Drug Addiction and Recovery

Sexual Effects of Drugs

2008-11-26T12:13:00.000-08:00

Alcohol
Shakespeare once said of alcohol that “lechery…it provokes and unprovokes; it provokes the desire but it takes away the performance (Shakespeare).” The Bard’s immortal words still ring true today. Alcohol generally makes people more willing to have sex but less capable of the act.

In small amounts, alcohol can reduce inhibitions and increase sexual desire in both sexes. One man describes the increase in desire like this: “With alcohol there comes a rush, especially in the early stages. With that rush I want more rush to come. I’m looking for excitement.”

Although small amounts of alcohol may increase sexual excitement, it does not necessarily increase sexual arousal. Even in small doses alcohol causes men’s erections to be less firm.

In larger doses alcohol reduces sexual arousal in both sexes. In men, alcohol causes impotence through several means. Long-term use of alcohol reduces testosterone levels and increases estrogen levels, which can result in impotence. Short-term use can cause transient (temporary) impotence through alcohol’s sedative effect. Additionally, alcohol can affect the nerves of the penis, causing neurogenic impotence.

Alcohol reduces sexual arousal in women as well as men. Alcohol can reduce vaginal lubrication by causing the body to send less blood to the genital region. In moderate or large quantities, alcohol can make orgasm difficult to achieve for women, just as it can for men.

Hormonal changes caused by long-term alcohol use can cause a reduction in libido, in addition to causing impotence. Using alcohol in combination with other depressants can amplify this effect.

Alcohol can interfere with the production of sperm in men. Alcohol use by men can cause abnormalities in sperm, making them less motile. When alcohol-effected sperm causes a pregnancy, there is a greater likelihood of miscarriage or birth defects.

And men agree that sex is less enjoyable when under the influence of alcohol, because alcohol makes the penis less sensitive and because it makes men take longer to orgasm. Men are also often less interested in pleasing their partner when drunk.

Amyl Nitrate and Butyl Nitrate (Poppers)
Poppers are often used as sexual enhancers, because they cause a feeling of heat and excitement which some feel makes sex more enjoyable. Although they can be legally purchased, poppers can increase the risk of heart failure.

Amphetamines
Like alcohol, amphetamines, including methamphetamine and MDMA (ecstasy), “provoke the desire but take away the performance.” Amphetamines can increase one’s desire for sex. A male amphetamine user reports that, while amphetamines do not make him physically aroused, if he starts to think about sex while under the influence of amphetamines, he begins obsessing on sex and can’t sleep until he has had an orgasm.

In men, amphetamines often make achieving and maintaining an erection difficult. Conversely, in moderate doses, amphetamines occasionally cause priapism, a painful erection that will not go away on its own.

Male amphetamine users report that amphetamines cause shrinkage. Because of the erection difficulties and shrinkage amphetamines cause, men on amphetamines often find masturbation easier than sex.

In spite of the erection difficulties amphetamines cause, male amphetamine users find it possible, although difficult, to achieve orgasm while flaccid when they are on amphetamines. Some men report that they have never been able to do this, except when on amphetamines.

Men generally find it very difficult to ejaculate while on high doses of amphetamines. Some people see this as an advantage, because it allows men to last longer during sex. However, this side effect can also be very frustrating. Some men say that while masturbating on amphetamines it “feels like you’re gonna cum at any second, but you don’t.” They feel that the physical sensation of sexual stimulation is better while on amphetamines, but the overall experience is less enjoyable. “After a while, it’s like you just want it to be over with.”

Ejaculation can cause mild discomfort to men on amphetamines. Male amphetamine users report that ejaculation feels equally good and satisfying whether on or off amphetamines, but the testicles feel uncomfortable after ejaculating while on amphetamines.

In very high doses, amphetamines can cause spontaneous orgasm. However, doses this high are extremely dangerous, as they can cause convulsions, heart failure, stroke and death.

Cocaine
Both amphetamines and cocaine are stimulants, so the effects of cocaine are similar to the affects of amphetamines. Like amphetamines, cocaine can cause erectile dysfunction and, in moderate doses, priapism. As with amphetamines, men generally find it very difficult to ejaculate while on high doses of cocaine, which some see as an advantage, and some find frustrating. Finally, in very high doses, cocaine can cause spontaneous orgasm, but doses this high can be fatal.

In small doses, cocaine causes excitement and euphoria, which the user may interpret as sexual excitement. However, chronic heavy use of cocaine can lower the libido . Because cocaine is addictive, the desire for cocaine may eventually overpower any desire for sex.

Cocaine is a local anesthetic. When applied to the skin, it reduces sensitivity. Some men take advantage of this effect by rubbing the drug on their penises so as to last longer during sex. This reduces the pleasure that the man receives, causing him to take longer to reach orgasm. The same effect can be achieved legally and relatively inexpensively through anesthetizing creams available in many sex toy stores.

Heroin
Heroin can reduce sexual responses in both sexes. Men on heroin have difficulty achieving erections and ejaculating, while women on heroin produce less vaginal lubrication and have more difficulty reaching orgasm. Heavy use of heroin can lower the libido.

GHB
In small doses, the effects of GHB are similar to those of alcohol. At these doses, GHB lowers inhibitions and increases sexual desire. However, the potency of this drug is often unpredictable, and in doses only slightly larger than are taken recreationally, it can cause the user to vomit or pass out and can even result in death. GHB is particularly dangerous in combination with alcohol and other depressants.

GHB is clear, odorless, and almost tasteless. Because the drug is not easily detected, and because of its sedative affect, it is sometimes used as a tool for date rape. The assaulter can secretly put the drug into the victim’s drink, and rape the victim when s/he is unconscious. Victims of this sort of date rape often do not later remember that they have been assaulted.

Nicotine
Nicotine can affect erectile tissue and the muscles involved in producing an erection, thus causing impotence. Men who smoke tobacco are twice as likely to be impotent as non-smoking men of the same age. Using nicotine in combination with cardiac drugs, antihypertensive medications or vasodilators drastically increases a man’s probability of complete impotence.

Tobacco can cause men to produce fewer sperm, and can cause deformities in the remaining sperm. These deformities reduce the motility of the sperm, and in pregnancies caused by these deformed sperm there is a greater chance of miscarriage or health problems for the fetus. Children whose fathers have smoked tobacco at some point have a greater risk of cancer, even if the father stopped smoking before the child was conceived.

Marijuana
For the first half hour after consuming marijuana, the drug causes excitement and euphoria and increases the user’s heart rate. The user may interpret these effects as sexual excitement. However, after half an hour, marijuana has a sedative effect.

Long-term use of marijuana generally has a negative effect on sexuality. Chronic heavy use of marijuana can lower the libido. There is some evidence that it can cause erectile dysfunction as well. In women, marijuana can disrupt the menstrual cycle.

Long-term use of marijuana can lower sperm production or cause sperm to develop abnormally. Long-term use can also lower testosterone levels. Both of these effects go away after marijuana use ceases.

Many people find sex under the influence of marijuana to be especially enjoyable. According to Adverse Drug Effects by Jennifer Kelly, marijuana “enhances sensory experiences, and so is described by some as an aphrodisiac.” One marijuana user claims, “Marijuana makes everything feel more sensual. That includes touch, music and definitely taste; and definitely for not just the orgasm, but the entire sexual experience. When both partners are under the influence of marijuana and naked and horny and rubbing their bodies together, it feels like it’s the first time they’ve ever been naked and horny and rubbing their bodies together.”

Some feel that marijuana makes orgasms longer and more intense. This may be a result of the distorted sense of time that marijuana use causes. Studies have found no measurable differences in the length or intensity of the orgasms of people on marijuana, even when the subjects felt that their orgasms had been longer and more intense.

Marijuana does not always make sex more enjoyable. Marijuana sometimes causes nervousness and self-consciousness, especially in people who are unfamiliar with the drug or are in unfamiliar situations. These emotions can interfere with sexual desire. Marijuana also impairs one’s motor skills, making the user clumsy, which can damage one’s performance during sex.

Viagra
Viagra is intended to treat erectile dysfunction and other erection problems in men. It does so by increasing blood flow to the penis. Viagra will not have this effect unless the man is sexually excited. Therefore, it is only helpful to men with physical reasons for their erection problems, and is not effective in treating erection difficulties that have psychological roots. However, one user of Viagra reports that the drug can indirectly alleviate some such problems. When not on Viagra, if he noticed that his erection was starting to get a little less firm, he would become anxious, and the anxiety would cause him to lose his erection all together. When on Viagra, he would never even start to lose his erection, so the anxiety would never occur in the first place and could not cause him to lose his erection.

Ecstasy and the Brain: Club Drug Rants and Raves

2008-11-17T08:35:00.000-08:00

To see someone over 30 at a rave is unusual. Nicholas Saunders was one of the few who fit in, although he could have been a grandfather to the pierced, candy-sucking kids who flock to the orgiastic besotment of the London rave.

“Before I got into this whole rave thing I would tell [rave kids] to just try taking MDMA [the chemical name for Ecstasy] quietly in the country with friends, or try taking it with a blindfold … and none of them would listen,” Saunders told me in 1996. Saunders -- with mismatched socks, slender fingers, and piercing eyes – exuded a quiet intensity. He was the laymen’s expert of Ecstasy. Before he died in a car accident two years ago at the age of 60, he had published several books that acted as “Let’s Go” guides to the Ecstasy scene.

When we met, he had traveled to Baltimore, MD from his home in London to participate in a Johns Hopkins University study on the effects of Ecstasy. As the research coordinator, I interviewed more than two dozen Ecstasy users, ranging in age from 18 to 65. (Footnote: The conversations with Saunders mentioned here were not part of the study. He consented to be interviewed for an article.)

I liked them all. The study participants were an introspective, intelligent lot, and they asked sophisticated questions about the research we were conducting. I came to think of them as Peter Pan like psychological cosmonauts: they showed a child-like curiosity for understanding the mind and for pharmacologically enhanced insight.

But I noticed a generational divide. The study participants fell into two broad camps: The more prevalent under-30 crowd tended to use Ecstasy much more frequently and in higher doses—as high as 10 tablets a night, once a week for the past ten years. The older generation of Ecstasy users took Ecstasy in more moderate doses in quiet environments that fostered reflection, away from the pulsing techno trance.

There’s more than a cultural divide between the different generations of Ecstasy users. The experiences of these two groups were different, and scientists say there’s a chemical reason. The chemical reactions that go on in your brain on Ecstasy at a rave is different than at the psychiatrist’s office.

Generation X
The older generation first started taking Ecstasy in the late 1970s and early 1980s before it became illegal. Back then, a growing circle of psychiatrists exploited the “empathic” affects of MDMA, using it as a tool to enhance communication in psychoanalysis. Psychiatrists say their patients felt less defensive and were more open to explore their fears.

Now, a small community of psychiatrists from around the world is trying to bring MDMA back to its roots in psychiatric treatment. Many drugs, like opiates and marijuana, have a potential for abuse but can also have legitimate medical purposes, Rick Doblin points out. Doblin, president of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, has been lobbying for 15 years to make MDMA legal for medical treatment. Last month, he scored a victory: A research team in Spain received approval to start administering MDMA to 29 rape victims as part of a treatment for trauma. “I should frame this letter,” Doblin says, referring to the approval letter from the government of Spain. Trials begin next month. Other groups may not be far behind. Charles Grob at the Harbor UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles is looking to use MDMA in treatment for terminally ill cancer patients.

But many scientists think MDMA is just too dangerous a drug to have any legitimate use. “There is no safe way to use any of these drugs,” said National Institutes of Drug Abuse Director Alan Leshner recently, referring to Ecstasy and other club drugs used at raves. Many scientists believe MDMA can cause long-term brain damage. And every year, over 1000 Ecstasy users show up in the emergency room with Ecstasy-related problems, according to statistics from the Department of Human Health Services. A few die, although the death rate is a tiny fraction of the rate associated with other drugs such as methamphetamine, cocaine, or heroin. Most of the complications are related to heat stroke or dehydration after taking Ecstasy at a club, experts say.

Is Ecstasy a dangerous club drug abused by kids or a therapeutic medical aid? Bringing MDMA back into clinical practice is a scientific and political fight that will require its proponents to sell the idea that dangers associated with Ecstasy are specific to raves.

Rave on
Raves have morphed from underground, roaming, often illegal parties that last through dawn to regular held events in huge clubs. No longer just the province of metropolitan centers, raves are cropping up in college town, U.S.A. Customs officials have seized almost 3.5 million pills in January and February of this year alone, more than 10 times the amount sold in all of 1993. In a 1999 survey, 8.0 % of high school seniors reported they had tried Ecstasy, up from 5.8% the previous year. As raves become ubiquitous, so has Ecstasy.

Ecstasy provides “a heady cocktail of hedonism and altruism which deepens one’s sense of self-identity while liberating an extraordinary sense of love, compassion, and empathy..." says an Internet rave fan. On Ecstasy, music can feel like an extension of your self, and aggression melts away.

“After I experienced this dance rave situation – which was really extraordinary the first time – I went around telling my generation, ‘you’ve really got to experience this rave setting,’” Saunders said. “Each experience is so good, it’s hard to believe that it could be even better taken another way.”

But it turns out that a hot, crowded environment is the most dangerous environment to take the drug, says neuropharmacologist Lewis Seiden of the University of Chicago. Whether it's broiling or freezing outside, one's internal temperature usually stay put at around 98.7 degrees Fahrenheit - unless you've popped a tablet of Ecstasy.

Seiden has been conducting studies on Ecstasy's effects on the brain since the mid-1980s. While studying the effects of various doses of Ecstasy on rats, he noticed that on some days, regardless of the amount of MDMA given, all the rats died.

He suspected the cause was related to high room temperatures, and Seiden and his graduate student Jessica Malberg decided to investigate. They carefully regulated the temperature of the lab and measured the core temperature of the rats using implanted thermometers as the rats were given various doses of MDMA. Slight increases in the environmental temperature caused larger changes in the rats’ internal temperature. When the rats' body temperature topped 106 degrees F, the rodents started to die. With Ecstasy surging through our veins, our bodies become more susceptible to small fluctuations in the temperature of the environment, Seiden and Malberg concluded. [J Neurosci, 1998 Jul 1 18:13, 5086-94]

Amphetamines, Ecstasy included, already tend to give our bodies a temperature-boosting buzz. Add a weakened ability to regulate temperature, vigorous dancing, and the synergistic blast of hundreds of other warm bodies, and heat stroke can be the-lack-of-a-glass-of-water away.

Malberg points out that their findings make sense considering the historical patterns of Ecstasy-related deaths. "You only began to see Ecstasy users showing up in emergency rooms after Ecstasy became associated with raves," she says. The advice: Stay cool and drink water (but not too much water. At least one death has been attributed to over-ingestion of water). “We know that at the very least, drinking water or going outside if you feel sick can prevent hyperthermia,” Malberg says.

Serotonin side-effects
But Seiden's rats suffered more than just heat stroke. When the temperature was cranked up, the rats on Ecstasy were also more likely to have damage to the brain cells that release serotonin—a chemical molecule in the brain that sends signals between nerves. Research by neurologist George Ricaurte of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore (my former boss) backs up this claim. He has concluded in several animal studies and two human studies that MDMA can cause long-term damage to the ends of the long branch-like projections of serotonin-releasing nerve cells.

MDMA causes nerve cells (neurons) to release serotonin while also preventing the serotonin from becoming reabsorbed back into the cell. This means there's more serotonin in the junction between cells activating neighboring cells. This increase in serotonin is probably related to the rush users feel for the 3 to 6 hours after taking the drug.

Individual affects vary, but it tends to start with a prickly, tingly feeling in the scalp. Ecstasy heightens tactile sensation, yet seems to decrease sexual aggression. Saunders suggested that one of the main social features about raves is this lack of aggressive sexuality. “Ecstasy has this open feeling without all the sizing up business,” he said. Saunders added that the rush seemed to come on stronger and faster at a rave, and the amphetamine-like qualities of Ecstasy are enhanced.

If Ecstasy can cause damage to the nerve terminals, how does this happen? "No one knows exactly how the mechanism works," says Seiden. A popular hypothesis going around, Seiden says, has to do with the reaction of MDMA with super oxide radicals and hydroxy radicals that naturally float around our brain. In the presence of MDMA, these molecules could combine with the excess serotonin. When this new molecule is taken back up into the cell, it's in a form that may be neurotoxic to the cell. And in the presence of heat, and chemical reactions tend to speed up, Seiden notes.

Previously, Seiden and Malberg had found that serotonin cells could be protected against neurotoxicity when the researchers kept the rats body temperatures down. [J Pharmacol Exp Ther 1996 Jul; 278(1):258-67]. Can keeping cool protect humans against neurotoxicity as well? "I wouldn't make any claims about humans," Seiden says. "We just don't know." Researchers first have to show that keeping body temperatures down in primates protects against neurotoxicity, he says. But the research has yet to be done. "I would advise anyone not to take the drug until we know more about it, unless they want to take risks. But there are risks," Seiden adds.

Researchers suspect that a low level of serotonin might affect a host of behaviors regulated by serotonin, including mood (Prozac also affects serotonin), sleep, and appetite. Neurotoxicity--damage to brain cells that release neurotransmitters like serotonin -- may not kill but may lead to memory loss, sleeping problems, or depression.

Ricaurte's wife and colleague, psychiatrist Una McCann, has been looking for signs of behavioral changes in Ecstasy users. While she and others have found some evidence of mild memory impairments, what others find so striking is the lack of obvious deficits in people who use Ecstasy regularly over extended periods of time. Last month, Ricaurte told Time magazine that his work has never shown that the damage has any visible effect on “the vast majority of people who have experimented with MDMA.” While we may not see obvious signs of impairment now, McCann worries problems may begin to surface with old age.

