - Tranquilizers
Other names:
Tranx' product names include: Valium, Ativan,
Mogadon ('moggies'), Librium, Rohypnol,
Normison chemical names include: diazepam,
lorazepam, nitrazepam, chlordiazepoxide,
flunitrazepam, temazepam ('mazzies')
Short term effects:

Relieve tension and anxiety - (their principal
medical use)

Calms users and slows them down mentally tiredness and drowsiness are often considered
'side effects'

Extremely dangerous in combination with
alcohol

High doses can make users forgetful

Occasional unwanted effects (crying, hostility)

Some tranquillisers cause a temporary loss of
short-term memory.
Appearance/use:

Medical products that are taken by some
without medical authority - e.g. when heroin
is in short supply, or to increase the effects of
heroin.Also used to make the 'come down'
from stimulants, and heroin withdrawal, less
unpleasant.Tablets that are swallowed - illicit
users often inject them Some are prescribed
as sleeping pills.
Long term effects:

Some tranquillisers are addictive - this can be
very quick

Withdrawal symptoms similar to barbiturates
or alcohol

Users trying to quit may suffer panic attacks

Unsterile injection and shared needles risks
spreading infections, such as HIV and
hepatitis b and c
DEPRESSANTS – GHB
(Gamma hydroxy-butyrate)
Other names: GBH, Liquid E, Liquid 'X'

Appearance/useA synthetic, depressant
drug used medically as an anaesthetic. It is a
colourless, odourless liquid with a slightly salty
taste. Usually sold in bottles for up to £15 but
can come as tablets
Short term effects:

Small doses (possibly one capful) feel like
having a few drinks of alcohol, slowing down
the body's actions

Larger doses lead to sleepiness, nausea,
vomiting, muscle stiffness and confusion

A few cases of death have been associated
with consuming large amounts, or with
alcohol.
Long term effects:


Little known
Possible that tolerance, physical dependence
and psychological dependence could result.
Legal status:

Not controlled under Misuse of Drugs Act.
Possession not illegal, but unauthorised
manufacture or supply contravenes the
Medicines Act. drugs and the law
Types of Psychoactive Drugs
Narcotics: are drugs derived from the opium
plant that have a sedative effect.
 Narcotics now also include medicines used to
relieve pain.
 Narcotics cause drowsiness and can result in
physiological dependence.
 Drugs made from opium can cause stupor or
sleep so deep that they depress respiration and
can result in coma or death.

NARCOTICS - Morphine

Morphine is naturally occurring substance in the opium poppy, Papaver Somniferous. It is a potent narcotic analgesic, and its
primary clinical use is in the management of moderately severe and severe pain. After heroin, morphine has the greatest
dependence liability of the narcotic analgesics in common use.

Morphine is administered by several routes (injected, smoked, sniffed, or swallowed); but when injected particularly
intravenously, morphine can produce intense euphoria and a general state of well-being and relaxation. Regular use can result in
the rapid development of tolerance to these effects. Profound physical and psychological dependence can also rapidly develop,
and withdrawal sickness upon abrupt cessation of heroin use; many of the symptoms resemble those produced by a case of
moderately severe flu.

Morphine is infrequently encountered in the North American street drug culture. However, mainly because of its availability in
hospitals, there have been several documented cases of morphine dependence among health professionals.

Drug Source

Morphine is isolated from crude opium, which is a resinous prep of the opium poppy, Papaver somniferum.

Trade Name

Roxinal, MS Contain, Morphine Sulfate

Street Names - "M", morph, Miss Emma

Medical Uses

* symptomatic relief of moderately severe to severe pain;

* relief of certain types of difficult or labored breathing;

* suppression of severe cough (rarely);

* suppression of severe diarrhea (e.g., that produced by cholera).

Physical Appearance

Morphine is legally available only in the form of its water-soluble salts. Most common are morphine sulfate and morphine
hydrochloride. Both are fine white crystalline powders, bitter to the taste. Both are soluble in water and slightly soluble in alcohol.
NARCOTICS - Codeine







What is codeine?
Codeine is a drug that relieves
pain.
Codeine is used to treat moderateto-severe pain.
Codeine is also a cough
suppressant.
Who should not take codeine?
Codeine is habit forming and
should only be used under close
supervision if you have an alcohol
or drug addiction.
Codeine may cause addiction and
withdrawal symptoms as well as
other harmful effects in an unborn
baby. Do not take codeine without
first talking to your doctor if you
are pregnant.

Codeine may also cause addiction and
withdrawal symptoms in a nursing baby.
Do not take codeine without first talking
to your doctor if you are breast-feeding
a baby.

If you are younger than 18 years of age
or older than 60 years of age, you may
be more likely to experience side effects
from codeine therapy. Use extra caution.

