drugs solvants

8/8/2019 Drugs Solvants

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Drugs and what they do

Amphetamines

Amphetamines are a group of stimulant drugs that work by affecting the amount of dopamine andserotonin in the brain. They generally create a feeling of euphoria, mental focus and resilience againstphysical fatigue. They have been used medically as an appetite suppressant, to treat ADHD in adults andchildren, and by the military in the Second World War. The most common street name forAmphetamines is speed because of the increased energy that users display. This made it extremelypopular amongst young people in the 1970s at discos and then again in the 90s in the subsequent ravemusic culture.It was originally widely available in America as Benzedrine, an inhalant medicine available withoutprescription, until its use was controlled by the FDA in 1965. Previous to this, the German military duringWW2 used it recreationally and strategically, Adolph Hitler was daily injected with a compound of Amphetamines and vitamins.

AIDS ( Acq uired Immunodeficiency Syndrome): A condition characterized by a defectin the body's natural immunity to diseases. Individuals who suffer from it are at risk for severe illnesses that are usually not a threat to anyone whose immune system isworking properly. [8]

Addiction: A chronic, relapsing disease characterized by compulsive drug-seeking andabuse and by long-lasting chemical changes in the brain. [1]

Adrenal glands: Glands, located above each, kidney that secretes hormones, e.g.,adrenaline. [3]

Amyl nitrite: A yellowish oily volatile liquid used in certain diagnostic procedures andprescribed to some patients for heart pain. Illegally diverted ampoules of amyl nitrite arecalled "poppers" or "snappers" on the street. [9]

Anabolic effects: Drug-induced growth or thickening of the body's no reproductive tracttissues-including skeletal muscle, bones, the larynx, and vocal cords-and decrease inbody fat. [2]

Analgesics: A group of medications that reduce pain. [2] Anesthetic: An agent that causes insensitivity to pain and is used for surgeries andother medical procedures. [6]

Androgenic effects: A drug's effects upon the growth of the male reproductive tract andthe development of male secondary sexual characteristics. [2]

A plastic anemia: A disorder that occurs when the bone marrow produces too few of allthree types of blood cells: red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. [9]

Axon terminal: The structure at the end of an axon that produces and releaseschemicals (neurotransmitters) to transmit the neuron's message across the synapse. [5]

Axon: The fiber-like extension of a neuron by which the cell carries information to targetcells. [5]BBarbiturates / Benzodiazepines

This is the first item on our list that is a prescription medicine. There is a vast range of medicines that fall in to the category of downers This being the street name which has


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passed into general usage. Barbiturates have been around since the 19th century,derived from Barbituric acid, there have been hundreds of derivatives over the years. Inpsychiatry and psychiatric hospitals it was frequently used to sedate violent or disturbedpatients. They are a Hypnotic, and Anxiolytic, which is often used to make a patientunconscious before the true anesthesia is administered. They engender, in the abuser,

feelings of calm and relaxation, physically and mentally, which creates a high level of dependency.Barbiturates have largely been replaced by Benzodiazepines. A newer range of sedatives that was first introduced in the 1950s as Librium. Valium soon followed withMogadon Ativan, Frisium, and Temazepam. Safer than Barbiturates, Benzos soongained popularity and the sedative culture as it was known was born. The withdrawalfrom Benzo dependency is extremely disturbing for the patient and recognizably bad for the doctor to witness. It has been said that it is worse than withdrawal from Opiates.Benzene: A volatile liquid solvent found in gasoline. [9]Bind: The attaching of a neurotransmitter or other chemical to a receptor. The neurotransmitter is saidto "bind" to the receptor. [5]Brainstem: The major route by which the forebrain sends information to, and receives information from,the spinal cord and peripheral nerves. [5]Butane: A substance found in lighter fluid. [9]Butyl nitrite: An illegal substance that is often packaged and sold in small bottles; also referred to as"poppers." [9]CCannabisThe most popular of all recreational drugs, Cannabis, or Marijuana, Grass, Hemp,Weed, Pot, Hash, Dope or a variety of regional names has been cultivated for thousands of years. Derived in various forms from the Cannabis plants Cannabis Indicaor Cannabis Sativa, it is native to central Asia but its cultivation and use is global. It is aPsychoactive and a Psychedelic. It can be smoked as leaves or flower buds, it can beground down to isolate the crystallized sap and then pressed into a solid, or the resinextracted by collection via contact with the sticky plant parts.The effects are fairly immediate, a slightly drunken but euphoric sensation, it can bemild or strong according to the method of delivery and the strength and quantity of thedose. It is not generally debilitating unless as with anything else it is taken to excess,and it can cause some mental confusion that is mostly temporary.Cannabinoid receptor: The receptor in the brain that recognizes anandamide and THC, the activeingredient in marijuana. [5]Cannabinoid: Chemicals that help control mental and physical processes when produced naturally by thebody and that produce intoxication and other effects when absorbed from marijuana. [1]Carcinogen: Any substance that causes cancer. [1]

