Psychoactive

Drugs
Range of Efects Development of
Tolerance
Prolonged Use
of Large
Amounts
Withdrawal
ymptoms
After Prolonged
Use
!rom To
alcohol
- Beer
- Wine
- Hard Liquor
Depressant
Relaxation,
lowered
inhibitions,
reduced intensity
of physical
sensations,
digestive upsets,
body heat loss,
reduced
uscular
coordination!
Loss of body
control, passing
out "also causing
physical in#uries$,
susceptibility to
pneuonia,
cessation of
breathing!

%oderate
Liver daage,
ulcers, chronic
diarrhea,
anesia,
voiting, brain
daage, internal
bleeding,
debilitation!
&onvulsions,
sha'es,
hallucinations,
loss of eory,
uncontrolled
uscular spass,
psychosis!
edative
"ypnotics
Barbiturates(
- )ebutal
- *henobarbital
- +econal
Depressant
Relaxation,
lowered
inhibitions,
reduced intensity
of physical
*assing out, loss
of body control,
stupor, severe
depression of
respiration,
possible death!

%oderate
,nesia,
confusion,
drowsiness,
personality
changes!

-ranquili.ers(
- /aliu
- Libriu
- 0uaaludes
sensations,
digestive upsets,
body heat loss,
reduced
uscular
coordination!
"12ects are
exaggerated
when used in
cobination with
alcohol -
synergistic
e2ect$!
Psychoactive
Drugs
Range of Efects Development of
Tolerance
Prolonged Use
of Large
Amounts
Withdrawal
ymptoms
After Prolonged
Use
!rom To
#piates
- 3piu
- %orphine
- Heroin
- &odeine
- Dilaudids
- *ercodan
- Darvon
- %ethadone
Depressant
+uppression of
pain, lowered
blood pressure
and respiratory
rate,
constipation,
disruption of
enstrual cycle,
&lay s'in,
convulsions,
coa, respiratory
depression,
possible death!

High
Depressed sexual
drive, lethargy,
general physical
debilitation,
infections,
hepatitis
Water eyes,
running nose,
severe bac'
pains, stoach
craps,
sleeplessness,
nausea, diarrhea,
sweating, uscle
spass!
hallucinations,
sleep!
timulants
,phetaines
- Dexedrine
- %etha-
phetaines
- +peed
- Diet *ills
3ther +tiulants
- Ritalin
- &ocaine
- &a2eine

+tiulation of
&entral )ervous
+yste
4ncreased blood
pressure and
pulse rate,
appetite loss,
increased
alertness, dilated
and dried out
bronchi,
restlessness,
insonia!
*aranoid
reaction,
teporary
psychosis,
irritability,
convulsions,
palpitations! ")ot
generally true for
ca2eine!$

High
*sychosis,
insonia,
paranoia,
nervous syste
daage! ")ot
generally true for
ca2eine!$
+evere
depression, both
physical and
ental! ")ot true
for ca2eine!$
Psychoactive
Drugs
Range of Efects Development of
Tolerance
Prolonged Use
of Large
Amounts
Withdrawal
ymptoms
After Prolonged
Use
!rom To
alcohol
- Beer
- Wine
- Hard Liquor
Depressant
Relaxation,
lowered
inhibitions,
reduced intensity
of physical
sensations,
digestive upsets,
body heat loss,
reduced
uscular
coordination!
Loss of body
control, passing
out "also causing
physical in#uries$,
susceptibility to
pneuonia,
cessation of
breathing!

%oderate
Liver daage,
ulcers, chronic
diarrhea,
anesia,
voiting, brain
daage, internal
bleeding,
debilitation!
&onvulsions,
sha'es,
hallucinations,
loss of eory,
uncontrolled
uscular spass,
psychosis!
edative
"ypnotics
Barbiturates(
- )ebutal
- *henobarbital
- +econal
-ranquili.ers(
- /aliu
- Libriu
- 0uaaludes
Depressant
Relaxation,
lowered
inhibitions,
reduced intensity
of physical
sensations,
digestive upsets,
body heat loss,
reduced
*assing out, loss
of body control,
stupor, severe
depression of
respiration,
possible death!
"12ects are
exaggerated
when used in
cobination with

%oderate
,nesia,
confusion,
drowsiness,
personality
changes!

uscular
coordination!
alcohol -
synergistic
e2ect$!
Psychoactive
Drugs
Range of Efects Development of
Tolerance
Prolonged Use
of Large
Amounts
Withdrawal
ymptoms
After Prolonged
Use
!rom To
Psychedelics
- L+D
- %escaline
- *silocybin
- *&*
,lteration of
%ental *rocess
Distorted
perceptions,
hallucinations,
confusion,
voiting!
*sychosis,
hallucinations,
voiting,
anxiety, panic,
stupor!
With *&*(
,ggressive
behavior,
catatonia,
convulsions,
coa, high blood
pressure!

