Drug Information
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Commercial names: Beer, wine, distilled spirits How it's taken: swallowed Effects: All body systems are affected causing dilation of blood vessels, mood swings, unrestrained behavior, inability to control motor functions, disorientation, poor coordination, slurred speech, headache, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, decrease physical response time, progressively impairs mental functions, constricted pupils, multiple and blurred vision, reduces side vision, sleepy or stuporous condition, unconsciousness Potential Health Consequences: addiction, sleep disturbances, blackouts, brain damage, heart disease, liver disease, damage to the stomach and pancreas, sexual dysfunction, cancers, death. Comments: In cases of overdose (alcohol poisoning), victim could suffer unconsciousness, slowed heart rate, brain damage, liver failure, coma, seizures and death. |
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Causes more deaths, crime, and health & behavioral problems than all illegal drugs combined.
AmphetamineCommercial names: Adderal, Biphetamine, Dexedrine, Ionamin, Pondimin, Redux Street names: bennies, black beauties, crosses, cross-tops, hearts, LA turnaround, pep pills, speed, truck drivers, uppers How it's taken: swallowed, injected, smoked, snorted Appearance: capsules or white flat double scored "mini-bennies" Effects: increased heart rate, blood pressure and metabolism, feelings of exhilaration, energy, increased mental alertness, rapid breathing, hallucinations, talkativeness, inability to concentrate, heightened aggressive behavior, confusion, panic, paranoia Potential Health Consequences: rapid or irregular heart beat, reduced appetite, weight loss, malnutrition, skin disorders, ulcers, various diseases that come from vitamin deficiencies, heart failure, stroke, death, tremor, loss of coordination, irritability, anxiousness, restlessness, delirium, panic, paranoia, impulsive behavior, aggressiveness, tolerance, addiction, psychosis resembling schizophrenia, heart, lung, and brain damage Comments: High potential for abuse; available only by prescription (non-refillable) |
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MethamphetamineCommercial names: Desoxyn Street names: chalk, crank, crystal, fire, glass, go fast, ice, meth, speed How it's taken: injected, swallowed, smoked, snorted Appearance: creamy, white or granular powder, or in lumps in aluminum foil or plastic bags, or red liquid resembling red kool-aide (usually stored in plastic jugs) Effects: aggression, violence, psychotic behavior, increases impulsive and risk-taking behaviors including bizarre and violent acts, increased heart rate, blood pressure, metabolism, feelings of exhilaration, energy, increased mental alertness, hyper- excitability, restlessness, feelings of exhilaration or euphoria, heart palpitations, rapid perspiration, confusion, psychotic episodes, panic, paranoia (often resulting in homicidal or suicidal thoughts and actions, talkativeness, insomnia, unusual aggression, irritability, anxiety, nervousness Potential Health Consequences: memory loss, cardiac and neurological damage, impaired memory and learning, tolerance, addiction, rapid or irregular heart beat, reduced appetite, weight loss, malnutrition, poor dental health, heart failure, decreased attention span, extreme insomnia, skin welts known as "crank bugs", severe depression, auditory & visual hallucinations, delusions (including "formication" which is the sensation of insects creeping on the skin), organ damage, stroke, death |
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MethylphenidateCommercial names: Ritalin Street names: JIF, MPH, R-ball, Skippy, the smart drug, vitamin R How it's taken: injected, swallowed, snorted Effects: increase or decrease in blood pressure, increased metabolism, energy, increased mental alertness, talkativeness Potential Health Consequences: digestive problems, loss of appetite, weight loss, inability to concentrate, irregular heart beat, heart failure Comments: high potential for abuse; available only by prescription (non-refillable) |
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Most amphetamines that are abused are illegally manufactured in crude laboratories.