What are the possible side
effects of codeine?
If you experience any of the
following serious side effects, stop
taking codeine and seek
emergency medical attention:
an allergic reaction (difficulty
breathing; closing of your throat;
swelling of your lips, tongue, or
face; or hives);


NARCOTICS - Heroin








Other names: Smack, brown, horse,
gear, junk, H, jack, scag
Short term effects
Effects typically last an hour or so
Powerful pain-killing effects, may be
accompanied by nausea and vomiting
Small doses give the user a sense of
warmth and well-being, banishing
worries and psychological pain
Larger doses bring sedation - users feel
drowsy, relaxed; very large doses bring
coma
Unusual purity of sample may lead to
overdose, which may be fatal
Impurities can cause serious effects,
bacteria have even been killed (though
toxic chemicals are rarely found in
seized heroin samples) - additives often
relatively harmless, such as Paracetomol
or glucose.








Appearance/use: Brownish-white
powder that is smoked, snorted or
dissolved and injected.
Long term effects:
Heroin is physically addictive (even when
smoked)
Psychological dependence may be even
stronger, (perhaps linked to the lifestyle
and problems of those who use)
Tolerance develops - stopping for a
period and then re-starting can make a
familiar dose an overdose
Users who form a habit may end up
taking the drug just to stave off
withdrawal
Sharing injecting equipment can spread
dangerous infections like hepatitis B and
C and HIV
Withdrawal (7-10 days) from addicted
use brings aches, tremor, sweating and
chills, sneezing and yawning, and
muscular spasms.
Types of Psychoactive Drugs

Hallucinogens: Are drugs that alter
moods, thoughts, and sense perceptions,
including vision, hearing, smell, and touch.

People who use hallucinogens may see and
hear things that are not really there.
HALLUCINOGENS
Cannabis
 LSD
 Magic Mushrooms
 Ketamine
 PCP
 Mescaline

HALLUCINOGENS - Cannibis
Other names: Marijuana, draw, blow, weed, puff,
shit, hashish, hash, ganja, skunk, spliff, wacky
backy
Short term effects

Effects typically starting after a few minutes,
and lasting an hour or more. Cooking the drug
then eating it delays the onset of the effects,
and makes them more intense but harder to
control

Users feel relaxed and talkative

Enhanced awareness of others' feelings,
heightened sensory experience and hilarity are
common

While intoxicated, short-term memory may be
impaired, and concentration, co-ordination
and sexual inhibition reduced

May bring on a craving for food (the
'munchies')

Can make users feel paranoid and anxious,
depending on their mood and situation when
taking it increases blood pressure and can
make people feel faint

No records of fatal overdose
Appearance/use: A solid, dark lump known as
'resin'. Leaves, stalks and seeds called 'grass'.
A sticky, dark oil - 'hash oil'. Can be rolled
(usually with tobacco) in a spliff or joint,
smoked on its own in a special pipe, or
cooked and eaten in food
Long term effects:






Users can become dependent on cannabis,
and if smoked with tobacco may lead to
addiction to nicotine
Smoking over a long period of time may lead
to respiratory disorders
Can leave users tired and lacking energy ·
users may lack motivation and feel apathetic
May be specially risky for users with existing
mental instability or illness, or lung, heart or
respiratory disorders
Prolonged, heavy use can cause severe
apathy, confusion and delusions
Possible links with cancer when cannabis is
smoked.
HALLUCINOGENS – L S D
Other names: Acid, trips, tabs, blotters,
microdots, dots
Short term effects:

Effects are known as a 'trip' and typically start
after 30-60 minutes, peak after 2-6 hours and
last 8-12 hours

Users will experience their surroundings in a
very different way, distortions of all five
senses are common

Sense of movement and time may speed up
or slow down

Concentration is impaired making driving
hazardous

Emotional reaction may be 'mystical', even
ecstatic

Frightening, even terrifying experiences ('bad
trips') are possible, often relating to the mood
of the taker

Once a trip starts it cannot be stopped,
though experienced users may 'steer' it ·
suicides/deaths due to induced beliefs are
much publicised but rare.
Appearance/use: Quarter-inch squares of paper,
often with a picture on one side, which are
sucked or swallowed. 'Microdots' and 'dots'
are tiny tablets
Long term effects:

Tolerance develops quickly, though
physical dependence does not occur

'Flashbacks' may be experienced where
part of a trip is re-lived after the event,
sometimes months later, lasting a few
minutes

Can complicate mental health problems

No known physical dangers attributable
to long term LSD use

Adverse psychological effects are more
common in regular users.
HALLUCINOGENS – Magic Mushrooms
Other names: Shrooms, mushies Liberty
Cap and Fly Agaric mushrooms
Appearance/use: These mushrooms are
eaten raw, dried, cooked in food, or
stewed into a tea.
Short term effects:
 Similar effects to LSD but the 'trip' is
often milder and shorter, usually no
longer than 9 hours, less if fewer than
20 liberty cap mushrooms eaten
 Fly agaric is more likely to cause
nausea, vomiting, stiff joints, impaired
co-ordination, intense disorientation,
and possibly convulsions
 Eating the wrong kind of mushroom can
cause serious (even fatal) poisoning.
Long term effects:



Tolerance develops very quickly
No physical dependence though
psychological dependence is possible
Can complicate mental health problems.
Legal status:

Not illegal to pick, possess or eat raw
magic mushrooms, but when 'prepared'
(e.g. dried or stewed) they are.Class A
drug. drugs and the law
HALLUCINOGENS – Ketamine
Other names: Special 'K', Green, super 'K',
vitamin K
Short term effects:

Makes the user feel detached and remote
from their pain

To begin with, euphoria and rushes or waves
of energy, then effects similar to sedative or
hallucinatory drugs

Often numbness in the limbs, slurring of
speech and strange muscle movement so
nausea and sometimes vomiting, (and danger
of choking)

With large or repeat doses hallucinations
occur e.g. loss of sense of time, feeling
disconnected from the body, near death
experiences

Large doses could lead to loss of
consciousness

A few cases of death have occurred through
overdose, heart or respiratory failure.
Appearance/use: Usually a tablet or a
white crystalline powder that is snorted,
but also in liquid form in small phials
that can be injected. A powerful
anaesthetic used in animals and
humans.
Long term effects:

Little known

Could aggravate existing psychosis,
anxiety or depression

Could impair memory

Prolonged periods of use may cause
disorientation and gradual detachment
from the world.
HALLUCINOGENS – P C P
PCP (phencyclidine) was developed in the 1950s as an intravenous anesthetic. Its use in humans
was discontinued in 1965, because patients often became agitated, delusional, and irrational
while recovering from its anesthetic effects. PCP is illegally manufactured in laboratories and is
sold on the street by such names as angel dust, ozone, wack, and rocket fuel. Killer joints and
crystal supergrass are names that refer to PCP combined with marijuana. The variety of street
names for PCP reflects its bizarre and volatile effects.
PCP is a white crystalline powder that is readily soluble in water or alcohol. It has a distinctive
bitter chemical taste. PCP can be mixed easily with dyes and turns up on the illicit drug market
in a variety of tablets, capsules, and colored powders. It is normally used in one of three ways:
snorted, smoked, or ingested. For smoking, PCP is often applied to a leafy material such as
mint, parsley, oregano, or marijuana.
Health Hazards
PCP is addictive - its use often leads to craving and compulsive PCP-seeking behavior. First
introduced as a street drug in the 1960s, PCP quickly gained a reputation as a drug that could
cause bad reactions and was not worth the risk. After using PCP once, many people will not
knowingly use it again. Others, however, use it regularly, sometimes because of its addictive
properties. Others attribute their continued use to feelings of strength, power, invulnerability,
and a numbing effect on the mind.
People who use PCP for long periods report memory loss, difficulties with speech and thinking,
depression, and weight loss. These symptoms can persist up to a year after stopping PCP use.
Mood disorders also have been reported. PCP has sedative effects, and interactions with other
central nervous system depressants, such as alcohol and benzodiazepines, can lead to coma or
accidental overdose.
HALLUCINOGENS – Mescaline
Description
Mescaline is a naturally occurring psychedelic found in
several cactus species most notably, Peyote and
San Pedro.
How it's Used
Marijuana is smoked in the form of loosely rolled
cigarettes called "joints", in hollowed out
commercial cigars called "blunts", in standard pipes
or in water pipes known as "bongs".
Effects
Mescaline causes haluccinations.
Side Effects
Mescaline provokes pupil dialation, dizziness, vomiting,
tachycardia, sensations of warm and cold,
swatting, headaches. Some of the visions under
the effect of mescaline can cause nightmares that
can give birth to some psychosis to the consumers.
San Pedro & Peyote
Illegal Drugs
Steroids and Other Drugs
Chapter 26 – Lesson 3
Illegal Drugs
Strategies for Preventing
Substance Abuse
Chapter 26 – Lesson 4
Drugs and Peer Pressure
As a teenager, you may already have
been confronted with situations where
drugs were involved.
 You may even have been pressured to
try, buy, or sell drugs.
 PEER PRESSURE can be intense!

Drugs and Peer Pressure
"I feel peer pressure now about buying name
brand clothes and specific CD's, but I just
say 'I don't care' or 'it's not cool' or 'I
really don't want it.' I don't let other
people tell me what to do. But I think when
I'm sixteen, I'll be dealing with issues like
smoking and drugs. I'm pretty sure I'll be
saying 'no' then too. I want to anyway, but
I can't predict the future."
- Dana, 12
The Commitment to Be Drug-Free





Finding healthful ways to have fun and enjoy
your life.
Sticking with people who know how to have
fun without chemicals and who make you feel
good.
Figuring out what else makes you feel good
about yourself and doing more of it.
Thinking about your true purpose and how
you can put your life and talents to good use.
Tapping into your creativity.
School Efforts to Stop Drugs
All over America there are now DRUG-FREE
SCHOOL ZONES:these are areas within
1,000 feet of schools and designated by
signs, within which people caught selling
drugs receive especially tough penalties.
 Sometimes the penalties are even doubled
what they might otherwise be for the same
drug offense elsewhere.

Community Efforts to Stop Drugs

Drug Watches

Community Training

Community Education