High
*sychosis,
continued
hallucinations,
ental
disruption!
3ccasional
5ashbac'
phenoena,
depression!
T"$ +edation, Distorted ,otivation "loss )o true
- %ari#uana
- Hashish
euphoria,
increased
appetite, altered
ental process!
perception,
anxiety, panic!
%oderate of drive$! withdrawal
syptos except
possible
depression!
+peci6c Drugs and -heir 12ects
Drug )ae( Alcohol
Drug -ype( Depressant
7acts for
*arents(
89: of ;th graders have aditted to being intoxicated at least once!
3ther
)aes(
Beer, wine, liquor, cooler, alt liquor, boo.e
How
&onsued(
3rally
12ects( ,ddiction "alcoholis$, di..iness, nausea, voiting, hangovers, slurred speech, disturbed sleep,
ipaired otor s'ills, violent behavior, fetal alcohol syndroe, respiratory depression and death
"high doses$!
Drug )ae( Amphetamines
Drug -ype( +tiulant
7acts for
*arents(
&hronic use can induce psychosis with syptos siilar to schi.ophrenia!
3ther
)aes(
+peed, uppers, ups, hearts, blac' beauties, pep pills, capilots, buble bees, Ben.edrine, Dexedrine,
footballs, biphetaine
How
&onsued(
3rally, in#ected, snorted, or so'ed
12ects( ,ddiction, irritability, anxiety, increased blood pressure, paranoia, psychosis, depression, aggression,
convulsions, dilated pupils, di..iness, sleeplessness, loss of appetite, alnutrition! 4ncreased ris' of
exposure to H4/, hepatitis, and other infectious diseases if in#ected!
Drug )ae( %etamphetamines
Drug -ype( +tiulant
7acts for
*arents(
+oe users avoid sleep < to =9 days!
3ther )aes( +peed, eth, cran', crystal, ice, 6re, croa', crypto, white cross, glass! >4ce> is the street nae for the
so'eable for!
How
&onsued(
3rally, in#ected, snorted, or so'ed
12ects( ,ddiction, irritability, aggression, hypotheria, stro'e, paranoia, psychosis, convulsions, heart and
blood vessel toxicity, hallucinations, arrhythia, forication "the sensation of insects creeping on or
under your s'in$!
Drug )ae( Ecstasy
Drug -ype( +tiulants
7acts for
*arents(
1cstasy is popular at all-night underground parties "called raves$ and is the ost coon designer
drug!
3ther )aes( ?-&, ,da, %D%,
How
&onsued(
3rally
12ects( *sychiatric disturbances, including panic, anxiety, depression, and paranoia! %uscle tension, nausea,
blurred vision, sweating, increased heart rate, treors, hallucinations, fainting, chills, sleep
probles, and reduced appetite
Drug )ae( Ritalin
Drug -ype( +tiulant
7acts for
*arents(
+oe children buy or steal fro their classates
3ther )aes( +peed, west coast
How
&onsued(
-ablet is crushed, and the powder is snorted or in#ected!
12ects( Loss of appetite, fevers, convulsions, and severe headaches! 4ncreased ris' of exposure to H4/,
hepatitis, and other infections! *aranoia, hallucinations, excessive repetition of oveents and
eaningless tas's, treors, uscle twitching!
Drug )ae( "er&al Ecstasy'Ephedrine
Drug -ype( Herbal 1cstasy, &loud @, Rave 1nergy, Altiate, ?phoria, and ?
7acts for
*arents(
-he active ingredients in Herbal 1cstasy are ca2eine and ephedrine!
How
&onsued(
3rally
12ects( 4ncreased heart rate and blood pressure! +ei.ures, heart attac's, stro'e, and death!
Drug )ae( Designer Drugs
Drug -ype( +tiulants
7acts for
*arents(
&hanging the olecular structure of an existing drug or drugs to create a new substance creates
Designer drugs!
3ther )aes( +ynthetic heroin, goodfella
How
&onsued(
4n#ected, sni2ed, or so'ed!
12ects( 4nstant respiratory paralysis! *otency creates strong possibility for overdose, any of the sae
e2ects as heroin!
Drug )ae( $ocaine
Drug -ype( +tiulant
7acts for
*arents(
&ocaine is a powerfully addictive drug! Heavy use ay produce paranoia, hallucinations, aggression,
insonia, and depression!
3ther )aes( &o'e, snow, nose candy, 5a'e, blow, big &, lady, white, snowbirds!
How
&onsued(
+norted or dissolved in water and in#ected!
12ects( ,ddiction, pupil dilation, elevated blood pressure and heart rate! 4ncreased respiratory rate, sei.ures,
heart attac', insonia, anxiety, restlessness, irritability, increased body teperature, death fro
overdose!
Drug
)ae(
$rac(
Drug -ype( +tiulant
7acts for
*arents(
, cheaper for of cocaine that ay be ore addicting!
3ther
)aes(
Roc', freebase
12ects( +ae as cocaine
Drug
)ae(
"eroin
Drug -ype( 3piates
7acts for
*arents(
Heroin users quic'ly develop a tolerance to the drug and need ore and ore of it to get the sae
e2ects, or even to feel well!
3ther +ac', horse, ud, brown, sugar, #un', blac' tar, big H, dope!
)aes(
12ects( ,ddiction! +lurred speech, slow gait, constricted pupils, droopy eyelids, ipaired night vision, nodding
o2, respiratory depression or failure, dry itching s'in, and s'in infections! 4ncreased ris' of exposure to
H4/, hepatitis, and other infectious diseases if in#ected!
Drug )ae( P$P
Drug -ype( Hallucinogens
7acts for
*arents(
%ari#uana #oints can be dipped into *&* without the so'erBs 'nowledge!
3ther )aes( ,ngel dust, o.one, roc'et fuel, peace pill, elephant tranquili.er, dust!
How
&onsued(
+norted, so'ed, orally, or in#ected!
12ects( Hallucinations! 3ut-of-body experiences, ipaired otor coordination, inability to feel physical pain,
respiratory attac', disorientation, fear, panic, aggressive behavior! 4ncreased ris' of exposure to H4/,
hepatitis, and other infectious diseases if in#ected! Death!
Drug )ae( LD )Lysergic Acid Diethyl amide*
Drug -ype( Hallucinogen
7acts for
*arents(
L+D is the ost coon hallucinogen! L+D tabs are often decorated with colorful designs or cartoon
characters!
3ther )aes( ,cid, icrodot, tabs, doses, trips, hits, sugar cubes!
How
&onsued(
-abs ta'en orally or gelatinCliquid put in eyes!
12ects( 1levated body teperature and blood pressure, suppressed appetite, sleeplessness, treors, chronic
recurring hallucinations!
Drug )ae( %ushrooms
Drug -ype( Hallucinogens
7acts for
*arents(
%any ushroo users purchase hallucinogenic ushroo spores via ail order!
3ther
)aes(
+hroos, caps, agic ushroos!
How
&onsued(
1aten or brewed and drun' in tea!
12ects( 4ncreased blood pressure, sweating, nausea, hallucinations!
Drug )ae( +nhalants
7acts for
*arents(
Hundreds of legal household products can be sni2ed or hu2ed to get high! ,ll inhalants can be toxic!
3ther )aes( Laughing gas, whippets, aerosol sprays, cleaning 5uids, solvents!
How
&onsued(
/apors are inhaled
12ects( Headache, uscle wea'ness, abdoinal pain, severe ood swings and violent behavior, nausea,
nose bleedsD liver, lung, and 'idney daageD dangerous cheical ibalances in the body, lac' of
coordination, fatigue, loss of appetite, decreases in heart and respiratory rates, hepatitis, or
peripheral neuropathy fro long-ter use!
Drug )ae( %ari,uana
7acts for
*arents(
-he average age of 6rst use is =E! &an be so'ed using hoeade pipes and bongs ade fro soda
cans or plastic beverage containers!
3ther Weed, pot, reefer, grass, dope, gan#a, %ary Fane, sinseilla, herb, ,unt %ary, s'un', boo, 'if,
)aes( gangster, chronic, E8G!
How
&onsued(
+o'ed or eaten!
12ects( Bloodshot eyes, dry outh, ipaired or reduced coprehension, altered sense of tie, reduced
ability to perfor tas's requiring concentration and coordination --such as driving a car, paranoia,
intense anxiety attac's, altered cognition, a'ing acquisition of new inforation diHcultD
ipairents in learning, eory, perception, and #udgentD diHculty spea'ing, listening e2ectively,
thin'ing, retaining 'nowledge, proble solving!
Drug )ae( teroids
7acts for
*arents(
+teroid users sub#ect theselves to ore than IG : potentially harful side e2ects!
3ther
)aes(
Rhoids, #uice
How
&onsued(
3rally or in#ected into uscle
12ects( Liver cancer +terility, asculine traits in woen and feinine traits in en, aggression, depression,
acne, ood swings!
Drug )ae( To&acco
7acts for
*arents(
= in 9 =8th graders is a daily so'er! How &onsued( &igarettes, cigars, pipes, so'eless tobacco
"chew, dip, and snu2$!
12ects( ,ddiction, heart disease, cancer of the lung, larynx, esophagus, bladder, pancreas, 'idney, and
outh! 1physea and chronic bronchitis, spontaneous abortion, low birth weight!
Here are suaries of the e2ect of select street drugs on the brain! +oe of the introductory inforation is
derived fro ,bout!co! +elect authoritative references for inforation about e2ects of drugs on the brain
include(
Drug Abuse in the Decade of the Brain, Jabriel J! )ahas and -! 7! Bur's, 1ds!, 43+ *ress, =@@I!
Drug Ase and ,buse, Fean-*ierre &hangeux, in The Brain by J! %! 1delan and F! &hangeux, editors,
-ransaction *ublishers, 8GG=!
"eroin
Heroin is a highly addictive opiate "li'e orphine$! Brain cells can becoe dependent "highly addictive$ on
this drug to the extent that users need it in order to function in their daily routine! While heroin use starts out
with a rush of pleasure, it leaves the use in a fog for any hours afterwards! Asers soon 6nd that their sole
purpose in life is to have ore of the drug that their body has becoe dependant on!
7ro Da'ota +tate Aniversity, a great resource on the e2ects of various drugs on the body and brain!
+ee also, )ational 4nstitute on Drug ,buse facts about heroin!
%ari,uana
-he parts of the brain that control eotions, eory, and #udgent are a2ected by ari#uana! +o'ing it
can not only wea'en short-ter eory, but can bloc' inforation fro a'ing it into long ter eory! 4t
has also been shown to wea'en proble solving ability!
Cannabis and Cognitive Functioning, )adia +olowi, &abridge Aniv! *ress, =@@;!
Alcohol
,lcohol is no safer than drugs! ,lcohol ipairs #udgent and leads to eory lapses! 4t can lead to blac'outs!
4t distorts vision, shortens coordination, and in addition to the brain can daage every other organ in the
body!
$ocaine
&ocaine, both in powder for and as crac', is an extreely addictive stiulant! ,n addict usually loses
interest in any areas of life, including school, sports, faily, and friends! Ase of cocaine can lead to feelings
of paranoia and anxiety! ,lthough often used to enhance sex drive, physical e2ect of cocaine on the receptors
in the brain reduce the ability to feel pleasure "which in turn causes the dependency on the drug$!
Cocaine: Efects on the Developing Brain, ",nnals of the )ew Kor' ,cadey of +ciences$, Fohn ,! Harvey and
Barry 1! Losofs'y, 1ds!, )ew Kor' ,cadey of +ciences, =@@;!
The Neurobiology of Cocaine Addiction: From Bench to Bedside, Heran Foseph and Barry +tiel, 1ds!,
Haworth *ress, =@@I!
+ee )ational 4nstitute on Drug ,buse facts about cocaine and crac'!
+nhalants
4nhalants, such as glue, gasoline, hair spray, and paint thinner, are sni2ed! -he e2ect on the brain is alost
iediate! ,nd while soe vapors leave the body quic'ly, others will reain for a long tie! -he fatty tissues
protecting the nerve cells in the brain are destroyed by inhalant vapors! -his slows down or even stops neural
transissions! 12ects of inhalants include diinished ability to learn, reeber, and solve probles!
+ee )ational 4nstitute on Drug ,buse facts about inhalants!
Ecstasy
1xtended use of this aphetaine causes diHculty di2erentiating reality and fantasy, and causes probles
concentrating! +tudies have found that ecstasy destroys certain cells in the brain! While the cells ay re-
connect after discontinued use of the drug, they donBt re-connect norally! Li'e ost drugs, this one ipairs
eory and can cause paranoia, anxiety, and confusion!
+ee )ational 4nstitute on Drug ,buse facts about ecstasy!
LD
While soe people use L+D for the sense of enhanced and vivid sensory experience, it can cause paranoia,
confusion, anxiety, and panic attac's! Li'e 1cstasy, the user often blurs reality and fantasy, and has a
distorted view of tie and distance!
+ee )ational 4nstitute on Drug ,buse facts about L+D!
teroids
,nabolic steroids are used to iprove athletic perforance and gain uscle bul'! Anfortunately, steroids
cause oodiness and can peranently ipair learning and eory abilities!
+ee )ational 4nstitute on Drug ,buse facts about steroids!
To&acco
-obacco is a dangerous drug, putting nicotine into your body! )icotine a2ects the brain quic'ly, li'e other
inhalants, producing feelings of pleasure, li'e cocaine, and is highly addictive, li'e heroin!
+ee )ational 4nstitute on Drug ,buse facts about nicotine!
%ethamphetamine
Lnown on the street as eth, speed, chal', ice, crystal, and glass, ethaphetaine is an addictive
stiulant that strongly activates certain systes in the brain!
+ee )ational 4nstitute on Drug ,buse facts about ethaphetaine!
Ritalin
-his drug is often prescribed to treat attention de6cit disorder! 4t is becoing an illicit street drug as well! Drug
users loo'ing for a high will crush Ritalin into a powder and snort it li'e cocaine, or in#ect it li'e heroin! 4t then
has a uch ore powerful e2ect on the body! 4t causes severe headaches, anxiety, paranoia, and delusions!

