medical and health: drugs

Tampilkan postingan dengan label drugs. Tampilkan semua postingan

Rabu, 27 Juli 2011

brain on drugs

Here are summaries of the effect of select street drugs on the brain. Some of the introductory information is derived from About.com. Select authoritative references for information about effects of drugs on the brain include:
Drug Abuse in the Decade of the Brain, Gabriel G. Nahas and T. F. Burks, Eds., IOS Press, 1997.
Drug Use and Abuse, Jean-Pierre Changeux, in The Brain by G. M. Edelman and J. Changeux, editors, Transaction Publishers, 2001.

Heroin

Heroin is a highly addictive opiate (like morphine). Brain cells can become dependent (highly addictive) on this drug to the extent that users need it in order to function in their daily routine. While heroin use starts out with a rush of pleasure, it leaves the use in a fog for many hours afterwards. Users soon find that their sole purpose in life is to have more of the drug that their body has become dependant on.
From Dakota State University, a great resource on the effects of various drugs on the body and brain.
See also, National Institute on Drug Abuse facts about heroin.

Marijuana

The parts of the brain that control emotions, memory, and judgment are affected by marijuana. Smoking it can not only weaken short-term memory, but can block information from making it into long term memory. It has also been shown to weaken problem solving ability.
Cannabis and Cognitive Functioning, Nadia Solowi, Cambridge Univ. Press, 1998.

Alcohol

Alcohol is no safer than drugs. Alcohol impairs judgment and leads to memory lapses. It can lead to blackouts. It distorts vision, shortens coordination, and in addition to the brain can damage every other organ in the body.

Cocaine

Cocaine, both in powder form and as crack, is an extremely addictive stimulant. An addict usually loses interest in many areas of life, including school, sports, family, and friends. Use of cocaine can lead to feelings of paranoia and anxiety. Although often used to enhance sex drive, physical effect of cocaine on the receptors in the brain reduce the ability to feel pleasure (which in turn causes the dependency on the drug).
Cocaine: Effects on the Developing Brain, (Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences), John A. Harvey and Barry E. Kosofsky, Eds., New York Academy of Sciences, 1998.
The Neurobiology of Cocaine Addiction: From Bench to Bedside, Herman Joseph and Barry Stimmel, Eds., Haworth Press, 1997.
See National Institute on Drug Abuse facts about cocaine and crack.

Inhalants

Inhalants, such as glue, gasoline, hair spray, and paint thinner, are sniffed. The effect on the brain is almost immediate. And while some vapors leave the body quickly, others will remain for a long time. The fatty tissues protecting the nerve cells in the brain are destroyed by inhalant vapors. This slows down or even stops neural transmissions. Effects of inhalants include diminished ability to learn, remember, and solve problems.
See National Institute on Drug Abuse facts about inhalants.

Ecstasy

Extended use of this amphetamine causes difficulty differentiating reality and fantasy, and causes problems concentrating. Studies have found that ecstasy destroys certain cells in the brain. While the cells may re-connect after discontinued use of the drug, they don't re-connect normally. Like most drugs, this one impairs memory and can cause paranoia, anxiety, and confusion.
See National Institute on Drug Abuse facts about ecstasy.

LSD

While some people use LSD for the sense of enhanced and vivid sensory experience, it can cause paranoia, confusion, anxiety, and panic attacks. Like Ecstasy, the user often blurs reality and fantasy, and has a distorted view of time and distance.
See National Institute on Drug Abuse facts about LSD.

Steroids

Anabolic steroids are used to improve athletic performance and gain muscle bulk. Unfortunately, steroids cause moodiness and can permanently impair learning and memory abilities.
See National Institute on Drug Abuse facts about steroids.

Tobacco

Tobacco is a dangerous drug, putting nicotine into your body. Nicotine affects the brain quickly, like other inhalants, producing feelings of pleasure, like cocaine, and is highly addictive, like heroin.
See National Institute on Drug Abuse facts about nicotine.

Methamphetamine

Known on the street as meth, speed, chalk, ice, crystal, and glass, methamphetamine is an addictive stimulant that strongly activates certain systems in the brain.
See National Institute on Drug Abuse facts about methamphetamine.

Ritalin

This drug is often prescribed to treat attention deficit disorder. It is becoming an illicit street drug as well. Drug users looking for a high will crush Ritalin into a powder and snort it like cocaine, or inject it like heroin. It then has a much more powerful effect on the body. It causes severe headaches, anxiety, paranoia, and delusions.

Senin, 27 Juni 2011

Cannabis - a factsheet

What is cannabis?
Cannabis comes from a plant called Cannabis Sativa. Cannabis, hashish and hashish oil all come from different parts of the plant. Each is a different strength with cannabis being the least powerful and hashish oil being the most. Effects of cannabis
Using cannabis can have both immediate and longer-term effects. These effects may vary from person to person. Things that may influence how you are affected by the drug are:

The amount and strength of the cannabis, hash or hashish oil
The way it is taken (eg smoked or eaten)
Your weight, size and health
Your mood when you take it
What else you are taking with it
The environment where you are taking it eg, at home with friends, at a party, or by yourself.

Some of the more immediate effects of cannabis use may include:

A feeling of euphoria
A loss of concentration
Relaxation
A feeling of confidence
Wanting to eat more
Red eyes
Wanting to talk and/or laugh more than usual
Losing balance and coordination
Feelings of anxiety or paranoia

Some of the possible long-term effects of cannabis use are:

Lung problems (eg chronic bronchitis, lung cancer). Cannabis smoke contains ingredients that can damage the lungs, affect your physical health and fitness and possibly cause cancer. If cannabis is smoked over many years it may get in the way of the functioning of the lungs, this may increase the chances of developing lung disease.
Difficulties with memory and attention - It has been shown that cannabis use over the longer term can cause problems with memory, attention and processing of complex information. This may affect everyday life when you are learning something new or doing something difficult.
Development of dependence - most people who use cannabis don't go on to use it regularly, or develop problems with it. However, there are a number of people who will become dependent on cannabis. The chance of becoming dependent on cannabis is similar to the chance of becoming dependent on alcohol. If someone is dependent on cannabis they may experience a difficulty controlling their use or be spending a lot of time involved in cannabis and less time on other things in their life.
Increased risk of mental health problems - some people have a greater risk of developing mental health problems than others. Cannabis use may trigger problems if you have a family history of serious mental illness (such as schizophrenia or depression), or you are vulnerable to developing it. If you already have a serious mental illness, cannabis use may make some of your symptoms worse.

