Drugs, Drugs, Science & Science &

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Physiology of Drug Abuse

DRUG ADDICTION IS A COMPLEX ILLNESSDRUG ADDICTION IS A COMPLEX ILLNESS

Categories of DrugsCategories of Drugs

Categories of DrugsCategories of DrugsStimulants - “uppers”

- stimulate the central nervous system- amphetamines, amyl nitrite, cocaine, crack, ecstasy

Depressants - “downers”- depress the central nervous system- alcohol, barbiturates, benzodiazepines

Analgesics - powerful painkillers- from opium poppy or synthetically produced

Hallucinogens - “psychedelics”- dramatically alter perception- LSD, psilocyn, psilocybin, cannabis, ecstasy

CLUB DRUGS

Club Drugs

• Drug Class: CNS stimulant, hallucinogen

• Other names: MDMA, XTC, X, E, Adam, Clarity, Essence, Stacy, Lover’s Speed

• Developed in WWI but became illegal in 1985

ECSTASY

• Today: a designer drug

• White form, crystalline powder + buffed & pressed = pills

• Usual dose: 1 to 2 mg/kg body weight

• Ingested orally, placed under the tongue, added to juice or carbonated beverage, snorted or injected

Club Drugs

• “Candyflipping” – combined used of ecstasy and LSD

• “Stacking” – taking ≥ 3 E tablets at once, mixing it with other drugs

• Half-life is 6 hours

ECSTASY

• Onset action – vary from person to person

• Serotonin and dopamine – released into the brain

• perception of pain, body temperature

• overheat – without feeling any discomfort

How Ecstasy Works

Club Drugs

• Instantaneous rush – 30-45 sec, lasting to 15-30 mins

• Sudden clarity, intensification of perceptions

• Inner sensation of happiness, sense of loving

ECSTASY

• tolerance: desired effects; in adverse effects

• “bubble bursting” – anxiety, paranoia, nausea, panic

• 30 mins–3 hrs after initial rush: “plateau” phase of > intense feelings• trance-like movements long lasting ecstatic “trance-dancing”

The E “Rush”

• “booster dose” – hope to prolong the sensations

Club Drugs

• coming down: 3 – 6 hrs after initial ingestion

• feelings of disappointments: anxiety, depression

• sluggishness & residual effects: lasts up to several days

ECSTASY

• “Tuesday blues” – from depletion of serotonin

• still uncertain BUT subsequent depression may occur

• due to short-circuit of serotonin pathway & serotonin shortage

The After “Rush”

• 6-7 hours to fall asleep after returning to “normal”

Long term effects

Club Drugs

• addiction to concurrently used substance• anorexia, nausea, vomiting, insomnia

• tachychardia, fatigue, convulsions

ECSTASY

• dehydration, electrolyte imbalances

• heat exhaustion and injury (“Saturday night fever”)

• acute renal failure, hepatic toxicity

• jaw-clenching, teeth grinding, muscle spasms

• coma, death

Adverse Effects

• visual blurring, confusion

ecstasy

E

xlover’s speed

xtc

Stacy

Essence

Club Drugs

• Other names: Ma huang, ephedra, Cloud 9, Herbal Bliss, Rave Energy

• Combination of stimulants – to stimulate effects of XTC

• Common use: stimulant or weight loss agent

HERBAL ECSTASY

• Available: many health food stores or by mail order

• Present in food supplements: Metabolift or Metabolife 356

• In US: No regulation from US-FDA

• Found in many OTC cold preparationsAdverse Effects

• Tachycardia, hypertension, stroke, seizure, heart attack, death

Club DrugsMETHAMPHETAMINE

• enhance mood and body movement

• taken orally, intranasally, intravenously, rectally

• smoking, intravenous: intense, very pleasurable sensation

• other names: Ice, speed, tweak, crank , glass, shabu

• release large amounts of dopamine = highly addictive stimulant

• intranasal and oral: “high” feeling

Desired effects

• white powder or clear, crystal “rock”

