DRUGSDRUGS

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What is a drug?What is a drug? A chemical substance, such as a A chemical substance, such as a

hallucinogen, that affects the central hallucinogen, that affects the central nervous system, causing changes in nervous system, causing changes in behaviour and often addiction. behaviour and often addiction.

Something and often an illegal substance Something and often an illegal substance that causes addiction, paranoia, or a that causes addiction, paranoia, or a marked change in consciousness marked change in consciousness

There are many different drugs including There are many different drugs including Cannabis, Cocaine, LSD, Magic mushrooms Cannabis, Cocaine, LSD, Magic mushrooms and Heroinand Heroin

CannabisCannabis Cannabis is the most widely used illegal drug in Cannabis is the most widely used illegal drug in

Britain. Made from parts of the cannabis plant, it’s a Britain. Made from parts of the cannabis plant, it’s a naturally occurring drug. It is a mild sedative (often naturally occurring drug. It is a mild sedative (often causing a chilled out feeling or actual sleepiness) causing a chilled out feeling or actual sleepiness) and it’s also a hallucinogen (meaning you may and it’s also a hallucinogen (meaning you may experience a state where you see objects)experience a state where you see objects)

The lawThe law Cannabis is a Class B drug - illegal to have, give Cannabis is a Class B drug - illegal to have, give

away or sell. Possession can get you up to five away or sell. Possession can get you up to five years in jail. Supplying someone else, including years in jail. Supplying someone else, including your friends, can get you fourteen years and an your friends, can get you fourteen years and an unlimited fine. unlimited fine.

CocaineCocaine

Cocaine powder, is a stimulants with powerful, but short-lived, Cocaine powder, is a stimulants with powerful, but short-lived, effects. Stimulants temporarily speed up the processes of your effects. Stimulants temporarily speed up the processes of your mind and body. ‘Freebase’ cocaine and ‘crack’ cocaine, can be mind and body. ‘Freebase’ cocaine and ‘crack’ cocaine, can be smoked, and so can reach the brain very rapidly in high dosage. smoked, and so can reach the brain very rapidly in high dosage. Snorted powder cocaine is absorbed more slowly. Snorted powder cocaine is absorbed more slowly.

However, all forms of cocaine prepared for injection can also reach However, all forms of cocaine prepared for injection can also reach the brain rapidly in high doses and so can be very addictive too.the brain rapidly in high doses and so can be very addictive too.

The effectsThe effects Taking cocaine makes users feel on top of the world. People taking Taking cocaine makes users feel on top of the world. People taking

it feel wide-awake, confident and on top of the world. it feel wide-awake, confident and on top of the world.

Cocaine is a stimulant, so it can raise the body’s temperature, Cocaine is a stimulant, so it can raise the body’s temperature, make the heart beat faster and stave off feelings of hunger. make the heart beat faster and stave off feelings of hunger.

RisksRisks After taking cocaine, it's not unusual for people to feel like they've After taking cocaine, it's not unusual for people to feel like they've

got the flu. got the flu. Some people are over-confident on it and so may take very careless Some people are over-confident on it and so may take very careless

risks. risks. Crack and cocaine powder users have died from overdoses. High Crack and cocaine powder users have died from overdoses. High

doses can raise the body's temperature, cause convulsions and doses can raise the body's temperature, cause convulsions and respiratory or heart failure.respiratory or heart failure.

Using cocaine makes people feel depressed and run down. Using cocaine makes people feel depressed and run down.

People who use crack or coke regularly often develop serious People who use crack or coke regularly often develop serious problems with anxiety and paranoia.problems with anxiety and paranoia.

It's a known cause of panic attacks. It's a known cause of panic attacks.

Cocaine can bring previous mental health problems to the surface. Cocaine can bring previous mental health problems to the surface. Injecting any drug can cause vein damage, ulcers and gangrene, Injecting any drug can cause vein damage, ulcers and gangrene, particularly with dirty equipment.. particularly with dirty equipment..

Magic MushroomsMagic Mushrooms Magic mushrooms are mushrooms that grow in the wild. They Magic mushrooms are mushrooms that grow in the wild. They

produce hallucinogenic-type effects when you eat them. produce hallucinogenic-type effects when you eat them.