Cannabis and experimentation
It is not uncommon to experiment with cannabis. Experimentation does not necessarily lead to problem use. If you are concerned about someone's cannabis use it may be helpful to speak with The Alcohol and Drug Information Service (ADIS). ADIS specialise in drug and alcohol issues. It may also be helpful to calmly talk with the person you are concerned about. Engaging them in a confrontational way may only alienate them.
Mixing cannabis with other drugs
Mixing cannabis and other drugs may be dangerous. If cannabis is taken with other drugs the effects of the cannabis may be stronger.
Cannabis and driving or operating heavy machinery
If you have been using cannabis driving or operating heavy machinery is dangerous. If you are stoned your attentions span may be less or you may find it harder to react if something unexpected happens. It is possible to experience these effects even if you don't feel stoned.
Cannabis and the law
The use and sale of cannabis is illegal in all Australian States and Territories, but each one has different laws and penalties. In some places, the possession and use of small amounts of cannabis have been decriminalised. This does not mean that cannabis use is legal in these places, it means that if you are caught, you may have to pay a fine and can still end up having a criminal record. While being busted for cannabis use may not seem like a big deal when you are young, having a criminal record for a cannabis offence may restrict your options for things you want to do in life such as employment or travel.
Getting help for cannabis use
It may be a big step to get help for your cannabis use. Managing your drug use may include speaking to a professional or it may be possible to reduce it on your own.

Minggu, 06 Maret 2011

Cannabis - a factsheet

The amount and strength of the cannabis, hash or hashish oil
The way it is taken (eg smoked or eaten)
Your weight, size and health
Your mood when you take it
What else you are taking with it
The environment where you are taking it eg, at home with friends, at a party, or by yourself.

Some of the more immediate effects of cannabis use may include:

A feeling of euphoria
A loss of concentration
Relaxation
A feeling of confidence
Wanting to eat more
Red eyes
Wanting to talk and/or laugh more than usual
Losing balance and coordination
Feelings of anxiety or paranoia

Some of the possible long-term effects of cannabis use are:

Lung problems (eg chronic bronchitis, lung cancer). Cannabis smoke contains ingredients that can damage the lungs, affect your physical health and fitness and possibly cause cancer. If cannabis is smoked over many years it may get in the way of the functioning of the lungs, this may increase the chances of developing lung disease.
Difficulties with memory and attention - It has been shown that cannabis use over the longer term can cause problems with memory, attention and processing of complex information. This may affect everyday life when you are learning something new or doing something difficult.
Development of dependence - most people who use cannabis don't go on to use it regularly, or develop problems with it. However, there are a number of people who will become dependent on cannabis. The chance of becoming dependent on cannabis is similar to the chance of becoming dependent on alcohol. If someone is dependent on cannabis they may experience a difficulty controlling their use or be spending a lot of time involved in cannabis and less time on other things in their life.
Increased risk of mental health problems - some people have a greater risk of developing mental health problems than others. Cannabis use may trigger problems if you have a family history of serious mental illness (such as schizophrenia or depression), or you are vulnerable to developing it. If you already have a serious mental illness, cannabis use may make some of your symptoms worse.

Selasa, 01 Maret 2011

The facts about "ice"

Topics:

Drugs

What is "ice"?
"Ice" is a street name for crystal methamphetamine hydrochloride, which is a powerful, synthetic stimulant drug. Ice often appears as large, transparent and "sheet-like" crystals but may also be coloured (often pink, blue or green). Other street names for ice include "meth", "crystal meth", "shabu" and "glass".

In 2004, 3.2 percent of Australians aged 14 years and older had used amphetamines for nonmedical purposes in the previous year and over 38 percent of this group reported the type of amphetamine they used was ice.
Ice use among injecting drug users increased from 15 per cent in 2000 to 52 per cent in 2004.
In 2004, 63 per cent of a sample of people who used ecstasy had tried ice at least once and 45 per cent had used ice in the past 6 months.

How is it used?
Like other methamphetamines, ice is usually snorted, swallowed or inserted anally. It is also smoked or injected, producing a rapid onset of the drug's effects. Smoking or inhaling ice has become more common in Australia in recent times. Smokers use a glass pipe, while others heat the ice on aluminium foil and inhale it ("chasing"). Ice is usually sold in "points" (0.1 gram), due to its high purity.
What are the effects of ice?
The effects of any drug (including ice) vary from person to person, depending on the individual's size, weight and health, how much and how the drug is taken, whether the person is used to taking it and whether other drugs are taken. Effects also depend on the environment in which the drug is used - such as whether the person is alone, with others or at a party.
Ice is a potent stimulant drug, which speeds up the activity of the central nervous system. Although few deaths have been reported in Australia as a direct result of using ice, it is considered more addictive and is associated with more significant physical, emotional and social harms than other types of amphetamines.
The physical effects of ice may include:

Dilated pupils
Blurred vision
Dry mouth
Increased breathing rate
Severe headache
Tremors of the hands and fingers
Nausea
Excessive sweating
Dizziness
Increased blood pressure
Increased body temperature
Rapid and irregular heartbeat
Permanent damage to blood vessels in the brain, usually associated with very high doses (in extreme cases death may occur).

Ice can also affect a person's behaviour, including:

Increase in physical activity
Restlessness and anxiety
Aggression, hostility and violence
Elevated mood and feelings of euphoria and wellbeing
Talkativeness and repeating simple acts or tasks
Impaired judgments making the user impulsive and leading to chronic insomnia
Abrupt shifts in thought and speech, which can make someone using ice difficult to comprehend
Paranoia or panic attacks associated with hallucinations
"Amphetamine psychosis", which users of very high doses may suffer, with symptoms resembling paranoid schizophrenia.

Longer term use of ice may result in:

Severe depression
Paranoia
Convulsions
Hallucinations
Heart-related complications (heart attack and heart failure have been associated with chronic use)
Decreased appetite leading to possible malnutrition and rapid weight loss
Lung and kidney disorders that may prove fatal
Dental problems (from grinding teeth)

Withdrawal
Some people experience withdrawal symptoms once they have stopped using ice. These symptoms may include:

Severe depression
Apathy
Long periods of sleep
Disorientation
Decreased energy
Agitation
Anxiety
The limited ability to experience pleasure
Extreme exhaustion can follow binge use of methamphetamine thus creating an overpowering need to use more of the drug.

