Characteristics of PCP
Phencyclidine recongized as a hallucinogen, can also act as a stimulant & pain killer. Comes in several forms: powder liquid or
... [Show More] tablet. Its often combined with other substances such as LSD or marijuana. Has been used medically as an anesthetic on humans as well as hosres. Steet names are "angel dust" & "horse tranquilizer."
Characteristics of LSD
A hallucinogen so strong one the size of an asprin equals 3000 doses. Street name is "acid" Its white powder can be bought in capsules, tablets, also put in candy, cookies, or absorebed into paper, postage stamps & ink blottters.
AD
Benzodiazepines / Tranquilizers
Presciption drugs that given to help relieve anxiety and treat some side effects of alcohol withdrawal. Brand names include Valium, Librium, Ativan & Serax.
Valium (Diazepam)
Best known street drug because its easy to attain & provides a moderate high. Very dangerous when users combine it with alcohol which also depresses the central nervous system.
Characteristics of amphetamines
Drugs in the stimulant class known as speed, uppers, or bennies. Used medically to treat narcolepsy & ADHD. In the past they were used to treat obesity & depression, but is now against the law to use for these purposes.
Characteristics of Opiate Narcorics
Usually thought of as pain killing drug or analgesics. These drugs have high potential to cause addiction. The physical effect of use is an intense feeling of well-being & euphoria. They are divided into 2 groups -- natually occurring & synthetic.
Morphine & Codeine
Opiate narcotics in the natural group & obtained from the opium poppy.
Heroin
Drug made chemically from morphine.
Demerol, Talwin, & Methadone
Drugs in the synthetic-group of Opiate Narcotics made in a laboratory.
Withdrawal Symptoms of Opiates
Stomach cramps, diarrhea, runny nose, tears, yawning, goose bumps, & genneral sense of insecurity. They lessen in severity in a few days, but may take weeks or months to completely subside.
Characteristics of Crack
Stimulant drug made from cocaine powder street named "rock." Smoking it provides a quicker rush than sniffing cocaine. Use creates euphoria often prescribed as a whole body orgasm, followed vy a crash which includes anxiety, paranoia, & extreme fatigue.
Characteristics of Cocaine
Stimulant in fine white powder form. Use causes the brain to relase dopamine & norepinephrine causing a euphoric state. Street names include coke snow flake & stardust. Users sniff inject or smoke it known as free basing.
Characteristics of Cannabis
Mood altering drug made from the flowers of the plant cannabis sativa. Forms include marijuana, hashish & hash Oil. It is usually smoked but can be put into food & eaten.
THC / Tetrahydrocannabinol
Psychoactive chemical in cannabis which causes its mood altering effects. Hash oil contains up to 60% where as marijuana contains 7-15%.
Alcohol
A sedative that depresses rhe central nervous system. Effecta include lowering of inhibitions relaxation & inhibition of good judgement decreased reaction time & fine muscle coordination.
Short-term effect of PCP
Effects vary greatly from person to person because it can act as both a stimulant & depressant. Some find it difficult to concentrate & communicate. Some have a sense of separation from surroundings, confusion, unreal perceptions of time, space & body images.
Long-term effects of PCP
Known effects include speech problems memory loss depression & anxiety. Flashbacks can occur days or even months after use which may include hallucinations & sensations felt during use.
Short-term effects of LSD
Effects begin w/in a few minutes & can last as long as 12 hours. Sight hearing & taste can be affected. Causes increase in blood pressure dialated pupils nausea chills & fever numbness & rapid heart beat. Long-term memory is exceptionally clear & strong while short-term memory is almost non-existent.
Long-term effects of LSD
Effects are most often manifested in flashbacks where all of the short-term effects are experienced all over again. Heavy users are characterized by apathy no interest in the future very little patience or ability to cope with frustration. Also run the risk of developing chronic psychosis.
Short-term effects of Tranquilizer use
Effects include reduced anxiety tensoin calmness drowsiness slight problems w/ memory & thinking. Fatigue reduced inhibition & clumsiness have also been noted.