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Commercial names: Amytal, Luminal, Nembutal, Seconal, Phenobarbital Street names: barbs, bluebirds, blue devils, blues, downers, goof balls, phennies, rainbows, reds, red birds, tooies, yellows, yellow jackets How it's taken: swallowed, injected Effects: reduced pain and anxiety, feeling of well-being, lowered inhibitions, slowed pulse and breathing, lowered blood pressure, poor concentration and judgment, sedation, drowsiness, slurred speech, lethargy, lack of facial expression or animation Potential Health Consequences: slows down central nervous system functions such as heart beat, breathing, brain activities and reflexes, physical and mental responses are slowed, causes confusion, fatigue, impaired coordination, memory, judgment, respiratory depression and arrest, death, addiction, depression, unusual excitement, fever, irritability, poor judgment, slurred speech, dizziness; life-threatening withdrawal when use is abruptly stopped range from restlessness, insomnia and anxiety to convulsions and death Comments: High potential for abuse; available only by prescription (non-refillable); some may have up to five refills in 6 months; a few are available over the counter |
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Accounts for approximately 1/3 of all reported drug-related deaths, including suicides and accidental drug poisonings.
BenzodiazepinesCommercial names: Ativan, Halcion, Librium, Valium, Xanax Street names: candy, downers, sleeping pills, tranks, BZDs, benzos How it's taken: swallowed, injected Effects: sedation, drowsiness, reduced pain and anxiety, feeling of well-being, lowered inhibitions, slowed pulse and breathing, lowered blood pressure, poor concentration and coordination, , slurred speech Potential Health Consequences: dizziness, confusion, sleep disturbances, fatigue, impaired coordination, memory & judgment, brain damage, heart and liver disease, respiratory depression and arrest, death, addiction Comments: available by prescription; may have up to five refills in 6 months |
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RohypnolCommercial names: Rohypnol, flunitrazepam Street names: forget-me pill, Mexican Valium, R2, Roche, roofies, roofinol, rope, Rophies How it's taken: swallowed, snorted Appearance: small, white tablets with "Roche" inscribed on one side with an encircled "1" or "2" (indicating a 1 or 2 mg dose) Effects: reduced pain and anxiety, feeling of well-being, lowered inhibitions, slowed pulse and breathing, lowered blood pressure, poor concentration, impaired judgment, difficulty walking Potential Health Consequences: visual and gastrointestinal disturbances, urinary retention, memory loss for the time under the drug's effects, confusion, fatigue, deep sedation, blackouts (that can last up to 24 hours), amnesia, aggressive behavior, impaired coordination, memory, judgment, respiratory depression and arrest, death, addiction Comments:associated with sexual assaults; high potential for abuse; available by prescription (non-refillable) |
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MarijuanaStreet names: bud, bong hits, blunt, dope, ganja, grass, herb, joint, Mary Jane, pot, reefer, sinsemilla, skunk, weed How it's taken: smoked, swallowed Appearance: green to light tan dry leaves broken into small pieces, small oval seeds with one pointed end Effects: euphoria, slowed thinking and reaction time, poor concentration, delayed decision-making and reaction time, confusion, impaired balance and coordination, impaired eye tracking ability and visual distance measurement, distortions in time estimation, paranoia, red eyes, slowed speech, "care less" attitude, lack of motivation, chronic fatigue, irritating cough, chronic sore throat, anxiety, fearfulness, immobility, aggressive urges Potential Health Consequences: containing over 400 different chemicals, smoking one marijuana cigarette is as harmful to the lungs as smoking 4-5 regular cigarettes, greatly increasing the risk of developing emphysema, cancer and other lung disease; other consequences include cough, lung damage, emphysema-like conditions, frequent respiratory and sinus infections, impaired memory and learning, long- term negative effects on mental function, attention span, concentration, memory, judgement and logical thought, increased heart rate, low motivation, increased appetite, anxiety, abnormal sleep patterns, panic attacks, lowered immune system, tolerance and addiction, lung or oral cancer; in males it affects fertility through its suppression of testosterone production Comments: high potential for abuse; available for research purposes only, aprox 20 times stronger than in the 1960's (500-800 % increase in THC concentrations), known as the "gateway drug" because of the high likelihood of the user experimenting with other drugs |
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HashishStreet names: boom, chronic, gangster, hash, hash oil, hemp How it's taken: smoked, swallowed Effects: same as Marijuana Potential Health Consequences: same as Marijuana Comments: high potential for abuse; available for research purposes only |
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Most misunderstood and underestimated drug of abuse, with a long term effect on performance.