Minggu, 27 Februari 2011

Amphetamines: a factsheet

More about Drugs:

Drugs

What are amphetamines?
Amphetamines are a groups of drugs that are stimulants, which means that they speed up the messages going to and from the brain. In small doses, they give a burst of energy, which can cause you to feel alert and refreshed. There are a number of amphetamines, which are closely related, in a chemical sense, for example ' amphetamine' and 'methamphetamine'. These drugs can come in a number of different forms, like powder, tablets, paste, crystal or liquid, and are called many different names, like 'speed', 'goey', 'whiz', 'ice', 'crystal meth', 'shabu' or 'base'. In most cases amphetamines are made in backyard laboratories and sold illegally.
Usually, the drug sold on the illegal market is mixed with other substances, and these cutting agents can have dangerous effects.
Amphetamines and mental health
Research has shown that amphetamines can cause psychosis, which may mean you experience paranoia as well as delusions, hallucinations and bizarre behaviour. If you use amphetamines heavily you can develop an acute paranoid psychosis. This means you may hear, see, and feel things that do not exist. You may also have delusions (irrational thoughts or beliefs), become paranoid and/or violent. Amphetamine use can also lead to delirium, which is a state of mental confusion and disorganization.
Mixing other drugs with amphetamines
Avoid mixing the use of other drugs with amphetamines as it can have serious physical and psychological problems. Using amphetamines when you're drinking alcohol may make you feel less drunk and can increase the risk of unsafe driving or sex.
Mixing amphetamines and alcohol can lead to increased aggression and violence. Sometimes people take other drugs as a way of coping with some of the unwanted affects of amphetamines, like sleeping tablets such as Valium or Serepax, but again, this can be dangerous to your safety and health.
Family and work difficulties
Family problems, financial, legal and other personal problems may be related to amphetamine use. Disagreements over drug use can cause family arguments and affect personal relationships. Use of amphetamines may also lead to problems at work, like taking sickies, difficulty concentrating, or feeling unmotivated. These problems can be made much worse because some users become irritable, hostile or violent. It is also dangerous to drive and operate machinery after using amphetamines. Even though you may not feel like they've affected you, amphetamines can disturb your perception and your judgement.
Getting help for amphetamine use
If you feel like your amphetamine use might be getting out of control, there are a number of ways to cut down on how much you are using. The treatment option that suits best may be different from one person to another. If someone is using amphetamines regularly and feels like they may want some help to get it under control, then it may be a good idea to talk to a doctor, drug and alcohol worker or other health worker about the treatment options that are best for them.
The law
There are a few prescription drugs that have amphetamines as an ingredient. Excluding these, the possession, use, supply and manufacture of amphetamines is illegal in Australia.

Drugs: the cold, hard facts

More about Drugs:

Topics:

Drugs

Speed
The drug: speed refers to amphetamines which stir up the central nervous system. It generally comes in powder form which is then snorted, eaten or injected, though the last is rare.
The effect: users feel a certain high which, depending on the amount taken, lasts around three to four hours. Speed keeps users awake but deprives them of their appetite and inhibitions.
The statistics: speed is the second most used illegal drug in Australia after cannabis.
The dangers: usually made in backyard laboratories with unhygienic equipment, speed uses dangerous chemicals and substances such as baking powder, cleaning products and talcum powder. If taken in excess or mixed with alcohol or drugs, it can be deadly.
The signs: makes the user jittery and tense. The person's pupils will enlarge and they will be sweaty and moody. Some people even hallucinate and lose control of their limbs.
The help: if using speed has become an addiction for someone you know, talk to them when you're both calm. Let them know you care but are concerned about the drug use. Listen to what they say, don't yell but offer your support. For more info, call Narcotics Anonymous on 1300 652 820 or visit http://na.org.au/. Crystal meth
The drug: also known as ice, it's basically the same as speed, just in a more potent form — we're talking 80 percent pure compared to speed, which is around 40 percent. It is white to translucent in colour and looks like crystals. The most popular method of taking ice is to smoke it through a pipe, but you can snort or inject it.
The effect: the difference between crystal meth and other drugs is that the high can last anywhere up to two days. It's got a very long half-life, meaning it takes more time to break down in the body.
The statistics: a recent Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report found methamphetamine use was rife among people in their twenties, with more than one in five having tried ice.
The dangers: the long half-life is the real problem with ice. "It winds people up past any safety limit. They go stark raving crazy and become the most violent and nasty patients we've ever seen," says Dr Gordian Fulde, Head of Emergency at Sydney's St Vincent's Hospital. "We get a lot of people who are just off their head and feeling really sick but in the last six months the amount of patients with serious psychiatric problems has more than doubled."
The signs: if taken regularly, users don't eat, sleep or drink. The drug sucks nutrients from the body so people can turn yellow, have pock-marked skin from repetitive scratching at acne and even lose teeth. It can also cause hallucinations, severe mood swings and violent behaviour.
The help: if a friend is acting erratically or is seriously ill, take them to hospital. No-one has to give their real name at emergency. The sooner you can get them there the better. If their mood suddenly changes, you may not be able to handle it.
Cannabis
The drug: cannabis is a plant also known as dope, grass, pot, weed and mull. People usually smoke the dried leaves in cigarette form or via a pipe-like tool often referred to as a bong. Sometimes the drug is swallowed via baked cookies.
The effect: when under the influence, people experience hyper-relaxation as well as an increased perception of colour, sound, smell and taste. It may alter their perception of time and space and increase appetite.
The statistics: according to a survey conducted by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 39 percent of the Australian population has used cannabis at least once.
The dangers: unlike heroin and cocaine, there are no known deaths from an overdose of cannabis, however, if used over a long period of time, it can cause psychosis. It can also cause bronchitis, lethargy and impaired mental performance. An emerging trend now is to take an amphetamine to get high and then smoke pot to avoid the painful comedown, which is extremely dangerous for the body.
The signs: regular users can become paranoid, confused and irrational. They often lose motivation for work and relationships, have low libido and become insular and unresponsive.
The help: call the Alcohol and Drug Information Service (ADIS) on 1800 422 599 (toll free).
Cocaine
The drug: cocaine speeds up the messages between the body and the brain. It generally comes in white powder form, has a bitter taste and is snorted, eaten or sometimes injected.
The effect: lasting anywhere from a few minutes to a couple of hours, users can experience physiological arousal, enlarged pupils, a dry mouth, increased talkativeness, paranoia, alertness and reduced appetite.
The dangers: users may experience muscle twitches, vomiting, chest pain, seizures and headaches. Frequent use can result in paranoid delusions, hallucinations, insomnia, nose damage and aggressive behaviour. The high is also followed by a comedown which can result in depression and lethargy. The risk of overdose is high and can lead to death.
The signs: people who use cocaine regularly can become agitated, lethargic, aggressive and paranoid.
The help: in Australia there are a number of drug treatment options, including counselling, group therapy and withdrawal. Contact Narcotics Anonymous on 1300 652 820 or visit http://na.org.au/.
Heroin
The drug: heroin is one of a group of drugs known as opioids which slow down the central nervous system. It usually comes in fine white powder form and is most commonly injected into a vein, but it can be smoked or snorted.
The effect: the effect depends on the quantity taken, however users may experience intense pleasure, drowsiness, pain relief, confusion, a dry mouth, slurred speech and nausea.
The statistics: heroin use is much less common than it used to be, only 1.6 percent of people surveyed for the National Campaign Against Drug Abuse Household Surveys in 2001 admitted to using the drug.
The dangers: prolonged heroin use can result in constipation, infertility and depression. Since heroin is usually a mixture of all sorts of substances, such as caffeine and sugar, there is also the possibility of damage to the heart, lungs, liver and brain. However, the biggest danger is overdosing. Since heroin is injected directly into the vein, many people underestimate the strength or purity of the drug and accidentally overdose. There is also the risk of contracting a disease, such as hepatitis or HIV, from unhygienic syringes.
The signs: users will often become withdrawn, agitated, thin, drowsy and moody. In extreme cases they may have needle (track) marks on their arms, bags under their eyes and a yellowish tinge to their skin.
The help: the first step to recovery is for the person to admit they have a problem and the next is to get away from the 'playground' or environment that is driving them to use. It's never an easy task trying to convince someone they need help but the consequences could be worse if you don't. A number of drug treatment options are available in Australia. Visit www.druginfo.adf.org.au for more information.
Ecstasy
The drug: ecstasy is the street term for a range of drugs that are similar to amphetamines such as speed. They are stimulants that come in tablet form and in various colours. Swallowing is the most common method of taking ecstasy, however the tablets can also be crushed and snorted or even inserted into the anus.
The effect: the way people respond to the drug varies, however most experience an increase in confidence, a feeling of closeness to others, anxiety, jaw clenching, teeth grinding, loss of appetite and euphoria.
The statistics: "There's a huge amphetamine cycle in Australia at the moment," says Paul Dillon, Media Officer for the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre. "We don't know when the rage will stop but we're certainly at the height of it right now."
The dangers: there have been a number of deaths from ecstasy in Australia in the last few years. This is largely due to overdoses, heart attacks and overheating. Because ecstasy raises the body's temperature, people drink too much water and their brain swells from the excess fluid, causing an induced coma.
The signs: a person taking ecstasy regularly may find that they are not eating or sleeping properly. They will be tired, moody, cranky and lethargic.
The help: if someone has a bad turn after using ecstasy, alert the owner of the venue or take them straight to hospital. Try and cool them down by loosening clothing and splashing cold water on their face. Visit NDARC for more information.

brain on drugs

Heroin

Marijuana

Alcohol

Cocaine

Inhalants

Ecstasy

LSD

Steroids

Tobacco

Methamphetamine

Ritalin

Kamis, 27 Januari 2011

Drugs and their effects

Health > Family

More about Drugs:

Topics:

Drugs

Australia is a drug-using society. The most common drugs used are alcohol, coffee, nicotine and various medications. Less commonly used are illegal drugs such as cannabis (marijuana), ecstasy, heroin and amphetamines (speed). What is a drug?
A drug is any substance, solid, liquid or gas, that brings about physical and/or psychological changes. The drugs of most concern in the community are those that affect the central nervous system. They act on the brain and can change the way a person thinks, feels or behaves. These drugs are known as "psychoactive drugs".
How are drugs classified?
Drugs are commonly classified according to their legal status or their effects on the central nervous system.

Legal and illegal drugs
Laws and regulations control the availability, quality and price of the "legal" drugs. For example, tobacco may not be sold to persons under the age of 18.
Illegal drugs
Because they are illegal, there are no price or quality controls on the illicit drugs such as heroin and ecstasy. This means that a user can never be sure that the drug they are taking is in fact what they think it is; for example, PMA (paramethoxyamphetamine), a toxic form of amphetamine, has been sold as ecstasy. The user also cannot be sure of a drug's strength or purity. Various batches of an illegally manufactured drug may have different mixtures of the drug and additives such as poisons, caffeine or even talcum powder.

Effects on the central nervous system
There are three main types of drug affecting the central nervous system.
Depressants
Depressants are drugs that slow down the functions of the central nervous system. Depressant drugs do not necessarily make a person feel depressed. They include:

Alcohol ("booze", "grog")
Cannabis ("pot", "dope", "mull")
Barbiturates, including Seconal, Tuinal and Amytal
Benzodiazepines (tranquilisers), "benzos", "tranx" such as Rohypnol, Valium, Serepax, Mogadon, Normison and Eupynos
GHB (Gamma-hydroxybutrate), or "fantasy"
Opiates and opioids, including heroin ("H", "smack"), morphine, codeine, methadone and pethidine
Some solvents and inhalants

In small quantities, depressants can cause the user to feel more relaxed and less inhibited. In larger quantities they can cause unconsciousness, vomiting and even death. Depressants affect concentration and coordination. They slow down a person's ability to respond to unexpected situations.
Stimulants
Stimulants act on the central nervous system to speed up the messages to and from the brain. They can make the user feel more awake, alert or confident. Stimulants increase heart rate, body temperature and blood pressure. Other effects include reduced appetite, dilated pupils, talkativeness, agitation and sleep disturbance. Mild stimulants include:

Ephedrine used in medicines for bronchitis, hay fever and asthma
Caffeine in coffee, tea and cola drinks
Nicotine in tobacco.

