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Psychoactive Substances | Substance Abuse | Drug Abuse - Common Substances of Abuse


Common Substances of Abuse

1. Alcohol - Alcohol is a depressant drug, produced by the fermentation of fruits, vegetables orgrains, that helps to lessen inhibitions and to relax.

Drugs:Common Street NamesEffects:Complication on Health:
Alcohol.Booze

Liquor

  • Spirits
    • Whisky
    • Brandy
    • Rum
    • Vodka
    • Gin.

Beer

Cider

Wine

Fenny

Arrack

Kallu

Toddy

  • General-
  • Brief period of Excitation
  • CNS depression
  • Increased-
    • a. Reaction time
    • b. Distractibility
  • Slowed/Reduced-
    • a. Thinking
    • b. Motor control
  • Dysarthria.(slurred speech)
  • Ataxia(unbalanced gait)
  • In-coordination
  • Loss of self-control
  • Disinhibited behavior
  • Amnesia
  • Blackouts
  • General-
  • Mild tremors
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Weakness
  • Irritability
  • Insomnia
  • Anxiety
  • Withdrawal Syndrome-
    • a. Delirium, tremens
    • b. Alcoholic seizures(Rum fits)
    • c. Hallucinosis
  • Neuropsychiatric Complications
  • Alcoholic dementia
  • Cerebellar degeneration
  • Peripheral Neuropathy

2. 'Marijuana' - which is a mixture of the dried and shredded leaves, stems, seeds, and flowers of the hemp plant, Cannabis sativa, is the most commonly abused illicit drug.

Drugs:

Common Street Names

Effects:

Complication on Health:

'Marijuana', or 'Marihuana'Pot

Weed

Grass

Ganja

Skunk

Hashish/Charas

Hash oil

Bhang

Herb

Reefer

Boom

Gangster

General-

Mild impairment

  • Consciousness
  • Orientation

Feelings of-

  • Light-headedness
  • Sense of floating in air

Tachycardia (increased heart rate)

Alteration (Increase or decrease) in psychomotor activities

Tremors

Lacrimation(crying)

Reddening of Conjunctiva

Dry mouth

Increased appetite

General-

No serious adverse complications yet associated

Respiratory tract irritant

  • Carcinogenic

Psychiatric disorders

  • Anxiety
  • Psychosis

Toxic confusional states

Hysteria

A motivational syndrome

Lethargy

Apathy

Loss of

  • Interest
  • Ambition

Anergia

3. Narcotics

Drugs:

Common Street Names

Effects:

Complication on Health

Heroin

Opium

Morphine

Pethidine

Methadone

Diacetyl-morphine

Brown sugar

Dope

Horse

Junk

Skag

Skunk

Smack

White horse

General-
  • Pain relief
  • Euphoria
  • Drowsiness
  • Unsteady gait
  • Constricted pupils

General-
  • Nausea
  • Constipation
  • Confusion
  • Sedation
  • Respiratory depression & arrest
  • Unconsciousness
  • Coma
  • Death

4. Stimulants / Uppers - Stimulants, also known as Uppers or Speed, are a group ofdrugs that bring about feelings of increased alertness and physical activity, making the user seemingly less tired, mentally and physically

Drugs:

Common Street Names

Effects:

Complication on Health

Crack

Coke

Blow

Bump

Candy

Charlie

Rock

Snow

Toot

General-

Increased-

  • Heart rate
  • Blood pressure
  • Temperature
  • Metabolism
  • Mental alertness
Feelings of-
  • Exhilaration
  • Energy

General-
  • Rapid or irregular heart beat
  • Reduced appetite
  • Weight loss
  • Heart failure
  • Nervousness
  • Insomnia
  • Chest pain
  • Respiratory failure
  • Nausea
  • Abdominal pain
  • Strokes
  • Seizures
  • Headaches
  • Malnutrition
  • Panic attacks
Amphetamines

Biphetamine

Dexedrine.

Bennies

Black--beauties

Crosses.

Hearts.

Speed.Truck drivers.

Uppers

In addition to the above: Users of amphetamines also exhibit-Feelings of-

  • Aggression.
  • Violence

Psychotic behavior

In addition to the above: Other complications with Amphetamines users-

  • Tremor
  • Loss of coordination
  • Irritability
  • Anxiousness
  • Restlessness
  • Delirium
  • Paranoia
  • Impulsive behavior
  • Aggressive behavior
  • Psychosis.
Methamphetaine

Desoxyn

Chalk

Crank

Crystal

Fire

Glass

Go fast

Ice

Meth

Above-mentioned general effectsIn addition to the general complications-Other complications with Methamphetaine users-
  • Memory loss
  • Impaired memory & learning
  • Cardiac damage Neurological damage
MDMA (Club drugs)

Ecstasy

Adam

Eve

Clarity

Lover's speed

Peace

STP

X

XTC

In addition to the general effects-Users of MDMA also exhibit-

Increased-

  • Tactile sensitivity
  • Sensations of newly
  • discovered insights
  • Perceptions

