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Hale Ola ‘o Manoa–
“Home for Healthful Healing”
"Helping
Clients take their first steps on the road to recovery and
optimal health"
Drug
Information |
Amphetamines
|
Chemical, medical,
or scientific name:
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|
amphetamine, dextroamphetamine, and methamphetamine |
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Street names:
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One of the most common
names for amphetamines is speed; they are also known
as uppers, bennies, and truck drivers. |
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Drug Classification:
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Stimulant |
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The term amphetamine
can apply to three drugs: amphetamine,
dextroamphetamine, and methamphetamine. Amphetamines
have been used to treat several disorders, including
narcolepsy and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity
Disorder (ADHD). It gets one of its street names from
a popular story about its use—reportedly some truck
drivers on long hauls took amphetamines to stay awake
for the trip. Others have used the drugs to lose
weight, and students have taken amphetamines as a
study aid, helping them to stay up and cram for a test
or finish a paper. It can be injected, swallowed,
smoked, and snorted. (For more information
specifically on methamphetamine, see separate
listing.)Like many stimulants, amphetamines increases
heart rate and blood pressure. They can increase a
person’s metabolism and generate a feeling of
alertness and increased energy. Amphetamines may also
cause the user to become anxious or panicky. |
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Short-term effects:
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Like many stimulants, amphetamines increases heart
rate and blood pressure. They can increase a person’s
metabolism and generate a feeling of alertness and
increased energy. Amphetamines may also cause the user
to become anxious or panicky. |
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Long-term effects:
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This group of drugs is addictive, and users often
build up a tolerance to them, requiring larger doses
to achieve a high. These drugs can lead to weight loss
and heart failure. For those who inject amphetamines,
they have a higher risk of contracting hepatitis or
HIV infection. |
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Mental effects:
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Along with increased alertness and energy, the drug
may cause feelings of restlessness, anxiousness, and
aggressiveness. With extensive use, a person may
experience psychiatric problems. |
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Physical effects:
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With amphetamine use, there can be increased heart
rate and rapid breathing. It can affect physical
coordination and appetite. |
Cocaine
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Chemical, medical,
or scientific name:
|
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cocaine hydrochloride |
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Street names:
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There
are numerous slang terms for this drug, including
blow, bump, C, coke, snow, and toot. |
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Drug Classification:
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Stimulant |
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Cocaine has been around a long time. The leaves of the
coca plant, from which cocaine is derived, were used
by native peoples in South America more than 2,000
years ago. It later became used as a local anesthetic
in 1880s. Around this time, it also found its way into
many medications and other types of products. Because
it is such a strong stimulant, cocaine use can wreck
havoc on a person’s health, leading to a heart attack.
In rare cases, the drug can bring on sudden death. One
in five drug-related emergency department visits in
2004 were attributed to cocaine, according to a report
from the Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN). It can be
snorted, smoked, and injected. |
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Short-term effects:
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Cocaine acts on the central nervous system, making the
user often feel energized or euphoric. It may increase
a user’s heart rate and blood pressure and can cause
the heart to beat rapidly or irregularly. |
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Long-term effects:
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With extensive use, cocaine may lead to erratic,
delusional, or paranoid behavior as well as violent
outbursts and psychiatric problems. The drug may cause
breathing and neurological problems with long-term
use. Since it suppresses appetite, a user may suffer
from malnutrition. For those who inject the drug, they
face the added risk of contracting hepatitis or an HIV
infection. Frequently snorting the drug can cause
nosebleeds as well as impair a person’s sense of
smell. Cocaine is highly addictive with users needing
increasing amounts of the drug to get high. .
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Mental effects:
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Cocaine may increase a user’s
level of alertness and confidence. He or she may feel
euphoric for a time and then experience feelings of
anxiety, restlessness, paranoid, or aggression while
coming off the drug. |
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Physical effects:
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Cocaine may increase a person’s
blood pressure and heart rate and cause headaches and
nausea. The drug has been known to induce heart
attacks, strokes, seizures, and panic attacks. |
Crack
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Chemical, medical,
or scientific name:
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cocaine hydrochloride |
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Street names:
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There
are many street names for crack and cocaine; some are
used interchangeably. Here are a few names
specifically used for crack: 24-7, bad, basa, and
nuggets.