Stronger stimulants include:

Amphetamines, including illegal amphetamines ("speed", "crystal meth", "ice", "shabu")
Cocaine ("coke", "crack")
Ecstasy ("E", "XTC", "eccy")
Slimming tablets such as Duromine, Tenuate Dospan and Ponderax.

Large quantities of stimulants can "over-stimulate" the user, causing anxiety, panic, seizures, headaches, stomach cramps, aggression and paranoia. Prolonged use of strong stimulants can mask some of the effects of depressant drugs, such as alcohol, making it difficult for a person to judge their effects.
Hallucinogens
Hallucinogens affect perception. People who have taken them may believe they see or hear things that aren't really there, or what they see may be distorted in some way. The effects of hallucinogens vary a great deal, so it is impossible to predict how they will affect a particular person at a particular time.
Hallucinogens include:

Datura
Ketamine ("K", "Special K")
LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide; "trips", "acid", "microdots")
Magic mushrooms (psilocybin; "gold tops", "mushies")
Mescaline (peyote cactus)
PCP ('angel dust')
Cannabis is an hallucinogen as well as a depressant. Ecstasy can also have hallucinogenic qualities.

Some effects of hallucinogens include dilation of pupils, loss of appetite, increased activity, talking or laughing, emotional and psychological euphoria and wellbeing, jaw clenching, sweating, panic, paranoia, loss of contact with reality, irrational or bizarre behaviour, stomach cramps and nausea.
How do drugs affect a person?
The effects of a drug depend on the type of drug and a range of personal and environmental factors. Some factors to consider include:

How much of the drug is taken and how often. Generally, the greater the quantity taken, the greater the effect. Overdose occurs when the amount taken exceeds the body's ability to cope with the drug.
How the drug is taken. Generally, drugs that are injected or inhaled act very quickly and the effects are more intense. Snorting through the nose is the next fastest-acting method, while the effects of drugs eaten or swallowed take longer to occur.
A person's physical characteristics, such as height, weight and gender also influence how a drug affects them.
The proportion of body fat, rate of metabolism and, for women, stage of the menstrual cycle can all influence the intensity and duration of drug effects.
The person's mood and environment also plays a role. How a person is feeling and the social setting can have a significant impact on drug effects. A person is more likely to enjoy the experience in a comfortable social atmosphere than in a threatening environment.
Tolerance to the drug. The first time a person uses a drug, they have a very low tolerance and are likely to feel the effects very strongly. The more often the drug is taken, generally the less intense the effects will be. This means that larger amounts are needed to obtain the desired effect.
Other drugs used (poly drug use). Combining drugs can increase or alter the effects, often in unpredictable ways.

What problems can drug use cause?
Regardless of the drug used, there are many problems related to drug use, such as:

Family or relationship problems
Problems at work or school
Accidents
Legal problems
Financial problems
Health problems
Sexual problems

Drugs and pregnancy
Most psychoactive drugs can cross the placenta and affect the unborn child. Heavy and sustained use of some drugs during pregnancy may cause miscarriage, foetal distress or a range of other complications.
Drugs and driving
Driving safety requires mental alertness, clear vision, physical coordination and the ability to react appropriately. Drug use can affect these driving abilities and increase the risk of having a crash. The risk of having an accident is nine times greater when alcohol and drugs are used together than when a driver is drug-free.
One of the most concerning measures of drug-related harm in the community is the death toll. Drug use is a factor in about one in five of all deaths in Australia. In 1998, 23,310 deaths were attributed to drug use:

19,020 associated with tobacco use
3270 related to alcohol use
1020 as a result of illicit drug use

Drug dependence
The greatest drug harms caused in our society come from the legal drugs, alcohol and tobacco.
Drug dependence can be physical or psychological, or both.There are degrees of dependency, from mild dependency to compulsive drug use (addiction). It is impossible to say how long a person must take a drug before they will become dependent.
Experimenting does not necessarily lead to regular or dependent drug use, and regular use does not necessarily lead to problems. However, there is no "safe" level of drug use. All drugs have the potential to cause harm, not just the illegal ones.

Drugs and their effects

More about Drugs:

Topics:

Drugs

Legal and illegal drugs
Laws and regulations control the availability, quality and price of the "legal" drugs. For example, tobacco may not be sold to persons under the age of 18.
Illegal drugs
Because they are illegal, there are no price or quality controls on the illicit drugs such as heroin and ecstasy. This means that a user can never be sure that the drug they are taking is in fact what they think it is; for example, PMA (paramethoxyamphetamine), a toxic form of amphetamine, has been sold as ecstasy. The user also cannot be sure of a drug's strength or purity. Various batches of an illegally manufactured drug may have different mixtures of the drug and additives such as poisons, caffeine or even talcum powder.

Alcohol ("booze", "grog")
Cannabis ("pot", "dope", "mull")
Barbiturates, including Seconal, Tuinal and Amytal
Benzodiazepines (tranquilisers), "benzos", "tranx" such as Rohypnol, Valium, Serepax, Mogadon, Normison and Eupynos
GHB (Gamma-hydroxybutrate), or "fantasy"
Opiates and opioids, including heroin ("H", "smack"), morphine, codeine, methadone and pethidine
Some solvents and inhalants

Ephedrine used in medicines for bronchitis, hay fever and asthma
Caffeine in coffee, tea and cola drinks
Nicotine in tobacco.

Stronger stimulants include:

Amphetamines, including illegal amphetamines ("speed", "crystal meth", "ice", "shabu")
Cocaine ("coke", "crack")
Ecstasy ("E", "XTC", "eccy")
Slimming tablets such as Duromine, Tenuate Dospan and Ponderax.

Datura
Ketamine ("K", "Special K")
LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide; "trips", "acid", "microdots")
Magic mushrooms (psilocybin; "gold tops", "mushies")
Mescaline (peyote cactus)
PCP ('angel dust')
Cannabis is an hallucinogen as well as a depressant. Ecstasy can also have hallucinogenic qualities.