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Commercial names: Cocaine hydrochloride Street names: blow, bump, C, candy, Charlie, coke, crack, flake, freebase, rock, smoke, snow, toot How it's taken: injected, smoked, snorted Appearance: white granular or lumpy powder chopped into a fine powder, or crystalline rock the size of a small pebble; crack looks like small lumps or shavings of soap with the texture of porcelain Effects: increased internal body temperature, increased heart rate, blood pressure, metabolism, feelings of exhilaration, false sense of power, energy, increased mental alertness yet with difficulty concentrating, unusual defensiveness, anxiety and agitation, wide mood swings, runny or irritated nose, restlessness, hallucinations, over-reaction to stimulus, insomnia, paranoia, profuse sweating and dry mouth, talkativeness, dilated pupils Potential Health Consequences: chest pain, respiratory failure, nausea, abdominal pain, strokes, seizures, headaches, visual impairment, malnutrition, rapid or irregular heart beat, narrowed blood vessels, high blood pressure, heart palpitations, reduced appetite, weight loss, insomnia, compulsive tooth grinding, nasal damage, tooth decay, hallucinations, depression, sexual dysfunction, personality changes, violent or paranoid behavior, heart failure, stroke, death Comments: high potential for abuse, upsets the chemical balance of the brain, speeds up the aging process by causing irreparable damage to critical nerve cells, can cause the onset of nervous system illnesses such as Parkinson's disease |
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Causes the strongest mental dependency of any known drug with a lower treatment success rate than any other chemical dependency.
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Commercial names: gamma-hydroxybutyrate Street names: G, Georgia home boy, grievous bodily harm, liquid ecstasy (x) How it's taken: swallowed Appearance: capsule or grainy, white to sandy-colored powder; most frequently sold as a slightly salty, clear liquid in small bottles where users pay by the capful or the teaspoonful Effects: reduced pain and anxiety, feeling of well-being, lowered inhibitions, slowed pulse and breathing, lowered blood pressure, poor concentration; it produces intoxication followed by deep sedation; it can cause nausea, vomiting, delusions, depression, vertigo, visual disturbances, seizures, respiratory distress, loss of consciousness, amnesia, and coma Potential Health Consequences: drowsiness, sedation, nausea/vomiting, headache, loss of consciousness, loss of reflexes, seizures, coma, death, fatigue, impaired coordination, memory, judgment, respiratory depression and arrest, death, addiction Comments: associated with sexual assaults; high potential for abuse; available for research purposes only |
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Most GHB is created in clandestine laboratories where purity and quality cannot be guaranteed resulting in common overdoses.