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Drug Classification:
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Stimulant |
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Crack
is a form of cocaine that has been altered to make it
easier to smoke. The cocaine powder is made into
clumps that are called rocks. In part because it’s
inexpensive to make and cheap to buy, crack became
hugely popular in the mid-1980s and the use of this
drug is believed to have contributed to an increase in
crime in some areas. |
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Short-term effects:
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Like cocaine, a person may
experience a high shortly after taking the drug. It
may also cause feelings of agitation or anxiousness.
It can increase a person’s body temperature, blood
pressure, and heart rate. Using crack can lead to
heart attacks and strokes. |
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Long-term effects:
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Taking crack for a long time can cause physical and
mental health problems. With extensive use, a person
may become dependent on the drug and develop a
tolerance to it. Crack can also cause heart problems
and seizures as well as respiratory failure.
Malnutrition may occur as the drug diminishes
appetite. |
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Mental effects:
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Crack may bring on a feeling of
euphoria and increased energy. It may also cause
anxiety. With extensive use, the drug may affect mood
and increase irritability. Heavy users can suffer from
paranoia and hallucinations. |
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Physical effects:
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The drug can increase body
temperature and heart rate and depress appetite. Over
time, crack can become incredibly addictive, and users
can develop a tolerance for the drug. |
Ecstasy
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Chemical,
medical,
or scientific name:
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3-4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine, usually
abbreviated as MDMA |
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Street
names:
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Besides
called ecstasy, this drug is also known as
Adam, E, Eve, hug drug, STP, X, and XTC
among many other terms. |
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Drug Classification:
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Stimulant |
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Ecstasy has
become a popular drug with teenagers and
young adults and is associated with the
club scene as well as with underground
dance parties known as raves. The drug is
usually swallowed, and users sometimes
take it in combination with other drugs,
such as alcohol or marijuana. In 2004,
there were close to 9,000 emergency
department visits related to Ecstasy use,
according to a report from the Drug Abuse
Warning Network (DAWN). |
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Short-term effects:
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Ecstasy works as both a stimulant and a
hallucinogen. Users often have experience
increased sensation as well as magnified
sense of empathy as well as having
hallucinations. The drug can interfere
with the body’s ability to regulate
temperature, possibly leading to
hyperthermia, or an increased in body
temperature, that can cause problems in
the liver, kidney, and heart. It can even
be fatal. Ecstasy also may slow the user’s
metabolism, making it easier to have an
overdose because the body’s ability to
breakdown the drug is impaired. |
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Long-term effects:
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Animal studies have shown that the drug
may cause damage to the neurons, or
specialized cells, that are involved with
mental processes, such as judgment.
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Mental effects:
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The drug can reduce a user’s inhibitions,
trigger mild hallucinations, cause
euphoria, and generate increased feelings
of empathy or closeness. |
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Physical effects:
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Users may experience increased heart rate,
increased blood pressure, blurred vision,
nausea, chills, and muscle problems. |
GHB
|
Chemical,
medical,
or scientific name:
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gamma-hydroxybutyrate |
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Street
names:
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Besides GHB,
this drug has many other names, including
G, Georgia home boy, grievous bodily harm,
and liquid ecstasy. |
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Drug Classification:
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Depressant |
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Once sold
over the counter, this drug was sometimes
used by bodybuilders to create more
muscle. But the drug is now better known
for its sedative powers because it
depresses activity in a person’s central
nervous system. Along with ketamine and
rohyphnol, GHB is considered a “date rape”
drug. Colorless and odorless, it can be
easily added to a person’s drink without
his or her knowledge, leaving the person
vulnerable to possible assault. Some
people also take this drug for its
relaxation and euphoria-inducing
properties. GHB was associated with more
than 2,000 emergency room visits in 2004,
according to a report from the Drug Abuse
Warning Network (DAWN). The drug is
usually taken by being swallowed. |
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Short-term effects:
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Soon after taking the drug, a
user may feel euphoric, relaxed, or
drowsy. It may cause hallucinations as
well as loss of physical reflexes and
consciousness. |
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Long-term effects:
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There are no studies available to indicate
the long-term consequences of using GHB.