How much of the drug is taken and how often. Generally, the greater the quantity taken, the greater the effect. Overdose occurs when the amount taken exceeds the body's ability to cope with the drug.
How the drug is taken. Generally, drugs that are injected or inhaled act very quickly and the effects are more intense. Snorting through the nose is the next fastest-acting method, while the effects of drugs eaten or swallowed take longer to occur.
A person's physical characteristics, such as height, weight and gender also influence how a drug affects them.
The proportion of body fat, rate of metabolism and, for women, stage of the menstrual cycle can all influence the intensity and duration of drug effects.
The person's mood and environment also plays a role. How a person is feeling and the social setting can have a significant impact on drug effects. A person is more likely to enjoy the experience in a comfortable social atmosphere than in a threatening environment.
Tolerance to the drug. The first time a person uses a drug, they have a very low tolerance and are likely to feel the effects very strongly. The more often the drug is taken, generally the less intense the effects will be. This means that larger amounts are needed to obtain the desired effect.
Other drugs used (poly drug use). Combining drugs can increase or alter the effects, often in unpredictable ways.

What problems can drug use cause?
Regardless of the drug used, there are many problems related to drug use, such as:

Family or relationship problems
Problems at work or school
Accidents
Legal problems
Financial problems
Health problems
Sexual problems

19,020 associated with tobacco use
3270 related to alcohol use
1020 as a result of illicit drug use

drugs effect

Drug abuse is a very common problem in most countries so it seemed like a good topic for a list. This is a list of ten of the most abused drugs and the effects they have on people.
1. Heroin

Heroin is an opiate processed directly from the extracts of the opium poppy. It was originally created to help cure people of addiction to morphine. Upon crossing the blood-brain barrier, which occurs soon after introduction of the drug into the bloodstream, heroin is converted into morphine, which mimics the action of endorphins, creating a sense of well-being; the characteristic euphoria has been described as an “orgasm” centered in the gut. One of the most common methods of heroin use is via intravenous injection.

For the last 4 months, my partner and I have been recreationally using heroin. H became our weekend ritual. Lighting candles, playing music, brie and wine and grapes, reading tarot and finally fucking… for hours on end, the most intense beautiful technicolor sex. Each time we did it we got closer to each other. And each time we did it, we wanted to do it again, and again. We tried saying we’d only do it once every two weeks, but that lasted 6 days. We have rules about how much we do in one night, how late we stay up and so on. So far the rules have kept us safe from addiction. Unless you consider the nagging i-don’t-wanna-go-a-weekend-or-have-sex-without-it feelings. We’ve never run out, although, once we were down to our last little bit and I left the vial open on the night stand. I was reaching for the lube when I heard the most sickening sound, the vial falling over. Turns out, I was mistaken, I had remembered to put the cap back on. But in those few seconds of uncertainty, my girl and I shot each other a look we had never seen before.. Fear.

2. Cocaine

Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. It is both a stimulant of the central nervous system and an appetite suppressant, giving rise to what has been described as a euphoric sense of happiness and increased energy. It is most often used recreationally for this effect. Cocaine is a potent central nervous system stimulant. Its effects can last from 20 minutes to several hours, depending upon the dosage of cocaine taken, purity, and method of administration. The initial signs of stimulation are hyperactivity, restlessness, increased blood pressure, increased heart rate and euphoria. The euphoria is sometimes followed by feelings of discomfort and depression and a craving to experience the drug again. Sexual interest and pleasure can be amplified. Side effects can include twitching, paranoia, and impotence, which usually increases with frequent usage.

The cocaine arrived and we agreed to use it at a time that translated to three and a half hours after I arrived. It cost $60 for what I was told was an eighth of a gram. This seemed rather expensive, but I was assured that it was ‘high quality product.’ I took the line up my left nostril. After about ninety seconds, I felt my heartbeat increase. It was definitely kicking in. I began to worry a bit, as I could feel my heart pounding and my pulse increasing. I finally felt as if it had reached a plateau. My heartbeat became level, albeit still very high. Many people say that one feels euphoria – being invincible and/or the desire to clean the house. I did not feel either of these (and I did remember to think about these things). For me, the positive effects of cocaine came directly from knowing that I had reached a plateau and I was going to be fine. I felt invigorated, yet also very comfortable.

One of the best treatment for drug addiction is to consult with cocaine rehab centers for recovery.
3. Methamphetamine

Methamphetamime, popularly shortened to meth or ice, is a psychostimulant and sympathomimetic drug. Methamphetamine enters the brain and triggers a cascading release of norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin. Since it stimulates the mesolimbic reward pathway, causing euphoria and excitement, it is prone to abuse and addiction. Users may become obsessed or perform repetitive tasks such as cleaning, hand-washing, or assembling and disassembling objects. Withdrawal is characterized by excessive sleeping, eating and depression-like symptoms, often accompanied by anxiety and drug-craving.

We first smoked meth on New Year’s Eve because we heard it was great for sex. I had to work the next day and so saved some to smoke before work in the morning. When I got home another g was waiting for me and I smoked every day but one until I finally quit three months later. For three weeks we smoked meth with little consequence, then my skin became fragile and in addition to breaking out, started to swell. I was really worried because I was constantly thirsty and drinking water, but I rarely urinated. Then my kidneys started hurting. I had lost twenty pounds in two months and my husband had lost thirty, and we’d read somewhere that rapid weight loss can cause kidney failure. I slept every three or four days for an hour or so and woke feeling rested. I was an hour late for work everyday. My husband wrecked the truck three times. One day I forgot to feed my son. Everything was either the highest of highs or the lowest of lows, no in between existed anymore. We were banned from the sauna at our apartment complex because no one else could use it. Our sweat smelled so strongly of ammonia it burned the eyes, it was caustic, and it burned our skin too. My husband and I haven’t done any drugs at all for four weeks, and things are slowly going back to normal. But I still want it. I can’t sleep tonight because I want it. I wrote this in all honesty mostly to help myself, to remind myself why I don’t want it. And still I want it.

4. Crack Cocaine

Crack cocaine, often nicknamed “crack”, is believed to have been created and made popular during the early 1980s . Because of the dangers for manufacturers of using ether to produce pure freebase cocaine, producers began to omit the step of removing the freebase precipitate from the ammonia mixture. Typically, filtration processes are also omitted. Baking soda is now most often used as a base rather than ammonia for reasons of lowered odor and toxicity; however, any weak base can be used to make crack cocaine. When commonly “cooked” the ratio is 1:1 to 2:3 parts cocaine/bicarbonate.