Feelings of-

  • Mild hallucinogenic effects
  • Empathic feelings

Positive mood states associated with-

  • Euphoria
  • Sociability
  • Intimacy

In addition to the general complications-Other complications with MDMA users are-

  • Impaired memory & learning
  • Hypothermia
  • Loss of appetite
  • Tachycardia
  • Bruxism(grinding of teeth)
  • Sweating
  • Cardiac toxicity
  • Renal failure
  • Liver toxicity
  • Paranoid psychoses

5. Depressants / Downers - Depressants are substances thatsoothe the excitable nervous system by calming the nerves and relaxing the muscles.

Drugs:

Common Street Names

Effects:

Complication on Health:

Benzodiazepanes

Xanax

Downers

Sleeping pills

Tranquillizers

Ativan

Halcion

Librium

Valium

Candy

Tranks

General-

Reduced-

  • Anxiety
  • Inhibitions
  • Pulse
  • Blood pressure
  • Breathing
  • Concentration levels

Feeling of-

  • Well-being
  • Sedation
  • Drowsiness
General-
  • Fatigue
  • Confusion
  • Impaired
    • a. Coordination
    • b. Memory
    • c. Judgment
  • Sedation
  • Drowsiness
  • Dizziness
  • Respiratory depression, arrest, & death.
BarbituratesAmytal

Nembutal

Seconal

Phenobarbital

Barbs

Reds

Red birds

Phennies

Tooies

Yellows

Yellow jackets.

Above-mentioned general effects.Other complications with Barbiturate users are-
  • Depression
  • Unusual excitement
  • Fever
  • Irritability
  • Slurred speech
  • Dizziness.

Life-threatening

withdrawal symptoms.

6. Hallucinogens / Acids - Hallucinogens are drugs that affect a person's sense of perception, sensation, thinking, self-awareness, and emotions. These drugs are obtained either naturally, or like LSD, from synthetic sources.

Drugs:

Common Street Names

Effects:

Complication on Health:

LSD(Lysergic acid diethyl-amide)

Psychedelics

Acid

Blotter

Boomers

Cubes

Microdot

Yellow sunshine

General-

Altered states of-

  • Perception
  • Feeling
  • Distortion of body image

Nausea

Dilated pupils

Increased-Body temperature. Heart rate.

Blood pressure

Loss of appetite

Sleeplessness

Numbness

Weakness

Tremors

Persistent mental disorders-

  • Panic attacks
  • Fear of Insanity
  • Distress
  • Acute anexity
General-
  • Flashbacks. (Persisting perception disorder)
  • Schizophrenia

7. Steroids - Steroids are man-made substances that are related to male sex hormones. They are useful for muscle building (Anabolic) and to increase masculine (androgenic) characteristics . Athletes aspiring to enhance their performances and individuals wishing to improve their physical appearances generally abuse steroids.

Drugs:

Common Street Names

Effects:

Complication on Health:

Anabolic steroidsAnadrol

Oxandrin

Durabolin

Depo-testosterone

Equipoise

Roids

Juice

No intoxication effects

Hypertension

Blood clotting and cholesterol changes

Liver cysts

Cancer of kidneys

Hostility and aggression

Acne

In adolescents-

  • Premature stoppage of growth

Males-

  • Prostate cancer
  • Reduced sperm production
  • Shrunken testicles
  • Breast enlargement

Females-

  • Menstrual irregularities
  • Development of beard and other masculine characteristics.

8. Volatile solvents / Inhalants - These are a wide range of chemical substances like petrol, spray paints, glues, laughing gas, which give off vapors or gas at room temperature, that can produce an intoxicating effect.

Drugs:

Common Street Names

Effects:

Complication on Health:

PhencyclidineAngel dust

Boat

Hog

Love boat

Peace pill

General-

Increased-

  • Heart rate
  • Blood pressure

Impaired motor function

Possible decrease

  • Blood pressure
  • Heart rate

Panic

Aggression

Violence

General-

Memory loss

Numbness

Nausea

Vomiting

Loss of appetite

Depression.

InhalantsLaughing gas

Poppers

Snappers.

Whippets.

Solvents-

  • Paint thinners,
  • Gasoline,
  • Glue

Gases-

  • Butane.
  • Propane.
  • Aerosol propellants.
  • Nitrous oxide.

Nitrites-

  • Isoamyl.
  • Isobutyl.
  • Cyclohexyl.
General-
  • Stimulation.
  • Loss of inhibition.
  • Headache.
  • Nausea.
  • Vomiting.
  • Slurred speech.
  • Loss of motor coordination.
  • Wheezing.
General-

Unconsciousness.

Cramps.

Weight loss.

Muscle weakness.

Depression.

Memory impairment.

Damage to cardiovascular & nervous systems.

Sudden death.

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