Scientists disagree as to whether the amount taken during recreational use is enough to cause problems. The animal evidence clearly suggests MDMA may cause long term damage to neurons, but many researchers question the relevance of the data to regular recreational use in humans. The amount of MDMA given to both Ricaurte's monkeys and Seiden's rats were up to 40 times (as scaled for body weight), the amount of Ecstasy in one pure tablet.

And some call the finding in humans into question because researchers have no way of knowing exactly what the users were taking. What’s sold as Ecstasy in clubs usually isn’t pure. A 1996 study done on Ecstasy tablets sold in various U.S. cities by the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (www.maps.org) found that only 14% of the samples contained pure MDMA. MDMA powder is often combined into tablets of various colors and sizes with MDA and MDEA (two related substances that are a halfway point in manufacturing MDMA) and / or ephedrine, a stimulant often used in asthma treatments.

Psychiatrist Charles Grob at the Harbor UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles suspects the media place too much emphasis on the neurotoxicity findings and not enough attention on the increased dangers associated with overheating. Indeed, Seiden and Malberg’s work “is the most important research to come out” in the field. Sighing heavily, he realizes the implications: “It looks as if these [rave] kids have found the most dangerous model” for Ecstasy use.

Will You Or Won't You Take Drugs

2008-08-13T19:51:00.000-07:00

You may know exactly how you feel about drugs. You may have seen friends getting high and decided that next time you get the chance you're going to try drugs too. Or you may be someone who hates the idea of losing control, so much so, that you're determined never to take drugs - even if it makes you feel like an outsider at times. Or you may be in two minds: sitting on the fence and weighing up the good and bad points, and wondering which way to jump.

Be well informed

The best way to explore your feelings about drugs is to find out everything you can about them, and arm yourself with the facts. Talk to people you trust: your best friend, your parents or the adult you get on best with. Share your feelings with older brothers and sisters if you have any. Get advice from a teacher whose opinion you respect, or from a social worker attached to your school. Try talking to people who have tried drugs and are willing to give you an honest account of their experiences - that means the lows as well as the highs. Take your time weighing up all the information and remember it's okay to say "No" whatever your friends say or do. Remember you always have a choice.

Don't be misled

The size of a tablet is not an indication of what it contains or how dangerous it may be.

What to think about

There are some important facts to consider when you're thinking about drugs:

you can go to prison if you're caught with illegal drugs
drugs are extremely unpredictable - they can kill
taking drugs is a leap in the dark - you can have as many bad trips as good ones
drugs mess with your mind and body - one bad trip can leave permanent damage
you always have to come down, and the higher you go, the harder you fall
you can never be sure what's in a dose
you can become dependent and/or addicted to many drugs
if you're mentally unstable, drugs will make your condition worse; they can trigger mental illness.

Standing your ground

If you really don't want to do drugs:

make some new friends who don't take drugs. If your drug-taking friends try to make you feel like a freak because you won't join in, remember that there are plenty of other people who feel like you do
avoid places where drugs are available
focus on something positive that makes you feel really good about yourself, such as your studies or your favourite sport
look after your body - exercise boosts self-esteem and gives you a natural high.

Remember you always have a choice.

The higher you go, the harder you fall.

DON'T RUSH INTO ANY DECISIONS ABOUT DRUGS

Handling Drugs With Common Sense

2008-08-13T18:11:00.000-07:00

You may have friends who have experimented with illegal drugs like cannabis or ecstasy, and you may be interested in trying them yourself. But there are serious dangers associated with taking any drug. If you're determined to try a drug, don't do it without knowing what to expect - the downside as well as the upside.

What drugs do:

Loosely speaking drugs have four different kinds of effect on the body: stimulants (such as amphetamine) quite literally speed up the body
depressants (such as alcohol) slow the body down
hallucinogens/psychedelics (such as acid) alter the way people perceive the world around them
narcotics (such as heroin) induce a feeling of passive drowsiness.

But not every drug fits neatly into one category. There's cannabis, which gives users a bit of everything: it relaxes, mellows and some of the modern blends can also trigger hallucinations. There are drugs such as MDMA (ecstasy) that are halfway between being pure stimulants and pure psychedelic/hallucinogens. In fact all the drugs in the ecstasy family fall somewhere on the psychedelic/stimulant axis; some are more psychedelic than stimulant and some are the other way around.

These drugs share actions on a spectrum from purely psychedelic (acid) to purely stimulant (amphetamine), with ecstasy in the middle having both.

BE INFORMED AND STREETWISE - KNOW THE FACTS ABOUT DRUGS

Know what to expect

Most drugs with a stimulant effect produce a rush, and this is usually the first feeling. The most commonly experienced rush is from tobacco - that slight feeling of giddiness after the first puff of the first cigarette of the day. Or the "hit" from alcohol - 20 minutes after the first mouthful - the warmth behind the eyes, and in the legs. Not surprisingly, because of its name, a rush feels like a sudden burst of energy when everything inside your body and your head is whizzing, dizzying, fainting and swooning. Involuntarily you may start gasping for breath.
With ecstasy and amphetamine the rush can make people want to dance and never stop. The rush from MDA (ecstasy's parent drug) can make people want to sit down in a cool place and take deep breaths - and they should do just that.
Depressant drugs, including alcohol, dull the central nervous system so the heart beats more slowly and this can give people a feeling of well-being, relaxation and loss of inhibitions.
Drugs with hallucinogenic effects take an hour or so to act and they change the way people see the world. The changes can be pleasant, such as colours seeming more intense; or they can be frightening, such as thinking you're being attacked by strange animals. These drugs can take hours to wear off.
It's asking for big trouble to take any drug unless you're sure what it is and where it's come from. Drugs are often padded out (cut) or substituted with anything from caffeine, flour or glucose to dog-worming tablets, all of which can be very harmful. Sometimes a drug is cut with another drug; for example, ketamine is often added to ecstasy and has horrible, unexpected effects.

Know the downside

You may know the pleasant and glamorous effects of certain drugs but do you know the negatives? Stimulants can cause overheating and dehydration. A "trip" may not go as you'd hoped - it could be nightmarish. And, remember, every time you go up you have to come down and the comedown can be nasty.

You, your mood and your friends

How you'll react to a drug depends only partly on what's in it. But reactions to the same drug can also vary from time to time and in different situations. The "set", literally your mind-set (your mood) when you take the drug: whether you're happy, sad, up, down, nervous or relaxed may mean a good trip or a bad trip. Where you are and who you're with - the "setting" - can also affect you positively or negatively. If you're somewhere you don't like or with people who make you feel uncomfortable, you're more likely to have a bad experience.

"Coming down"

The feelings of exhaustion, depression and sickness (being wasted) that come on in varying degrees when a drug wears off are described as "coming down". And the higher you go, the harder you fall. With stimulants the high is achieved using up the body's own store of energy - the drug merely acts as the trigger - so a down is inevitable when exhaustion and depression hit and the down can last for several days. Persistent use of stimulants can cause prolonged and "deeper" downs as the body has less time to recover.

The comedown after the frequent use of any drug can make you feel paranoid, jittery and panicky.
After cocaine the comedown is a sudden, intense and deep blackness. The more cocaine you take to compensate the deeper you go.
Ecstasy can leave you feeling low and apathetic for up to a week.
Crack gives at best a ten-minute high, followed by a low that can last for days and has been described as "rolling down a hill of broken glass".
Tranquillizers give people a terrible hangover.

What's a bad trip like?
A bad trip from ecstasy, speed, acid or strong cannabis can affect you physically and emotionally. The worst part is that you can get flashbacks for months, even longer, when you'll relive the horrors of the bad trip. Everyone's bad trip is different and hard to put into words but it's possible to build a mental picture afterwards.

IF YOU'RE GOING TO BUY DRUGS, DON'T BUY THEM FROM A COMPLETE STRANGER

Know how to look after yourself

The dance/drug combination can cause real problems. Dance drugs like ecstasy, amphetamine and acid are stimulants that go hand-in-hand with the all-night dance culture of clubs and raves. The greatest dangers of taking them are dehydration, heat exhaustion and heatstroke. Although dance drugs speed up your body, giving you the energy to dance for hours, dancing in a hot club makes you overheat and sweat to excess, depleting your body of water and salts. The problem with dance drugs is that you probably won't feel tired, thirsty or hungry until it's either too late or the drug wears off, even though your body is exhausted and dangerously low on minerals and water.

Know the don'ts

DON'T take alcohol with drugs.
DON'T take more drugs after the first dose.
DON'T mix drugs - they can react with each other producing serious side effects.
DON'T dance all night without having regular breaks, preferably outside or in the chill-out room.
DON'T dance all night without drinking liquids.
DON'T wear a hat.
DON'T drive a car or use machinery.

Know what to do in an emergency
Read the "If something goes wrong" section for each drug. This tells you what to do if you or a friend suffer adverse side effects. Also read the last chapter "What to do in an emergency" and, if possible, go on a first-aid course. Quick-thinking friends have saved lives.

Warning signs to watch out for:

disorientation (the person can't say where she is or what day it is)
drowsiness (the person is unresponsive to commands such as "Open your eyes")
having fits (convulsions)
gasping for breath or difficulty breathing
feeling abnormally hot to the touch, even though the person's been in a cool environment
fainting or unconsciousness.

If you notice any of the above, get help from a member of the club staff or Call an ambulance. Always say what you think your friend has taken.

Know the club
A good safe club should have:

free water
water, high-energy drinks, fruit juice and salty snacks for sale
chill-out areas
lots of public telephones, with the local hospital phone number and a taxi number displayed
a resident paramedic.

Safety

Follow these guidelines and you reduce the chance of meeting problems face to face: Drink half a pint of liquid (NOT alcohol) every half an hour

Stimulants naturally increase your body temperature. Taking them in a hot place, like a club, raises your body temperature even more. If you also dance for hours, your body temperature goes through the roof. You overheat and to try to counter this, your body sweats - buckets. You must replace these lost fluids with high-energy sports drinks, fruit juice or water. They help to restock lost minerals and vitamins as well as the water, so your body has a better chance of recovering from the pounding it takes during a night's clubbing.

Don't gulp the drink all at once. Drink some about every 15 minutes.
Never drink alcohol. It makes you even more dehydrated, and is a nasty additive to any other drug. It depends on how much you sweat, but drinking more than three pints of water in an hour is dangerous.
Eat salted crisps or peanuts This helps your body to replace salt lost through sweating. If it's not replaced, the least you can expect is aching limbs the morning after.
Spend regular periods in the chill-out room These rooms aren't provided for decoration, they're there to allow your body to recover and cool down.
Don't wear a hat Hats keep heat in the body. You may think you look good wearing one, but you'll feel terrible as you're more likely to overheat.
Cool off with water If you're hot, splash water over your face and head.
Go with friends Your mood ("mind-set") will be better if you're with people you like, and you're more likely to look out for each other.

Methadone: Common Questions

2007-08-18T13:34:00.000-07:00

What is Methadone?

Methadone, also known as Dolophine is a oral medication that comes in liquid, pill, and diskett form, and is primarily used to treat narcotic addiction to heroin, Dilaudid, vicoden, and other opiates.

Methadone is currently the most effective treatment for heroin and opiate addiction, but is also used for patients experiencing chronic pain.

How do I know if methadone is right for me?

Do you have an opiate addiction? Have you tried other recovery options? These are just some of the questions you will be asked by the clinic's doctor when you go in for the first time. After you answer all the questions, the doctor will go over everything with you, and it will be at that time you and your doctor together can deciede if methadone is an option for you.

Why would I want methadone, isnt methadone just a drug replacing another drug?

Methadone is a legal MEDICATION used to help eliminate withdrawl and cravings, and enable's the patient to focus on underlying issues they may have, and from there they will be shown how to deal with these problems and build a productive,safe,healthy,drug-free life.

How long will I have to be on methadone?

There is not SET time limit so it depends on the person. Some people take methadone for only a short period of time, while other's stay on the program. Again, how long a person stays on methadone is up to that individual themself.

If I join a methadone program, will I have to the clinic everyday?

Yes,at first. You have to remember, when you first join a methadone program, you need first to get stabilized on a correct dose that is suitable for you, and this sometimes takes awhile, so if you didnt go everyday, it would be hard to get the increases or decreases you may need, but once you are stable, and have had NO dirty urines, and have not missed any appointments, you will be given take-homes. Generally take-homes begin after 60 or 90 days, depending on the clinic itself, and there policy.

How much does it cost for methadone treatment?

This varies from clinic to clinic. Some clinic's accept insurence, and have grants for people that are low income and cant afford the normal rates. Also, there are clinic's that give discount's to there patient's if they've attended there theripy sessions and have given there urine tests. Be sure to ask the clinic your going to what type of insurence plans they accept, if they have grants for low income patient's, and if they offer discount rates.

Methamphetamine

2007-08-18T13:10:00.000-07:00

In the U.S., methamphetamine is most commonly referred to as 'crank', 'meth', 'shit' (as in, Do you have any shit ?) or 'crystal'. It is smoked, sniffed ('snorted'), eaten, mixed into a liquid such as coffee and drank, or injected ('banged', 'shot', 'whapped'). The latter method is extremely addictive. Smoking it increases tolerance and addiction quicker, too. This method causes a 'rush' that results in people quickly increasing the amount and frequency needed to obtain the feeling.

The cost and strength varies, being cheapest and purest in California. Although it is manufactured everywhere, California crank is considered to be the best, and is manufactured on a larger scale, producing larger 'batches' from each location. Crank produced elsewhere is produced on a smaller scale, is not as uniform from batch to batch or lab to lab, and is commonly referred to as 'bathtub crank'. It sells for about $100-$120/gram in the mid-west, or $20-$30/ 1/4 gram (referred to as a '1/4 paper' or 'paper') which can actually weigh as little as 1/10 gram and contain very little actual product.

Most of the crank bought on the street is mixed, referred to on the street as 'cut'. The cut is usually something as innocuous as baking soda or 'Fruit Fresh'. Crank obtained in powder form is usually cut before purchase. Cut makes the original product go farther, thus bringing more money per gram. The more hands it passes through before it is used, the more cut there is, as usually each person will cut it before selling it. It is important to be able to tell what crank is cut with and how much it is cut, for several reasons:

People have been known to cut product with poisonous substances, such as boric acid. The consequences of this type of cut should be obvious.

Crank is often cut with cocaine, heroine, or crushed codeine tablets (referred to as 'speed balls'). This is done to increase the rush or 'buzz' of an inferior product, or done by the user himself.

California crank, and sometimes other crank, directly from the manufacturer should be cut with some innocuous material, since it is concentrated enough to kill with as little as 1/4 gram or less, depending of course on the batch and individual user tolerance.

Crank in rock form usually should be creamy yellow to a lemon-drop color and uniform throughout the rock. A marbled or layered rock is usually cut and 're-rocked' crank or not cooked or finished right. Crank that is not made right will be tarry/dark(over cooked); green ,burning (too much muriatic acid), sticky, melting (not finished off right), pink (slightly over cooked), layered,etc.

Dexedrine is a prescription dextroamphetamine that is gaining popularity here in the states. It can't be cut, doesn't require a lab, and usually comes with more lenient punishment from the law when caught.

Tranquillizers (Nitrazepam, Temazepam, Diazepam, Lorazepam): Brief History, Law

2007-08-18T12:48:00.000-07:00

There are more bad points about tranquillizers than good ones in this profile. This isn't hiding the real facts from you - it's simply the truth. Benzodiazepine tranquillizers decrease your heart rate, lower your blood pressure and cause slow and shallow breathing. One tranquillizer per session or day relieves stress and anxiety, but can make the user feel drowsy. More than this may make the user feel:

very dopey
completely detached from any anxiety and stress
drunk, uninhibited and sociable.

Going off the tracks with tranx

If you misuse tranquillizers by taking a high quantity, you'll encounter problems.

Extreme mood swings You may feel euphoric one minute, irritable and AGGRESSIVE the next.

Paranoia You'll think that everyone is against you, that they're laughing at you, excluding you or ganging up on you. Paranoia combined with a lack of inhibition can make you become aggressive towards people you wouldn't normally dream of hurting.

Hangover A night on tranquillizers will leave you with the hangover to end all hangovers. If you've been drinking or taking other drugs as well, it'll be even worse.

Depression Tranquillizers aren't called "depressants" for nothing. Long-term use can make you so depressed that you'll just want to hide away from the world. In this desperate state you're likely to become even more dependent on tranquillizers or other drugs.

Chronic fatigue You'll become so drained of energy that you can't even eat or wash properly. You'll lose weight and look terrible.

What are tranquillizers?

Tranquillizers are depressants, which means they dull and slow down the central nervous system - the opposite of stimulants such as amphetamine and cocaine. Tranquillizers are prescribed for people who suffer from anxiety or those who have difficulty sleeping. Modern tranquillizers are based on the benzodiazepine group of drugs that largely replaced barbiturates in the 1950s.

Form

There are many different brands of tranquillizer available on prescription. The following are just a few of the varieties favoured by illegal street-users:

Nitrazepam - "Mogadon" A long-acting (up to 12 hours) benzodiazepine hypnotic. It's an oval white tablet and was used as a sleeping pill in the 1970s and 1980s, but it's no longer prescribed in the UK.