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Commercial names: Adhesives (glue, rubber cement); Aerosols (spray paint, hair spray, deodorant, air freshener, analgesic spray, asthma spray, whipped topping sprays); Solvents (nail polish remover, paint remover, paint thinners, typewriter correction fluid, felt-tip markers); Gases (fuel gas, butane, propane, cigarette lighter fluid, nitrous oxide); Cleaning Agents (dry cleaning fluid, spot remover, degreaser); Nitrites (isoamyl, isobutyl, cyclohexyl, nitrite room odorizers) Street names: glue, huffing, laughing gas, poppers, rush, snappers, whippets How it's taken:
Appearance: Amyl nitrite (isoamyl) is used for heart patients and diagnostic purposes because it dilates the blood vessels and makes the heart beat faster. It is a clear yellowish liquid that is sold in a cloth-covered, sealed bulb. The bulbs emit a popping or snapping sound when broken, which accounts for the nick names "poppers" and "snappers". Butyl nitrite (isobutyl) is packaged in small bottles, often marked incense, and sold under a variety of names including "locker room" and "rush". Nitrous oxide ("laughing gas") is a colorless, sweet-tasting gas used by doctors and dentists for general anesthesia, and often sold in large balloons from which the gas is released and inhaled for its mind-altering effects, but it is no laughing matter. Inhaling the gas may deplete the body of oxygen and can result in death; prolonged use can result in peripheral nerve damage. Effects:stimulation, loss of inhibition, disorientation, confusion, feelings of drunkenness, possible hallucinations, incoherence, headache, nausea or vomiting, ringing in the ears, slurred speech, loss of motor coordination, wheezing, runny nose, nosebleeds, coughing, double vision, poor judgment, sneezing, watery or irritated eyes, red or blistered nose and mouth, flushed face, dizziness, loss of appetite, decreased blood pressure followed by an increased heart rate, chest pain, agitation, limb spasms, muscle and joint aches, lost control of bladder and bowels Potential Health Consequences: unconsciousness, cramps, weight loss, damaged senses, muscle weakness, fatigue, salt imbalance, depression, memory impairment, damage to cardiovascular and nervous systems (nerve damage), unpredictable or violent behavior, blood disease, damage to blood, bone marrow, brain, liver, heart, lung and kidneys, unconsciousness, sudden death Comments:responsible for Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome, which can kill on the first use; most people who die from inhalant abuse die from either lung damage, heart attack, or a combination of both |
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Young teenagers (age 12 -17) are more likely to abuse inhalants because they are inexpensive and readily available.
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Commercial names: Ketalar SV Street names: cat Valiums, K, Special K, vitamin K How it's taken: injected, snorted, smoked, swallowed Appearance: in liquid form, or as a white powder that is snorted or smoked with marijuana or tobacco products Effects: profound hallucinations and visual distortions (known as "K-Land"), increased heart rate and blood pressure, impaired motor function, anxiety, nausea, chills and sweating, delirium, respiratory depression and arrest Potential Health Consequences: high blood pressure, depression, recurrent flashbacks, potentially fatal respiratory problems, memory loss, numbness, nausea/vomiting, psychosis, amnesia, delirium, irrational behavior Comments: available by prescription; may have up to five refills in 6 months, hallucinogenic used by young teens, high school students, college students, "rave" dance party-goers |
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Larger doses can produce a frightening experience called a "K-hole" or an "out-of- body, near-death experience that can last 30 minutes to 2 hours.
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Commercial names: lysergic acid diethylamide Street names: acid, blotter, boomers, cubes, microdot, tabs, yellow sunshines How it's taken: swallowed, absorbed through mouth tissues Appearance: tablets, capsules, liquid form, thin squares of gelatin, or absorbed on colorful paper to be licked; "blotter acid" is paper soaked in LSD and sold as squares which cause a "trip" that lasts 3 - 12 hours Effects: altered states of perception and feeling, sensing imaginary things, nausea, increased body temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, and blood sugar, loss of appetite, irregular breathing, sleeplessness, anxiety, numbness, weakness, tremors, chills and sweating, dilated pupils, loss of appetite, dry mouth Potential Health Consequences: chronic mental disorders, persisting perception disorder (flashbacks), depression, irrational behavior, violence, delirium, amnesia, loss of ability to separate fact and fantasy, distortion of senses, paranoia, panic Comments: high potential for abuse; available for research only, most common hallucinogenic, users include young teens, high school students, college students, and "rave" dance party-goers |
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The effects are wildly unpredictable. A "bad trip" could include terrifying thoughts and feelings, fear of losing control, fear of insanity and death, and flashbacks.