Amphetamines

What are amphetamines-

,phetaines belong to a group of drugs called >psychostiulants>! ,phetaines stiulate the central nervous
syste and speed up the essages going to and fro the brain to the body!
%ost aphetaines are produced in bac'yard laboratories and sold illegally! *eople who buy aphetaines illegally
are often buying these drugs ixed with other substances that can have unpleasant or harful e2ects!
What do they loo( li(e-
,phetaines are a whole faily of related drugsMeach with its own recipeMand are ta'en in di2erent ways! -hey
can be in the for of powder, tablets, capsules, crystals or red liquid!
,phetaines can coe as a white through to a brown powder, soeties even orange and dar' purple! -hey
have a strong sell and bitter taste!
,phetaine capsules vary considerably in colour and are soeties sold in coercial brand shells! -hey are
pac'aged in >foils> "aluiniu foil$, plastic bags or sall balloons when sold on the street!
,phetaine tablets vary in colour, and can be a coc'tail of drugs, binding agents, ca2eine and sugar!
&rystal ethaphetaine, or >ice>, generally coes in large >sheet-li'e> crystals, or as a crystalline powder!
-he reddish-brown liquid is sold in capsules!
%D%,, or >ecstasy> as it is ore coonly 'nown, is another illicit drug related to aphetaines! 4t is usually
available in sall tablets!
*ictures of aphetaines
Why are they used-
*eople use aphetaines for di2erent reasons! +oe use the drugs to get >high> and dance all night! 3thers use
the drugs to help stay awa'e for long periods of tie, to iprove perforance in sport or at wor', or to boost their
self-con6dence! ,phetaines can reduce tiredness and increase endurance!
7or edical purposes, aphetaines are prescribed to treat narcolepsy "where a person has an uncontrollable urge
to sleep$ and attention-de6cit hyperactivity disorder ",DHD$!
"ow are they ta(en-
,phetaines are ost coonly swallowed, in#ected or so'ed! -hey are also >snorted>, or sni2ed, through the
nose! +oe people insert the anally ">shafting>$!
treet names
&oon naes for aphetaines are >speed>, >up>, >fast>, >louee>, >goey>, >whi.>, >pep pills>, >uppers>! &rystal
ethaphetaine is also 'nown as >ice>, >shabu>, >crystal eth>, or >glass>!
Efects of amphetamines
-he e2ects of any drug "including aphetaines$ vary fro person to person, depending on the individualNs si.e,
weight and health, how uch and how the drug is ta'en, whether the person is used to ta'ing it and whether other
drugs are ta'en! 4t also depends on the environent in which the drug is usedD for exaple, whether the person is
alone, with others or at a party!
+mmediate efects
+oon after ta'ing aphetaines, the following e2ects ay be experienced(
+peeding up of bodily functions
,phetaines speed up the bodyNs activity! Heart rate, breathing and blood pressure increase! , dry outh,
increased sweating, enlargeent of the eyeNs pupils and headaches ay occur!
%ore energy and alertness
Asers ay feel energetic and full of con6dence, with a heightened sense of well being! 3ther e2ects include
feeling wide awa'e and alert, becoing tal'ative, restless and excited, and having diHculty sleeping! *anic
attac's ay also be experienced!
Reduced appetite
4rritability
+oe users becoe anxious, irritable, hostile and aggressive! +oeties people feel a sense of power and
superiority over others!
+mpure amphetamines
%ost aphetaines sold illegally contain a ixture of pure aphetaines and other substances such as sugar,
glucose, bicarbonate of soda and ephedrine! -hese additives can be highly poisonous! -hey can cause collapsed
veins, tetanus, abscesses and daage to the heart, lungs, liver and brain! ,nd because the person doesnNt 'now
whether they are using 9 per cent or 9G per cent pure aphetaines, it is easy to overdose by accident!
+n greater .uantities
/ery high quantities of aphetaines can cause paleness, headaches, di..iness, blurred vision, treors, irregular
heartbeat, stoach craps, sweating, restlessness, irregular breathing and loss of coordination! +oe users have
collapsed after ta'ing aphetaines! High quantities can also create an >aphetaine psychosis>, characterised by
paranoid delusions, hallucinations and aggressive or violent behaviour!
Efects of overdosing
Due to the un'nown strength and ix of street aphetaines, soe users have overdosed and experienced
stro'es, heart failure, sei.ures and high body teperature! +oe have died as a result! 4n#ecting runs a greater ris'
of overdosing due to large aounts of the drug entering the blood strea and quic'ly travelling to the brain!
$oming down
,s the e2ects of aphetaines begin to wear o2, a person ay experience a range of syptos including
uncontrolled violence, tension, radical ood swings, depression and total exhaustion!
Long/term efects
Regular use of aphetaines ay result in chronic sleeping probles, anxiety and tension, high blood pressure and
a rapid and irregular heartbeat! 4n order to cobat these drug-related e2ects, people who use aphetaines ay
also use alcohol, ben.odia.epines, other sedativesChypnotics, cannabis and opiates!
3ther possible long-ter e2ects include(
%alnutrition
,phetaines reduce appetite, resulting in people being less li'ely to eat properly!
*sychosis
7requent heavy use can cause >aphetaine psychosis>! +yptos ay include paranoia as well as
delusions, hallucinations and bi.arre behaviour! -hese syptos usually disappear a few days after the
person stops using aphetaines!
Reduced resistance to infections
Regular aphetaine users often donNt eat or sleep properly and are generally run down, so their resistance
to infections is reduced!
/iolence
*eople who use aphetaines regularly or in high quantities ay suddenly becoe violent for no apparent
reason!
Brain daage
-here is soe evidence that aphetaine use ay daage brain cells! -his daage can result in reduced
eory function and possibly other ipairents in thin'ing!
Tolerance and dependence
*eople who are physically dependent on aphetaines usually develop tolerance to the drug, a'ing it necessary
to ta'e ore and ore to get the sae e2ect! -he quantity ta'en can reach a stage at which no further increase in
the aount ta'en will produce the desired e2ect!
Dependence on aphetaines can be psychological or physical, or both! *eople who are psychologically dependent
on aphetaines 6nd that using the becoes far ore iportant than other activities in their life! -hey crave the
drug and will 6nd it very diHcult to stop using it! *eople who are physically dependent on aphetaines 6nd that
their body has becoe used to functioning with the aphetaines present!
Withdrawal
4f a person who is dependent on aphetaines suddenly stops ta'ing it, they will experience withdrawal syptos,
because their body has to read#ust to functioning without the drug!
,phetaine withdrawal syptos ay include hunger, extree fatigue, anxiety, irritability and depression!
*eople ay also have a long but restless sleep, often interrupted by nightares! +oe experience severe distress or
feelings of panic!
Treatment options
-here are a nuber of drug treatent options available in ,ustralia! While abstinence ay be a suitable treatent
ai for soe people, any progras recognise that for others this ay not be possible or realistic! %ost progras
adopt strategies that have an overall ai of reducing the hars and ris's related to the personNs drug use!
+oe treatent options include counselling, group therapy, withdrawal "detoxi6cation$ and edication
"pharacotherapy$! Residential and >out-patient> progras are available!
-reatent is ore e2ective if tailored to suit a personBs circustances, and usually involves a cobination of
ethods!
7or referral to a treatent service, contact the alcohol and drug inforation service in your state or territory!
%ore on treatent
Pregnancy and &reastfeeding
,phetaine use during pregnancy can a2ect foetal developent! ,phetaine use has been lin'ed with
bleeding, early labour and iscarriage! ,phetaine use during pregnancy has also been lin'ed to an increased
ris' of foetal abnoralities, including saller head si.e, eye probles, cleft palate, delayed otor developent,
lib defects and changes to the brain! ,phetaines also cause the heart rate of other and baby to increase!
4f aphetaines are used close to birth the baby ay be unsettled and ay be over-active and agitated! Babies of
others who regularly use aphetaines ay also experience withdrawal syptos in the 6rst few wee's after
birth!
)ot uch is 'nown about the e2ects of aphetaines on the other during breastfeeding! -here is evidence that
babies feed poorly and ay be irritable!
+ee your doctor or other health professional if you are ta'ing or planning to ta'e any substances while pregnant or
breastfeeding, including prescribed and over-the-counter edications!
%ore on alcohol, other drugs and pregnancy
"epatitis and "+0
+haring needles, syringes and other in#ecting equipent can greatly increase the ris' of contracting blood-borne
viruses such as hepatitis B, hepatitis & and H4/ "Huan 4unode6ciency /irusMthe virus that causes ,4D+$!
-o 6nd out where to obtain clean needles and syringes, search the Better Health &hannel service directory or
contact the alcohol and drug inforation service in your +tate or -erritory!
Reducing the ris(s
,ustralian drug policy is based on har iniisation! -he ai is to reduce drug-related har to both the counity
and the individuals who use drugs!
Har-iniisation strategies range fro encouraging >non-use> through to providing the eans for people who use
drugs to use the with reduced ris's!
7or tips on how to reduce the ris's of using aphetaines, contact the alcohol and drug inforation service in your
+tate or -erritory!
Reeber( there is no safe level of drug use!
What to do in a crisis
4f soeone overdoses or has an adverse reaction while using aphetaines it is very iportant that they
receive professional help as soon as possible! , quic' response can save their life!
&all an abulance! Dial GGG! DonNt delay because you thin' you or your friend ight get into trouble!
,bulance oHcers are not obliged to involve the police!
+tay with the person until the abulance arrives! 7ind out if anyone at the scene 'nows outh-to-outh
resuscitation or cardiopulonary resuscitation "&*R$!
1nsure that the person has adequate air by 'eeping crowds bac' and opening windows! Loosen tight clothing!
4f the person is unconscious, donNt leave the on their bac'Mthey could cho'e! -urn the on their side and
put the in the recovery position! Jently tilt their head bac' so their tongue does not bloc' the airway!
4f breathing has stopped, give outh-to-outh resuscitation! 4f there is no pulse, apply &*R!
*rovide the abulance oHcers with as uch inforation as you canMwhat drugs were ta'en, how uch was
ta'en, how long ago and any pre-existing edical conditions!
Before using aphetaines, a'e sure you and your friends 'now what to do in a crisis!
$anna&is
Wednesday 8G +epteber, 8GGO
What is cannabisP
12ects of cannabis
&annabis and psychosis
%edicinal use of cannabis
-olerance and dependence
Withdrawal
-reatent options
*regnancy and breastfeeding
Reducing the ris's