Temazepam - "Normison" Another benzodiazepine hypnotic, but it only lasts 6-8 hours. It's legally prescribed in pill form, but gel capsules do turn up on the streets from abroad. Temazepam is one of the most commonly abused tranquillizers; it's sometimes used as a cheap alternative to heroin.

Diazepam - "Valium" A benzodiazepine anxiolytic, which means it reduces anxiety. It's a small white, yellow or blue tablet, of which white is the weakest and blue the strongest. It can last up to 24 hours.

Lorazepam - "Ativan" An anxiolytic like diazepam, but it only lasts 4-6 hours.

Strange behaviour

A high quantity of tranquillizers can affect your judgement and make you act out of character. You're likely to take risks and do something stupid, such as shoplift or break into a car, because you'll believe you're invincible or even "invisible". The problem is that tranquillizers affect your judgement to such an extent that you're likely to be completely blatant about your behaviour and get caught.

DEPENDENCE ON TRANQUILLIZERS CAN HAPPEN VERY QUICKLY

Some users take tranquillizers by grinding up the pills into a powder, dissolving it in water and injecting the liquid. Heavy tranquillizer users, and heroin users who can't get their habitual drug are more likely to inject the jelly-filled temazepam capsules.

Infection
Tranquillizers reduce your control and judgement, so you're more likely to be careless when injecting. You won't know whose works are whose, and you won't care anyway. All this makes the risk of being infected with HIV/AIDS and hepatitis B or C from shared needles and works even greater.

Vein blockages
Temazepam may give a faster hit when injected, but there's a price to pay. The liquified gel from the capsule can re-form once it's inside the veins so it's like injecting wine gums - vein blockage can easily occur, leading to abscesses, ulcers, blocked blood vessels and gangrene.

Overdose
There's always a greater risk of overdosing on a drug when you inject. Once the drug is in your system it's too late to change your mind. If you overdose on tranquillizers, your system slows down and eventually you could stop breathing, go into a coma and die.

Tranx and alcohol

Tranquillizers minimize the control you have over your actions. Alcohol does the same. If you take them together, the combination can be lethal. Alcohol exaggerates the hypnotic effects of tranquillizers and can make you feel incredibly drowsy. This can then lead to all sorts of unpleasant and unpredictable problems:

you could fall asleep, vomit, choke and die
you could feel so spaced out that you accidentally overdose. You may just take a few more tablets and have another drink without thinking about the consequences. Eventually you'll slip into unconsciousness and could die
alcohol also intensifies the anxiolytic effects of tranquillizers: anxiety and tension are greatly reduced so you'll think you're indestructible, and will end up getting into a fight. If you do, you'll be so unco-ordinated that you'll come off worse.

A risky way to come down
More and more people are taking tranquillizers to "chill out" after clubbing. This is a distinctly bad idea as tranx and other drugs do not mix well at all.

Staying out of trouble
DON'T take a stimulant, such as speed, to combat the chronic fatigue. The combination of a tranquillizer comedown and a speed comedown will leave you feeling even worse.
DON'T cross the danger line. The difficulty is knowing what a safe amount is, since the "safe amount" can still be very close to the danger line and, because of the nature of the drug, you can easily overdose without even knowing it.
DON'T drive, ride a bike or operate machinery. When you're on tranquillizers, you'll be in no state to do any of these things, even if you think you are. The same applies for the day after when you're struggling with a debilitating hangover.
DON'T be careless if you're having sex. Despite what people say, tranquillizers are not aphrodisiacs, but they do lower your self-control, so you're more likely to have casual and unprotected sex.
DON'T take tranquillizers if you're pregnant. If you do, your baby may be born with a tranquillizer dependency and will have to go through withdrawal after birth.

INJECTING TRANQUILLIZERS IS EVEN MORE DANGEROUS THAN INJECTING HEROIN

Tranquillizer addiction

Physical and psychological dependence on tranquillizers can happen in an alarmingly short space of time. The higher the quantity and the more often you take them, the greater the chance of dependency. You reach a stage where you can't cope without tranquillizers and are terrified of trying to stop taking them.

Withdrawal

Suffering withdrawal from tranquillizers is no joke, but it can be done.

Those who have gone through it say that it must be harder than coming off heroin.
Sudden withdrawal is very dangerous and potentially fatal. It can lead to paranoia, depression, panic attacks, shakes, waves of psychosis, hallucinations, nausea, insomnia and nightmares.

These symptoms are particularly bad when coming off short-acting benzodiazepines, such as lorazepam.

Tolerance
The body quickly develops a tolerance to tranquillizers. It learns to cope with the effects so you have to take a stronger dose more often to achieve the same effect. But, equally, if you stop taking tranquillizers for as little as a few weeks, your tolerance will reduce. If you then take what was your normal dose you're more likely to overdose because of the shock to your system.
If you're trying to come off tranquillizers you have to be weaned - so GET PROFESSIONAL HELP. Don't try to go it alone.

If something goes wrong

unconsciousness

If your friend is breathing, place her in the recovery position. Call an ambulance. Tell the medical staff what your friend has taken - it could save her life. Be prepared to resuscitate your friend if she stops breathing.
If your friend vomits while unconscious, check that she's still breathing.

Solvents: Brief History, Law

2007-08-18T12:39:00.000-07:00

What are solvents?

Most solvents are volatile substances, which means they give off a vapour and evaporate when in contact with air. The most common term associated with solvent abuse is "glue-sniffing", but glue is just one of many products that are "sniffed". A whole range of household items, such as aerosols, correcting fluid and nail polish, are abused.

The solvents effect

The hit from solvents is strong, can be felt almost instantaneously and lasts about half an hour:

people feel a sense of euphoria, and things seem very unreal. Users say it's like suddenly getting very drunk
the heart-rate and breathing shoot up, which makes people feel giddy and light-headed
it's common to find it difficult to stand up or walk properly
some users feel happy, dreamy or excited, and start giggling uncontrollably. Continuing to inhale beyond this point can lead to unpleasant hallucinations
also common is the feeling of invincibility. People have been known to leap out of windows or in front of speeding cars in the belief that they can survive anything. THEY CAN'T.

There are several ways in which solvents are abused and they all amount to inhaling the vapours they give off:

they are poured on to a piece of cloth or into a plastic bag (NEVER PUT A PLASTIC BAG OVER YOUR HEAD)
most dangerous, is spraying the aerosol straight into the mouth which can freeze up the throat and the air passages so that breathing stops. Someone doing this can die in a few minutes.

Solvents
If you stop using solvents, your body won't suffer withdrawal symptoms because they're not physically addictive. Solvents can, however, be psychologically addictive. Heavy or long-term users feel they can't face life unless they're cloaked in a solvent haze. Solvent abuse becomes their only escape from what they see as a dull or hopeless life.

Tolerance
If you use solvents regularly, you'll build up a tolerance and need more to get the same effects, so there's an even greater risk of doing yourself harm.
Coming off solvents Withdrawal from solvents leads to powerful feelings of anxiety, depression and nervousness, but these effects will wear off.

ALL SOLVENTS ARE POISONS

SOLVENTS WILL RULE YOUR LIFE

What some people do on solvents

You may be seriously disorientated and confused as if you're really drunk. In this state, anything could happen. Solvent abusers have been killed by:

running into traffic
falling into a canal or river and drowning
accidentally starting a fire
literally "exercising to death". The adrenaline stimulated by solvent sniffing can make you hyperactive and cause you to overexert yourself, for example, by running for a long time or lifting something very heavy. And as your heart will already be working overtime, the extra strain could cause a heart attack. All these dangers are increased if you're hallucinating. You may be running away from a frightening vision or think you're able to do the impossible, such as stop traffic. This isn't a joke: these things have happened.

SOLVENTS CAN CAUSE SUDDEN DEATH THE VERY FIRST TIME THEY'RE USED

Death or serious injury can result from solvent abuse.

You may overexert yourself or have an accident, and some ways of using solvents can lead to suffocation and death in minutes.
The poisons, or toxins, in solvents also pose a real threat. Many of the chemicals attack body organs, particularly the liver and heart, leading to disease, organ failure and even death.
Solvents also cause your body to produce a lot of adrenaline, which gives you a burst of energy that increases your heart-rate dramatically. This sudden change may make you very sick and if you're sick while unconscious, you may choke to death, or it can put such a strain on your heart, that it stops suddenly and you may die.

There are other effects of solvent abuse that won't kill you, but won't thrill you either. Repeated use can lead to lots of physical and psychological side effects.

Skin rashes The skin around your mouth and nose becomes irritated.

Hangover It's common to become tired and have a thick head.

Weight loss and shakes You look terrible and feel even worse.

Liver and kidney failure The toxins poison these vital organs. If they fail you'll die.

Short-term memory loss You become forgetful and can't concentrate on anything.

Mood swings You'll be smiling one minute and aggressive the next.

Depression The only way to beat the depression is to kick the habit.

The Law

It's not illegal to possess or misuse solvents. It is, however, a criminal offence to supply (sell or give) a solvent for inhalation to a person who is under the age of 18. If the police see a group of you sniffing a solvent, they'll probably ask you to move along or detain you so that they can make enquiries about your welfare.
If your behaviour is at all threatening or aggressive after you've been using solvents, the police may arrest you.

Solvents dangers

Inhaling solvents is exceedingly dangerous so stay away from them if you can. However, if you do inhale solvents lower the risks:

never spray an aerosol or lighter refill directly into your mouth
never put a bag of solvent over your head
stay in a group: if something goes wrong, a friend can get help or calm you down
never use solvents frequently - even once a week is too often
avoid busy roads, rivers, railways and the tops of buildings so, if you hallucinate, you're less likely to injure yourself
don't overexert yourself: it's a bad idea to do any strenuous exercise after sniffing.

If you stop using solvents, any side effects will clear up. It's not a lost cause and you can get back to normal, so give it up.

If somehting goes wrong

bad trip
Your friend may begin to see or hear frightening things that aren't really there - this is known as hallucinating and may cause your friend to panic. Reassure her that the things she can see or hear are imaginary and will soon pass. Stay with your friend.

burns
If your friend has serious burns, call an ambulance immediately. Meanwhile, try to cool the affected area with cold water and make your friend as comfortable as possible.

unconsciousness

If your friend is breathing, place him in the recovery position. Call an ambulance. Tell the medical staff what your friend has taken - it could save his life. Be prepared to resuscitate your friend if he stops breathing.
If your friend vomits while unconscious, check that he's still breathing.

Important
Get the solvent away from your friend immediately. Open any doors and windows.

Rohypnol

2007-08-18T12:36:00.000-07:00

What is Rohypnol?

Rohypnol is a powerful tranquillizer. It's a relative of valium, only it's much stronger and potently depressive. Even a very small dose makes the user feel sleepy and dopey. Rohypnol is generally prescribed as a sleeping pill for severe insomnia, but it's also considered smart and hip by college girls on US campuses.

One tablet is like drinking a six-pack of beer - and the effects can last up to eight hours.

Just one tablet can make the user feel dizzy, nauseous, feverish and disorientated.
More than one tablet will cause instant drunkenness and memory loss.
One tablet can stop you breathing.
Rohypnol plus alcohol can lead to coma.

How it's misused

Some users take rohypnol knowingly, but it's notorious for being used to spike the drinks of unsuspecting females. This way a man can have sex without the woman remembering or being in control of what's happening. The common scenario is of a woman at a party - passing out suddenly, being raped and having no recollection of what happened, sometimes for days.

If something goes wrong

unconsciousness
If your friend is breathing, place her in the recovery position. Call an ambulance.
Be prepared to resuscitate.

Poppers (alkyl nitrites): Brief History, Law

2007-08-18T12:27:00.000-07:00

What is poppers?

This is a group of quick-acting drugs (alkyl nitrites), of which amyl nitrite, butyl nitrite and isobutyl nitrite are the most widely available. Poppers evaporate at room temperature and are inhaled. They're stimulants but the "rush" lasts minutes, hence the name "poppers".

Know the street names

Drugs have many different street names and some of them sound similar. If you tried to sniff Liquid X (GHB) instead of Liquid Gold (poppers) not much would happen. But if you swallowed poppers when you wanted GHB, it could be fatal.

Poppers dangers

You may be able to find poppers in a joke shop, but they're no joke. They're not addictive, but the effects can be pretty unpleasant. Apart from fainting, nausea and headaches, users can suffer other problems.

Because alkyl nitrites speed up heart-rate and lower blood pressure they're dangerous for anyone with a heart or blood-pressure condition.
Regular use can lead to skin problems around the nose and mouth.
Nitrites are caustic, which means they'll burn skin if spilt.
Inhaling vapors increases the pressure on your eyeball so is very dangerous if you suffer from an eye condition, such as glaucoma.
Increased sexual arousal and decreased sexual inhibitions are a dangerous combination - you're more likely to have casual sex, so be aware of the risks of contracting HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.

Form

Small bottles, or occasionally glass vials, of clear gold-coloured liquid that's inhaled from the bottle or from a cloth soaked in it. Fresh poppers smell sweet and fruity, but the stale chemical smells like old socks.

The poppers effect

The effects from inhaling poppers are instantaneous, but very short lived. There may be:

a burst of energy, and a rushing sensation, because the heart starts beating faster
a feeling of light-headedness after the initial rush because blood pressure is reduced. This can lead to dizziness, loss of balance and even fainting
a sense that time has slowed down
a lowering of sexual inhibition, and possibly a feeling of being sexually aroused.

What you won't like

Fainting is never a good move. You'll not only feel foolish coming round, but you may also injure yourself when you fall.
You may also feel very sick and have a thumping headache - if you're in a club, you probably won't feel like dancing.

BE SENSIBLE

DON'T keep taking more hits - you'll just feel worse and increase your chances of nasty effects with every hit.
DON'T use poppers with other drugs - you're just creating bad effects.
DON'T mix poppers with alcohol - you're even more likely to collapse or have a potentially disastrous sexual encounter.

The Law

Alkyl nitrites are not covered by the Misuse of Drugs Act. However, amyl nitrite is a controlled medicine, which means possession without a prescription is illegal, as is supply.

If something goes wrong

burns
If nitrites burn your skin, run cold water over the area for about 20 minutes.

poisoning
If your friend has swallowed poppers, call an ambulance. If she's conscious, give her frequent sips of cold water or milk. Don't try to make her sick.

fainting
If your friend feels faint, take him somewhere quiet and lay him down with his feet in the air. Give him some cola to drink (nothing else is as good). Don't let him stand up too quickly.

unconsciousness

If your friend is breathing, place her in the recovery position. Call an ambulance. Tell the medical staff what your friend has taken - it could save her life. Be prepared to resuscitate your friend if she stops breathing.
If your friend vomits while unconscious, check that she's still breathing.

PCP (Phencyclidine): Brief History, Law

2007-08-18T12:19:00.000-07:00

What is PCP?

The proper name for PCP is phencyclidine. Like ketamine, it was originally designed to be used as an anaesthetic, but because it caused confusion and delirium its use was abandoned. PCP is now only used on animals and even then rarely. Some PCP users may be unaware they have taken the drug because it's sometimes a hidden ingredient of ecstasy and cannabis resin.

The Law

PCP is chemically related to ketamine and has the same legal status. This means that it's not controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act and it's not illegal for an authorized person to possess it. However, its sale and supply are controlled under the Medicines Act and it's illegal to give it away or sell it.

PCP is stored in the body's fat cells, and therefore can never be completely eliminated. So if you take exercise or dance a lot, the drug in the fat cells will be stirred up again and your bad trip can come back, with hideous flashbacks.

Form
PCP is a white, impure, crystalline powder. It's swallowed, snorted, smoked or - rarely - injected. Sometimes it's mixed with cannabis and tobacco and smoked like a joint, or occasionally as skinny brown roll-ups that have been dipped in liquid PCP.

Safety

Never take PCP with other drugs.
Don't take PCP when you're out clubbing.
Don't take PCP if you have a history of mental illness.
Never inject.

The PCP effect

Depending on how it's taken, the effects start in anything from a matter of seconds to about half an hour afterwards. There's a lot going on in the mind and body - it's said to be like taking amphetamine and acid, and drinking alcohol all at the same time.

PCP acts as a stimulant, increasing body temperature, causing palpitations and boosting energy and confidence.
But it also acts as a depressant, causing drowsiness, slurred speech, muscle rigidity and lack of co-ordination.
On top of that, the hallucinogenic effect makes the user see and feel things that aren't really there. It can give a weird "out-of-body" experience and distorted body image.
Because users lose their inhibitions and have a reduced sensitivity to pain, they often become AGGRESSIVE and violent.
PCP also releases adrenaline so users become immensely strong; if they become obstreperous they often need several people to control them - and that means the police.

The PCP comedown

A PCP comedown is one of the worst. It can go on for days with alternate periods of sleeping and wakefulness, followed by memory loss of the whole episode. The after-effects of one dose can last weeks, even months, with anxiety, panic attacks, paranoia and depression.

HORRORS

PCP isn't addictive, but it's a horrible drug that can cause blurred vision, inability to speak or move, nausea, vomiting, memory loss, hallucinations and dehydration.

If you're susceptible, your muscles may go into spasm and you could end up in a coma.
People have died from prolonged fits (convulsions), a heart attack and even ruptured blood vessels in the brain as a direct result of taking PCP.
There's a risk of permanent mental derangement from long-term use.

If something goes wrong

fits
Ease your friend's fall and clear a space around her. Loosen clothing around her neck and put something soft under her head. When the fit stops, put her in the recovery position. Call an ambulance.

bad trip
Your friend may see or hear frightening things that aren't really there - this is known as hallucinating. Talk to him and reassure him that the things he can see or hear are imaginary and will soon pass. Stay with your friend until the bad trip is over.

unconsciousness
If your friend is breathing, place her in the recovery position. Call an ambulance.