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Commercial names: methylenedioxymethamphetamine Street names: Adam, clarity, club drug, ecstasy, Eve, hug drug, love drug, lover's speed, peace, rolls, Stacy, STP, X, XTC Effects: euphoria, hallucinogenic effects, increased tactile sensitivity, empathic feelings, hyperthermia, increased heart rate, blood pressure, metabolism, feelings of exhilaration, energy, increased mental alertness, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, chills, sweating, tremors Potential Health Consequences: heat stroke, dehydration, impaired memory and learning, rapid or irregular heart beat, depression, paranoid thinking, violent or irrational behavior, insomnia, convulsions, reduced appetite, weight loss, heart failure, injures brain neurons that are critical to regulating mood, emotion, learning, memory, sleep, and pain Comments: high potential for abuse; available for research purposes only |
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Considered the most commonly used club drug, it combines the properties of speed with mind-altering properties.
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Commercial names: mescaline Street names: buttons, cactus, mesc, peyote How it's taken: swallowed, smoked Effects: altered states of perception and feeling, nausea, increased body temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, loss of appetite, sleeplessness, numbness, weakness, tremors Potential Health Consequences: chronic mental disorders, persisting perception disorder (flashbacks), irrational behavior, depression, psychosis Comments: high potential for abuse; available for research purposes only, hallucinogenic used by young teens, high school students, college students, "rave" dance party-goers |
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This hallucinogenic drug causes the user to lose the ability to separate fact and fantasy, which contributes to the possibility of death from suicide or accidents.
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Commercial names: Quaalude, Sopor, Parest Street names: ludes, mandrex, quads, quay, soapers How it's taken: injected, swallowed Effects: euphoria, reduced pain and anxiety, feeling of well-being, lowered inhibitions slowed pulse and breathing, lowered blood pressure, poor concentration, sleepiness, dizziness, hangover effects Potential Health Consequences: depression, poor reflexes, slurred speech, coma, confusion, fatigue, impaired coordination, memory, judgment, and perception, respiratory depression and arrest, death, addiction Comments: high potential for abuse; available for research purposes only |
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Once widely used to treat insomnia, it is no longer legally distributed in the U.S.
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Commercial names: cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco, snuff, spit tobacco, bidis, Chew How it's taken: smoked, snorted, taken in snuff and spit tobacco Effects: increased heart rate, blood pressure, metabolism, shortness of breath, feelings of exhilaration, energy, increased mental alertness Potential Health Consequences: diminished or extinguished sense of smell and taste, frequent colds, smoker's cough, gastric ulcers, chronic bronchitis, rapid or irregular heart beat, increased heart rate and blood pressure, premature and more abundant face wrinkles, reduced appetite, weight loss, heart failure, adverse pregnancy outcomes, tolerance, addiction, emphysema, chronic lung disease, cardiovascular, disease, stroke, cancer of the mouth, larynx, pharynx, esophagus, lungs, pancreas, cervix, uterus, and bladder, death Comments: Cigarette smoking is perhaps the most devastating preventable cause of disease and premature death; it is particularly dangerous for teens because their bodies are still developing and changing and the 4,000 chemicals (including 200 known poisons) in cigarette smoke can adversely affect this process; it is highly addictive - 1/3 of young people who are "just experimenting" end up being addicted for a lifetime. |
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Studies have shown that children in a smoking home suffer more colds, viruses, upper respiratory infections, throat and ear infections than children in non-smoking homes.
