Drug info for test

NARCOTICS - sleep inducers - narcotize, narcolepsy - These are the physical effects, not neccesarily the legal classification. Cocaine is classified as a narcotic legally, but is a stimulant.

OPIATES - - all derived from the opium poppy plant. Opium is the juice in a pure form.

came from China - in 1880 first opium dens in U.S.

Morphine - active ingredient in opium. pain killer, anesthesia in surgery.

Codeine - derived from morphine - less powerful. Excellent cough suppressant. Used with Tylenol also as a good pain killer.

Heroin - derived from morphine - the stuff that gets you high. Extremely addictive.Synthetic heroin causes Parkinson’s Syndrome.

Methadone - a synthetic derivative - chemically different from the real opiates, yet effects are similar. Designed to wean people off heroin - Methadone is mixed in liquid and drunk. Lowers the withdrawal symptoms of heroin detox.

Changes the receptor sites’ need for the opiate, however people get just as addicted to methadone and then require detox from that.

All opiates are physically addictive - withdrawal symptoms are severe, yet not deadly. Takes about 2 weeks. Psychological dependence takes longer to get over. An overdose of any of these will lead to coma and suppression of breathing

DEPRESSANTS: - DOWNERS - most of these are pharmaceuticals.

Slow central nervous system functioning. - sedatives for anxiety; hypnotics for sleep problems; pain killers for muscle spasms and well, pain!; tranquilizers for lots of things.

Sleeping pills - Nytol, Sominex, Halcion, rufinol, Ambien

Sedative- hypnotics - barbiturates, phenobarbitol

Tranquilizers - valium, librium, anti-anxiety drugs - calmer downers.

Alcohol use intensifies these drugs. - O.D. is common. - lapse into coma and die.

20% of all drug related deaths are due to depressant use.

Withdrawal is very dangerous - seizures, hallucinations,insomnia, heart racing and death. Effects of withdrawal intensify after a week.

Caffeine - coffee, tea, nodoze, diet pills, non-drowsy cold meds.

Amphetamines - speed - benzedrine, dexedrine, methadrine.

Ritalin - an ADHD drug that when crushed and snorted produces a high similar to Cocaine.

Very physically addictive - withdrawal symptoms - Depression, confusion, headache, crash basically. Sometimes use downers to soften the crash - takes 3 days to physically wean from uppers - Emotional dependency takes longer.

OLDEST KNOWN (DOCUMENTED HISTORICALLY) DRUGS - USAGE DATES BACK TO 1500 B.C. - ORGANIC COMPOUNDS USED FOR RELIGIOUS, SOCIAL AND MEDICAL PRACTICES. DESIGNED TO CHANGE PERCEPTION AND MOOD.

Lysergic Acid Diethylamide - synthesized from a fungus (ergot) that grew on rye grain. Albert Hoffman did this in 1938.

Effects - put senses in a blender and press puree. Psychotic episodes. Can be very enlightening or very dangerous and scary.

LSD is not physically addictive - some emotional dependence.

LSD never gets processed - can have flash backs months later.

Angel Dust - used to be a vet anesthetic - is usually smoked with tobacco or pot.

Can either act as a stimulant, depressant or hallucinogen.

Can paralyze, get you psychotic ( schizoid) put you in a coma, etc.

Native Americans from US and Mexico ate the cactus pulp and had visual distortions and religious experiences.

Mescaline is the active ingredient - Synthesized and taken for the same effects without the stomach illness.

Locoweed - Wild plant that grows all over. Flowers are dried and put in tea - Very toxic drug.

Mushrooms - eaten, cooked in tea. Mild perceptual distortions - 6-8 hours long.

The name comes from the fact that these drugs are “designed” in underground labs and are combinations of other drugs. The resulting compound is “Designed” to be one step ahead of the law. “Analog” means similar chemical compound.

Ecstasy - MDMA - A combination of a diet pill (speed) and hallucinogen. The love drug.

Designer opiates - synthetic heroin, etc. - These drugs are used at “rave” dances. - Problems with decision making skills and sex activities result.

Use goes way back - Plant has been around for a while!

Active ingredient - THC - tetrahydrocannabinol - the stuff that gets you high and is fat soluble - stays in your system a while.

pot has over 250 chemicals in it and lots of tar - more than cigarettes.

Users feel a sense of happiness - euphoria, a high - get the giggles, munchies, etc.

Some toxic use means increased heart rate and blood pressure and mild psychosis - paranoia sensation.

Other bad side effects - lung damage, short term memory problems, anti-motivational syndrome ( don’t really care about achieving goals - very apathetic), fertility problems.

Medical uses - good for AIDS and cancer patients with no appetite, relieves pressure in some glaucoma patient’s eyes, some muscular pain relief for MS sufferers.

Made from the coca plant which grows in south and central America. First isolated from the plant in 1859 - thought of as a wonder drug - then addiction issues arose and was outlawed world wide in 1905.

Powerful stimulant - snorted, smoked, injected to give a user an intense rush that lasts about 20 minutes per dose.

Very addictive - Extreme highs and very bad lows - users seek the high and then try to avoid the crash by doing more.

An overdose can cause these things but so can snorting one line.