Drug Use and Abuse

Drug Use and Abuse Bill Cosby – The Best Part About Drugs

There are many drugs out there, and because many of these drugs are new, little research has been done about the effects of taking them. • It is known that many of the drugs are being manufactured in home labs with no quality control standards. This means at the very least, dose levels may vary from tablet to tablet, and additional harmful ingredients may be added. • Taking drugs can be dangerous not only because of the physical impact they can have on your body, but they can also limit your ability to set limits, be aware of your environment, and realize when you are in danger.

Club and Date Rape Drugs • GHB • Rohypnol ("Roofies") • Ecstasy • Ketamine

Despite their popularity, club drugs are dangerous and can lead to death. However, if you choose to use these drugs, do it safely and follow these precautions: • Never accept drugs from someone you don't know. • Always know what and how much you are taking. • Do not mix club drugs with other substances such as alcohol. • Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration

Alcohol is the drug most commonly associated with sexual assault, but incidents involving other drugs are on the rise. These drugs, also called "club drugs" because of their popularity in dance clubs and bars, can be unknowingly given to a victim, incapacitating the victim and preventing him or her from resisting a sexual assault or other crime. • These drugs can also produce amnesia, causing a victim to be unclear of what, if any, crime was committed. "Date rape drugs" are particularly dangerous when combined with alcohol. And, as with any coerced sexual activity, victims of drug-facilitated sexual assault cannot protect themselves from HIV, other sexually transmitted diseases, or unintended pregnancy.

How To Protect Yourself • Drink from tamper-proof bottles and cans and insist on opening them. • Insist on pouring or watching while any drink is mixed or prepared. • Do not drink from group drinks such as punch bowls. • Keep an eye on your drink or open soda can. Do not trust someone to watch it for you.

If you think you've been drugged, do not be afraid to seek medical attention. • If someone passes out and you suspect he or she may have been given drugs, call for medical attention immediately and explain your concerns.

Stimulants • Amphetamines • Caffeine • Cocaine • Diet Pills (Anorectic Drugs) • Methamphetamines

An Unnatural High • Stimulants are sometimes referred to as "uppers" and can make you feel less tired both physically and mentally. Two commonly used stimulants are nicotine, found in tobacco products, and caffeine, an active ingredient in coffee, tea, some soft drinks and many non-prescription medicines. • Used in moderation, these substances tend to relieve malaise and increase alertness. Although the use of these products has been an accepted part of our culture, the recognition of their adverse effects has resulted in a rise of caffeine-free products and efforts to discourage cigarette smoking.

Some stimulants can be obtained through legitimate channels; others are manufactured for the illegal market. They are taken orally, sniffed, smoked and injected. Smoking, snorting or injecting stimulants produces a sudden sensation known as a "rush" or a "flash." • Abuse is often associated with a pattern of binge use; that is, consuming large doses of stimulants. Heavy users may inject themselves every few hours, continuing until they have used up their drug supply or reached a point of delirium, psychosis and physical exhaustion.

During this period of heavy use, all other interests become less important than getting "high". Tolerance can develop rapidly, and you can become physically and mentally addicted and dependent upon the drug. Stopping abruptly, even after a weekend binge, is commonly followed by depression, anxiety, drug craving and extreme fatigue ("crash"). • Therapeutic levels of stimulants can produce exhilaration (a rush), extended wakefulness and loss of appetite. These effects are greatly intensified when large doses of stimulants are taken.

Physical side effects include dizziness, tremor, headache, flushed skin, chest pains with palpitations, excessive sweating, vomiting and abdominal cramps. These effects may occur as a result of taking too large a dose at one time or taking large doses over an extended period of time. • Psychological effects include agitation, hostility, panic, aggression, and suicidal or homicidal tendencies. Paranoia, sometimes accompanied by both auditory and visual hallucinations, may also occur.

In overdose, unless there is medical intervention, high fever, convulsions and cardiovascular collapse may precede death. Because accidental death is partially due to the effects of stimulants on the body's cardiovascular and temperature-regulating systems, physical activities and excessive exercise increase the hazards of stimulant use.

I’m OK

Depressants • Barbiturates • Benzodiazepines • Alcohol

For centuries, people of almost every culture have used chemical agents to induce sleep, relieve stress, and calm anxiety. While alcohol is one of the oldest and most universal agents used for these purposes, hundreds of substances have been developed that produce central nervous system depression. • These drugs have been referred to as downers, sedatives, hypnotics, minor tranquilizers, anxiolytics, and anti-anxiety medications. Unlike many classes of drugs, depressants are rarely produced in illegal warehouses, but in pharmaceutical laboratories. While these drugs are made for legitimate medical needs of patients, they are often abused with dangerous results.

Hallucinogens • Psilocybin ("Shrooms") • DMT • LSD • Peyote and Mescaline • PCP

Hallucinogens are among the oldest known drugs that have been used for their ability to alter human perception and mood. For centuries, many of the naturally occurring hallucinogens found in plants and fungi have been used for medical, social and religious practices.

Physical Effects • The biochemical, pharmacological and physiological bases for hallucinogenic activity are not well understood. Even the name for this class of drugs is not ideal, because hallucinogens do not always produce hallucinations.

However, taken in non-toxic dosages, these substances produce changes in perception, thought and mood. • Physiological effects include elevated heart rate, increased blood pressure and dilated pupils. • Sensory effects include perceptual distortions that vary with dose, setting and mood. • Psychic effects include disorders of thought associated with time and space. Time may appear to stand still, and forms and colors seem to change and take on new meaning.

This experience can be pleasurable for some and extremely frightening for others. It needs to be stressed that the effects of hallucinogens are unpredictable each time they are used. • Weeks or even months after some hallucinogens have been taken; the user may experience flashbacks of certain aspects of the drug experience without actually taking the drug. • The occurrence of a flashback is unpredictable, but is more likely to occur during times of stress and seems to occur more frequently in younger individuals. With time, these experiences happen less often and become less intense.

Narcotics • Codeine • Heroin • Opium • Morphine

The term "narcotic" was developed from the Greek word for stupor and refers to the drug opium, and its man-made substitutes.

Physical Effects • The effects of the drug depend heavily on the dose, how it is taken, if it has been taken before, and the expectation of the user. However, in general, the drug produces a sense of well-being by reducing tension, anxiety and aggression. • A common physical side effect of narcotics includes addiction, which can lead to taking deadly doses of the drug.

Drug Use and Abuse