-his inforation has been adapted fro the paphlet o! Drugs Afect "ou: Cannabis, produced by the ,ustralian
Drug 7oundation! 7or single copies of this paphlet phone =<GG ;9 ;9 ;E or eail druginfoQadf!org!au "/ictoria
only$! %ultiple copies are available fro the ,D7 Boo'shop!
What is canna&is-
&annabis is a drug that coes fro 4ndian hep plants such as Cannabis sativa and Cannabis indica! -he active
cheical in cannabis is -H& "delta-@ tetrahydrocannabinol$!
&annabis is a depressant drug! Depressants do not necessarily a'e the person feel depressed! Rather, they a2ect
the central nervous syste by slowing down the essages going between the brain and the body!
What does it loo( li(e-
-here are three ain fors of cannabis(
%ari,uana is the ost coon and least powerful for of cannabis! 4t is the dried leaves and 5owers of the
plant! %ari#uana loo's li'e chopped grass, and ranges in colour fro grey-green to greenish-brown! %ari#uana
is so'ed in hand-rolled cigarettes "#oints$ or in a pipe "a bong$!
"ashish "hash$ is dried cannabis resin which coes in sall bloc's! -he bloc's range in colour fro light
brown to nearly blac'! -he concentration of -H& in hashish is higher than in ari#uana, producing stronger
e2ects! Hash is added to tobacco and so'ed, or ba'ed and eaten in foods such as >hash coo'ies>!
"ash oil is a thic', oily liquid, golden-brown to blac', that can be extracted fro hashish! 4t is usually spread
on the tip or paper of cigarettes and then so'ed! Hash oil is ore powerful than the other fors of cannabis!
-his for is rarely found in ,ustralia!
, non-potent for of cannabis "4ndian hep$ is used to produce 6bres for use in paper, textiles and clothing!
%ore pictures of cannabis
T"$
-H& "delta-@ tetrahydrocannabinol$ is the cheical in cannabis that a'es you feel >high>! -his eans you
experience a change in ood and ay see or feel things in a di2erent way! +oe parts of the plant contain a higher
level of -H&! 7or exaple, the 5owers, or >heads>, have ore -H& than the stes and leaves!
-H& is absorbed into the bloodstrea through the walls of the lungs "if cannabis is so'ed$, or through the walls of
the stoach and intestines "if eaten$! -he bloodstrea carries the -H& to the brain, producing the >high> e2ects!
Drugs that are inhaled get into the bloodstrea quic'er than those eaten!
treet names
>Jrass>, >pot>, >hash>, >weed>, >reefer>, >dope>, >herb>, >ull>, >buddha>, >gan#a>, >#oint>, >stic'>, >buc'ets>, >cones>,
>s'un'>, >hydro>, >yarndi>, >so'e>, >hooch>
Efects of canna&is
-he e2ects of any drug "including cannabis$ vary fro person to person! 4t depends on any factors, including an
individualNs si.e, weight and health, how the drug is ta'en, how uch is ta'en, whether the person is used to ta'ing
it and whether other drugs are ta'en!
+mmediate efects
+all doses of cannabis can have e2ects that last 8RE hours after so'ing! -hese e2ects include(
relaxation and loss of inhibition
increased appetite
a2ected perception of colour, sound and other sensations
ipaired coordination
a2ected thin'ing and eory!
3ther coon iediate e2ects include increased heart rate, low blood pressure and reddened eyes!
+n greater .uantities
Larger quantities of ari#uana a'e the above e2ects stronger, and also tend to distort a personNs perceptions!
/ery large quantities of ari#uana can produce(
confusion
restlessness
feelings of exciteent
hallucinations
anxiety or panic, or detachent fro reality
decreased reaction tie
paranoia!
Long/term efects
Research shows evidence of soe long-ter e2ects in soe regular cannabis users!
Respiratory illness
%ari#uana cigarettes have ore tar than tobacco, placing cannabis users at an increased ris' of respiratory
illness such as lung cancer and chronic bronchitis! &igarette so'ers who also so'e cannabis have an even
greater ris' of respiratory disease!
Reduced otivation
%any regular users have reported that they have less energy and otivation, so that perforance at wor' or
school su2ers!
Brain function
&oncentration, eory and the ability to learn can all be reduced by regular cannabis use! -hese e2ects can
last for several onths after ceasing cannabis use!
Horones
&annabis can a2ect horone production! Research shows that soe cannabis users have a lower sex drive!
4rregular enstrual cycles and lowered sper counts have also been reported!
4une syste
-here is soe concern that cannabis so'ing ay ipair the functioning of the iune syste!
$anna&is and psychosis
4t is believed that cannabis useMespecially if heavy and regularMay be lin'ed to a condition 'nown as a drug-
induced psychosis, or >cannabis psychosis>! -his can last up to a few days! -he episodes are often characterised by
hallucinations, delusions, eory loss and confusion!
-here is soe evidence that regular cannabis use increases the li'elihood of psychotic syptos occurring in an
individual who is vulnerable due to a personal or faily history of ental illness! &annabis also appears to a'e
psychotic syptos worse for those with schi.ophrenia and lowers the chances of recovery fro a psychotic
episode!
%edicinal use of canna&is
&annabis has been used edicinally for any centuries! -here is evidence to suggest it is useful in providing relief
fro nausea and voiting caused by cheotherapy, wasting and severe weight loss, pain, glaucoa, epilepsy and
astha!
Tolerance and dependence
With regular use, people can develop a ild tolerance to cannabis! -his eans they need to ta'e ore and ore to
get the sae e2ect!
Heavy and frequent use of cannabis can cause physical dependence! *hysical dependence occurs when a personNs
body has adapted to a drug and is used to functioning with the drug present!
4t is possible to becoe psychologically dependent on cannabis! -his eans that using cannabis becoes far ore
iportant than other activities in their life! +oe people crave the drug and 6nd it very diHcult to stop using it!
Withdrawal
,brupt terination of cannabis use can produce withdrawal syptos! Withdrawal syptos include sleep
disturbance, irritability, loss of appetite, nervousness, anxiety, sweating and upset stoach! +oeties chills,
increased body teperature and treors occur! -he withdrawal syptos usually last for less than a wee',
although the sleep disturbances ay persist for longer!
Treatment options
-here are a nuber of drug treatent options available in ,ustralia! +oe treatent options include counselling,
withdrawal "detoxi6cation$ and edication! %ost progras adopt strategies that have an overall ai of reducing the
hars and ris's related to the personBs drug use!
4nforation on cutting down or quitting
%ore on treatent
Pregnancy and &reastfeeding
4f cannabis is used during pregnancy the baby ay be born saller and lighter than other babies! Low birth weight
can be associated with infections and breathing probles! -here is also soe evidence that cannabis use during
pregnancy ay a2ect the babyBs behaviour!
Little is 'nown about the e2ects of cannabis use on breastfeeding! 4t is believed that soe of the drug will pass
through the breast il' to the baby, and the baby ay becoe unsettled and deand frequent feeding!
+ee your doctor or other health professional if you are ta'ing or planning to ta'e any substances while pregnant or
breastfeeding, including prescribed and over-the-counter edications!
%ore on alcohol, other drugs and pregnancy
Reducing the ris(s
,ustralian drug policy is based on har iniisation! -his is about reducing drug-related har to both the
counity and individual drug users!
Har-iniisation strategies range fro encouraging >non-use> through to providing the eans for people who use
drugs to use the with reduced ris's!
$ocaine
What is cocaine-
&ocaine belongs to a group of drugs 'nown as SstiulantsN! +tiulants speed up the activity of
the central nervous syste-the essages going to and fro the brain! ,phetaines "or
SspeedN$ and nicotine are also stiulants!
&ocaine ost coonly coes in the for of a white, odourless powder called Scocaine hydrochlorideN! 4t has a
bitter, nubing taste! -he powder is extracted fro the leaves of the coca bush, found ainly in *eru and Bolivia !
-he extract is then processed with various cheicals!
"ow is it used-
&ocaine is inhaled "snorted$ through the nose, or in#ected! 4t is also so'ed through a process 'nown as
SfreebasingN-where the cocaine is converted to an al'aloid for! &ocaine hydrochloride cannot be so'ed, since the
drug is destroyed at high teperatures!
S&rac'N is a very pure for of freebase cocaine sold in the for of sall crystals or roc's! &ra'c is so'ed in pipes or
in cigarettes, ixed with tobacco or ari#uana! &rac' has rarely been seen in ,ustralia !
Li'e other illegally anufactured drugs, such as SspeedN, there are no controls on factors such as the strength and
hygiene of cocaine! &ocaine ay be ixed, or ScutN, with other substances such as sugar, ba'ing soda and talcu
powder to increase pro6ts! -his increases the ris' of experiencing harful or unpleasant e2ects!
&ocaine was used as a local anaesthetic for eye, ear and throat surgery! Recently cocaine has been replaced with
synthetic anaesthetics "e!g! lidocaine$, but it continues to have liited use in certain surgical procedures!
treet names
&, co'e, 5a'e, nose candy, snow, dust, white, white lady, toot, crac', roc', freebase
%ore drug statistics
Efects of cocaine
-he e2ects of any drug "including cocaine$ vary fro person to person! 4t depends on any factors, including an
individualNs si.e, weight and health, how uch and how the drug is ta'en, whether the person is used to ta'ing it
and whether other drugs are ta'en! 4t also depends on the environent in which the drug is used-for exaple,
whether the person is alone, with others or at a party!
+mmediate efects
%any people have experienced the following e2ects shortly after ta'ing cocaine(
physiological arousal, including increased body teperature and heart rate
exhilaration
anxiety
feelings of well-being
decreased hunger
panic
poor concentration and #udgeent
indi2erence to pain and fatigue
feelings of great physical strength and ental capacity
enlarged pupils
sexual arousal
unpredictable andCor violent behaviour!
When inhaled, the e2ects of cocaine pea' after =9 to <G inutes, and then diinish!
#n greater $uantities
Asing large quantities of cocaine repeatedly over a period of hours can lead to(
extree agitation
anxiety
paranoia
hallucinations
di..iness
nausea and voiting
treors
unpredictable violentCaggressive behaviour
loss of concentration
loss of coordination
loss of interest in sex
loss of abition and otivation
heart pain
heart attac'
paranoid psychosis
increased body teperature
rapid, irregular and shallow breathing!
%verdose
-he dosage and ethod of use that can cause cocaine overdose varies fro person to person! -he e2ects of