• 3 – 5 mins (intranasal); 15-20 mins (oral); can last: 24 hours

Club DrugsMETHAMPHETAMINE

• wide variety or physical and psychological effects

Adverse effects

• wakefulness, increased physical activity (hyper, alertness)• appetite• headache, sensation of hair “standing on end”• dry mouth, tremors, tachycardia, hypertension, palpitations• stroke, seizures• euphoria, irritability, insomnia, anxiety• hallucinations, paranoia, psychosis, death

• degeneration of neurons underlying cause of Parkinson’s disease

Methamphetamine

shabu

I C E

S p e e dS p e e d

Drug Street Names Effects

OPIUM black stuff, chandu Withdrawal symptoms, e.g. aches, spasms, stomach cramps & convulsions, shaking & vomiting, runny nose, watery eyes

MORPHINE M, white stuff, white powder

Withdrawal symptoms, e.g. aches, spasms, stomach cramps & convulsions, shaking & vomiting, runny nose, watery eyes

HEROIN White, junk, powder, putih, medicine

Withdrawal symptoms, e.g. aches, spasms, stomach cramps & convulsions, shaking & vomiting, runny nose, watery eyes

CANNABISoriginated from the hemp plant, Cannabis Sativa

marijuana, ganja, pot, grass, joints

Loss of concentration and memory, heart rate increases, poor balance & coordination, anxiety or panic, depression, confusion

METHAMPHETAMINE HYDROCHLORIDE

Ice, glass, crystal, quartz, ice-cream, hirropon, shabu

Ice has a strong effect on the nervous system and is highly addictive. Loss of weight, impotency, severe convulsions (fits), hallucinations, liver & kidney damage, damage to the heart, stroke & death.

METHYLENEDIOCY-METHAMPHETAMINE (MDMA)

Ecstasy, Pink or Pink Lady, Snow White, Playboy, Apple, XTC

Blood pressure and increase in pulse rate, false feelings of confidence & closeness with others, dehydration, convulsions, vomiting & anxiety.

KETAMINE Also known as "K", Special K,Vitamin K,Ket, Kit kat

Hallucination, Altered sensation, mood and consciousness, Affected judgment and co-ordination, distorted hearing, touch, smell, taste and visual sensation, nausea and vomiting, memory loss

YABA Methamphetamine tablet, crazy horse, mad medicine

Increased heart beat, dehydration, paranoid feeling, sweating, insomnia, irritability, depression

Cocaine Powder

cocaine

Cracked cocaine

Amphetamines in various capsules

Barbiturate Pills Benzodiazepine Pills

Marijuana leaves

In blockIn plastic bag

In joint rolling

seeds

Cannabis

Coca leaves and powder

Codeine in various form

DepressantPills

Downers (various)

Hashish Oil

LSDin Blotter Paper

LSD in forms

Heroin in plastic

Heroin in off white powder form

Heroin in various formswith balloons

Ketamine - special

Ketamine

Methadone

Morphine

Morphine in various forms

Opium Opium pod & derivatives

oxycontin

Drug User Paraphernalia

Drug User Paraphernalia

Identificationof aDrug User

Identification of a Drug User• excitable, hostile, violent, destructive behavior, outbreaks of temper• unsteadiness, clumsiness• slurred speech, talking to oneself• in a state of confusion• dreamy, hallucinations• lack of personal hygiene• loss of concentration or attention• loss of interest in personal care & appearance, food, family activity• social withdrawal• sudden decline in attendance or performance in school• frequent job hopping• frequents places like storage rooms, toilets, isolated corners• sores on nose & mouth (glue sniffers), runny nose, bloodshot eyes• smell solvents on breath, clothes, hair (glue sniffers)

Drug Abuse is apreventable behavior

and

Drug Addiction isa treatable disease

Is it worth

the risk?

t h end