As I held the smoke in for a ten count and exhaled, I thought I felt nothing except a little excitement that was neither bad nor pleasurable. The complete rush some writers have called a ‘whole-body orgasm’ hit me shortly after and I distinctly remember demanding ‘more’ as soon as the realization of heaven-on-earth came. Some people say that the effects of smoking crack lasts 10-15 minutes. For me, it was just a shortest instant of gratification. Everything afterwards was just a great increase in energy and confidence geared towards obtaining more of the drug.

5. LSD

Lysergic acid diethylamide, LSD, LSD-25, or acid, is a semisynthetic psychedelic drug of the tryptamine family. Arguably the most regarded of all psychedelics, it is considered mainly as a recreational drug, an entheogen, and a tool in use to supplement various types of exercises for transcendence including in meditation, psychonautics, and illegal psychedelic psychotherapy whether self administered or not. LSD’s psychological effects (colloquially called a “trip”) vary greatly from person to person, depending on factors such as previous experiences, state of mind and environment, as well as dose strength. They also vary from one trip to another, and even as time passes during a single trip. An LSD trip can have long term psychoemotional effects; some users cite the LSD experience as causing significant changes in their personality and life perspective. Widely different effects emerge based on what Leary called set and setting; the “set” being the general mindset of the user, and the “setting” being the physical and social environment in which the drug’s effects are experienced.

About ten years ago I bought my third trip from a guy in my home town Norwich (UK) It was a ‘Strawberry’ and I was told it had been double dipped. The guy had a reputation for selling good acid so I happily gave him my cash. I took the single LSD tab in the late morning in a positive state of mind with no worries or anxieties. I began to come up on the acid towards the lunch time. It was to be the first and last time I’d ever trip alone. Outside it was a glorious sunny day but I was happy enough in my temporary sanctuary to even think about going outside. The LSD rush started blazing up my spine and racing through my guts, I felt a little uneasy with it but had enough mind to allow myself to just go with it and wait until the rush plateaued. I was having a wonderful time, watching floral Escher type patterns breathing over my skin. I vaguely recall deciding to go downstairs again for some reason then the next thing I recall was awakening on the floor of the dining room alone. The first thing I noticed was that there were blowflies buzzing around a bowl of catfood on the kitchen floor. I remember feeling perplexed as to why both flies had two bright neon after images in red and blue. Somehow I navigated myself through Norwich during the busy lunchtime shoppers and begun to head in the direction of the city’s central park ‘Chapelfield gardens’. If you could imagine for a moment being surrounded by people in a busy place where their heads had been removed and replaced by Squids and Octopus you might begin to accurately picture the scene confronting me in the park. Everyone had tentacles smothering their faces and dangling down their necks like fleshy snake beards, even the women and children were not exempt from this disfiguration. In retrospect, it was the worst day of my entire life, It was the closest I can imagine to having full blown psychosis.

6. Ecstasy

Ecstasy (MDMA) is a semisynthetic psychedelic entactogen of the phenethylamine family that is much less visual with more stimulant like effects than most all other common “trip” producing psychedelics. It is considered mainly a recreational drug that’s often used with sex and associated with club drugs, as an entheogen, and a tool in use to supplement various types of practices for transcendence including in meditation, psychonautics, and illicit psychedelic psychotherapy whether self administered or not. The primary effects of MDMA include an increased awareness of the senses, feelings of openness, euphoria, empathy, love,happiness, heightened self-awareness, feeling of mental clarity and an increased appreciation of music and movement. Tactile sensations are enhanced for some users, making physical contact with others more pleasurable. Other side effects, such as jaw clenching and elevated pulse, are common.

Sitting comfortably in our cosy living room, Café del Mar and similar CDs playing in the background, we began at 8 pm. I swallowed one white tablet with water. Over the next hour nothing much happened except that I found myself talking quite openly and confidently with the others, moving very easily into interesting conversations. This was a little unusual for me as I am normally quite shy and overly self-conscious in social situations and it takes me a while to loosen up. The next thing I experienced was a striking shift in my visual perception. I don’t mean a hallucination or a distortion, but a wonderful step up in the aesthetic quality. For a moment it was like being in one of those nostalgic TV ads where the world looks all gold and sepia. ‘Everything’s gone amber!’ I blurted. But then I found that my vision was becoming beautifully enhanced. It made my normal visual experience seem like cheap, fuzzy CCTV footage in comparison. Now I was seeing the world anew in sharp, lush, top-quality Technicolor! I also began to move in time to the music. The music! Oh, the music! Wow! It sounded so good, so organic! The uplifted state stayed with me and took a long time to fade — at least a couple of weeks. It had unleashed in me a rush of joy that was still accessible when I focused on it weeks later.

7. Opium

Opium is a resinous narcotic formed from the latex released by lacerating (or “scoring”) the immature seed pods of opium poppies (Papaver somniferum). It contains up to 16% morphine, an opiate alkaloid, which is most frequently processed chemically to produce heroin for the illegal drug trade. Opium has gradually been superseded by a variety of purified, semi-synthetic, and synthetic opioids with progressively stronger effect, and by other general anesthesia. This process began in 1817, when Friedrich Wilhelm Adam Sertürner reported the isolation of pure morphine from opium after at least thirteen years of research and a nearly disastrous trial on himself and three boys.

I remember that what I smoked was much easier to smoke than marijuana. There was no burning in my throat nor in my lungs. I took a very large, smooth hit. Smoking it like marijuana, I held it in for about 10 or 15 seconds and let it out. It didn’t taste like marijuana, I remember the taste being rather faint. It actually tasted and smelled like incense. I was very surprised to suddenly find myself on the floor, in the dark, with a crowd of people surrounding me. Apparently I had fainted and fallen to the ground, but I hadn’t noticed. The high itself is rather hard to describe. It was much more intense than marijuana. It felt heavy, like my whole body was being impacted… but it also felt very clear and refined at the same time. As I made my way towards the bathroom the drug began to kick in again. My steps kind of faded away and it felt like I was just floating over to the bathroom. The scary thing was though, that I was having trouble seeing. My vision was fading. Distinct figures melted into shadows and everything had a sparkle to it. All of a sudden, everything felt really good. I couldn’t stop smiling. Everything was profound in a very positive way, especially the music since it resonated everywhere. It was a very abstruse experience. I imagine that I was coming down at this point, an hour had surely past by because the band was building a climax to end their first set. I went along with the crowd and made my way outside. The fresh air was wonderful. The cool air seemed to wrap around my body. A slight breeze on the back of my neck sent chills that rapidly multiplied throughout my body.