Tell the medical staff what your friend has taken - it could save her life. Be prepared to resuscitate your friend if she stops breathing.
If your friend vomits while unconscious, check that she's still breathing.

PCP IS A NASTY, VICIOUS DRUG THAT CAN DAMAGE YOU PSYCHOLOGICALLY FOR LIFE

Magic Mushrooms: Brief History, Law

2007-08-18T12:05:00.000-07:00

Magic mushrooms usage

Both fresh and dried mushrooms are eaten raw, cooked or they're boiled up into a mushroom tea. But be warned - they don't taste very good.
Dried mushrooms are smoked in a rolled cigarette or pipe.

As with all other drugs, no-one ever really knows how strong they're going to be; it depends on the size and age of the mushrooms and how they've been stored. Fly Agaric is much stronger than Liberty Cap, so it's impossible to predict how many mushrooms will bring on hallucinations; they affect different people in different ways. Remember, once a "trip" has started, it can't be stopped.

Magic mushrooms are similar in effect to acid as they contain chemicals that can trigger hallucinations. They're wild mushrooms (fungi) from two main plant groups: the psilocybe group and the amanita species. Both types grow wild in the UK, but the most common is the Liberty Cap, which contains the hallucinogen psilocybin. Far harder to find is the Fly Agaric, which contains ibotenic acid - another hallucinogenic chemical.

Form

Liberty Cap

A small pale yellow to light brown fungus with a slender stem and conical cap. Liberty Cap mushrooms grow abundantly in early autumn on open grassland, parks and roadside verges.

Fly Agaric

A larger bright red mushroom with white spots and a thick white stalk that grows in undisturbed woodland and is found in early autumn. Once picked, the mushrooms are usually dried to preserve them. The Liberty Cap is dried whole and the pale cap darkens to brown or black. The dried cap of the Fly Agaric is cut into sections and the dried lumps turn brown. Once dried, both types are difficult to distinguish from other mushrooms.

The mushroom effect

How people are affected depends on their own tolerance and the strength of the mushrooms. There's usually no effect for the first half an hour. Some users have been known to eat more because they haven't started hallucinating straightaway, but this can lead to real trouble. The effects usually peak after about three hours, and the whole experience can last for nine hours or more. Provided too many mushrooms aren't taken, a mushroom "trip" generally follows certain lines:

users will feel happy and euphoric; they may get the giggles and find everything hilarious
they feel detached from the world, and on a different wavelength to everyone else
people become excited and engrossed in whatever they're doing
some begin to see and hear things that aren't really there (hallucinate). Sounds and colours may become distorted or intense and things may change shape (the psychedelic effect)
users may lose track of time
some people say they feel things on their skin that aren't there
some experience a spiritual journey and a sense of spiritual enlightenment.

Set and setting
When taking any hallucinogenic drug the set (how people feel when they take it) and setting (where and with whom they take it) are very important in determining whether or not the experience is a bad one.

If you're worried or anxious, mushrooms can give you a scary shock. So, if you're going to take mushrooms, take them with people you feel comfortable with, in a place where you feel in control - don't take them at a big party or at a club with lots of strangers around you.
Be aware of your mind-set. If in doubt, don't take mushrooms - you could spin off into an hallucinogenic paranoia.

THE MORE YOU TAKE, THE GREATER THE CHANCE OF TERRIFYING HALLUCINATIONS

The Law

There are no legal restrictions on Fly Agaric mushrooms. Liberty Caps are not illegal if they're raw. But once prepared for use in any way - even by just drying them - they're regarded as a Class A drug. The penalty is a fine and prison for possession, and possibly life imprisonment, a fine and seizure of drug-related assets for supplying.

Avoiding the nightmare

You may be able to avoid a nasty experience on mushrooms if you try to stay in control. This is a fine line, so stick to the guidelines:

don't take too much. A few too many mushrooms can have a very profound effect. You can't be sure of their strength or the way you'll react
don't mix mushrooms with other drugs. You can't predict the effects of a drugs cocktail - and if they're bad, they'll be really bad
know what you're taking. Try to find out where the mushrooms came from, although this isn't always possible. As with all drugs, never accept them from a stranger, even if they seem like the genuine article.

If you take mushrooms when you're not in the right frame of mind, you could end up having a very nasty time:

feelings of paranoia can make you hysterical
the hallucinations can be terrifying and impossible to stop
you may start to panic and become completely out of touch with everything and everyone around you. You'll be overcome with fear, you can no longer control the drug - it now controls you.

Brief history

Ancient peoples are known to have taken mushrooms to experience altered states of consciousness and gain spiritual enlightenment. A group of mushroom statues found in Guatemala and thought to date as far back as 500 BC, has been interpreted as evidence that ancient peoples once worshiped the mushroom. For centuries, South American Indians have been taking a related drug - mescaline - derived from magic mushrooms. Aldous Huxley described taking mescaline with South American Indians in his book The Doorways of Perception (1935). It wasn't until the 1960s that Western cultures, especially college students, began to use mushrooms recreationally as a natural and milder alternative to acid.

If something goes wrong

panic attack
If your friend is paranoid, anxious and starts to panic take her to a quiet room and try to reassure her. Offer her some water, and keep talking to her. Don't let her wander off. If your friend begins panting (hyperventilating), get her to breathe normally by copying you.

bad trip
Your friend may begin to see or hear frightening things that aren't really there - this is known as hallucinating and may cause your friend to panic. Talk to him and reassure him that the things he can see or hear are imaginary and will soon pass. Stay with your friend until the trip is over.

stomach pains, vomiting and diarrhea
If you or a friend experience the above symptoms after eating poisonous mushrooms, call an ambulance or go to the nearest hospital. If one of you has vomited, give the doctors a sample of the vomit and of the mushrooms you've taken, if there are any left, to help them counteract the effects.

difficulty breathing
Try to get your friend to lie in the recovery position and call an ambulance. Keep checking his breathing and be ready to resuscitate.

unconsciousness
If your friend is breathing, place her in the recovery position. Call an ambulance. Tell the medical staff what your friend has taken - it could save her life.

Be prepared to resuscitate your friend if she stops breathing.
If your friend vomits while unconscious, check that she's still breathing.

Methylamphetamine: Brief History, Law

2007-08-16T16:12:00.000-07:00

What is methylamphetamine
Methylamphetamine or methamphetamine is a man-made stimulant. It's like amphetamine but MUCH stronger. It's to amphetamine what crack is to cocaine - it can be 90-100 per cent pure.

Swallowing The least dangerous method and it takes about half an hour to take effect. Far smaller amounts are used than with amphetamine for the drug to take effect.

Smoking Users get an intense and almost immediate hit from inhaling the vapours given off by heating crystals. The powder is not usually smoked because the heating process breaks it down, lessening the effect.

NEVER INJECT METHYLAMPHETAMINE, AND NEVER MIX IT WITH OTHER DRUGS.

What you might not like

Methylamphetamine can trigger unpleasant hallucinations that make you lose control of your actions and emotions. People have assaulted and even raped under the influence of methylamphetamine.

Methylamphetamine dangers

This is a really nasty drug - side effects may kill.

There's a risk of a stroke or a heart attack. It also raises your body temperature, which can lead to heatstroke especially if you're in a club and taking other drugs - heatstroke can kill.
Tolerance builds up quickly with continuous use. Eventually, you may need dangerous amounts to get near the original effect.
There's a real risk of overdose and even a tiny amount could be too much for your body - it can happen the first time it's taken. If you overdose you may suffer convulsions, which can lead to unconsciousness and even death.

Methylamphetamine and addiction
Within a short time physical dependence, similar to dependence on crack, could develop.

If you use this drug regularly, you'll become so psychologically dependent that you can't face the world without it.
Withdrawal can lead to depression, panic attacks and paranoia.

Form

Creamy white or sandy-coloured powder sold in wraps like amphetamine.
Tablets in different shapes, colours and sizes. Some have names such as "speed king" stamped on them.
Clear and colourless crystals, like glass, sold in bags. Large crystals (bombs) are bought individually wrapped in plastic film or cigarette papers.

The methylamphetamine effect

A minute amount of this nasty stimulant gives an incredible hit - it's that powerful. The feelings are not short lived; one hit can last for hours, depending on the user's tolerance and the amount taken.

The "rush" is very intense with sensations of euphoria, energy and invincibility that can be almost overwhelming.
Some users feel sexually aroused.

The comedown

The comedown is a real kick in the teeth - it's far worse than coming down from amphetamine:

you can feel exhausted and achy for days
you feel depressed, nervous and panicky
after a few weeks of use your behaviour becomes bizarre, you're paranoid, you suffer delusions, even psychosis.

Methylamphetamine can even trigger schizophrenia.

Getting help

If you or anyone you know has a problem with methylamphetamine, get professional help

Methadone: Brief History, Law

2007-08-16T16:00:00.000-07:00

Form

Methadone comes as tablets and ampoules of clear, injectable liquid. Both are prescribed under the trade name Physeptone.
It's also found as a brown, orange or green linctus of varying strengths or as a mixture known as DTF, which comes in the same colours as the linctus, but is stronger. Don't inject - injecting anything is stupid! There's a risk of overdose and, if you share needles, of getting infections like HIV/AIDS and hepatitis B or C.

The methadone effect

The effects of methadone are similar to heroin, but it's not as powerful.

There's no intense hit, which is why heroin users don't like it as much.
The effects are longer lasting than heroin - pain relief and feelings of well-being can last up to 24 hours.

What you won't like

You may also suffer from nausea and vomiting, severe constipation, stomach and back pain and loss of sexual drive.

Methadone is as addictive as heroin. You can quickly gain a physical and psychological dependence to methadone if you use it regularly and this can be as strong as heroin dependence.

Methadone tolerance
This builds up with continued use, although not as quickly as with heroin.

Because methadone is chemically similar to heroin, methadone tolerance can be transferred to heroin and vice versa.
Methadone tolerance is quickly lost. If you don't use it for a week, your tolerance will be back to near zero. So if you take your "normal" dose again it can result in an overdose.

Withdrawal
Methadone withdrawal is even tougher than heroin withdrawal.

If you're trying to come off methadone, you must get professional help because your dose needs to be brought down gradually over a period of a few weeks.
The physical and psychological effects can be as bad as for heroin, but the real problem is that the withdrawal symptoms can last for six weeks or more. However, the pain and fear will gradually reduce after the struggle of the first 2-3 weeks. No matter how hard it is, remember that people have done it before you.

What is methadone

Methadone is a man-made chemical that has similar properties to opiates such as heroin. Most of the information on heroin goes for methadone as well. It's often used by doctors to wean addicts off heroin on a controlled regimen.

Methadone and other drugs
Some people have started using methadone to help them come down from ecstasy and amphetamine. It's true that this will take the edge off a comedown but it's an extremely dangerous way to do it. The abrupt change to your heart-rate puts your heart under great stress; if you don't know what you're doing you may take too much or mix it with dangerously high levels of other depressants such as alcohol or tranquillizers. The net result is your heart-rate and breathing slow so much they could stop completely.

The Law
Methadone is a Class A drug, but it's schedule 2 which means it's only legal to have if it's prescribed for you by a doctor. It's illegal to give it away or sell it to someone else.

Safety
As with heroin, you can't guarantee your safety on methadone but you can lower the risks. Most importantly, don't mix it with other drugs.

If something goes wrong

unconsciousness

If your friend is breathing, place her in the recovery position. Call an ambulance. Tell the medical staff what your friend has taken - it could save her life. Be prepared to resuscitate your friend if she stops breathing.
If your friend vomits while unconscious, check that she's still breathing.

Ketamine: Brief History, Law

2007-08-16T15:45:00.000-07:00

Form
On prescription ketamine comes as a clear liquid, but on the street it's a white powder or tablet. The powder is bought in a paper "wrap", similar to amphetamine, and can be swallowed or inhaled ("snorted"). The tablet is usually swallowed, but if ground up it can be inhaled.

The ketamine effect

There's an initial rush, similar to the cocaine rush, that may happen within 30 seconds if the drug is injected, or 20-30 minutes if swallowed. Then it's rapidly downhill for about the next three hours.
the body is numb and paralysed
there may be sickness and vomiting
co-ordination goes and the simplest tasks are impossible
there's a feeling of being weightless and of being separated from the body
terrifying hallucinations can occur; limbs feel as though they're growing and shrinking; there's tunnel vision and faces look grossly distorted. The hallucinations seem as if they'll never stop and there's a feeling of being close to death.

Ketamine and ecstasy

Be aware. Ketamine is one of the drugs most often "cut" with MDMA in ecstasy pills.
People sometimes say they've had a "smacky" E, meaning it made them feel sedated, instead of euphoric and energetic. In fact, this pill may have contained ketamine.
Worse still, ketamine pills are sometimes sold as ecstasy so be careful. Ketamine has anything but the effect of an E, and can be terrifying for someone who isn't prepared for it.

What is ketamine

Ketamine is a "dissociative anaesthetic", which means it detaches the mind from the body. It's used as a HORSE TRANQUILLIZER and is related to the veterinary anaesthetic PCP, also known as angel dust.

The Law

Ketamine is not a controlled substance under the Misuse of Drugs Act so it's not illegal to possess it.
Its sale and supply are controlled under the Medicines Act, so it's illegal to give it away or sell it.

This is HORRIBLE stuff

Ketamine is not a dance drug and taking it in a club is a bad idea. The noisy, disorientating environment will worsen the bad effects of ketamine.
Never take it on the spur of the moment.
DON'T MIX KETAMINE with any other drugs. Ketamine and speed, ketamine and acid, and ketamine and alcohol are all recipes for disaster.

If something goes wrong

bad trip
Your friend may see or hear frightening things that aren't really there - this is known as hallucinating. Reassure her that the things she can see or hear are imaginary and will soon pass. Stay with your friend until the bad trip is over.

unconsciousness

If your friend is breathing, place him in the recovery position. Call an ambulance. Tell the medical staff what your friend has taken - it could save his life. Be prepared to resuscitate your friend if he stops breathing.
If your friend vomits while he's unconscious, check that he's still breathing.

Heroin: Brief History, Law

2007-08-16T09:59:00.000-07:00

What is heroin

Heroin (diamorphine hydrochloride) is produced by processing raw opium, a natural substance found in oriental opium poppies. It's a depressant drug so its properties are basically the opposite of a stimulant drug, such as amphetamine. Because heroin is a "narcotic analgesic", it numbs the brain and body and kills pain.

How heroin works

As a depressant drug, heroin dulls the central nervous system:

the heart beats more slowly
breathing slows down and becomes shallower, so less oxygen is taken in
blood pressure falls.

The heroin effect

The heroin effect is big - bigger than almost any other drug. It's a really powerful feeling that has no comparison in normal life. When heroin is injected intravenously, the "hit" is almost instantaneous, but even when it's smoked it only takes a few seconds.

Feelings of euphoria and waves of incredible well-being flood in. All pain - physical and mental - disappears.
The addictive effect is that you really love yourself.
In small quantities heroin makes people very talkative, energized, impassioned and confident.
Larger quantities send people into a trance-like state - they lose themselves in an interior world and they can't and don't want to communicate with anyone.
The initial "rush" is followed by a mellow, chilled-out feeling that makes the world look rosy.
The heroin effect starts to wear off after 1-2 hours, depending on tolerance levels and how often it's used. It will have worn off completely after anything from 3-6 hours.

Form
Heroin comes in three forms: brown, china white and pharmaceutical heroin.

Brown

The most common form, this is in fact diamorphine base - the hydrochloride bit has been removed.
It's a brown powder, although the colour can vary from creamy white to dark coffee. The lighter the colour, the higher the heroin content.
Brown is low-grade, messy, dirty stuff. The heroin content varies from 10 to 60 per cent. The rest is rubbish, "cut" with the heroin to bulk out the quantity.
Brown is smoked - it should never be injected.

China white

Found as grey granules that look a little like instant coffee.
Although china white is smoked, it can also be injected.

Pharmaceutical heroin
Pure heroin for medical use, it comes as a pure white powder or tablets, or as ampoules of clear liquid.

Brief history

Heroin has a long history. The first source was opium from poppies around 6000 BC; the Greeks recorded opium addiction in the third century BC. The Chinese first inhaled it in the 17th century. In 16th-century Europe, Paracelsus invented laudanum - an opium-based medicine that was used for painkilling and sedation well into the 19th century, until morphine was developed. A more powerful variant, diamorphine (heroin), appeared in Germany in 1874 and by the 1930s it had overtaken opium as the cheaper narcotic.

HEROIN AND METHADONE KILL AROUND 200 PEOPLE EVERY YEAR IN THE UK

Hygiene

The syringe and any other paraphernalia (the works) must be sterile - and a fresh needle used every time.
Used needles should be disposed of safely - never leave them lying around.
Needle exchanges supply sterile needles. Local health authorities or the National Drugs Helpline will have details of the nearest needle exchange. Never share someone else's works - that's how infections like HIV/AIDS and hepatitis B and C are spread.

Speedballs
Don't on any account take a "speedball", a mixed injection of heroin and cocaine. It's very dangerous as the two drugs worsen each other's effects.

A smack in the face

Overdosing If you're not used to taking heroin, overdosing is a real possibility - especially if you're injecting. When you've overdosed, your breathing slows right down and breaths become so shallow that your body doesn't get enough oxygen. Unconsciousness follows and if you don't get to a hospital quickly, your breathing may stop altogether and you'll die.

Nausea and vomiting First-time users could easily be sick and if you pass out, there's a real risk that you could choke on your vomit.