Long-term effects of Tranquilizers
Headaches lack of energy irritability & sexual problems. Abuse can cause problems w/ memory thinking judgement muscle weakness slurring of speech anxiety & insomnia. An overdose can cause coma.
Short-term effects of Amphetamines
Effect very individually. Increase in blood sugar inability to sleep increased alertness & tremors are all possible. Other side effects might include diarrhea rapid heartbeat increase urine output dry mouth or rapid breathing. Higher dosage use can produce panic depression & irritability .
Long-term effects of Amphetamine
Insomnia elevated blood pressure skin rashes irregular heartbeat. Eating disorders & nutritional problems result from appetite-suppressant effects. High doses over a long period of time mental problems chronic psychosis which is like paranoid schizophrenia can develop.
Short-term effects of Opiate
Depends on the amount taken the individual's mood prior to use other drug usage & even the environment. They depress the CNS but stimulate the brain centers. Causes rush of great pleasure after injected. Nausea constipation & drowsiness can occur at low doses. High doses can cause severe respiratory system problems clammy blue skin pin prick pupils & dry mouth.
Long-term effects of Opiate
Decreased sexual drive menstrual irregularity & constipation. Injection can lead to liver disease AIDS & infections related to dirty needles can occur.
Short-tern effects of crack
Feeling of euphoria high energy decreased appetite increase heart rate & body temp. Large doses can cause convulsions nausea blood pressure elevation twitching & fever. Overdosing can result in respiratory failure caused by seizures stroke &/or heart failure which can lead to death.
Long-term effects of Crack
Constipation insomnia impotence &/or weight loss. Lung damage is also possible due to inhalation of the vapors. Because it users get an intense high in a very short time followed by feelings of deep depression addiction often results.
Short-term effects of Cocaine
Dilation of the pupils rapid heart rate & breathing sweating heightened alertness feeling of confidence & well being. A decrease in appetite can also occur. Heavy use effect are blurred vision high blood pressure hallucinations violent behavior muscle spasms loss of coordination stroke nausea twitching fever & chest pain. Many experience stuffy nose &/or insomnia.
Long-term effects of Cocaine
Hallucinations weight loss impotence difficultly urinating constipation insomnia restlessness excitability & a suspicious nature. Users are lethargic apathetic & cannot sleep which lead to abuse of other drugs to alleviate symptoms.
Short-term effects of Cannabis
Relaxation & lowered inhibition after just a few puffs. User may become very talkative or quiet. Increase in the sharpness of the senses & plain everyday items take on special meanings or properties. Attention span & concentration become shorter. Judging distance becomes difficult. Time passage has little meaning. Other effects include red eyes drowsiness balance problems increased appetite & dry mouth.
Long-term effects of Cannabis
Lung damage apathy failure to set goals difficulty performing simple tasks neglect of personal appearance slow mental responses & difficulty with speech.
Inhalants
Vapors that are inhaled in order to produce mind-altering effects. They are chemicals most often found in household products.
Methamphetamines
Chemically made stimulants related to amphetamines but the effects are much greater. Can be injected taken orally snorted or smoked.
Methamphetamine
Smoking or or injection causes a high or rush that is very pleasurable. Snorting or oral use produces a euphoric high but no rush.
Psychoactive Chemical Abuse
A faulty adaptation pattern of behavior I which the use of chemicals has led to at least one of the following in a 12 month period:
Repeated use resulting in inability to meet responsibilities at work home or school
Repeated use in dangerous situations
Repeated use leading to legal issues
Repeated use despite repeated social or person issues
Psychoactive Chemical Dependence
A faulty adaptation pattern of behavior in which the use of chemicals has to at least 3 of the following in a 12 month period:
Tolerance
Withdrawal
Increased amount of chemical is taken over a longer period of time
Strong desire to reduce or quit use with unsuccessful results
Great amount of time is spent getting using & recovering from effects
Continued use despite know physical & psychological problems occur
Physiological Dependence
The body's adaptation to the presence of a chemical. When the chemical is not present the body reacts in a negative manner called withdrawal.