overdose are very intense and, generally, short in nature! ,lthough uncoon, deaths have been recorded fro
cocaine overdose due to(
sei.ures
heart attac'
brain haeorrhage
'idney failure
stro'e
repeated convulsions!
Long/term efects
*eople who have used cocaine over longer periods tend to ta'e cocaine in high quantities-SbingesN interrupted by
ScrashesN!
, SbingeN is where the drug is ta'en repeatedly over several hours or days! -he person ay attept to end the binge
by ta'ing a depressant drug such as alcohol, ben.odia.epines or heroin! -he binge is followed by the ScrashN-a period
characterised by intense depression, lethargy and hunger!
-he unpleasant e2ects of cocaine increase with ore frequent, long-ter use! -his often results in the person
discontinuing their use for a period of tie! %ost of the following syptos will dissipate once cocaine use ceases(
restlessness
nausea
hyper-excitability
insonia
weight loss
psychosis
paranoia
exhaustion
hallucinations
depressionCinability to experience pleasure "anhedonia$!
Dangers in method of use
-here are a nuber of dangers relating to the ethod of using cocaine(
Repeated snorting daages the lining of the nose and nasal passages, and can also daage the structure
separating the nostrils!
&ocaine is often ixed with substances that are poisonous when in#ected! -his ay cause collapsed veins,
abscesses and daage to the heart, liver and brain! 4n addition, because people who use cocaine often donNt
'now the exact purity and strength of the drug they are ta'ing, chances of overdose and death are also
increased!
4f in#ected into the s'in, either by intent or accident, cocaine causes severe vasoconstriction, which ay
prevent blood 5owing to the tissue, potentially resulting in severe tissue daage! -his can occur after #ust one
in#ection of cocaine!
-here is increased ris' of transission of blood-borne viruses and infections such as H4/, hepatitis B and
hepatitis &!
+o'ing cocaine can cause breathing diHculties, chronic cough, chest pain and lung daage!
Long/term in,ection can result in1
blood vessels becoing bloc'ed by substances ixed with cocaine, which can lead to a#or daage to bodily
organs
in5aed blood vessels and abscesses!
H4/ and hepatitis( sharing needles, syringes and other in#ecting equipent can greatly increase the ris' of
contracting blood-borne viruses such as hepatitis B, hepatitis & and H4/ "Huan 4unode6ciency /irus - the
virus that causes ,4D+$!
&all the alcohol and drug inforation service in your +tate or -erritory to 6nd out where to obtain clean needles and
syringes!
$ocaine and other drugs
&ocaine is often ixed with other drugs to enhance its desirable e2ects or to help the person cope with the
undesirable e2ects of cocaine! -hese substances ay include alcohol, cannabis, heroin or ben.odia.epines! -he
consequences of ixing cocaine with other substances are often unpredictable! %ixing cocaine with alcohol
produces a substance in the blood called ScocaethyleneN, which can be ore toxic to the body than the cocaine itself!
4n#ecting cocaine and heroin at the sae tie can a2ect the area of the brain that controls breathing, increasing the
chances of coa and death!
Jenerally, health ris's increase when ixing cocaine with other drugs, especially when large quantities are ta'en!
Tolerance and dependence
Tolerance
4nitial tolerance to cocaine develops rapidly with continual heavy use! ,fter this initial level is reached, people who
use cocaine donNt appear to develop tolerance for increasing aounts! Regular users ay in fact develop a Sreverse
toleranceN, whereby they experience the e2ects of the drug ore intensely! -olerance to cocaine ay not be obvious
due to the tendency to ix cocaine with other drugs such as heroin and alcohol!
Dependence
*hysical dependence upon a drug occurs when a personNs body is used to functioning with the drug present in the
syste! *hysical dependence on cocaine has not yet been established!
*sychological dependence occurs when using a drug becoes ore iportant than other activities in a personNs life!
Because of its powerful euphoric e2ects, cocaine users ay develop a strong psychological dependence upon it!
1ven after long periods of abstinence, strong cravings can persist!
, person who has becoe dependent upon cocaine ay 6nd it diHcult to stop using it! -hose who have stopped
using cocaine ay be prone to relapse!
Withdrawal
Withdrawal syptos occur when a person dependent on a drug stops using it or signi6cantly cuts down the
aount they are using! &ocaine withdrawal generally occurs in three phases(
=! S&rashN, which describes syptos experienced iediately after the person stops using cocaine-usually in the
6rst two to four days! +yptos include(
agitation
depression
intense craving for the drug
extree fatigue!
8! Withdrawal, which can last up to ten wee's and is characterised by(
depression
lac' of energy
anxiety
intense craving
angry outbursts!
<! 1xtinction, which can last inde6nitely, and includes syptos of episodic cravings for cocaine, usually in response
to conditioned cues! -hese cravings ay surface onths or years after the person has stopped using cocaine!
3ther withdrawal syptos that ay be experienced include(
lac' of otivation
inability to feel any pleasure
nauseaCvoiting
sha'ing
irritabilityCagitation
uscle pain
long, but disturbed sleep!
Treatment options
-here are a nuber of drug treatent options available in ,ustralia ! While abstinence ay be a suitable treatent
ai for soe people, any progras recognise that for others this ay not be possible or realistic! %ost progras
adopt strategies that have an overall ai of reducing the hars and ris's related to the personNs drug use!
+oe treatent options include counselling, withdrawal "detoxi6cation$ and pharacotherapy! Residential and Sout-
patientN progras are available!
%ore on treatent
Pregnancy and &reastfeeding
Pregnancy
Research indicates that e2ects of cocaine use during pregnancy ay cause bleeding, iscarriage, preature labour
and stillbirth!
&ocaine increases the heart rate in both the other and baby, and the supply of blood and oxygen to the baby is
reduced! -his eans the baby is ore li'ely to be sall and grow slowly both before and after birth! 4f cocaine is
used close to birth, the baby ay be born intoxicated, showing syptos of hyperactivity and agitation! Withdrawal
syptos can occur in the babies of others who use cocaine regularly! -hese include sleepiness and lac' of
responsiveness!
-o date, research is inconclusive as to whether children of others who use cocaine experience any long-ter
ental or physical e2ects! +oe studies suggest that alforations of the genito-urinary tract, heart, libs andCor
face occur in the babies of woen who use cocaine!
%ore on alcohol, other drugs and pregnancy
2reastfeeding
4t is li'ely that cocaine will reach the baby through breast il'! -he e2ect this has on the baby will depend on factors
such as the aount and strength of cocaine used, and the tie between using cocaine and feeding the baby!
+yptos ay include the baby being irritable, unsettled and diHcult to feed!
+ee your doctor or other health professional if you are ta'ing or planning to ta'e any substances while pregnant or
breastfeeding, including prescribed and over-the-counter edications!
$ocaine and the law
&ocaine is illegal in ,ustralia ! 7ederal, +tate and -erritory laws include penalties for possessing, using, a'ing or
selling cocaine! Drug laws in ,ustralia distinguish between those who use drugs and those who supply or traHc
drugs!
,t present in /ictoria, penalties range fro a T8GGG 6ne andCor one yearNs iprisonent for cultivation "if the court
is satis6ed that the o2ence is not related to traHc'ing$, T<GGG andCor one yearNs iprisonent for possessionCuse
"not relating to traHc'ing$ to 6nes of up to T89G GGG andCor 89 yearsN iprisonent for coercial traHc'ing!
4n /ictoria , the police and courts have introduced a nuber of progras in relation to drug o2ences! +oe of these
ai to divert people fro the criinal #ustice systeD others involve referring people with a drug proble into
treatent progras!
%ore on drug laws
$ocaine and driving
4t is illegal for anyone to drive under the in5uence of any drug "including cocaine$! Brea'ing this law carries penalties
including disquali6cation fro driving, heavy 6nes andCor iprisonent! Due to the nature of its psychological and
physical e2ects, it is dangerous to drive a vehicle after ta'ing cocaine! 4f cocaine is cobined with other drugs, such
as alcohol, the ris' of accident is further increased!
%ore on drugs and driving
$ocaine and social pro&lems
&ocaine users can becoe preoccupied with purchasing, preparing, using and recovering fro the e2ects of use of
cocaine, neglecting other areas of their life! ,ll areas of a personNs life, including faily, wor', and personal
relationships, can be a2ected by drug use! 7or exaple, arguents over drug use can cause faily and relationship
probles that ay lead to brea'-up! +oe e2ects of cocaine, such as anxiety, paranoia and irrational behaviour,
ay further exacerbate these probles!
Reducing the ris(s
,ustralian drug policy is based on har iniisation! -his is about reducing drug-related har to both the
counity and individual drug users!
Har-iniisation strategies range fro encouraging Snon-useN through to providing the eans for people to use
drugs with fewer ris's!
7or further StipsN on how to reduce the ris's of using cocaine, call the alcohol and drug inforation service in your
+tate or -erritory!
Remember there is no safe level of drug use.
What to do in a crisis
4f soeone overdoses or has an adverse reaction while using cocaine it is very iportant that they receive
professional help as soon as possible! , quic' response can save their life!
&all an abulance! Dial GGG! DonBt delay because you thin' you or the person ight get into trouble!
,bulance oHcers are not obliged to involve the police!
+tay with the person until the abulance arrives! 7ind out if anyone at the scene 'nows outh-to-outh
resuscitation or cardiopulonary resuscitation "&*R$!
1nsure the person has adequate air by 'eeping crowds bac' and opening windows! Loosen tight clothing!
4f the person is unconscious, donNt leave the on their bac'Mthey could cho'e! -urn the on their side and
into the recovery position! Jently tilt their head bac' so their tongue does not bloc' the airway!
4f the person has stopped breathing, give outh-to-outh resuscitation! 4f there is no pulse, apply &*R!
*rovide the abulance oHcers with as uch inforation as you can-how uch cocaine was ta'en, how long
ago, and any pre-existing edical conditions!
,rrange with friends before cocaine is ta'en about what to do in a crisis
"eroin