As a sedative, however, it may impair
memory and learning functions with
extensive use. |
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Mental effects:
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GHB may lead to feelings of
euphoria and relaxation. It can also
produce hallucinations and decrease
inhibitions. |
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Physical effects:
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The drug can cause drowsiness to
the point of losing conscious as well as
losing muscle control, including a
person’s gag reflex. It can bring on
headaches, nausea, and breathing problems. |
Heroin
|
Chemical,
medical,
or scientific name:
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diacetylmorphine |
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Street
names:
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Heroin is
known by many names, including dope, H,
horse, and smack.
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Drug Classification:
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Opioid |
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Heroin has
been around since the late 1800s and made
from morphine, which can be found in the
parts of specific types of poppy plants.
It is a powder that ranges in color from
white to brown. One popular type of heroin
is known as “black tar” for its dark color
and stickiness. According to the 2005
National Survey on Drug Use and Health,
approximately 136,000 people had used this
highly addictive drug within the past
month. It can be snorted, smoked, or
injected. |
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Short-term effects:
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Heroin brings on a feeling of
euphoria, or a rush. It blocks sensations
of pain, slows breathing, and impairs
thinking. It may cause nausea and
vomiting. After the initial rush, a user
may become drowsy. |
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Long-term effects:
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Extensive heroin use may lead to a
dependency on the drug and an increased
tolerance for it. The drug itself affects
the brain in a way that encourages
addiction, and users who become hooked
often spent much of their time and energy
toward maintaining their drug habit. If
the user repeatedly injects the drug, he
or she is at risk for hepatitis and HIV
infection as well as collapsed veins.
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Mental effects:
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Besides its euphoria-producing
effects, the drug also impairs mental
functioning. |
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Physical effects:
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Heroin
slows breathing and heart rates and can
cause nausea and drowsiness. |
Ketamine
|
Chemical,
medical,
or scientific name:
|
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2-(2-chlorophenyl)-2-methylamino-cyclohexan-1-one |
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Street
names:
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This drug
is often called special K or vitamin K. |
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Drug Classification:
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Dissociative anesthetic |
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A strong
sedative, ketamine has been used as an
anesthetic for humans and animals.
Ketamine has also been used as a “date
rape” drug because its ability to put the
user into altered state. In this mental
state, the user has a type of “out of
body” experience, feeling disconnected
from the world and may not be able to talk
or move. It is chemically similar to PCP.
The drug can be swallowed, smoked, or
injected. |
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Short-term effects:
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Besides trip-like sensations and
pain-killing properties, the drug may
cause numbness, muscle stiffness, speech
problems, memory loss, and nausea. |
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Long-term effects:
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Little is known about the long-term
effects of this drug. There are some
indications that it may impact mental
functions, such as memory. Some mental
health problems may occur when the drug is
used frequently and in high doses.
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Mental effects:
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Ketamine may cause mental confusion,
agitation, or aggression as well as visual
and auditory delusions or distortions and
memory loss. A user may fall into a
motionless, trance-like mental state. At
high doses, it can make the user delirious
or depressed. |
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Physical effects:
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It may cause loss of
coordination, difficulty speaking, and
muscle problems. Like other drugs of its
kind, it may increase heart rate and blood
pressure, cause numbness, and impair motor
skills. At high doses, it can bring on
respiratory problems. |
LSD
|
Chemical,
medical,
or scientific name:
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lysergic acid diethylamide |
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Street
names:
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This drug
is known as acid, blotter, dots, pane, and
trip among other names. |
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Drug Classification:
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Hallucinogen |
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Many
cultures in the world have a history of
taking hallucinogens as a part of their
religious and social practices. Before
LSD, hallucinogenic drugs came from
natural chemical compounds. LSD was
discovered by a chemist in Switzerland in
the 1930s, and the first synthetic drug to
produce similar effects to natural
hallucinogens. The drug became popular in
the United States during the 1960s and is
often associated with the hippie culture
of the time. It is still being used today
with 243,000 Americans aged 12 and older
claiming to have used LSD for the first
time in the past year, according to the
2005 National Survey on Drug Use and
Health. The drug is usually put on paper,
which is divided into smaller pieces,
making individual doses. A person takes
LSD by placing the paper in his or her
mouth. It can also be made into tablets or
added to thin bits of gelatin called
“window panes.” |
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Short-term effects:
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Taking LSD causes hallucinations—an
experience usually referred to as a trip.