Cardiovascular system: The heart and blood vessels. [2]Cell body (or soma): The central structure of a neuron, which contains the cell nucleus. The cell bodycontains the molecular machinery that regulates the activity of the neuron. [5]Central nervous system: The brain and spinal cord. [5]Cerebellum: A portion of the brain that helps regulate posture, balance, andcoordination. [5]Cerebral cortex: Region of the brain responsible for cognitive functions includingreasoning, mood, and perception of stimuli. [4]


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Cerebral hemispheres: The two specialized halves of the brain. The left hemisphere is specialized forspeech, writing, language, and calculation; the right hemisphere is specialized for spatial abilities, facerecognition in vision, and some aspects of music perception and production. [5]Cerebrum: The upper part of the brain consisting of the left and right hemispheres. [5]Chloroform: A colorless volatile liquid used as a medical anesthetic gas. [9]Chronic: Refers to a disease or condition that persists over a long period of time. [5]Coca: The plant, Erythroxylon, from which cocaine is derived. Also refers to the leaves of this plant. [6]Cocaethylene: A substance created in the body when cocaine and alcohol are used together; chemicallysimilar to cocaine. [6]CocaineCocaine, derived from the Coca plant, has been used in one form or another for over athousand years. Originating from South America, it has been chewed as a leaf by thePeruvian Indians for centuries. It is a powerful stimulant, appetite suppressant andanesthetic. In the Victorian era, many freely available medicines contained Cocaine for use with babies and children particularly when they were teething.For the first twenty years of its production Coca Cola contained Cocaine but the lawscontrolling it in the early 1900s prohibited its inclusion. It has generally through its socialusage been a rich mans drug, although the use of Crack Cocaine, a modified version of the original powdered form is prepared as a Rock or Stone and smoked in pipes, hasbrought its usage down to street level. Crack: "Slang" term for a smokeable form of cocaine. [6]Craving: A powerful, often uncontrollable desire for drugs. [3]Cyclohexyl nitrite: A chemical found in substances marketed as room deodorizers. [9]DDendrite: The specialized branches that extend from a neuron's cell body and functionto receive messages from other neurons. [5]Depressants: Drugs that relieve anxiety and produce sleep. Depressants includebarbiturates, benzodiazepines, and alcohol. [3]Dopamine: A brain chemical, classified as a neurotransmitter, found in regions of thebrain that regulate movement, emotion, motivation, and pleasure. [1]Drug: A chemical compound or substance that can alter the structure and function of thebody. Psychoactive drugs affect the function of the brain, and some of these may beillegal to use and possess. [5]Drug abuse: The use of illegal drugs or the inappropriate use of legal drugs. Therepeated use of drugs to produce pleasure, to alleviate stress, or to alter or avoid reality(or all three). [5]EEmphysema: A lung disease in which tissue deterioration results in increased air retention and reduced exchange of gases. The result is difficult breathing and shortnessof breath. It is often caused by smoking. [3]Endogenous: Something produced by the brain or body. [5]Ether: A volatile liquid with a characteristic odor. Used as a medical anesthetic gas. [9]Euphoria: A feeling of well-being or elation. [9]EcstasyClosely linked to the use of Amphetamines (from which it is derived), Ecstasy, or MDMA, was originally used as a Psycho therapeutic drug. It is a Psychedelic drug thatproduces euphoria and a feeling of well being, decreased levels of fear and anxiety and