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Commercial names: Empirin w/ Codeine, Fiorinal w/ Codeine, Robitussin A-C, Tylenol w/ Codeine Street names: Captain Cody, Cody, schoolboy; (with glutethimide) doors & fours, loads, pancakes and syrup How it's taken: injected, swallowed Effects: pain relief, euphoria, drowsiness, less analgesia, sedation, and respiratory depression than morphine Potential Health Consequences: respiratory depression and arrest, nausea, confusion, constipation, sedation, unconsciousness, coma, death, tolerance, addiction Comments: high potential for abuse; available only by prescription (non-refillable); some may have up to five refills in 6 months; few are available over the counter |
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Commercial names: Darvocet, Darvon, Demerol, Hydrocodone, Lorcet, Lortab, OxyContin, Percodan, Soma, Vicodin Street names: oxy, oxycotton, percs, hillbilly heroin How it's taken: swallowed, injected, snorted Appearance: tablets, capsules, liquid Effects: confusion, impaired coordination, blocked pain messages, slowed breathing and heart rates, nausea and vomiting, itching, constipation, physical fatigue and drowsiness, mood changes, pin-point pupils, reduced vision, restlessness Potential Health Consequences: addiction, insomnia, depression and apathy, impaired mental functioning and alertness, arthritis, increased risk of HIV/AIDS and hepatitis, loss of consciousness, tremors, slow/shallow breathing, congested lungs, pneumonia, liver disease, anemia, clammy skin, convulsions, coma, possible death Comments: high potential for abuse; available only by prescription (non-refillable) |
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Commercial names: diacetylmorphine Street names: brown sugar, dope, H, horse, junk, skag, skunk, smack, stuff, white horse How it's taken: injected, smoked, snorted Appearance: white or brownish powder; usually diluted or "cut" with sugar, powdered milk or quinine to increase the bulk amount sold to the user Effects: staggering gait, blocked pain messages, euphoria, drowsiness, nausea and vomiting Potential Health Consequences: respiratory depression and arrest, nausea, confusion, constipation, sedation, Arthritis, increased risk of HIV/AIDS and hepatitis,unconsciousness, coma, death, tolerance, addiction Comments: high potential for abuse; available for research purposes only; IV needle users have a high risk for contracting hepatitis and AIDS |
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Commercial names: Roxanol, Duramorph Street names: M, Miss Emma, monkey, white stuff How it's taken: injected, swallowed, smoked Effects: pain relief, euphoria, drowsiness Potential Health Consequences: respiratory depression and arrest, nausea, confusion, constipation, sedation, unconsciousness, coma, death, tolerance, addiction Comments: high potential for abuse; available only by prescription (non-refillable); some may have up to five refills in 6 months |
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Commercial names: Methadone How it's taken: swallowed Appearance: tablet or capsule Effects: given daily as a substitute for heroin to patients trying to kick their heroin habit; it does not produce the same high as heroin, however , it prevents cravings for heroin and withdrawal symptoms; lethargy, drowsiness, blocked pain messages, sense of well-being and tranquility Potential Health Consequences: constricted pupils and reduced vision, shallow breathing, slows heart rate and brain activity, depresses appetite, thirst and sexual desire; withdrawal symptoms (4-6 hrs after the last dose) include: uneasiness, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, chills, sweating, nausea, runny nose and eyes, irritability, weakness, tremors and insomnia |
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Commercial names: Actiq, Duragesic, Sublimaze Street names: Apache, Chima girl, Chima white, dance fever, friend, goodfella, jackpot, murder 8, TNT, Tango and Cash How it's taken: injected, smoked, snorted Effects: pain relief, euphoria, drowsiness Potential Health Consequences: respiratory depression and arrest, nausea, confusion, constipation, sedation, unconsciousness, coma, death, tolerance, addiction Comments: high potential for abuse (strong mental and physical dependency); available only by prescription (non-refillable) Opium |
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Opiates are extremely addicting, both physically and psychologically
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Commercial names: phencyclidine Street names: angel dust, boat, hog, killer weed, love boat, peace pill, super weed How it's taken: injected, swallowed, smoked Appearance: creamy granular or crystal-like powder can be mixed with marijuana or tobacco, often packaged in one-inch square aluminum foil or folded paper "packets"; or bitter-tasting, clear liquid used to soak a cigar, cigarette or marijuana joint for smoking (called "wet" or "dipping"); also sometimes combined with procaine (a local anesthetic) and sold as imitation cocaine Effects: chills and sweating, trembling, anxiety, possible decrease in blood pressure and heart rate, panic, aggression, violence, impaired motor function and coordination, sense of indestructibility, severe confusion and agitation, extreme mood shifts, muscle rigidity, jerky eye movements, dilated pupils, profuse sweating Potential Health Consequences: loss of appetite, depression, delirium, psychosis, irrational behavior, irreversible memory loss, personality changes, and thought disorders, numbness, nausea/vomiting, speech difficulties, potential for overdose is high due to the extreme mental effects combined with the anesthetic effect on the body Comments: high potential for abuse; available for research purposes; some available by prescription only (non-refillable), hallucinogenic used by young teens, high school students, college students, "rave" dance party-goers 4 Phases to PCP Abuse:
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A study in Houston reported the use of "fry", marijuana and tobacco products dipped in PCP-laced embalming fluid and smoked.