What is heroin-
Heroin is one of a group of drugs 'nown as >opioids>! 3ther opioids include opiu, orphine, codeine, pethidine,
oxycodone, buprenorphine and ethadone!
Heroin and other opioids are depressants! Depressants do not necessarily a'e you feel depressed! Rather, they
slow down the activity of the central nervous syste and essages going to and fro the brain and the body!
What does it loo( li(e-
Heroin can range fro a 6ne white powder to o2-white granules or pieces of brown >roc'>! 4t has a bitter taste but
no sell and is generally pac'aged in >foils> "aluiniu foil$ or sall, coloured balloons!
%ore pictures of heroin
"ow is it made-
When the seedpod of the opiu poppy is cut, a stic'y resin "opiu$ oo.es out! -his resin is re6ned to produce
opiu! 3piu ta'es its nae fro the opiu poppy, &apaver somniferum, which grows in any parts of the worldM
coonly in ,sia and the %iddle 1ast, but also in the Anited +tates and ,ustralia!
7or centuries, opiu has been used by any cultures as a edicine and as a recreational drug! %orphine, codeine
and pethidine are still widely used for edical purposes!
Heroin is ade fro orphine or codeine by a cheical process, but has a stronger pain'illing e2ect than either of
these drugs! -he potency and purity of heroin used can vary substantially, depending on a nuber of factors,
including(
how it is anufactured
the ingredients used "for exaple, orphine and codeine$
what the 6nal products is diluted ">cut>$ with!
"ow is it used-
Heroin is ost coonly in#ected into a vein! 4t is also so'ed ">chasing the dragon>$, added to ari#uana or
tobacco cigarettes, or snorted!
treet names
sac', s'ag, dope, H, #un', haer, slow, gear, harry, horse, blac' tar, china white, &hinese H, white dynaite,
dragon, elephant, hoeba'e, poison!
Efects of heroin
-he e2ects of heroin ay last < to 9 hours!
+mmediate efects
4ntense pleasure and a strong feeling of wellbeing
&onfusion
*ain relief
+lowed breathing
Decreased blood pressure and heart rate
&onstricted pupils
Dry outh
+uppressed cough re5ex
Reduced sexual urges
Drowsiness
+lurred and slow speech
Reduced coordination
)ausea and voiting
+n greater .uantities
-he iediate e2ects intensify and last longer with higher quantities of heroin! -he following e2ects are also li'ely
to occur(
-he ability to concentrate is ipaired!
-he user is li'ely to fall asleep ">on the nod>$!
Breathing becoes shallower and slower!
)ausea and voiting are ore li'ely to occur!
+weating, itching and increased urinary output are also li'ely!
#verdose
Asing a large quantity of heroin can cause death! Breathing becoes very slow, the body teperature drops and the
heartbeat becoes irregular!
3verdose ay occur if(
too uch heroin is in#ected
the strength or purity is high
heroin is used with alcohol or sedatives "alcohol or ben.odia.epines$!
-o reverse the e2ects of a heroin overdose, the attending abulance oHcer will in#ect the drug naloxone "such as
)arcan$ to restart breathing! -he )arcan ay not last as long as the heroin, so the person will feel >stoned> again
and ay even becoe unconscious again! 4t is iportant that another quantity of heroin is not ta'en again on that
day, as it ay cobine with the original quantity of heroin ta'en and could cause an overdose!
,fter an overdose, it is strongly advisable to see' advice at a hospital!
hort/term efects
,part fro overdosing, the a#or proble with short-ter use of any opiate is the way it is used! 7or exaple,
in#ecting heroin can result in s'in, heart and lung infections, and diseases li'e hepatitis and H4/!
Long/term efects
4n its pure for, heroin is relatively non-toxic to the body, causing little daage to body tissue and other organs!
However, there are soe long-ter e2ects, including dependence, constipation, enstrual irregularity and infertility
in woen, loss of sex drive in en, intense sadness and cognitive ipairent!
%any of the other long-ter probles ay be the result of other factors, such as the personBs poor general care of
the self, drug ipurities and containants and blood-borne viruses!
Heroin is usually a ixture of pure heroin and other substances, such as ca2eine and sugar! ,dditives can be highly
poisonous! -hey can cause collapsed veins, tetanus, abscesses and daage to the heart, lungs, liver and brain!
Tolerance and dependence
*eople who are physically dependent on heroin usually develop tolerance to the drug, a'ing it necessary to ta'e
ore and ore to get the desired e2ects! 1ventually, a dose plateau is reached, at which no aount of the drug is
suHcient! When this level is achieved, the person ay continue to use heroin, but largely for the purpose of
delaying withdrawal syptos!
Dependence on heroin can be psychological, physical or both!
*eople who are psychologically dependent on heroin 6nd that using it becoes far ore iportant than other
activities in their lives! -hey crave the drug and will 6nd it very diHcult to stop using it, or even to cut down on the
aount they use!
*eople who are physically dependent on heroin 6nd that their body has becoe used to functioning with the drug
present!
Withdrawal
4f a dependent person suddenly stops ta'ing heroin, or severely cuts down the aount they use, they will
experience withdrawal syptos because their body has to read#ust to functioning without the drug! -his usually
occurs within a few hours after last use!
Withdrawal syptos can include(
a craving for the drug
restlessness
yawning
low blood pressure
elevated heart rate
stoach and leg craps, uscle spass
loss of appetite, voiting and diarrhoea
goose bups
tears and a runny nose
increased irritability
insonia
depression!
-hese withdrawal syptos get stronger and usually pea' around 8 to E days after last use! -hey usually subside
after O to I days, but soe syptos, such as chronic depression, anxiety, insonia, loss of appetite, periods of
agitation and a continued craving for the drug, ay last for periods of onths and even years! +udden withdrawal
fro heroin rarely causes direct death, unless the user is also using other drugs and is in poor health! Withdrawal
fro heroin or opioids is uch less dangerous than withdrawal fro soe other drugs li'e alcohol or
ben.odia.epines!
Treatment options
, nuber of drug treatent options are available in ,ustralia! +oe ai solely for the user to achieve a drug-free
lifestyle, while others recognise abstinence as one option aong a nuber of strategies that have an overall ai of
reducing the hars related to the personBs drug use!
-reatent is ore e2ective if tailored to suit a personNs speci6c situation, and usually involves a cobination of
ethods! -he di2erent options include counselling, group therapy, edication "pharacotherapy$ and supervised
hoe withdrawal!
Pharmacotherapy &ased treatments
%ethadone
, synthetic opioid that can be used as a substitute for heroin! -he intention is to reduce the ipact that heroin has
on the lives of people who are dependent on heroin by reducing the hars associated with in#ecting an expensive
illicit drug of un'nown strength and purity!
%ore on ethadone
2uprenorphine
&an help treat heroin dependence by preventing withdrawal syptos and by bloc'ing the e2ects of heroin, so
using heroin will not provide the >high> that would norally be expected!
%ore on buprenorphine
3altre4one
)altrexone wor's by bloc'ing the analgesic and euphoric e2ects of heroin and other opioids! 4t can assist in
aintaining abstinence fro heroin because the person is aware that they cannot achieve a >high> fro using
heroin!
%ore on naltrexone
Ultra Rapid #piate Deto4 )UR#D*
AR3D is a quic' ethod of withdrawing or detoxifying fro opioids! 4t involves high doses of naltrexone given over a
E;-hour period or less along with heavy sedation! By the end of the process, the patient should be physically
withdrawn fro opiates! AR3D is currently under trial in ,ustralia!
%ore on treatent
Pregnancy and &reastfeeding
Asing heroin while pregnant can a2ect foetal developent! Heroin use has been associated with an increased ris' of
iscarriage and preature birth, and babies ay be born saller than average and ay be prone to illness! -he
substances that are cut with heroin ay also cause probles during the pregnancy and a2ect the developing foetus!
4n#ecting heroin can increase the ris' of both the other and baby becoing infected with blood-borne viruses, such
as hepatitis and H4/! Heroin can pass through the placenta to the foetus, and after birth the baby can experience
heroin withdrawal, 'nown as )eonatal ,bstinence +yndroe "),+$! %ost babies can be coforted with supported
care, but soe babies with severe ),+ ay need to be treated with edication to help with the withdrawal!
*regnant woen who want to stop ta'ing heroin need to be very careful! +udden withdrawal fro heroin ay har
the baby and increase the ris' of iscarriage, preature birth and stillbirth!
4f a other continues to use heroin while breastfeeding, it is possible that the drug will be present in her il' and
ay have adverse e2ects on the baby!
4t is recoended that you chec' with your doctor or other health professional if you are ta'ing or planning to ta'e
any substances during pregnancy, including prescribed and over-the-counter edications!
%ore on alcohol, other drugs and pregnancy
"eroin5 hepatitis and "+0
+haring needles, syringes and other in#ecting equipent can greatly increase the ris' of contracting blood-borne
viruses such as hepatitis B, hepatitis & and H4/ "huan iunode6ciency virusMthe virus that causes ,4D+$!
-he alcohol and drug inforation service in your state or territory can provide inforation on where to obtain clean
needles and syringes!
Reducing the ris(s
,ustralian drug policy is based on har iniisation! -he ai is to reduce drug-related har to both the counity
and individuals who use drugs!
Har-iniisation strategies range fro encouraging >non- use> through to providing the eans for people who
use drugs to do so with fewer ris's!
7or tips on how to reduce the ris's of using heroin, call the alcohol and drug inforation service in your state or
territory!
What to do in a drug crisis
4f soeone is suspected of having overdosed while using heroin, it is very iportant that they receive professional
help as soon as possible! , quic' response can save their life!
&all an abulance! Dial GGG! DonNt delay because you thin' you or your friend ight get into trouble!
,bulance oHcers are not obliged to involve the police!
+tay with the person until the abulance arrives! 7ind out if anyone at the scene 'nows outh-to-outh
resuscitation or cardiopulonary resuscitation "&*R$!
1nsure adequate air by 'eeping crowds bac' and opening windows! Loosen tight clothing!
4f the person is unconscious, donNt leave the on their bac' M they could cho'e! -urn the on their side and
into the recovery position! Jently tilt their head bac' so their tongue does not bloc' the airway!
4f breathing has stopped, give outh-to-outh resuscitation! 4f there is no pulse, apply &*R!
*rovide the abulance oHcers with as uch inforation as you canMhow uch heroin was ta'en, how long
ago, and any pre-existing edical conditions!
*lan what to do in a crisis!
Reeber, there is no safe level of drug use
Alcohol ,lcohol coes in any fors, including liquor
"bourbon,
gin, scotch$, beer, wine, and wine coolers! 4n
general,
one ounce of liquor, one beer, and one glass of
wine
"9 ounces$ contain equal aounts of alcohol!
Efects
,lcohol acts on the brain and can produce
addiction! +hort-ter e2ects( -he ore a person
drin's in one sitting, the ore pronounced short-
ter e2ects becoe! +all aounts "=-8 drin's$ generally produce
pleasant feelings! Larger aounts produce depressant e2ects on the
brain! Fudgent, reaction tie, speech and otor control are
increasingly ipaired with increasing aounts of alcohol! Drun'
drivers 'ill about 8<,GGG ,ericans a year! /ery large aounts of
alcohol can cause death fro overdose by reducing the nuber of
essages the brain sends to the chest uscles that regulate
breathing! -he drin'er stops breathing and dies! Long-ter e2ects(
3ver tie, alcohol can produce tolerance, physical dependence and
addiction! ,lcohol can cause any 'inds of cancer and can
peranently daage the brain! 4n severe cases, alcohol destroys the
part of the brain where short-ter eory occurs, a'ing it
ipossible to learn anything new! Woen should not drin' during
pregnancy! 7etal alcohol syndroe is the leading, preventable cause
of ental retardation in the Anited +tates!
$ommon treet 3ames
Fuice, cold ones, brews'ies, poison, boo.e, hooch, sauce!
Legal tatus
4n the Anited +tates, it is legal to produce and sell alcohol to adults
and legal for adults to buy it! 4t is illegal to sell alcohol to those under
age 8=, and illegal for the to buy it!
$ocaine &ocaine and crac' coe fro the leaves of the
coca plant, which grows priarily in +outh
,erica! &ocaine is processed into a white
powder which people snort or elt and in#ect!
&rac' is further processed into a substance that
can be so'ed
12ects
&ocaine acts on the brain and is a highly
addictive drug! Because crac' is so'ed,
and allows high doses to reach the brain
rapidly, crac' is even ore addictive! Both fors of the drug trap a
cheical called dopaine in the spaces between the brainBs nerve
cells in a part of the brain called the reward syste! Dopaine
stiulates and restiulates these nerve cells, a'ing the user feel
intense pleasure! -he brain responds to the overabundance of
dopaine by destroying soe of it, a'ing less of it, and shutting
down the cellsB receptors so they can no longer receive dopaineBs
essages! -he person consues ore cocaine ore often in an
e2ort to re-experience the pleasure felt at 6rst use, gradually losing
control over his or her cocaine-ta'ing behavior and becoing
addicted!
,ddicts are preoccupied with getting their drug,
and ost of their thoughts and behaviors are
directed to that end!
&ocaine interferes with #udgent and produces
exaggerated feelings of well-being and
con6dence! High doses can produce paranoia,
and users can becoe aggressive and violent! 4n
rare cases, cocaine can produce death, after 6rst
use or after prolonged use! Death occurs fro cardiac arrest "the
personBs heart stops beating$, or sei.ures followed by respiratory
arrest "the person stops breathing$! *regnant others should never
use any drug during pregnancy! +cientists
are trying to understand the precise e2ect of cocaine on the
developing fetus! -hey 'now that a other who is addicted to drugs
does not ta'e care of herself properly, that her fetus does not
receive adequate nutrition needed to develop properly, and that
addicted others rarely care for their newborns properly!
&oon +treet )aes
&o'e, blow, powder, sugar, nose
candy, roc', crac', base!
Legal +tatus
&ocaine is a +chedule 44 drug in the A!+! &ontrolled +ubstances ,ct! 4t
is illegal to grow, process, sell or use cocaine or crac'! However,
because cocaine has liited use in edicine as an anesthetic,
doctors ay use it in surgery!
"eroin Heroin is one of several highly addictive drugs
derived fro the opiu poppy plant, along with
orphine, opiu, Dilaudid, and others! *eople
in#ect opiates, snort the or ta'e the by outh!
12ects
+cientists 6rst began to understand how drugs
act on the brain with the discovery of the opiate
receptor! Why would the huan nervous syste
have a receptor for an illegal drugP -his question led scientists to the
discovery of two natural substances in the brain, which they naed
endorphins and en'ephalins, that bind to this receptor and relieve
pain! 3piate drugs such as heroin 6t into this receptor, change the
way the brain wor's, and produce addiction! Heroin ay depress the
bodyBs ability to withstand infection! 4t produces euphoria,
drowsiness, respiratory depression, constricted pupils and nausea! 4t
is the drug ost often associated with the transission of H4/C,4D+
because ost users in#ect the drug, often with used, containated
needles!
,s heroin leaves the brain and body, users experience withdrawal
syptos "often described as feeling li'e a severe case of 5u!$ -hey
include watery eyes, runny nose, yawning, loss of appetite, treors,
panic, chills, sweating, nausea, uscle craps, and insonia! Blood
pressure, pulse, respiration, and teperature all elevate! *eople can
overdose on heroin, which reduces the nuber of essages the brain
sends to the chest uscles! -he personBs breathing slows, and, if the
dose is high enough, stops! Heroin use during pregnancy is
associated with low birth weight, stillbirths, placental abruptions, and
sudden death syndroe! Babies of addicts are born dependent on the
drug and ust go through withdrawal as their 6rst tas' in life!
&oon +treet )aes
Lady, white girl, horse, blac' tar, brown sugar, sac', goods, H, #un'!
Legal +tatus
Heroin is a +chedule 4 drug in the A!+! &ontrolled +ubstances ,ct! 4t is
illegal to grow, process, sell or use heroin! %orphine and other opiate
derivatives are in lower schedules because they have been approved
by the 7ood and Drug ,dinistration as safe and e2ective for use in
edicine! -hey are potent pain relievers!
+ce 4ce is ethaphetaine that has been
crystalli.ed so it can be so'ed! 4ce is a
stiulant! 4t stiulates the central nervous
syste, resulting in increased activity and
alertness!
12ects
*hysical e2ects of ice include( heart palpitations,
blurred vision, extended wa'efulness, and daage to the brain, lungs
and liver! %ethaphetaine can interfere with vision, #udgent,
coordination, and re5exes, which ay lead to autoobile and other
achinery accidents! 12ects of the drug ay last fro 8 hours to 8G
hours depending on how uch is so'ed! Behavioral e2ects include
violence, hallucinations, depression and psychosis!
&oon +treet )aes
&rystals, crystal-eth, batu, glass!
Legal +tatus
4ce is ade fro ethaphetaine which is a schedule 44 drug in the
A!+! &ontrolled +ubstances ,ct! 4t is illegal to produce, sell, or use
ethaphetaine for nonedical purposes!