It alters a person’s sensory perceptions,
changing the way he or she sees and hears
the world around him or her. These trips
can be pleasant or extremely frightening
with users having scary thoughts and
feelings and can last up to 12 hours.
While taking the drug, a person may
experience increased heart rate and blood
pressure, nausea, and dizziness. |
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Long-term effects:
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Extensive LSD use has been shown to cause
two types of psychological disorders:
psychosis and hallucinogen persisting
perception disorder (HPPD). Psychosis can
be any kind of mental problem that relates
to a break from reality with such symptoms
as delusions, hallucinations, and
difficulty in thinking and communicating.
HPPD is commonly known as “flashbacks.”
These short episodes usually consist of
brief, primarily visual hallucinations.
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Mental effects:
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The drug triggers hallucinations and
changes how a person experiences reality.
With heavy use, severe psychological
problems may occur. |
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Physical effects:
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Although LSD primarily affects
the mind and senses, it can cause a rise
in heart rate, blood pressure, and body
temperature as well as depress appetite.
Body tremors and numbness have also been
reported by LSD users. |
Marijuana
|
Chemical, medical,
or scientific name:
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The main chemical component of
this substance is
delta-9-tetrahydro-cannabinol
(THC). |
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Street names:
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Commonly called weed or pot,
marijuana is also known as
grass, herb, mary jane, and
reefer. |
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Drug Classification:
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Cannabinoid |
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According to a report from the
National Institute on Drug
Abuse, marijuana is the most
commonly used illicit drug in
the United States. It comes
from a type of hemp plant
known as Cannabis sativa. The
plant is dried and usually
smoked. There are several
popular methods for smoking
the drug. It can be made into
cigarettes using rolling
papers—these are commonly
known as “joints.” Others
remove the tobacco in cigars
and replace with marijuana to
create “blunts.” Pipes and
water pipes called bongs are
also used. Marijuana is
sometimes ingested. It can be
made into a tea or added to
food.. |
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Short-term effects:
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Along with creating a feeling
of improved well being or a
high, marijuana causes
increased heart rate and
slowed response times as well
as intensifying the user’s
perception of sounds and
colors. It may also affect a
user’s sense of time, making
him or her feel that time is
moving slowly. Marijuana may
also lead to increased hunger
or thirst. |
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Long-term effects:
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There are certain health risks
with smoking any kind of
substance, such as respiratory
illnesses and infection.
Studies show that marijuana
smoke may be more hazardous
than tobacco smoke. Smoking
marijuana may lead to cancer
of the respiratory tract and
lungs. |
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Mental effects:
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After initial euphoric high
passes, a marijuana user may
feel drowsy or depressed.
There have been some cases of
the drug causing feelings of
anxiety or panic attacks. The
drug can impair memory and
affect learning capabilities.
In high doses, a user may
experience hallucinations or
delusions. |
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Physical effects:
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Marijuana can affect a
person’s coordination and
increase heart rate. Blood
vessels in the eyes dilate,
making them appear red. With
frequent use, a person may
suffer respiratory problems,
such as a chronic cough or a
respiratory infection.
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Mescaline
|
Chemical, medical,
or scientific name:
|
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3, 4,
3-trimethoxyphenylethylamine |
|
Street names:
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The drug is often known by the
name of its natural source,
peyote. Other terms for this
drug include buttons, cactus,
and mesc. |
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Drug Classification:
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Hallucinogen |
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Mescaline comes from a type of
cactus called Lophophora
williamsii. This cactus has
been used historically by some
of the native peoples of
Mexico and the American
Southwest as part of their
religious ceremonies. The San
Pedro cactus, Trichocerseus
pachanoi, also reportedly
contains mescaline and is
found in the mountains of
Peru. Like other
hallucinogens, it can produce
visions or an altered state of
consciousness. Today the drug
can be taken from the plant or
produced in a lab. It is
typically swallowed or smoked. |
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Short-term effects:
|
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The drug alters the user’s mental
state, causing a variety of
hallucinations. Like other
hallucinogens, mescaline’s
effects can be pleasant or
horrifying with some people
having anxiety and thoughts of
insanity or losing control.