Self-neglect If you're an addict, heroin quickly becomes the only thing in your life. You lose weight and become malnourished because you don't eat, and you look even worse because you can't be bothered to wash. But you won't care about any of this - getting your next hit will be the only thing that matters.

Abscesses, sores and open wounds With heavy use, these develop at injection sites - they're unattractive and very painful. Crime Often the only way to pay for a habit is to steal, and addicts will steal from just about anywhere. Some are so desperate they even steal from their own families. Crime only leads to one place - prison.

Smoking heroin

Known as "chasing the dragon" or "booting", this method is far less dangerous than injecting and gives a similar hit - it's intense and felt very quickly.
Heroin is occasionally smoked in a pipe or hand-rolled cigarette, or heated from below on tin-foil.

Injecting heroin - the dangers

Injecting directly into the vein is the most dangerous way of taking heroin. It must be made into a liquid first. China white and pharmaceutical heroin will dissolve in water. Brown has to be dissolved in an acid - dissolved vitamin C powder is the least dangerous.
Dissolving crushed tablets is even worse. It leaves undissolved grains that cause blockages in small blood vessels, leading to abscesses and infection. To try to prevent this some users draw the liquid into a syringe through a cigarette filter - this doesn't make it safe

Stay out of trouble
Heroin is dangerous: you can't guarantee your safety, but the risks can be lowered.

Don't inject Smoking provides a similar hit and is far safer. NEVER share needles.

Don't leave needles lying around Dispose of them safely.
Know what you're taking There's no time for regrets if you overdose.

Don't top up You'll overdose.
Know your limits Tolerance drops if heroin isn't used for a while, so a "normal" quantity could kill.

Be sensible Don't drive, ride a bike or use machinery while on heroin.

Practise safe sex There's even more reason to use a condom because of the high incidence of HIV/AIDS among users

Never mix heroin with other drugs. Heroin is so powerful on its own that the addition of any other drug can kill..

THE COMFORT FROM HEROIN IS TEMPORARY- REALITY WILL SOON HIT HARD
Signs of addiction

You're on a slippery slope if: you find it hard to get to sleep
you get pains in your muscles
you feel very sick and constipated.

No excuses
Some people blame their dependency on their "addictive personality". There's no such thing: it's just an excuse to avoid looking at the real reasons behind their drug dependency.

Heroin tolerance
Users quickly gain a tolerance to heroin so the body learns to cope with it and needs more to feel the original euphoric rush.

Eventually, it can get to the stage where even high doses merely take away the pain and craving - there is no euphoria.
BUT if you stop using heroin, tolerance falls quickly. If you start again, your body won't be able to cope with the same amount and you could overdose.
Smoking heroin keeps tolerance at a more even level than if it's injected.

Kicking the habit

If you're dependent on heroin, it'll be difficult to come off it. BUT it isn't a lost cause. Many people have given it up - you can too. First you've got to accept certain things:

only you can do your detox - others just help
you have to want to come off
do it for yourself - nobody else matters.

DETOXIFICATION
No-one should kick heroin by themselves; if you or someone you know has a heroin habit, get professional help. Remember that all drug agencies and medical services will treat your case in complete confidence. The first few days are the hardest. Once you're through them, hang in there. You've got this far, you can pull it off.

STAYING OFF HEROIN
This is the toughest part.
Keep busy Get a job or do community work. Take up hobbies.
Stay away from anything that reminds you of heroin Steer clear of other users and places where there are drugs.
Get support When your will-power is slipping, talk to someone: friends, family or professional drug organizations.

Heroin and addiction

Heroin is severely addictive: users can develop a physical and psychological dependency on the drug, despite having been sure they could stay in control. The less stable and good your life is, the greater the chance of becoming addicted to the warmth and detachment from reality that heroin brings.

What it's like to be addicted

Your body needs heroin just to feel normal.
Your physical craving becomes so strong that your whole life revolves around finding the money and the drugs for your next hit.
The psychological craving is as strong as the physical. You're terrified of being without heroin. You end up more fearful of life and more isolated with a heroin habit than you ever were before you got one.

The Law
Heroin is a Class A drug. It's illegal all over the world and having, using or supplying it are seen as very serious offenses everywhere.

The penalty is sometimes a very long prison sentence and a fine.
In some countries, possessing or supplying heroin may even carry the death penalty.

If something goes wrong

hitting an artery
If you hit an artery when injecting, staunch the flow of blood by applying firm pressure over the injury, holding the limb as high as possible. Call an ambulance or go straight to the hospital Accident and Emergency department.

unconsciousness
If your friend is breathing, place her in the recovery position. Call an ambulance. Tell the medical staff what your friend has taken - it could save her life.

Be prepared to resuscitate your friend if she stops breathing.
If your friend is sick while unconscious check that she's still breathing.

Herbal Ecstasy, Khat: Form, Law

2007-08-16T09:53:00.000-07:00

Herbal Highs

Herbal stimulants are increasingly popular, especially on the summer rock festival circuit. Herbal ecstasy, a blend of mildly psychoactive herbs or herb extracts, is openly sold as a "safe" alternative to ecstasy (MDMA). However, many types contain the drug ephedrine and can be extremely dangerous.

The Law
Herbal ecstasy is not a controlled substance.

Form
Herbal ecstasy is usually sold in capsules.

Khat
Another herbal alternative is khat, a mild amphetamine-like stimulant derived from a leafy plant that grows in eastern Africa and the Arabian peninsula.

Said to be like having a small dose of amphetamine; it makes the user euphoric and talkative. It can also have calming effects.
Chewing khat causes inflammation of the mouth and infections, and overuse can cause cancer of the mouth.
Prolonged and regular use of khat may cause depression, anxiety and irritability.

Herbal ecstasy

Because it's a mild stimulant, energy, awareness and perception are likely to be increased, but how much and for how long depends on exactly what's in it. Some people claim that it has similar effects to ecstasy, but others have said that it's no more stimulating than a cup of coffee or a glass of cola.
Herbal ecstasy that contains ephedrine can have unpleasant side effects, which may include jitteriness, tremors, headaches, insomnia, nausea and vomiting, fatigue, dizziness, chest pains and palpitations.

The Law
Khat is not a controlled substance in the UK.

Form
Khat leaves are either chewed fresh or brewed into a tea. They're totally impure.

STIMULANTS ARE DANGEROUS FOR ANYONE WITH A HEART CONDITION OR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

GHB (gammahydroxybutyrate): Brief History, Law

2007-08-16T09:43:00.000-07:00

What is GHB

GHB, which stands for gammahydroxybutyrate, is an anaesthetic used to sedate patients before an operation. It's the drug that was implicated in the death of actor River Phoenix, and has, more recently, become popular in clubs, particularly on the gay scene. Like rohypnol, GHB is sometimes used to spike drinks.

Is it a sex drug?
It's claimed that GHB heightens sex drive, but this hasn't been proven. However, because of GHB's potential to lower inhibitions, users may become more sexually confident. In this event, everyone should make sure they're fully prepared to practise SAFE SEX.

The GHB effect

The effect takes between 10 minutes and an hour to come on, depending on the amount that's taken, the concentration and the person's body weight.

A small dose of GHB has a similar effect to alcohol. It lowers inhibitions and makes people more sociable, and even has a similar euphoric feeling to ecstasy.
If the dose is high, the euphoria gives way to powerful sedative effects, making people feel tired and "doped out".

The Law
GHB isn't controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act in the UK so it's not illegal to have it. However, because it's classed as a medicine, it's illegal to sell it or give it away without proper authorization.

Unknown quantity

This is very dangerous stuff because the concentration of the liquid varies from bottle to bottle. A bottle could contain 3 g, relatively little, or it could contain 20 g, a huge amount. It's virtually impossible to gauge the strength of the liquid so it's easy to overdose. The long-term effects of GHB aren't really known. NEVER top up.

The dangers will be increased if GHB is taken with other drugs, particularly depressants such as tranquillizers or alcohol.

Know the street names
If you swallow Liquid Gold (poppers) when you want Liquid X (GHB) you could end up in hospital. Be careful. Know what you're taking.

Form

GHB is usually sold in bottles that contain about 40 ml of liquid.
It may appear as a powder, tablet or capsule.
It's swallowed and has a slightly salty taste.

Grievous bodily harm

As the dosage is increased you may begin to suffer the nastier side of GHB - that's why it has the street name GBH. It's likely that you'll:

feel sick and start to vomit
get stiff and painful muscles
feel disorientated
have fits (convulsions)
stop breathing and go into a coma.

If something goes wrong

fits
Ease your friend's fall if you can. Clear a space around her so that she can't hurt herself. Loosen clothing around her neck and put something soft under her head. When the fit stops, put her in the recovery position. Call an ambulance.

unconsciousness

If your friend is breathing, place him in the recovery position. Call an ambulance. Tell medical staff what your friend has taken - it could save his life. Be prepared to resuscitate your friend if he stops breathing.
If your friend vomits while unconscious, check that he's still breathing.

Some users of GHB who went into a coma have made a full recovery, but only because they received medical help quickly.

THE LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF GHB ARE UNKNOWN AT THE MOMENT

Ecstasy: Brief History, Law

2007-08-16T09:27:00.000-07:00

What is ecstasy?

The popular dance drug ecstasy is the chemical Methylenedioxymethamphetamine, or MDMA for short. It leads a bit of a double life because it's a stimulant (a relative of speed), with hallucinogenic tendencies. Ecstasy is described as an empathogen as it releases mood-altering chemicals, such as serotonin and L-dopa, in the brain, and generates feelings of love and friendliness - people feel "loved up" and "blissed out". Because it's also a hallucinogen, the world becomes surreal, highly coloured and distorted. But ecstasy makes people nice, not nasty.

Form
Ecstasy tablets come in different sizes and colours, and often have logos such as doves on them.

MDMA may be "cut" with other rubbish, such as dog-worming pills or talcum powder, to bulk out the tablet. Powerful drugs, such as amphetamine, ketamine (an anaesthetic) or selegaline (used to treat Parkinson's disease), are also added giving horrible unexpected side effects.
Even some "reliable brands" turn out to be fake; in fact only about one-third of all tablets sold contains enough MDMA for a "true" ecstasy experience. When different colour "doves" were analysed, one contained as little as 29 mg MDMA, another had as much as 170 mg, and one had none at all - it contained pure ketamine and was, therefore, very nasty.

Everything around you seems in perfect harmony...

The bits you might not like

A bad ecstasy experience is far from pleasurable:

your heart pounds, you feel sick and you might even throw up
you can become overstimulated, jumpy and panicky. Your arms and legs may stiffen, and you might clench your jaw and grind your teeth - your face aches the next day
you can start to hallucinate
dancing for hours makes you too hot; you lose salt as you sweat and your energy is sapped. You become dehydrated, which can lead to heatstroke
your memory may suddenly go. You become unco-ordinated and clumsy
as the effects wear off, you feel lifeless and your mood sinks
you may feel panicky, depressed and paranoid.

Brief history

Ecstasy (MDMA) was discovered as long ago as 1912 in the United States. It was first used as an appetite suppressant, but when it was found to calm feelings of anger, marriage guidance counsellors used it to get couples to talk to each other. In 1988 the rave scene became popular and ecstasy took on a new role as the main dance drug.

Your heart pounds...
You feel faint...

The ecstasy effect

After about 30 minutes the effects begin. They peak in an hour and last for 2-3 hours:

sensation is altered and the skin feels warm and tingly
life has never felt so good. Perception is keen - light and colours are brighter and sounds are exquisite
music seems louder and the beat more insistent - it seems to come from inside
energy levels rise so people want to leap around and dance all night
everybody loves everybody. People want to touch and hug, but not in a sexual way - everyone feels part of a huge, happy group.

MORE THAN HALF AN ECSTASY TABLET COULD CONTAIN RUBBISH, SUCH AS TALCUM POWDER

The real dangers

Temperature control
Ecstasy interferes with the brain's thermostat, and your body temperature could rise well above normal. You may become delirious and start hallucinating, and you could develop heatstroke, which can kill you.

Brain swelling
Because you're so hot, you may drink too much water too quickly. This can cause the brain to swell, leading to unconsciousness and rapid death (within 12 hours).

Bad trip
The rush of brain chemicals can trigger nightmare hallucinations. If you ever take ecstasy again, they can come back. You may feel you've got superhuman powers and overestimate your ability to do dangerous things, such as leaping from a great height.

Brain damage
Ecstasy can interrupt blood flow to the brain and cause a stroke (yes, even in young people), resulting in paralysis, dementia (loss of memory and the ability to think clearly) and Parkinson's disease (when the body shakes and twitches uncontrollably).

Liver and kidney failure
If you're susceptible, one pill can cause fatal kidney and liver failure and there's no way of predicting whether or not this is likely until it's too late.

Life-threatening condition
A serious side effect, sometimes called sledging, can come on if you mix ecstasy with any other drug. It can happen the first time you take a tablet if you're susceptible. You feel freezing cold and shiver violently, you feel like you're going to die - and you might. You can't talk or move. You feel as though you're drifting into a sleep - from which you may never wake.

The Law

Ecstasy is a Class A drug, in the same category as heroin and cocaine. It's illegal to have, give away or sell.
You can be done for dealing even if you have just two pills on you.
You may receive a fine, a prison sentence or both, or you may be cautioned. It will depend upon your own personal circumstances, as well as on local police policies.

Side effects of long-term use
Ecstasy drains the brain of a chemical called serotonin that regulates how happy you feel. So if you pop pills every weekend it can affect your mood, sleep and memory for up to two weeks, and you may risk suffering from depression in later life.

The ecstasy family

Ecstasy (MDMA) belongs to a "family" of man-made drugs and its "relatives" are sometimes passed off as E. But they're different and you might get a shock if you take them expecting the usual effect of MDMA.

MDA (methylenedioxyamphetamine), the parent drug, shares the amphetamine-like effects of ecstasy, but it's more hallucinogenic - more like acid - and lasts longer.
MDEA (methylenedioxyethylamphetamine), sometimes known as EVE, is ecstasy's sister drug. It's like ecstasy in effect, except you don't get the same warm feelings about life and everyone around you - those are unique to true MDMA.

The comedown

An ecstasy hangover is 10 times worse than an alcohol hangover

If you've had enough sleep, haven't smoked cannabis, haven't gone clubbing, danced all night or drunk alcohol, you stand a chance of feeling okay. However, your cheerful mood will have started to desert you on Day 2. By Day 3 you'll be feeling very low and irritable. You won't be feeling any better on Day 4. Only on Day 5 do you begin to recover your equilibrium.

If you have been clubbing and haven't had enough sleep then this comedown will be worse.
For some users, the low they experience after taking ecstasy is only relieved by repeating the cycle at the weekend, which means they're continually under the influence of E even if they only take it on Friday or Saturday night.

Precautions and warnings

Most recorded ecstasy deaths have happened because the tablet was not "pure" or because of a failure to counteract overheating correctly. It's tempting to drink too much water too quickly when trying to cool down, but it's better to keep sipping water slowly over a long period of time.

Sip around a half-pint of liquid every half an hour. High-energy sports drinks are best, then fruit juice or water.
Keep salt levels up by eating salted crisps or nuts.
Stay cool: don't wear a hat, take off some clothes if you're hot and take frequent rests in the chill-out room.
NEVER take another tablet. When the effect of one tablet is pleasant, the idea of taking another after a couple of hours may seem attractive but it's very dangerous. The body can't get rid of the ecstasy fast enough; the effects accelerate and are uncontrollable.
NEVER mix ecstasy with any other drugs, including alcohol.
Stay with friends and know where to go for help.

NO-ONE KNOWS WHO COULD DIE ON ECSTASY - IT COULD BE YOU

If something goes wrong

panic attack
If your friend becomes paranoid, anxious and starts to panic take her to a quiet room. Offer her a hot drink or some water, and keep talking to her. Don't let her wander off. If your friend begins panting (hyperventilating), get her to breathe normally by copying you.

overheating
Move your friend to a cool place and give him sips of high-energy sports drinks, fruit juice or water - don't let him drink too quickly. Splash cool water on his head if he's abnormally hot. Get medical help.

bad trip
Your friend may see or hear frightening things that aren't really there - this is known as hallucinating. Reassure her that the things she can see or hear are imaginary and will soon pass. Stay with your friend until the bad trip is over.

inability to speak or move
This may be the first sign of a life-threatening condition sometimes known as sledging. If your friend is also cold and begins to shiver violently, there is no time to lose. Keep your friend awake. Call an ambulance.

unconsciousness
If your friend is breathing, place her in the recovery position. Call an ambulance.
Tell the medical staff what your friend has taken - it could save her life.

Be prepared to resuscitate your friend if she stops breathing.
If your friend vomits while unconscious, check that she's still breathing.

DMT (dimethyltriptamine): Brief History, Effect

2007-08-16T09:11:00.000-07:00

DMT (dimethyltriptamine) is an extremely powerful hallucinogenic drug found in certain tropical plants. Most street supplies are a home-made synthetic equivalent.

Form

In its pure form, DMT is white, strong-smelling crystal, but on the street it's normally a light brown powder. The powder or crystals are usually smoked through a glass or metal pipe. The powder can also be eaten. If it's prepared from the plant, it will generally be greenish brown, thick sludgy liquid, which is difficult to swallow and then keep down. Raw leaves have no effect.

What you won't like

DMT is horrible. It gives an unpredictable, roller-coaster ride involving a mixture of feelings - euphoria, fear and insanity.