+nhalants 4nhalants are legal products abused by those who sni2 or inhale the
for the purpose of getting high! 4nhalants fall into three
categories( volatile solvents such as glue, gasoline,
aerosolsD anesthetics such as nitrous oxideD and nitrites
such as ayl and butyl nitrite!
12ects
4nhalants act on the brain and destroy the outer lining of nerve cells,
a'ing it ipossible for those cells to counicate! +yptos of
use include dilated pupils, blisters or rash around the nose or outh,
chronic cough, nausea and headaches, disorientation, and a cheical
odor on breath! ,fter only six onths of use, the brain, lungs, nerves,
liver, 'idneys and bones ay be peranently daaged! %ore than
OG young people died fro sniHng inhalants in =@@< in the Anited
+tates!
&oon +treet )aes
Jlue, whipped crea, poppers, rush!
Legal +tatus
Legislation varies fro state to state! 4n soe states it is illegal to
inhale fues intentionally for the purpose of intoxication
LD L+D "lysergic acid diethylaide$ is one of the a#or hallucinogenic
drugs and one of the ost potent ood-changing cheicals! L+D is
sold on the street in tablets, capsules, or occasionally in liquid for! 4t
is odorless, colorless and tasteless and is usually ta'en by outh!
3ften it is added to absorbent paper, such as blotter paper, and
divided into sall squares with each square representing a dose!
12ects
12ects are unpredictable and depend on the aount ta'en, the userBs
personality, ood and expectations, and the surroundings in which
the drug is used! *hysical e2ects include higher body teperature,
increased heart rate and blood pressure! +ensations and feelings
change uch ore draatically than the physical signs! -he user
ay experience delusions and visual hallucinations which can cause
panic! Asers refer to acute negative reactions to L+D as >a bad trip!>
%any users experience 5ashbac's, a recurrence of certain aspects of
a personBs drug experience without the user having ta'en the drug
again!
&oon +treet )aes
,cid, beast, blue cheer, blue heaven, dot, Lucy in the s'y with
diaonds, cid "or sid$!
Legal +tatus
L+D is a +chedule 4 drug in the A!+! &ontrolled +ubstances ,ct!
+chedule 4 includes drugs with a high potential for abuse and no
accepted use in edicine!
%ari,uana %ari#uana Research Reports
%ari#uana is derived fro the cannabis plant,
which grows in any countries, including the
Anited +tates! *eople put it in rolling papers to
a'e ari#uana cigarettes, so'e it in bongs or
pipes, or ix it in ba'ed goods or tea and eat or
drin' it! -he cannabis plant also yields hashish, a
stronger for of ari#uana, and hash oil, the
strongest for that has very high levels of -H&,
the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis!
12ects
%ari#uana contains cheicals that act on the ari#uana receptor in
the brain! +cientists have recently identi6ed the natural cheical,
anandaide, designed to 6t the ari#uana receptor! While scientists
do not 'now all of the drugBs e2ects, several studies have established
that ari#uana interferes with eory and learning! , new study
con6rs that heavy "daily$ ari#uana use ipairs critical s'ills
related to attention, eory and learning! 4n this study, >Heavy users
could not pay attention to the aterial well
enough to register the inforation in the 6rst
place so that it could be recalled and repeated
later,> say the researchers in the Fournal of the
,erican %edical ,ssociation "8C8=C@O$!
-hese de6cits persisted up to 8E hours after
users stopped feeling high! %ari#uana also ipairs #udgent and
reaction tie! Road tests for ari#uana intoxication are not routinely
done, but a special study in %ephis, -ennessee, showed that one-
third of drivers stopped for rec'less driving were high on ari#uana!
,nother study revealed that of drivers involved in accidents who were
treated at a traua center, =9 percent had been so'ing ari#uana!
Daily use of fro = to < ari#uana cigarettes appears to produce the
sae lung daage and cancer ris' as so'ing 9 ties as any
cigarettes! 7inally, researchers have found for the 6rst tie that
ari#uana can cause withdrawal syptos in laboratory anials, and
that ari#uana acts on the brain and nervous syste as do other
addictive drugs!
&oon +treet )aes
*ot, weed, herb, green, %ary Fane, %F, #oints, bong
to'e, reefer, blunt "cigar 6lled with ari#uana$!
Legal +tatus
%ari#uana is a +chedule 4 drug in the A!+!
&ontrolled +ubstances ,ct! 4t is illegal to grow,
sell, buy or use ari#uana, hashish or hashish oil!
+ynthetic -H& capsules have been approved by the 7ood and Drug
,dinistration as safe and e2ective to treat the nausea that cancer
patients soeties su2er with soe fors of cheotherapy, and to
treat wasting in ,4D+ patients! -herefore, -H& is in +chedule 44
because it has accepted use in edicine! )o for of the so'ed drug
has been approved as safe or e2ective for any edical use!