Primary or Acute Withdrawal
Last from 2-7 days & is characterized by the strongest symptoms usually the opposite of the positive effects of the drug.
Secondary or Prolonged Withdrawal
Last for weeks or months. Symptoms include nervousness problems sleeping mood swings & changes in body functions.
Detoxification
The first step of the treatment of substance abuse. The body must be cleansed from the short-term effects of the chemical before treatment can begin. Alcohol & other depressants opiates & cocaine require this.
Psychological or Behavioral Dependence
When a person takes a chemical to satisfy a feeling or an emotional need. It is described as a craving. It usually appears with the physiological version but not always.
Abuse Liability
Involves the question "What are the chances or odds of a dangerous drug causing addiction."
Controlled Substance
Any drug that has an abuse potential and is placed on restricted use by the DEA.
Poly-chemical Abuse
When more than one psychoactive chemical is used at the same time.
Antagonist
Psychoactive chemicals that reverse the effects of another drug.
Agonist
Psychoactive chemicals that enhance the effects of another drug.
Schedules I-V
The groups that drugs are put into according to their:
abuse liability
medical usefulness
History of use & a use
Risk to public health
political considerations.
Schedule I
Drug that have no medical use & high abuse potential. They include: heroin, LSD, marijuana, peyote, psilocybin, mescaline, & MDMA.
Schedule II
Drugs with a high abuse potential with severe psychic or physical dependence liability even though they have medical uses. These include: methamphetamine, opium, morphine, hydromorphone, codeine, meperidine, oxycodone, & methylphenidate.
Schedule III
Drugs with less abuse potential. This class includes Schedule II drugs when used in co pounds with other drugs. They include: Tylenol w/Codeine, some Barbiturate compounds, & paregoric.
Schedule IV
Drugs that have even less abuse potential. They include choral hydrate, meprobamate, fenfluramine, diazepam (Valium), & other benzodiazepines & phenobarbital.
Schedule V
Drugs with very low abuse potential because they contain vet limited quantities of narcotic & stimulant drugs; some are sold OTC. Robitussin AC (DXM), & Lomotil are 2 examples.
Cross Dependence
Substituting drugs for each other w/in the body and preventing withdrawal &/or similar drugs persevering the state of dependence.
Dependence
A compulsive pattern of drug use involving getting a supply, extreme involvement in use, & high relapse occurrences after withdrawal.
Detoxification
When cross dependent chemicals are substituted for the chemical which being abused together with a slow withdrawal of that chemical.
Stage1 Depresent Withdrawal
Stage of Depresent Withdrawal characterized by shakes. 90% of patients experience flushed face, nausea, disorientation & inability to sleep. The worst occurs from 24-36 hours after the last drink.
Stage2 Depresent Withdrawal
Stage of Depresent Withdrawal characterized by hallucination. About 25% of patients experience perception from shadows & movements. In addition, objects can look distorted or unreal.
Stage 3 Depresent Withdrawal
Stage of Depresent Withdrawal characterized by seizures. Patients may experience Grand Mal(full body) seizures. They occur between 7 & 48 hours. After last drink.
Stage 4 Depressant Withdrawal
Stage of Depresent Withdrawal characterized by Delirium Tremens (DT). Patients can experience agitation, hallucinations, fever, dilated pupils, delusions, extreme confusion, sleep disorders, tremors, profuse sweating
& tachycardia. Occurs in 3-5 days after last drink.
Stage 1 Alcohol Withdrawal
Stage of alcohol withdrawal characterized by increased blood pressure, pulse & temp. Limited attention span, state of anxiety, sleeplessness, nausea, vomiting, shake, speech is slurred, walking is unsteady, & frequent urination.
Stage 2 Alcohol Withdrawal
Stage of alcohol withdrawal characterized by hallucinations evidenced by fearful state; distraction &/or disorientation, Grand Mal seizures are possible. DT's develop evedenced by an extreme agitated state, confusion, [Show Less]