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a physical stimulant and sensational effect in users. It is illegal in most countries and isone of the most widely used illicit drugs in the world.It is taken orally or sniffed as a powder. Users can have bad reactions to the drug and inthe early years of its use as a recreational drug there were many instances of first timeusers dying without having administered an overdose. When users are exerting

themselves heavily, there is a real risk of dehydration and death or illness resulting fromit. Many of the back street MDMA factories use unclean processes and poor pharmacological techniques, and are a great danger to the people that make the drugas well as to the users.

FFluorinated hydrocarbons: Gases or liquids commonly found in refrigerants, fireextinguishers, solvents, and anesthetics. Freon is one class of fluorinatedhydrocarbons. [9]Forebrain: The largest division of the brain, which includes the cerebral cortex and basalganglia. It is credited with the highest intellectual functions. [5]

Frontal lobe: One of the four divisions of each cerebral hemisphere. The frontal lobe isimportant for controlling movement and associating the functions of other cortical areas.[5]HHallucinations: Perceptions of something (such as a visual image or a sound) that doesnot really exist. Hallucinations usually arise from a disorder of the nervous system or inresponse to drugs (such as LSD). [9]Hallucinogens: A diverse group of drugs that alter perceptions, thoughts, and feelings.Hallucinogenic drugs include LSD, mescaline, MDMA (ecstasy), PCP, and psilocybin(magic mushrooms). [5]Halothane: Medical anesthetic gas. [9]Hepatitis: Inflammation of the liver. [9]HeroinPerhaps the most insidious of all drugs, Heroin, or Diamorphine is a derivative of Morphine, an opiate, first used as an alternative to Morphine as it was thought to be lessaddictive. The name Heroin, is a Trade name for Diamorphine and was used by theBayer pharmaceutical company in the mid 1800s. It is an extremely powerful painkiller and users experience exhilaration, euphoria and a sense of well being. It can besmoked, sniffed or injected.The withdrawal effects of Heroin are pretty dreadful, and it is virtually impossible toimpart to a non-user how bad it really is. The symptoms of withdrawal are physical pain,nausea, stomach cramps and diarrhea, shaking twitching and a very strong craving for the soothing effects of the drug. Very few people can cope with withdrawal and thisdrives people to commit crimes to fund their next drug purchase. Hexane: A hydrocarbon volatile liquid found in glue or gasoline. [9]Hippocampus: An area of the brain crucial for learning and memory. [1]HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus): The virus that causes AIDS (AcquiredImmunodeficiency Syndrome). [8]Hormone: A chemical substance formed in glands in the body and carried in the bloodto organs and tissues, where it influences function, structure, and behavior. [2]


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Hypothalamus: The part of the brain that controls many bodily functions, includingfeeding, drinking, and the release of many hormones. [5]IIngestion: The act of taking in food or other material into the body through the mouth. [5]Inhalant: Any drug administered by breathing in its vapors. Inhalants commonly are

organic solvents, such as glue and paint thinner, or anesthetic gases, such as ether andnitrous oxide. [5]Inhalation: The act of administering a drug or combination of drugs by nasal or oralrespiration. Also, the act of drawing air or other substances into the lungs. Nicotine intobacco smoke enters the body by inhalation. [5]Injection: A method of administering a substance such as a drug into the skin,subcutaneous tissue, muscle, blood vessels, or body cavities, usually by means of aneedle. [5]LLimbic system: A set of brain structures that generates our feelings, emotions, andmotivations. It is also important in learning and memory. [5]

LSDLSD (Lysergic Acid Diethylamide) is possibly the most powerful hallucinogenic drugknown. It was discovered in 1938 by Albert Hoffman a Swiss chemist, whose actualpurpose was to find a cure for the common cold. It has had a checkered history to saythe least. Iconic public figures have, in the past, advocated its use: Hunter S Thompson,The Beatles, and Timothy Leary being notable advocates.