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Commercial names: Detropropoxyphene, Darvon, Darvon-N, -N 50, -N 100, PP-Cap, Propacet 100, Compound-65, Wygesic Street names: propox, propoxy, poxy How it's taken: swallowed, injected, snorted Appearance: red or yellow elliptical or oblong tablets; pink, pink & red, or pink & grey capsules Effects: Relieves pain (by changing the way your body feels the pain), drowsiness, fatigue, dizziness, weakness, confusion, small pin-point pupils, dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, Potential Health Consequences: Slow, weak breathing, tiredness, cold and clammy skin, decreased appetite, constipation, muscle twitches, sweating, itching, decreased urination, decreased sex drive, yellowing of the skin or eyes, unusual bleeding or bruising, seizures, loss of consciousness, coma Comments: high potential for abuse; available only by prescription (non-refillable) |
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This habit-forming narcotic analgesic is not to be taken by a person suffering from depression or having suicidal thoughts.
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Commercial names: psilocybin, psilocin mushrooms Street names: magic mushroom, purple passion, shrooms How it's taken: swallowed Appearance: mushrooms that have a strong bitter taste and can be eaten or brewed into a tea for effects lasting about six hours Effects: once ingested, mushrooms cause nausea and other physical symptoms before the desired effects appear, such as altered states of perception and feeling and sensing imaginary things; other undesirable effects include anxiety, nervousness and paranoia Potential Health Consequences: chronic mental disorders, persisting perception disorder (flashbacks), amnesia, violence, irrational behavior, depression, delirium, psychosis Comments: high potential for abuse; available for research purposes only, hallucinogenic used by young teens, high school students, college students, "rave" dance party-goers |
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Mushroom hunters run the risk of selecting poisonous mushrooms which can cause death or permanent liver damage within hours of ingestion.
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Commercial names: Anadrol, Oxandrin, Durabolin, Depo-Testosterone, Equipoise, and others Street names: gum candy, juice, roids, sauce, slop, stacking How it's taken: injected, swallowed, applied to the skin Effects: poor concentration, aggression ("roid rage"), headaches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, acne and rashes, bone pain and muscle cramps, quick weight and muscle gain, purple or red-colored spots on the body, swelling of feet or lower legs, trembling, unexplained darkening of the skin, bad breath Potential Health Consequences: hypertension, poor blood clotting, cholesterol changes, liver cysts and cancer, kidney cancer, hostility and aggression, acne, adolescents, stunted growth, heart attacks and strokes; in males: prostate cancer, reduced sperm production (impotence), shrunken testicles, deformed genitals, breast enlargement, acceleration of baldness; in females: menstrual irregularities, shrinking of the breast or uterus, development of beard or facial hair, and other masculine characteristics which are often irreversible even after steroid use is discontinued Comments: available by prescription; may have up to five refills in 6 months |
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Young athletes and body builders use steroids to increase physical size or because they believe it enhances athletic ability, but instead it can actually stunt growth, cause deformed genitals, and leave the user feeling worn-out, depressed, paranoid, suicidal, and aggressive.