Once on the "trip", you can't get off it and it could feel like it's lasting for years.
If DMT is smoked, the risks of a bad trip are even greater than if it's eaten. Beyond that, the best way to describe the effects is to quote some people who've tried it: "There were snake-like things inside my legs, but at the time I didn't realize they were my legs", "I knew I was insane, and I doubted I would ever recover. I didn't even know what being sane meant. I couldn't remember what it was like to be normal"

The DMT effect

The effective amount is higher than the amount taken for an acid trip, say, but this doesn't mean the trip will be lightweight. Take an average quantity and the trip will walk all over any previous hallucinogenic experience.

If DMT is smoked, the effects hit hard in a matter of seconds. They'll peak after about five minutes, last for about 15 minutes and will be followed by a period of "cruise", similar to that experienced on a mild dose of acid.
If DMT is eaten, the effects take about 2-5 minutes, peak after about 15 minutes and stay at that level for an hour or more.

Words of advice

The DMT experience is very intense and not necessarily pleasant. The hallucinations are powerful and can be absolutely terrifying, and you can never really predict how you'll be affected. It doesn't seem to be as dependent on your mood as an acid trip - you might have a good experience one time and a totally horrific one the next. So if you take DMT, bear in mind the following: sit down or lie down when you take it - you'll almost certainly collapse if you're standing up
never take it, unless you're with someone you trust
choose a quiet, safe environment - a club is not the right place.

If something goes wrong

bad trip
Your friend may begin to see or hear frightening things that aren't really there - this is known as hallucinating and it may cause your friend to panic. Talk to her and reassure her that the things she can see or hear are imaginary and will soon pass. Stay with your friend until the bad trip is over - don't let her wander off alone.

unconsciousness

If your friend is breathing, place him in the recovery position. Call an ambulance. Tell medical staff what your friend has taken - it could save his life. Be prepared to resuscitate your friend if he stops breathing.
If your friend vomits while unconscious, check that he's still breathing.

Crack: Brief History, Law

2007-08-16T08:59:00.000-07:00

Form
Crack comes as crystals that look like small rocks. Some of the "pieces" look like grains of sand, although normally they're as much as 2 cm across. They vary in colour from pale yellow or pink, to white. Freebase is a fine white powder that looks a bit like icing sugar.

Crack is generally smoked. According to users the intensity of the hit can't be exaggerated; it comes within seconds, but it's short lived. For a few minutes, 15 at the most, crack gives:

an intense euphoria and elation, and a great surge of energy
an incredible sense of well-being and power. Of all the drugs on the street, crack packs the biggest punch.

Crack may take you straight up but in as little as five minutes, and rarely more than 15, the rush starts to wear off. Within 20 minutes of a crack hit the comedown begins:

you've got the shakes and are twitching uncontrollably
you're shivering as if you were in a deep-freeze
you're weak and tired
you're paranoid and depressed
you feel alone and threatened by those around you
you're irritable and AGGRESSIVE. And this comedown can last for days.

How low can you go?

Crack users say you can't begin to describe how awful the low is. It's not so much like jumping off a cliff as tumbling down a slope covered in broken glass.
Regular users feel the need to keep taking larger and larger amounts of crack to get even near the original hit.

Crack is cocaine that has been processed ("washed up") and it can be 80-100 per cent pure cocaine - much higher and therefore more dangerous than the 30-60 per cent purity of street cocaine. Crack vaporizes more quickly and enters the body faster than cocaine. It affects the body in the same way as cocaine, but to a far greater extent. Freebase is another rarer form of processed cocaine.

NEVER INJECT CRACK
Just don't inject. Injecting doesn't give a bigger hit, and there's a real danger of overdosing or becoming infected with HIV/AIDS and hepatitis B and C from shared needles and any other equipment used (the works).

Crack bender

Users have been known to smoke large amounts of crack every day for several weeks. Taking so much crack always leads to indescribable withdrawal symptoms, a hellish comedown and a real risk of death.

Crack is addictive

Crack has been labeled the "one hit and you're hooked" drug. This isn't strictly true, but the nature of the drug is such that if you try it, your chances of becoming addicted are higher than with ANY other drug. Your physical addiction is very powerful because crack gives you an intense high followed almost immediately by a terrible low - your body's response is to crave more. You can also become psychologically dependent and feel you can't face the world without the drug. But what you don't realize is that it's the crack that's making your life so unbearable. If you have a problem with crack, you MUST get professional help.

"Before you know it, crack takes over your mind. You're obsessed by it. You'll do anything for it."

On the rocks - crack's other nasty surprises
Long-term crack use - and that means weeks not years - can lead to lots of other problems.

Psychological problems
You feel intense aggression, hatred and distrust of other people, even friends and family. You become psychotic, delusional and violent, lose all contact with reality and are unable to judge any situation properly.

Social problems
Many users sell everything they own to fund their habit. Crack is expensive - $200 a day is nothing out of the ordinary. When there's nothing left to sell, crime may be the only option and a prison sentence the most likely outcome.

Complete isolation
When you're coming down you won't want to be with anyone and they won't want you. The isolation gets worse; life isn't worth living.

The Law

Crack is a Class A drug. It's illegal to have, sell or give to your friends and carries the highest level of penalties.

The penalty for possessing crack for your own use is a long prison sentence and an unlimited fine.
Possession with intent to supply (and there's no minimum amount) can lead to life imprisonment and an unlimited fine.

Drug combinations
Crack is so powerful in its own right that using any drug alongside it is potentially lethal. Some users take heroin to ease the comedown. It's that bad.

Cocaine: Brief History, Law

2007-08-15T09:00:00.000-07:00

The cocaine found on the streets is a substance called cocaine hydrochloride. It's made by refining the leaves of the coca bush, which grows mainly in Bolivia, Colombia and Peru. Cocaine is a powerful stimulant that has similar properties to amphetamine. It was used for medicinal purposes as an over-the-counter "tonic" until it was found to be a dangerous drug; many of the people who'd taken it had become addicts.

Form

Most street cocaine comes as a white crystalline powder that looks like very fine salt. It's usually bought in a "wrap" containing 1 g of powder, although no-one can know how much of that gram is actually cocaine. When the coca plant is processed, the cocaine powder is about 85 per cent pure, but by the time it's sold on the street it's nowhere near this level. As the batch passes from dealer to dealer, it's "cut" or watered down with sugars, such as glucose and lactose, or even anaesthetics. Although cocaine has been found in concentrations as high as 60 per cent, on the streets it's often as low as 30 per cent cocaine - the rest is rubbish.

Cocaine low

The payback for an instant, intense high is a sudden, deep low. It comes on fast and hits hard. You'll be tempted to beat this low by taking more cocaine. This will take you back up, but it won't be as intense and it won't last long. The next low, on the other hand, will be even deeper.

Even though the euphoria and confidence will have worn off, your brain will still be racing. You'll be unable to sleep and probably just become depressed, and even PARANOID.
You'll get to sleep eventually, but when you wake you'll feel tired and irritable. Just as the night before everything seemed to go your way, it now feels as if the whole world is against you.
You may start to feel panicky and threatened. If you've taken a large amount you could start acting strangely and violently

Felt in seconds, the effects rarely last more than half an hour. The strength depends on the potency of the cocaine, the setting in which it's taken, how often it's taken and the user's tolerance level.

There's a sense of euphoria and well-being.
Life looks rosy; stress and anxiety fall away.
Energy levels rise and people want to be active, chat, laugh and dance.
Everything said seems spot on: opinions, however outrageous, are just right and jokes seem incredibly funny, even when they're not.
Inhibitions go and some people feel sexually aroused.

Brief history

German scientists isolated the drug cocaine from the coca leaf in the mid-19th century. When Coca Cola was introduced in 1886, the average glass contained a few milligrams of cocaine, until it was replaced by caffeine in 1903. Cocaine was touted as an over-the-counter tonic throughout Europe and America, until its addictive properties became obvious. It was declared illegal in America in 1914.

The Law

Cocaine is a Class A drug and carries the highest penalties for possession, use and supply.

Simply being in possession of cocaine could mean a prison sentence and an unlimited fine.
Intent to supply or supplying cocaine could even lead to life imprisonment as well as a fine.

IN CONTROL AND OUT OF CONTROL - IT'S A FINE LINE WITH COCAINE

Most users divide the cocaine into "lines" with a razor blade or credit card. Then they sniff it up one nostril through a small tube, or through a rolled-up card or bank note.
Less dangerous than sniffing is to eat cocaine in small amounts mixed with food or drink; it will have an effect - it just takes longer.
Some people rub cocaine on their gums. Because cocaine is also a natural anaesthetic, this causes the gums to go numb.

NEVER INJECT

A few users inject cocaine to get a faster and more intense hit but that's very dangerous. There's a risk of infection from shared needles and a real possibility of overdosing. If you overdose, the heart-rate speeds up to a dangerous level and the body can't cope. This leads to unconsciousness and rapid death.

Anyone thinking about taking cocaine needs to know the whole deal. Although physical addiction is rare, psychological dependence is a real possibility. As the good feeling wears off the bad feelings swamp you so you soon feel that you want to take more. Although another hit takes you back up, it only puts off the inevitable comedown and when it does eventually happen the crash is even worse. You'll then be tempted to take yet another dose and so on. You're now well on the way to psychological addiction and once you're on that road, it's very difficult to get off. With regular cocaine use psychological dependence can become extremely deep-rooted and difficult to treat.

Don't mix with other drugs

Mixing cocaine with other drugs, including alcohol, is extremely dangerous. Although you may get away with it a few times, you won't get away with it forever. If you get overconfident with cocaine, you'll regret it.

Speeding to disaster

When cocaine is mixed with heroin and injected it's called a speedball. This is a really bad idea because the two drugs worsen each other's effects. The heroin hides the unpleasant edginess of cocaine and lulls you into taking another dose of cocaine or heroin or both, increasing your chances of a lethal overdose.

Don't come down with downers

Some people take tranquillizers to get to sleep after a cocaine session - don't. Any mixture of depressants and stimulants is dangerous.

Cocaine rules your life

If you become an addict, you'll spend a lot of money supporting your habit. You'll become moody, unpredictable and generally unpleasant to be around. You'll be unable to do school work. On top of that, feeding such an expensive habit often leads to a life of crime.

COCAINE WITHDRAWAL IS EXTREMELY TOUGH

IF YOU KEEP TAKING MORE, THE HITS WILL JUST GET LESS INTENSE

Some people manage to only use cocaine occasionally; but if you're vulnerable in any way (shy, lacking confidence, low self-esteem) you risk quickly becoming dependent. Once addiction has set in, withdrawal symptoms include anxiety, depression, panic attacks and paranoia. These can be extremely hard to overcome and often lead to users craving more cocaine. For some, suicide seems the only way out - sadly, many such suicides have been recorded. To kick cocaine, get professional help: phone the National Drugs Helpline.

Out of control

You'll think you're in control of cocaine, until you wake up one day and find it has you by the throat - by then it could already be too late.

If something goes wrong

panic attack

If your friend is paranoid, anxious and starts to panic, take her to a quiet room away from large groups of people and try to reassure her. Offer her a hot drink or some water, and keep talking to her. Don't let her wander off alone. If your friend begins panting (hyperventilating), get her to try to breathe normally by copying your breathing.

unconsciousness

If your friend is breathing, place him in the recovery position. Call an ambulance. Tell the medical staff what your friend has taken - it could save his life. Be prepared to resuscitate your friend if he stops breathing.
If your friend is sick while unconscious check that he's still breathing.

IF YOU INJECT COCAINE OR CRACK, IT MAY BE TOO LATE FOR REGRETS

Cannabis: Brief History, Law

2007-08-15T08:12:00.000-07:00

SKUNK CAN TRIGGER HALLUCINATIONS

Form

There are three forms of cannabis: herbal, resin and (the least common) hash oil.

Herbal

The commonest form of cannabis, made from the dried leaves and flowers of the plant.
Looks like the kind of coarsely chopped dried herbs used for cooking. It's usually a greenish-brown colour and has a sweet herbal smell.
"Skunk" is a particularly potent strain that can have a markedly hallucinogenic effect.

Resin

Made by compressing the sap on the leaves and stem into blocks.
Colour varies from almost black through to a pale golden brown.
Some forms of resin are hard and brittle, like charcoal, while others are as soft as liquorice. Resin is usually mixed with tobacco in a hand-rolled cigarette but, like herbal, it can be eaten when added to foods.

Hash oil

Cannabis resin when dissolved in a solvent, filtered and allowed to evaporate, leaves a thick oil.
Varies in colour from black to green, and smells strongly of rotting vegetables.
It's either smeared on cigarette papers and smoked, but more usually it's mixed with tobacco and smoked.

The effect that cannabis has depends on how often it's smoked, how recently it was smoked and how the body naturally reacts to the drug. It can make people:

feel relaxed, happy and sociable, especially if they're with friends
become talkative and lead them to think they have a "deeper insight" into the world, but they're more likely to be talking drivel
lose their inhibitions and say and do things that are out of character
find everything hilarious; even the smallest thing will set off the giggles
get an attack of "the munchies" and want to eat lots of food, especially sweet snacks, such as chocolate or cake
have heightened sensations so that materials feel softer and colours appear brighter.

Most cannabis comes from a plant called Cannabis sativa that is mainly found in Asia and South America, although significant amounts are grown in North America and Europe. The most active chemical in cannabis - and the one that gets a person stoned - is called delta9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The amount of THC can vary greatly and cannabis that contains a high level can hit quite hard

The Law

It's illegal to have, grow, sell or give away cannabis.
While herbal cannabis and resin are Class B drugs, cannabis oil can be categorized as a Class A drug, depending on how it's produced, and therefore it attracts higher penalties.
NOTE: It's a popular myth that there's a set amount of cannabis that will ensure you just get off with a caution. However, if you're found with a small amount of cannabis for your own use, you may only receive a caution.

Brief history

There's evidence that people have been using cannabis for over 8000 years, mainly for medicinal purposes. Early civilizations saw cannabis as a possible cure for all kinds of ailments, from anxiety to leprosy. In the early 19th century, many pharmacies sold cannabis tinctures as over-the-counter treatments for pain; Queen Victoria's doctors gave her cannabis for her period pain. In the mid- to late 19th century, people began to use cannabis for pleasure - in fact, the drug was legal in the United States until the 1930s.

Crucial to the effect of cannabis is how people feel when they take it - the mood or "mind-set" - and where and with whom they take it - the setting. Cannabis often exaggerates the way a person already feels. So someone who is chatty, happy and confident may feel even more at ease. Conversely, someone who feels down and pensive may become more uncommunicative and depressed.

CANNABIS CAN TRIGGER FLASHBACKS TO BAD TRIPS EXPERIENCED ON OTHER DRUGS

Smoking

Most users smoke cannabis on its own or mixed with tobacco in a hand-rolled cigarette, known as a joint or spliff. The smoke is usually inhaled more deeply and held down for longer than with a normal cigarette. There's no filter to catch the tar and if you're not used to this you'll probably have a prolonged coughing fit.
Some people smoke cannabis in a pipe, called a "bhong", that cools the smoke before it's inhaled. Beware - using a bhong to smoke a stronger variety of cannabis may increase the effect and you could experience hallucinations and impaired judgement.

Eating
Some people add cannabis to foods, such as biscuits and brownies, to make hash-cakes or space-cakes. Beware of snacks at parties that may have been spiked with cannabis.

Don't mix cannabis with other drugs
Mixing cannabis with ecstasy or speed is particularly bad because it can make you dangerously dehydrated. Nasty side effects from using cannabis with other drugs include hallucinations, being unable to move, having a heart attack and losing consciousness.

You may feel sick, dizzy and faint and this can hit you on the first drag or the last one.
Your judgement will be impaired and you lose co-ordination.
You can feel too spaced out to speak.
Cannabis can dry you out, making your throat, tongue and lips parched; this is even worse if you drink alcohol as well.
Time seems to come to a standstill; minutes can seem like hours, which can be unnerving.
High doses, or even low doses of strong varieties, such as skunk, can lead to unpleasant hallucinations.
You may feel panic or paranoia. The panic may be so extreme that you literally can't speak or move. You can't remember what has happened; this can occur with quite small amounts

Cannabis and alcohol

It's a bad idea to smoke cannabis and drink alcohol. The combination will dry you out and make you very unsteady on your feet; it can even make you violent. You are also more likely to feel sick or even be sick, especially if you haven't had cannabis before. The hangover from cannabis and alcohol can be a near-death experience.

Cannabis stays in the body for far longer than alcohol - around two months.

You may feel sober long before the effects have worn off. For four or five days after, you shouldn't operate machinery or drive as you're likely to have an accident in this state.
Cannabis can trigger mental problems in people who may be predisposed to them.
Cannabis is risky for people with breathing problems, such as bronchitis and asthma. Two spliffs is the tar equivalent of 6-10 cigarettes.
Cannabis can lower a man's sperm count, and the sperm produced could be abnormal.
As with smoking normal cigarettes and drinking alcohol, women who use cannabis risk harming their unborn babies.
* Some long-term, heavy users may get panic attacks, exaggerated mood swings and feelings of persecution.

CANNABIS USE DOESN'T NECESSARILY LEAD TO THE USE OF OTHER DRUGS

Cannabis isn't physically addictive. Your body won't crave it in the way that it would crave a drug such as heroin or tobacco.
BUT you may develop a "psychological habit" if you use cannabis often, becoming convinced that you can't do certain things until you've had a spliff.
Very heavy cannabis users may suffer psychological withdrawal symptoms; they may become anxious, even paranoid, and unable to sleep at night.
If you're a heavy user, cannabis can be a difficult drug to give up. If you're struggling to give up cannabis, you must get help. Contact your doctor or phone the National Drugs Helpline for advice.