*&* "phencyclidine$ was originally developed as an anesthetic for huans and large anials! Legal "prescription$
use of *&* in huans was discontinued in =@O9! 4t is illegally anufactured in clandestine laboratories and is sold as
tablets, capsules and colored powders! *&* is usually snorted, so'ed or eaten!
>*&* is ost coonly sold as a powder "left$, or a liquid "center$ and applied to a leafy aterial such as oregano
"right$ which is then so'ed!> Drugs of ,buse, =@@O 1dition, A!+! Drug 1nforceent ,dinistration!
Efects
*&* produces feelings of invulnerability and a nubing e2ect on the ind that can often result in anger and rage! ,t
high doses, there is a drop in blood pressure, pulse rate, and respiration! *&* can cause e2ects that iic certain
priary syptos of schi.ophrenia!
$ommon treet 3ames
,ngel dust, crystal supergrass, 'iller #oints, o.one, wac', roc'et fuel!
Legal tatus
*&* is a +chedule 44 drug in the A!+! &ontrolled +ubstances ,ct!
To&acco -obacco is a plant grown in the Anited +tates that is harvested and
processed into cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco, chewing tobacco and
snu2!
Efects
-obacco contains nicotine, a drug that acts on the brain and rapidly
produces addiction! +cientists estiate that @G percent to @9 percent
of tobacco users are addicted! )icotine itself is toxic--high doses can
'ill, but do so rarely! 4ts ost destructive property is its ability to
addict users rapidly! 3nce addicted, so'ers repeatedly expose their
brains and bodies to hundreds of toxic cheicals contained in
tobacco and tobacco so'e! -he list of cancers that tobacco causes
is ipressive, fro cancers of the outh, head and nec' to cancers
involving ost of the vital organs! +o'ing also causes heart
disease, ephysea, and other lung diseases! %oreover, cigarette
so'e can also har nonso'ers! &hildren whose parents so'e
su2er higher rates of bronchitis and other lung infections, and
nonso'ing spouses of so'ers have higher rates of lung cancer
than those whose spouses do not so'e! 1very year, tobacco 'ills
ore than EGG,GGG ,ericans! -his is ore deaths than all
,ericans 'illed in World War 4, World War 44, and the Lorean and
/ietna wars cobined! 1very year the tobacco industry loses 8
illion so'ersD ;G percent quit, the rest die! -he industry recruits
teenagers to replace those losses!
$ommon treet 3ame
+o'es, cancer stic's, chew, snu2!
Legal tatus
4n the Anited +tates, it is legal to produce tobacco in all fors and
sell it to adults, and it is legal for adults to buy and use tobacco! 4t is
illegal to sell tobacco to those under age =; and illegal for the to
buy it! -hereBs a good reason for this law! Research shows the longer
we can delay the onset of tobacco use aong adolescents, the less
li'ely they are to becoe addicted to any drug! "-he sae is true for
alcohol!$
#ther
Drugs1
Rohypnol
Rohypnol is Ho2an-LaRocheBs registered trade nae for
5unitra.epa, a ben.odia.epine agonist which
is illegal in the A!+! 4n other countries
Rohypnol is used to treat severe sleep
disorders and serious psychiatric disorders!
Rohypnol is 'nown as the >date-rape drug> because of its
disinhibiting e2ect, especially when cobined with even a oderate
aount of alcohol! 4t is often added to young peopleBs drin's without
their 'nowledge at dance clubs, bars or parties!
12ects
+lowing of psychootor perforance, sedation, anesia, uscle
relaxation, restlessness, agitation and aggressiveness! Ase ay also
lead to physical and psychic dependence!
&oon +treet )aes
Rophies, R8Bs, %exican /aliu, Rib, Rope, Roach!
Legal +tatus
Rohypnol is currently listed as a +chedule 4/ drug! -he D1, is
considering placing it in +chedule 4 because of increased availability
in the A!+! and increasing abuse!