8. Marijuana

Cannabis, known as marijuana in its herbal form, is a psychoactive product of the plant Cannabis sativa. Humans have been consuming cannabis since prehistory, although in the 20th century there was a rise in its use for recreational, religious or spiritual, and medicinal purposes. It is estimated that about four percent of the world’s adult population use cannabis annually. It has psychoactive and physiological effects when consumed, usually by smoking or ingestion. The minimum amount of THC required to have a perceptible psychoactive effect is about 10 micrograms per kilogram of body weight. The state of intoxication due to cannabis consumption is colloquially known as a “high”; it is the state where mental and physical facilities are noticeably altered due to the consumption of cannabis. Each user experiences a different high, and the nature of it may vary upon factors such as potency, dose, chemical composition, method of consumption and set and setting.

After taking that first hit, and not feeling the effects within a minute (holding it in for a minute, and then waiting a little bit after exhaling) I decided, well I better hit this again, harder if I can. I took just as large of a hit, and again held it in for longer than a minute. I let my brother know I was really starting to feel something now and I don’t think I liked it all. It snuck up on me really bad, and I still had no idea what to expect. I wanted him to be quiet. Laying down was not helping, so I got back up. I went back to the garage and tried to explain to everyone ‘I am totally fucked up. This is scary!’ I was rationalizing everything tremendously, but it was SO intense! And it was only getting more intense faster! I didn’t know what to expect, I was sinking within myself, accelerating downward like into the depths of my own oblivion. I was a novice, I had no idea what to expect, and the world had become out of synch, the talking of my brothers, his friend, all ridiculous and extremely annoying. I became amazingly irritable and wanted them to leave me alone or not talk in my presence. They did not understand or appreciate my fear, and they began to get loud again. I ran upstairs to my parents bed and laid down with some wistful hope that I could wait out this storm.

9. Psilocybin Mushrooms

Psilocybin mushrooms (also called psilocybian mushrooms) are fungi that contain the psychedelic substances psilocybin and psilocin, and occasionally other psychoactive tryptamines. There are multiple colloquial terms for psilocybin mushrooms, the most common being magic mushrooms or ‘shrooms. When psilocybin is ingested, it is broken down to produce psilocin, which is responsible for the hallucinogenic effects. The intoxicating effects of psilocybin-containing mushrooms typically last anywhere from 3 to 7 hours depending on dosage, preparation method and personal metabolism. The experience is typically inwardly oriented, with strong visual and auditory components. Visions and revelations may be experienced, and the effect can range from exhilarating to distressing. There can be also a total absence of effects, even with large doses.

I had acquired about 8 grams of dried mushrooms and some liquid psilocybin equivalent to another 5 grams of powdered mushrooms. I swallowed the liquid first, on an empty stomach of course. I could feel a slight sensation after about 10-15 minutes. Then I added the powder to some water in a mug and swallowed that also. I then sat by the camp fire, listening to the wind in the trees while I contemplated what was about to happen. After about 45-50 minutes I heard a ‘voice’ calling to me. It wasn’t audible in the normal sense – it came from inside my own mind! Then I was gone – out of this world. I escaped into what I perceived to be the outer boundaries of my mind or my imagination. This placed presented itself as a natural forest with low light. Here I met the owner of the aforementioned voice – the Mushroom Goddess. She took the form of a white, strapless, ankle-length dress, standing side-on from me. For about the next two hours I dialoged with her, becoming totally bewitched by her charm, her wit, her intelligence, her knowledge, her unconditional affection for me and her seemingly infinite perspective. I have come to think of her as my other-worldly girlfriend.

10. PCP

PCP (Phencyclidine) is a dissociative drug formerly used as an anesthetic agent, exhibiting hallucinogenic and neurotoxic effects. It is commonly known as Angel Dust, but is also known as Wet, Sherm, Sherman Hemsley, Rocket Fuel, Ashy Larry, Shermans Tank, Wack, Halk Hogan, Ozone, HannaH, Hog, Manitoba Shlimbo, and Embalming Fluid, among other names. Although the primary psychoactive effects of the drug only last hours, total elimination from the body is prolonged, typically extending over weeks. PCP is consumed in a recreational manner by drug users, mainly in the United States, where the demand is met by illegal production. It comes in both powder and liquid forms (PCP base dissolved most often in ether), but typically it is sprayed onto leafy material such as marijuana, mint, oregano, parsley or Ginger Leaves, and smoked. PCP has potent effects on the nervous system altering perceptual functions (hallucinations, delusional ideas, delirium or confused thinking), motor functions (unsteady gait, loss of coordination, and disrupted eye movement or nystagmus), and autonomic nervous system regulation (rapid heart rate, altered temperature regulation). The drug has been known to alter mood states in an unpredictable fashion causing some individuals to become detached and others to become animated.

When I was taking the drug, I used very small amounts. The effect was incredibly pleasant and social, so much so that me and my friends all used it instead of booze for almost a year. I couldn’t dance for shit on the stuff (I’d get stumbly and actually fell on my ass on the dancefloor once) but the physical sensations and mental pictures were really fun. It is quite different from any psychedelic visuals or even Ketamine visuals…more like rolling through old film footage. To be honest, I liked it more than my experiences on Ketamine. PCP can make one nearly impervious to pain at high doses. Because of this, PCP can make things seem like a good idea that otherwise wouldn’t (leading to the stories of people leaping out of windows, etc.) I experienced very confusing physical reality when really high on it, like being unable to discern the difference between walking up stairs and down them, or standing still and walking. This could lead to very unusual behaviour.

Sources: Wikipedia. All experiences are quoted from Erowid.

Rabu, 27 Juli 2011

Heroin

Marijuana

Alcohol

Cocaine

Inhalants

Ecstasy

LSD

Steroids

Tobacco

Methamphetamine

Ritalin

Senin, 27 Juni 2011

Minggu, 06 Maret 2011

Selasa, 01 Maret 2011

Minggu, 27 Februari 2011

Heroin

Marijuana

Alcohol

Cocaine

Inhalants

Ecstasy

LSD

Steroids

Tobacco

Methamphetamine

Ritalin

Kamis, 27 Januari 2011

Features VIdeo

Check Out BiLL

Other Video

Back Link

Pengikut

Recent Posts

Feedjit