There is so much conflicting information about cannabis. The scaremongers say it's dangerous, the pro-lobby say it's safe and beneficial. This profile will tell you THE TRUTH without the prejudices of different campaigners.

Does cannabis lead to harder drugs?

Hardly ever. There's no concrete evidence that cannabis is the "gateway drug". Tobacco is the gateway drug for most heavy drug users.
People who abuse hard drugs are usually psychologically damaged and probably would have escalated to hard drugs with or without cannabis.
It's probably true to say that people who use cannabis are more likely to be in situations where they'll be offered other types of drug.

Does cannabis cause memory loss?

Cannabis can cause short-term memory loss after long-term or heavy use.

Does cannabis cause cancer?

Because of its high tar content it's likely that smoking cannabis can cause cancer of the throat and lungs. This is, however, difficult to prove scientifically as most users who develop cancer also smoke cigarettes, and cigarette smoke is associated with several cancers.

Can cannabis be used to treat diseases?

It's very useful for treating Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Doctors prescribe a similar drug to treat MS, but sufferers don't find it as effective.

Does cannabis cause brain damage?

At the time of writing there is no conclusive medical evidence either way. No-one knows the long-term effects of taking cannabis repeatedly over a long period, but prolonged heavy use of any drug is always undesirable.

Don't hide from your problems

Some people use cannabis as a way to ignore their fears and failings. When they emerge from their cannabis haze, they find that their problems are not only still there but that they loom larger than ever. Becoming unmotivated is a real risk, and shouldn't be taken lightly. The only way to get through life is to face it, not turn your back on it.

If something goes wrong

vomiting
If your friend needs to vomit, lean her forward so she doesn't choke. Give her some water once she's stopped vomiting, and make sure she gets home safely.

panic attack
If your friend is paranoid, anxious and starts to panic take him to a quiet room away from large groups of people and try to reassure him. Offer him some water, and keep talking to him. Don't let him wander off alone. If your friend begins panting (hyperventilating), get him to try to copy your breathing.

bad trip
Your friend may begin to see or hear frightening things that aren't really there - this is known as hallucinating. This can be extremely frightening and may cause your friend to panic. Talk to her and reassure her that the things she can see or hear are imaginary and will soon pass. Stay with your friend until the bad trip is over - don't let her wander off alone.

CANNABIS CAN BRING MENTAL ILLNESS TO THE SURFACE

Barbiturates: Brief history, Law

2007-08-15T07:58:00.000-07:00

Form

Barbiturates come either as tablets or as gel capsules for swallowing. The most common forms seen today are:

Sodium amytal Bright blue capsules containing 60 mg of barbiturate.
Seconal Orange capsules containing 50 mg of barbiturate.
Tuinal Blue and orange capsules containing 50 mg of amytal and 50 mg of seconal.

Barbiturates effect

In the short term and in small quantities barbiturates provide relief from insomnia, anxiety and tension, and may make the user appear drunk. The effects can last for 12 hours or more, depending on the type and amount of barbiturate taken, the individual's tolerance and the circumstances in which the drug is taken.

"Barb freaks" are looked down on even by heroin users because of the totally desperate state they get themselves into.

Primarily hypnotic drugs, barbiturates like tranquillizers work by depressing the nervous system. In small amounts they calm you down and in higher amounts make you sleep. They belong to a 19th-century group of drugs and, until the 1950s, when safer alternatives were found, were prescribed for people who couldn't sleep or who had nervous disorders. Barbiturates are not without risks: they are highly addictive and can suppress the function of the brain to such an extent that breathing stops. The medical use of barbiturates is now limited.

How they work

Barbiturates depress the central nervous system so three main things happen to your body:

the heartbeat slows down
breathing slows down and becomes shallow so you don't take in much oxygen
blood pressure falls.

It's the combination of these three things that makes barbiturates so dangerous.

Barbiturates are dangerous

There's a very fine line between the desired dose and the fatal one, which makes barbiturates very dangerous. Barbiturates give you an experience that is far from pleasurable:

barbiturates won't make you feel euphoric or deliriously happy
barbiturates won't make you chatty, sociable or sexy
barbiturates will make you a glazed-eyed zombie that no-one wants to know
barbiturates will give you a mind-numbing "hangover" the following day. You'll feel drowsy, unco-ordinated and slow.

DON'T INJECT

Some heavy users are foolish enough to dissolve the powder in water and inject it. If the powder doesn't dissolve properly it can cause vein blockages, which can lead to gangrene and amputation.
The risk of overdosing on barbiturates is high anyway; if they're injected it's even higher.
There's a risk of becoming infected with HIV/AIDS and hepatitis B or C from sharing needles and other equipment (works).

IT'S VERY EASY TO OVERDOSE ACCIDENTALLY ON BARBITURATES

Long term problems

You'll look awful Long-term use can lead to depression and intense tiredness, to the point where you can't feed or clean yourself properly.
Mood swings Heavy use may lead to unpredictable and extreme mood swings, often leading to violent or strange behaviour.
Bronchitis or pneumonia Both of these conditions may result from heavy use, and both can be fatal.
Hypothermia Barbiturates cause the blood vessels near the skin to dilate so you lose heat. With heavy use, your metabolism becomes so slow that your body is unable to respond to the cold. Hypothermia can be fatal.

The Law

Some barbiturates are Class B, but more are Class C. This means that unless you have a valid doctor's prescription it's illegal to have barbiturates. In any event, it's illegal to give them away or sell them. Unauthorized possession or supply of Class B or C drugs can lead to a fine, prison sentence - or both.

Yes, barbiturates are highly addictive, both physically and mentally. They're even more addictive than drugs like heroin. After only a few days' use, you may be unable to go to sleep without taking them.

Withdrawal

Once you're addicted, withdrawal from the drug is horrible:

you suffer severe craving for barbiturates - you can't live without them
you suffer painful stomach cramps because your body needs barbiturates
you may suffer fits (convulsions)
you may suffer insomnia, depression, mental illness, panic attacks and hallucinations
you may even die, and not even heroin causes withdrawal deaths.

Keep away from alcohol

It's suicidal to mix alcohol and barbiturates. Alcohol increases the effects of barbiturates as it too is a depressant drug. Here's the scenario:

you've been out on the town, you've had a few drinks but decide it's time to wind down
you take a couple of barbs, pour yourself one for the road and settle down
half an hour later your brain is so fuzzy you can't even remember taking the pills, so you have a couple more
your heart-rate drops and your breathing gradually slows down until eventually you're not breathing at all - come the morning, you're dead.

Tolerance

Because your body quickly learns to adapt to barbiturates, your tolerance increases. This means you need more to feel the same effects. If you don't use barbiturates for a while, your tolerance falls. If you then take what was a "normal" dose when you were a regular user, you could easily overdose.

If something goes wrong

unconsciousness

If your friend is breathing, place her in the recovery position. Call an ambulance. Tell the medical staff what your friend has taken - it could save her life. Be prepared to resuscitate your friend if she stops breathing.
If your friend vomits while unconscious, check that she's still breathing.

Amphetamine: Brief History, Law

2007-08-15T07:34:00.000-07:00

Amphetamine usage

Swallowing

Amphetamine is least dangerous when swallowed.

Inhaling

Some users sniff ("snort") speed up the nose, through a straw or a rolled-up banknote, which produces a faster, more intense effect than swallowing it. Snorting is, however, rough on the nostrils (one user described it as "like shoving chilli powder up your nose").

Injecting

Some users inject speed, which is extremely dangerous. There's a real chance of overdosing because you never know how strong the dosage is, and the heart can't take the shock. What's more, if you share needles, you risk being infected with HIV/AIDS and hepatitis B and C. So don't inject.

Amphetamine stimulates the nervous system. It acts like adrenaline: your blood pressure goes up, your heart thumps and your body temperature rises.

The effects of amphetamine are quite predictable, but only when a very small amount is taken. More can cause unexpected adverse reactions.

Within 20-30 minutes of swallowing speed (less if it's snorted or injected) there's a "rush" through the body and a feeling of being energetic, alert and self-confident.
Everything speeds up and seems urgent. Users feel they're capable of doing things beyond their ability, such as driving safely at a high speed. THEY AREN'T.
There's often a sense of feeling pumped up that lasts for hours. People stay awake for long periods and dance non-stop.
People become very talkative but, although what they say will sound good to them, it's likely to be gibberish. They may start talking to strangers, which isn't a good idea.
Amphetamine raises body temperature, so there's a real risk of overheating, which can be very dangerous especially if it's taken with alcohol or ecstasy.

Amphetamine is short for AlphaMethylPHEneThylAMINE, a man-made drug first created over 100 years ago. It's a powerful stimulant that triggers the central nervous system, making a person more alert and energetic.

Form

Amphetamine comes as a white powder that looks like salt, or sometimes as a pill or paste.
The powder usually comes in a folded paper envelope called a "wrap" that contains about 1 g of powder.
However, most wraps only contain about 5 mg of actual amphetamine as it's often been "cut" with rubbish to pad it out. The extras could harm you, especially if snorted or injected. No-one knows how much is in a wrap - even half a wrap can have a powerful effect.

Brief history

Amphetamines were discovered in 1887 by a German chemist. In the 1930s they became popular as over-the-counter "pep pills". Soldiers were given amphetamines during the Second World War to stop them from falling asleep on the job. In the 1960s, people began to take them so that they could party all night. In the 1970s, amphetamine sulphate became an illegal recreational drug.

Is it addictive?

Strictly speaking, speed isn't addictive. Users don't become dependent quickly, BUT with regular use they will reach a stage where they can't manage without it. The only way to combat the depression and exhaustion that can follow a speed high is to take more. And if this goes on for days, you'll finally collapse, becoming jittery and paranoid as if suffering from a psychotic illness.

THE HIGHS GET LESS HIGH AND THE LOWS GET MUCH LOWER WITH PROLONGED USE

Drinking enough

Taking stimulants in a hot club raises your body temperature even more. If you're dancing for hours your temperature is likely to go through the roof. If you OVERHEAT your body sweats buckets and you must replace these lost fluids. Make sure you drink a half-pint of non-alcoholic liquid every half an hour. BUT DON'T DRINK TOO MUCH WATER TOO QUICKLY.

Taking amphetamine doesn't necessarily lead to a fun-filled evening. Different people react in different ways:

the rush of energy you feel may make you anxious and nervy, instead of self-confident - you may even have a panic attack
your pounding heart and twitching limbs may make you feel out of control and one step away from a heart attack
you can still be "wired" 12 hours after taking even a small amount, and unable to sleep. For the next few days you'll feel run down and low. In addition, you'll have wrecked your body's sleeping pattern
you may also need to go to the toilet a lot

There can be some serious physical side effects to taking amphetamine.

Overheating A rocketing body temperature over 38°C will make you delirious. If you're dehydrated, you risk getting heatstroke, which can result in unconsciousness.

Brain swelling If you drink too much water too quickly your brain may suffer water poisoning, leading to unconsciousness and rapid death. The risk depends on how much you sweat, but drinking more than three pints of water per hour is very dangerous.

Pain and sickness You may get body cramps, a splitting headache and be sick.

Increased heart-rate Even if you're young and healthy, using amphetamine can lead to a heart attack. Your heart could stop altogether and that equals DEATH.

Liver and kidney failure Can occur if a high dose of speed is mixed with alcohol, and both conditions are fatal.

High blood pressure Small blood vessels may burst in your brain, leading to paralysis or coma.

Hyperventilation Your breathing may be irregular.

Life-threatening condition An extreme reaction, sometimes called sledging, to mixing amphetamine with other drugs, such as ecstasy, ketamine or alcohol. It could happen the first time you take it. You'll be freezing cold and shivering violently; you'll feel like you're going to die (and you might); you'll be unable to speak or move your body; you'll feel as though you're drifting into a sleep from which you won't wake (and you might not).

IF YOU SEE SOMEONE WITH ANY OF THESE SYMPTOMS, call an ambulance IMMEDIATELY.

Stay with friends Being with friends may improve your mood, and you'll be able to look out for each other. Make sure you tell each other what you've taken.
Replace lost fluids Sip a half-pint of liquid every half an hour: high-energy sports drinks are best, then fruit juice or water. Don't drink alcohol - it makes you more dehydrated, and is nasty when combined with amphetamine.
Replace lost salts When you sweat, your body loses a lot of salt and minerals. To replace these, and avoid aching limbs the next morning, eat salted crisps or peanuts. This isn't easy as you won't feel hungry.
Cool down regularly Non-stop dancing can cause overheating. The chill-out room is there to help your body to recover, so use it. You can also splash water on your face, or try going outside. Don't wear a hat - you're more likely to overheat.

Speed and ecstasy
Many people combine amphetamine and ecstasy because they want the good feeling of ecstasy and the energy of amphetamine. But this double combination of stimulants means that you're twice as likely to get heatstroke or have a heart attack.

BE CAREFUL: THE DANCE/DRUG COMBINATION CAN CAUSE REAL PROBLEMS

The Law

Amphetamine is a Class B drug - this doesn't mean it's safer than Class A drugs.
You may be charged with possession if you have a small amount of amphetamine on you. However, the more you have the less likely it is to be for your own use and you may be charged with possession with intent to supply.
The penalty for possession with intent to supply is jail and/or a large fine.

Handling the comedown

Go home or to a friend's house with a group of people with whom you're comfortable.
To relax and warm up, have a shower, put on clean clothes and make some sweet tea. It's easy to catch cold after clubbing, especially if you're wearing a T-shirt drenched in sweat.
You won't feel like it, but eat and drink well. High-energy sports drinks, chocolate, milk shakes, fruit juice, bananas, cereal and ice cream are all good.
Put on some soothing music; avoid music with a rhythmic beat - your heart will start pounding again and it'll make you panicky.
Try to get some sleep. It's the only way you'll be able to recover.

This is the bit no-one tells you about. As the high wears off:

all your energy will drain out of you
you'll become lethargic, weak and tired
you may feel slightly paranoid and depressed
you may well worry about trivial things
you may well feel isolated and out of touch with people around you
you'll feel utterly exhausted but your brain will still be racing and sleep will be impossible.

DON'T TAKE TRANQUILLIZERS
Some people take tranquillizers to help them sleep. You just don't know how your body is going to react to this sort of drug cocktail, either short- or long-term. SO DON'T TAKE THE RISK.

It's your body as well as your pocket that pays. Your body has been forced by the amphetamine to provide extra energy, and this energy "loan" has to be paid back when the drug wears off. You'll be exhausted and feel terrible. Heavy, regular amphetamine use can also have serious psychological effects: it can lead to a complete mental breakdown and amphetamine psychosis, which means you become paranoid, agitated and suspicious of everybody.

If something goes wrong

panic attack
If your friend is paranoid, anxious and starts to panic take her to a quiet room away from large groups of people and try to reassure her. Offer her a hot drink or some water, and keep talking to her. Don't let her wander off alone. If your friend begins panting (hyperventilating), get her to try to breathe normally by copying you.

unconsciousness
If your friend is breathing, place him in the recovery position. Call an ambulance.
Tell the medical staff what your friend has taken - it could save his life.

Be prepared to resuscitate your friend if he stops breathing.
If your friend vomits while unconscious, check that he's still breathing.

overheating
Move your friend to a cool place and give her sips of high-energy sports drinks, fruit juice or water - don't let her drink too quickly as this is very dangerous. Splash cool water on her head if she's abnormally hot. Get medical help.

inability to speak or move
This may be the first sign of a life-threatening condition sometimes known as sledging. If your friend is also cold and begins to shiver violently, there is no time to lose. Keep your friend awake. Call an ambulance.

Acid: Brief History, Trip, Law

2007-08-15T07:16:00.000-07:00

Quantity

The average amount in an acid tab is around 50 micrograms, enough to induce a fairly mild trip. But a tab or dot could contain anything from 25 micrograms to 250 micrograms - enough to make someone temporarily deranged or cause the equivalent of a nervous breakdown.

The acid effect The effects of acid start about 30 minutes after taking it, peak after about two hours and may stay like that for several hours, until the user falls asleep. When people are on acid it affects what they see on the outside and how they feel on the inside.

The external world

Acid alters people's perception of the world around them:

the brightness of light fluctuates
sounds shift from loud to quiet and vice versa
colours become more vivid
textures feel different - smooth feels jagged and vice versa
images start to change shape
people hallucinate - see things that aren't there; sometimes these are pleasant, sometimes very unpleasant.

The internal world

Users feel a change in their conscious mind and start to look inside themselves.
They may start to look at the world from a completely different perspective, asking themselves extraordinary questions and knowing the answers - some people say they understand things as never before.
During a particularly intense trip, it's possible to have an out-of-body experience. This is when users see their body from the outside and their mind is completely detached. This can be extremely unnerving for someone who is not prepared for it.

What's a trip like?

A good trip can be mellow, thrilling and mind expanding.
A bad trip can be like a nightmare and can trigger a drug psychosis so you can never quite escape the nightmares. AND a bad trip can happen at any time.

Form

Acid is a transparent crystal in its pure form, but you won't find it like this. Acid is almost always soaked into small squares of blotting paper, called tabs, blotters or pieces.

Tabs come in sheets of over a hundred. Each tab is about 5 mm square and has a picture or design on it that varies according to fashion (strawberries and penguins are just some that have been used). A small square of paper, whatever the picture, is pretty much a guarantee that it'll be acid.

Microdots are small coloured pills that have been impregnated with acid, but they're not as common as tabs. They're only 2-3 mm across and can be different colours. They often contain high doses of acid.