The drug also can raise body
temperature, blood pressure,
and heart rate. Loss of
appetite and nausea are
associated with mescaline use
as are insomnia and weakness
and tremors. |
|
Long-term effects:
|
|
Like LSD, uses may experience
hallucinogen persisting
perception disorder (HPPD),
commonly known as
“flashbacks.” These flashbacks
are a type of hallucination,
not unlike those experienced
in the initial use of the
drug. They are often visual in
nature. |
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Mental effects:
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Mescaline distorts reality for
the user in many ways. The
user may see or hear things
that aren’t real and may lose
his or her sense of time and
space. Feelings of anxiety and
intense fear may also occur. |
|
Physical effects:
|
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The drug can impact heart and
body functions, such as
temperature and blood
pressure. It can affect the
muscles and nerves, creating a
sensation of weakness and
numbness. |
Methamphetamine
|
Chemical, medical,
or scientific name:
|
|
methamphetamine or
methamphetamine hydrochloride |
|
Street names:
|
|
Commonly called meth, the drug
has numerous other street
names, such as chalk, crank,
speed, and tina.
Methamphetamine hydrochloride
is a crystallized version of
the drug and has several
street names, such as crystal,
crystal meth, and ice.
|
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Drug Classification:
|
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Stimulant |
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A type of amphetamine, the
stimulant methamphetamine is
even more dangerous than
related drugs because it is
more powerful and has a
greater impact on the central
nervous system. Use of this
drug has become widespread
with more than 10 million
Americans admitting to trying
it once during their lifetime,
according to the 2005 National
Survey on Drug Use and Health.
It can be injected, swallowed,
snorted, and smoked. |
|
Short-term effects:
|
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Once taking the drug, the user
experiences increased
alertness as well as increased
blood pressure and heart rate.
It can also lead to loss of
appetite, insomnia, and
aggressive or psychotic
behavior. If too large of a
dose is taken at once, a
person may have convulsions
and a dramatic rise in body
temperature, which can lead to
death. |
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Long-term effects:
|
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Using methamphetamines over an
extensive period of time can
affect a person’s verbal
learning ability as well as
damage the parts of brain
related to feelings and
memory. It may also lead to
psychiatric problems, such as
delusions, hallucinations, and
paranoia, which may last long
after the user has stopped
taking the drug. If injected,
the drug puts the user at
greater risk of contracting
hepatitis or HIV infection.
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Mental effects:
|
|
A user may feel excited,
energetic, or euphoric. The
drug may also increase a
person’s ability to pay
attention and to focus. It may
also cause mental and
behavioral problems with
frequent use. |
|
Physical effects:
|
|
Methamphetamine can cause
rapid breathing, changes in
heartbeat rhythm and speed,
and increased body
temperature, or hyperthermia. |
Information sources for Drug
Information: Main sources-
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA);
http://www.drugabuse.gov. U.S.
Department of Health and Human
Services and SAMHSA’s National
Clearhouse for Alcohol & Drug
Information; http://ncadi.samhsa.gov/.
Drug Abuse Warning Network;
https://dawninfo.samhsa.gov/default.asp
Drug Facts from the Office of
National Drug Control Policy;
http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/drugfact/index.html
Additional Sources—Club Drug
Information: National Institute on
Drug Abuse “Club Drugs Aren’t ‘Fun
Drugs’”; http://www.drugabuse.gov/Published_Articles/fundrugs.html
U.S. Department of Justice
Information on MDMA; http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/concern/mdma.htm
Additional sources—cocaine: U.S.
Department of Justice Information
on cocaine; http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/concern/cocaine.html
Additional sources—Heroin: U.S.
Department of Justice Information
on Heroin
http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/concern/heroin.html
Additional sources—LSD: U.S.
Department of Justice LSD
factsheet; http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/concern/lsd_factsheet.html
Additional
sources—Methamphetamines: U.S.
Department of Justice Information
on Methamphetamines;
http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/concern/meth.html
Additional sources—Pain killers:
U.S. Department of Justice
Information on Oxycontin
http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/concern/oxycontin.html
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