There are two main types and they’re quite different. There are There are two main types and they’re quite different. There are deadly poisonous species.deadly poisonous species.

The effectsThe effects The effects for both mushrooms can take between 30 minutes to The effects for both mushrooms can take between 30 minutes to

two hours to happen. The more you take, the longer your trip two hours to happen. The more you take, the longer your trip could last. could last.

Both mushrooms can make you feel confident, relaxed and in Both mushrooms can make you feel confident, relaxed and in good spirits. good spirits.

They can distort colour, sound and objects. One effect can be that They can distort colour, sound and objects. One effect can be that your senses get mixed up so that, for example, you think you can your senses get mixed up so that, for example, you think you can hear colours and you can see sounds. hear colours and you can see sounds.

They can also speed up and slow down your sense of time and They can also speed up and slow down your sense of time and movement. You may feel like you're dreaming when you're awake. movement. You may feel like you're dreaming when you're awake.

HeroinHeroin

Heroin is made from morphine. Morphine is extracted from the Heroin is made from morphine. Morphine is extracted from the opium poppy. Like many drugs made from opium, heroin is a opium poppy. Like many drugs made from opium, heroin is a very strong painkiller. very strong painkiller.

The effectsThe effects Heroin slows down body functioning and substantially reduces Heroin slows down body functioning and substantially reduces

physical and psychological pain. physical and psychological pain. Most users get a rush or buzz a few minutes after taking it. Most users get a rush or buzz a few minutes after taking it.

Doses can make the user sleepy and very relaxed. Doses can make the user sleepy and very relaxed. The first dose of heroin can bring about dizziness and vomiting.The first dose of heroin can bring about dizziness and vomiting.

The lawThe law Heroin is a class A drug. This means that possessing it can lead Heroin is a class A drug. This means that possessing it can lead

to a prison sentence of up to 7 years and an unlimited fine. to a prison sentence of up to 7 years and an unlimited fine. Supplying (which includes giving it to a friend) could lead to a Supplying (which includes giving it to a friend) could lead to a life sentence and another unlimited fine.life sentence and another unlimited fine.

Effects of HeroinEffects of Heroin

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F.A.Q’sF.A.Q’sHow can I stop my friend taking lots of drugs?How can I stop my friend taking lots of drugs? A good thing to do is keep your friend away from situations or A good thing to do is keep your friend away from situations or

places which might entice them - like say the pub or a mate's places which might entice them - like say the pub or a mate's house. Rather, show them some other things to do to keep house. Rather, show them some other things to do to keep themselves busy. Try exercising or a trip to the cinema.themselves busy. Try exercising or a trip to the cinema.

Also we're sure they already know this, but it never hurts to tell Also we're sure they already know this, but it never hurts to tell them that you're always around if they want to talk about it.them that you're always around if they want to talk about it.

Is Cannabis harmless? Is Cannabis harmless? While cannabis is not a physically addictive drug, it can be a While cannabis is not a physically addictive drug, it can be a

trigger to any underlying mental health problems. It can also trigger to any underlying mental health problems. It can also easily become a habit.easily become a habit.

What is the worst drug? What is the worst drug? All drugs are potentially dangerous. And All drugs are potentially dangerous. And because most drugs are illegal there's no way to control what because most drugs are illegal there's no way to control what goes into them.goes into them.

Some drugs can cause more long term damage from a physical Some drugs can cause more long term damage from a physical point of view - like heroin and crystal meth.point of view - like heroin and crystal meth.

Help and AdviceHelp and Advice There are many people you can turn to for advice on drugs There are many people you can turn to for advice on drugs

and great websites that are full of useful facts and and great websites that are full of useful facts and information.information.

Your local G.PYour local G.P Southern Area Health Promotion DepartmentSouthern Area Health Promotion Department

Telephone:Telephone: 028 3752 0500/1 028 3752 0500/1County Armagh County Armagh

www.talktofrank.comwww.talktofrank.com www.fasaonline.orgwww.fasaonline.org www.lifeline.org.ukwww.lifeline.org.uk www.addictionadviser.co.ukwww.addictionadviser.co.uk