Brief history

The hallucinogenic properties of LSD were discovered in 1943 by a Swiss chemist called Albert Hoffman, who was researching its use as a heart stimulant. He accidentally took 250 micrograms of LSD - about five times today's average dose! Hoffman said it was terrifying; at one point he thought he'd died because he had an out-of-body experience. In the 1960s, a US professor, Timothy Leary, began experimenting with hallucinogenic drugs and encouraged a whole generation to follow his tips for trippy enlightenment.

Set and setting

Acid is unpredictable and taking it needs careful planning. How you feel when you take it (the set), and where you are and who you're with (the setting) are crucial. Never take acid on the spur of the moment.

If you're down, nervous, anxious or upset, you're far more likely to have a "bad trip". If you're happy and relaxed, you're more likely to have a "good" one.
To lessen the chances of a bad trip, you need to be in a place that won't freak you out, with people who make you feel at ease. Don't take acid in an environment you can't control - taking acid in a club is a very bad idea. Once on a bad trip, you can't come off.

A BAD TRIP IS A TERRIFYING ROLLER-COASTER OF INESCAPABLE PARANOIA AND HORROR

There's virtually no risk of physical side effects fromtaking acid and it's not addictive, but the mental effects can be very serious.

You can quickly become paranoid - you think everyone is out to get you, or laughing at you. If no-one reassures you, you'll spend the next few hours going from bad to worse.

Because it's a mind-altering drug, acid can unlock a mental illness of which you weren't even aware. This can lead to you becoming depressed, paranoid or even needing psychiatric treatment.

To get some idea of how bad a bad trip can be, remember the intense fear just before waking up from a nightmare. The hallucinations that you experience while on acid can suddenly change from weird and funny to terrifying. The more you've taken, the greater the chance that this will happen. The danger comes from what you might do while on a trip.

People have been known to try to "escape" from terrifying hallucinations or severe paranoia by literally running away. By doing so, they risk having an accident, such as running in front of a car or falling from a great height.
People have believed they can fly, walk on water or stop traffic while on a "trip". They put themselves and other people at risk. These incidents are rare, but they have happened so keep an eye on your friends.
Even when a bad trip is over, it's possible to suffer terrifying flashbacks for weeks, months or even longer.

The Law

LSD is a Class A drug, carrying the same penalties as cocaine and heroin.

Having any amount for personal use could lead to a prison sentence and a fine.
Supplying the drug or possessing the drug with intent to supply - whether you're giving it away or selling it - results in a prison sentence which could be for life, AND an unlimited fine AND seizure of drug-related assets.

Your worst nightmare

There is an infinite number of things you might perceive on a bad trip. Imagine looking at yourself in the mirror and seeing your face melt in front of your eyes, or your urine turning into blood. It looks real - and YOU'LL THINK IT'S REAL.

Acid can unlock mental disorders of which you're not even aware.

Taking acid can have a very unpleasant long-term effect - flashbacks. Although they're rare, flashbacks can occur days, weeks, months, even years, after the original trip.

Flashbacks can be terrifying, and often involve the same hallucinations or feelings you experienced during the original trip.
They're inescapable: they're shorter than the original trip, but they can go on for hours.
Anything can trigger a flashback so you can't take precautions against them.
What to do if you get flashbacks Try to stay calm. Tell yourself that you're just reliving the trip and that it will end soon.
If you're driving or operating machinery, stop.
If you're in a noisy place, go somewhere quiet; the flashback will be easier to deal with.

If something goes wrong

panic attack

If your friend is paranoid, anxious and starts to panic take her to a quiet room away from large groups of people and try to reassure her. Offer her a hot drink or some water, and keep talking to her. Don't let her wander off alone. If your friend begins panting ((hyperventilating), get her to try to breathe normally by copying you.

bad trip

Your friend may begin to see or hear frightening things that aren't really there - this is known as hallucinating. This can be extremely frightening and may cause your friend to panic. Talk to him and reassure him that the things he can see or hear are imaginary and will soon pass. Stay with your friend until the bad trip is over - don't let him wander off alone.

ACID IS SO UNPREDICTABLE YOU CAN LOSE CONTROL IN A SECOND

What Are Drugs?

2007-08-13T20:17:00.000-07:00

Drugs are not new. Man has been experimenting with them for thousands of years for escapism and fun as well as for healing purposes, spiritual enlightenment and ritualistic ceremonies. People today are looking for exactly the same form of escape, but now there's a '90s twist with new refinements of time-honoured, mind-altering chemicals. Nowadays when most people use the word "drug" they're thinking of illegal substances like cannabis, cocaine, crack or acid. Some use the word "poisons" to describe illegal drugs in order to demonize them but then alcohol, aspirin and nicotine are poisons too. Even water "poisons" the body when drunk to excess.

Most young people see occasional drug use in the same way as alcohol - as part of normal life. Most describe it as something that makes them feel good and gets rid of inhibitions. In the main they're as
responsible about drugs as they are about alcohol.

So, how did drugs become street drugs?

The traditional use of the word "drug" refers to substances that are taken for medicinal reasons. In fact it wasn't until the 19th century that a distinction began to grow between "medical" and "recreational" drug use. Some medicines prescribed by doctors, for example, barbiturates and tranquillizers, are just as harmful and/or addictive as some of the illegal street drugs and indeed find their way onto the streets. Various plants and household substances are also being tucked under the drugs umbrella if they're used in certain ways. A common wild fungus called the Liberty Cap (one of the "magic mushrooms") contains a chemical that causes hallucinations when eaten, and butane gas lighter refills and paint thinners give a quick, cheap, but dangerous buzz when sniffed. Most illegal street drugs started life in the laboratory as legitimate, respectable medicines; the medical profession developed them as possible remedies for various conditions:

ecstasy started life as an appetite suppressant
LSD (acid) was discovered by mistake by a Swiss chemist in 1943
it was hoped that heroin would prove to be a powerful non-addictive painkiller when it was discovered in 1874.

Legal drug use

You don't have to use the so-called "street" drugs in order to be a drug user. Tea drinkers and smokers are drug users too. Alcohol, the caffeine in tea and coffee and the nicotine in cigarettes are all drugs - and they're legal. Drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes cause far more deaths than the use of illegal drugs. In the UK every year there are around 120,000 smoking-related deaths and about 25,000 deaths attributable to alcohol (including the innocent victims of road traffic accidents that are caused by drink-driving), whereas there are probably under 2000 deaths a year attributable to the misuse of all types of illegal drugs.

Origins in plant life
Chemical refinement of plants produces some powerful drugs. Even though they have a "natural" source, it doesn't mean they're not harmful:

heroin is one of a group of drugs from the opium poppy; this group includes painkillers such as morphine and codeine
cocaine comes from the coca plant, and was used as an anaesthetic in ear, nose and throat surgery
LSD (acid) comes from a fungus that grows on rye grasses
ecstasy is a synthetic compound modelled on a substance found in nutmeg and oil of sassafras.

Drugs are pulled as well as pushed - in other words, people actively look for them because they WANT to try them. 1 in 10 London schoolchildren push drugs to their friends.

MOST YOUNG PEOPLE ARE AWARE THAT THERE ARE DANGERS FROM TAKING DRUGS

Know the form

Drugs come in many guises - from the obvious pill and powder to liquids, resins and household solvents.

Why do people take drugs?

Whether people are using fire, drums, chanting, flickering lights or music, their aims are the same - to escape feelings of isolation, and to feel a sense of unity with everything and everyone around them. The appeal of drugs has always been that they change the way people feel and how they perceive the world around them. People take drugs to:

have fun and feel happy
loosen up and be free of inhibitions
feel confident and good about themselves
be accepted by a group of friends
feel sociable and enjoy people more
forget ordinary life and relieve boredom
forget problems and escape from worries
enjoy music more
enjoy dancing more
stay up all night
experiment and feel the thrill
be rebellious
relax and chill out
reduce the effects of other drugs
speed up the effects of other drugs
ease "coming down"
get some sleep.

How long have drugs been around?

It's a safe bet that ancient man began to smoke plants as soon as he'd discovered fire; and long before the invention of modern mind-altering chemicals like acid and ecstasy, he'd certainly discovered some natural alternatives of his own. Historical evidence suggests that people have been using cannabis for 8000 years; it was used by many early civilizations as a medicine for anything from anxiety to digestive problems, even period pains. Ancient Sumerian texts (from the Middle East) hailed the opium poppy as a "joy plant" 6000 years ago.
The chewing of coca leaves by natives of South America dates back to at least 2500 BC. Bolivians still use coca leaves as a remedy for altitude sickness.
Mescaline (from a Mexican cactus plant) and magic mushrooms - both of which can be hallucinogenic - were used thousands of years ago in an attempt to raise the consciousness and spark off some kind of cosmic "inner journey". Both substances are as central to mystical tribal rituals as ecstasy is to the rave experience.

So, what's the problem?

A substance that's sufficiently active to change your brain chemistry, so that your perception is altered and you see the world differently, is bound to have serious after-effects. Everyone knows about the hangover after drinking alcohol. But people who drink alcohol are prepared to go for the short-term thrill and suffer the longer-term after-effects - that's the trade off. Other drugs are no different, they all trade an immediate high for a downer some time later.

EVERY TIME YOU TAKE A DRUG YOU'RE TAKING A STEP INTO THE UNKNOWN

Why Parents Worry About Drugs

2007-08-13T20:03:00.000-07:00

When parents ask their children if they take drugs, they're looking for one answer - NO. Some parents don't even get as far as asking. They're not prepared to have any kind of discussion about drugs, except possibly to condemn them out of hand. This is a pity because there could well be a time when you need to talk about drugs to your parents, and not just because they've found out that you've been taking them. It may be that a friend has been taking drugs and you're worried about her health; or another friend may have been caught with drugs at home or at school and you're frightened about what may happen to him.

Take the initiative

Drugs may be the last thing you want to talk about with your parents, especially if it means admitting that you've taken them yourself. But for your sake and theirs, it's a good idea to try to take the initiative in starting a dialogue with them about drugs before there's a crisis. Your parents are concerned about your welfare so tell them what you know. Many parents only know scare stories about widely publicized drug-related deaths and jump to the conclusion that so-called soft drugs inevitably lead to hard drugs or believe that all illicit drugs are more harmful than tobacco and alcohol.

Parents worry about drugs for all sorts of reasons:

they fear for your safety and health
they fear legal repercussions
they are prejudiced
their view is distorted by media reporting
their moral and religious beliefs.

If your parents are very rigid in their thinking, you may feel inclined to abandon attempts at reasonable discussion and honest behaviour. Try to resist this because you'll both lose out in the long run.

Educate your parents

Some adults are probably as confused and ill-informed as some young people.

Show your parents the drugs education material you get from school.
Show them books about drugs (including this one).
Give them leaflets about drugs from nationally recognized agencies such as the Health Education Authority.

If you've taken drugs

Let's face it, even if you've discussed drugs in a general way in your family, all parents are going to be alarmed if they find out that you've actually used an illegal drug - and some will be upset if they find out that you've been smoking or drinking, especially if you're under-age. How your parents feel generally about drugs will inevitably colour their reaction. You can't blame them - parents always worry about their children, even when the children are grown up and have left home. Parenthood is a lifelong commitment! Try to put yourself in their position and think about how you'd react in a similar situation.

The strict approach doesn't work.

Being really strict simply means people go to greater lengths to conceal what they're doing. It's human nature - anything that's forbidden is immediately attractive.

Communication
By sitting down with your parents and having a sensible discussion about drugs, you may prevent unnecessary worry, misunderstandings and heartache.

BE OPEN AND HONEST WITH YOUR PARENTS BUT LISTEN TO WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY

If parents over-react to you taking drugs

If your parents are badly informed or overbearing, you might expect:

Shock or anger "That's it, you've blown it this time!"
Over-reaction "You'll become an addict!" "You could overdose and die!"

Disbelief "What do you think you're doing?"
Guilt and shame "Where did we go wrong?" "What if the neighbours find out?"

Self-pity "How could you do this to me?"

Rows and ultimatums "No child of mine..." "While you live in my house..." "I'm stopping your allowance now!" "We're going straight to the police."

Abuse "You're useless, worthless." "That's it - you'll never get anywhere now."

Denial or an attempt to blame someone else "Not my daughter - I expect your friend made you do it."; "I don't want to listen to any more of this."

What you can do

Try to understand why your parents are upset. Put yourself in their position. Try to explain your reasons. Remember, their reaction is probably mainly due to fear and guilt - and they'll need help coming to terms with the situation too.

If they can't understand or refuse to listen, go to another sympathetic adult - a teacher, youth worker, older brother or sister, friend's parent, another relative, your GP, or a drugs counsellor - to try to get them to intercede on your behalf.
Storming out of the house and threatening never to return doesn't help because it tends to harden attitudes, but if you think it would help everyone to have a breather from the conflict, find out if you can go and stay with someone close by for a few days to clear the air.

How concerned parents might react to you taking drugs
If your parents can talk to you about controversial subjects, you might expect:

Concern "Do you really know what you're taking?" "You would let me know if you get a bad reaction, wouldn't you?" "All we ask is that you're careful." "Why do you feel you need to take drugs?"

Disappointment "Well I hoped I'd never have to face this." "Well I can't say I'm happy about it."

Fairness "I'm concerned about it, but if you asked for it, I can't blame your friend for giving it to you."

Questioning "Well you've made this decision, but have you thought about the consequences?" "Do you really understand what could happen if something goes wrong?" "You do realize that it's illegal?"

Help "You can rely on us if you need help." "If there's a problem, please come to me first." "Don't feel you have to hide anything if you're in trouble."

If your parents can talk to you about drugs like this, you can all continue to be friends and be open, sensible and honest. Then perhaps you can make certain promises that will greatly allay their fears. You might promise to:

find out the truth about drugs
only take drugs when you're with good friends
be careful with drugs
never mix them, even with alcohol
know what to do in an emergency
understand the legal implications.

In return, get your parents to agree that if you find out the difference between the myths and realities of drugs they will too.

If you've left home

Keep phoning your mum and dad even if they put the phone down on you - do it for yourself not them - you'll feel better if you do. If you really don't want to stay directly in touch with your parents, stay in contact with someone in the family or a friend, so that at least your parents know you're all right. If you really don't know what to do, try phoning the Citizens Advice Bureau or the National Drugs Helpline, Release, Kidscape or even the Samaritans. All these numbers are in "Useful Addresses".

However upset or angry your parents may seem, underneath it all they're almost certainly worrying about your welfare.

IF A CHILD REALLY WANTS TO TRY DRUGS, THERE'S VERY LITTLE A PARENT CAN DO TO STOP THEM

Jargon: Drugs Glossary

2007-08-13T19:56:00.000-07:00

Addiction - A condition that occurs when a person needs to take drugs to survive from day to day; also called dependence.

Cold turkey - Term used to describe the physical withdrawal symptoms experienced when suddenly coming off a drug; commonly used in connection with heroin withdrawal.

Comedown - How a person feels as the effects of a drug wear off.

Cut - Term used when dealers mix or "water down" drugs with other substances, for example, sugars like glucose and lactose.

Dance drugs - Stimulant drugs, such as ecstasy, that are commonly taken at clubs and raves.

Depressant - A drug that dulls the central nervous system, slowing down heart and breathing rates and making the user feel relaxed and drowsy.

Detoxification - The process of coming off a drug and getting it out of the body.

Flashbacks - A side effect of taking an hallucinogen whereby the hallucinations that occurred during a trip are relived some time later.

Hallucinogen - A drug that affects the brain and causes the user to "hallucinate", i.e. see, hear and feel things that aren't there.

Hit - The first dizzying sensation when a drug reaches the brain, common with the first cigarette or the first alcoholic drink.

Joint - A hand-rolled cigarette containing tobacco and cannabis; also referred to as a spliff.

Munchies - The hunger pangs that are experienced after smoking cannabis.

Narcotic - Drug that causes sleepiness, dizziness, numbness and possibly unconsciousness.

Opiate - A drug that dulls sensations and causes sleepiness. A natural opiate is opium, prepared from the opium poppy.

Over-the-counter - A drug that can be bought in a chemist without a prescription.

Psychoactive - Term used to describe the action of a drug that affects mood, perception and behaviour.

Rush - The first feeling of nervousness and anxiety from taking a stimulant.

Sedative - A drug that affects the brain, slowing down bodily functions and inducing sleep.

Serotonin - A chemical found in the brain that regulates mood.

Set - The mood a person is in when taking a drug.

Setting - Where a person is and who they are with when taking a drug.

Sledging - A life-threatening condition brought on by certain drugs or cocktails of drugs whereby the user is unable to move or talk, and may fall into a coma and die.

Snort - When a drug is lined up and then sniffed up through a nostril via a tube or rolled banknote.

Speedball - The practice of mixing heroin and cocaine, with potentially very dangerous side effects.

Spiked - When food or drink has had a drug added to it without the knowledge of the user.

Stimulant - A drug that affects the central nervous system, increasing heart-rate and blood pressure and making the user feel pumped up and energetic, and act loud. These drugs are also known as uppers.

"Street" name - Colloquial name for a drug.

Trip - The experience undergone under the influence of an hallucinogenic drug such as acid - sensations are intensified and perceptions altered. A trip can be "good" or "bad".

Withdrawal - The unpleasant symptoms a person experiences when they stop using a drug they're dependent on.

Works - Term used to describe the equipment needed to inject drugs.

Wrap - A carefully folded piece of paper that contains drugs like heroin, cocaine or amphetamine; also called a bag or deal.