After 1-2 hours of ingesting the drug, visual awareness is heightened, sounds becomeenhanced, emotions and physical sensations are altered. The users sense of self andits interaction with people or objects, their concept of reality is generally brought toquestion. Strange visual stimuli, that may or may not be comforting or frighteningoverwhelm the user, there is a real risk of irrational fear taking over, paranoia, confusionor panic. Equally, some people have apparently wonderful experiences with none of these symptoms.ceptor. [5]

MMarijuana: A drug, usually smoked but can be eaten, that is made from the leaves of thecannabis plant. The main psychoactive ingredient is THC. [5]Medication: A drug that is used to treat an illness or disease according to establishedmedical guidelines. [5]Metabolism: The processes by which the body breaks things down or alters them sothey can be eliminated. [5]Methamphetamine: A commonly abused, potent stimulant drug that is part of a larger family of amphetamines. [5]Methylphenidate (Ritalin): Methylphenidate is a central nervous system stimulant. Ithas effects similar to, but more potent than, caffeine and less potent thanamphetamines. It has a notably calming and "focusing" effect on those with ADHD,particularly children. [7]Musculoskeletal system: The muscles, bones, tendons, and ligaments. [2]Myelin: Fatty material that surrounds and insulates axons of most neurons. [9]


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NNeuron (nerve cell): A unique type of cell found in the brain and body that is specializedto process and transmit information. [5]Neurotransmission: The process that occurs when a neuron releases neurotransmittersto communicate with another neuron across the synapse. [5]

Neurotransmitter: A chemical produced by neurons to carry messages to other neurons.[5]Nicotine: The addictive drug in tobacco. Nicotine activates a specific type of acetylcholine receptor. [5]Nitrites: A special class of inhalants that act primarily to dilate blood vessels and relaxthe muscles. Whereas other inhalants are used to alter mood, nitrites are used primarilyas sexual enhancers. (See also amyl nitrite and butyl nitrite). [9]Nitrous oxide: Medical anesthetic gas, especially used in dentistry. Also called "laughinggas." Found in whipped cream dispensers and gas cylinders. [9]Noradrenaline: A chemical neurotransmitter that is made in the brain and can affect theheart.[ [9]

Nucleus: A cluster or group of nerve cells that is dedicated to performing its own specialfunction(s). Nuclei are found in all parts of the brain but are called cortical fields in thecerebral cortex. [5]Nucleus accumbens: A part of the brain reward system, located in the limbic system,that processes information related to motivation and reward. Virtually all drugs of abuseact on the nucleus accumbens to reinforce drug taking. [5]OOccipital lobe: The lobe of the cerebral cortex at the back of the head that includes thevisual cortex. [5]Opium

An age old drug, Opium has influenced the economy of nations, caused wars, inspiredpoets and brought the ruin of many. Derived from the collected sap of the Opium Poppy(Papaver Somniferum), it has been cultivated since Neolithic times. Used as a foodsource, the seeds have no narcotic effect but are used as spice, they have a mild nuttyflavor. In contrast, the sap, collected from immature seed pods, has extremely powerfulnarcotic qualities. The plants are native to Greece and China, and were grown inEgyptian, Roman and Minoan civilizations. The sap is a highly addictive painkiller whichcan be smoked or eaten, and when dissolved in alcohol (commonly known aslaudanum) it can be drunk.Laudanums biggest clam to fame was its use by the romantic poets. Many of the Pre-Raphaelites (Among them Lord Byron, Shelly and others) were know to indulge. Theimage of the romantic poet, pale, morose, drunk on absinthe and laudanum is acommon one. It was, in the Victorian era, freely available and somewhat cheaper thangin and became a working class tipple. It was liberally prescribed to children that wereteething. Opium dens were popular in most 19th century cities. Patrons would lie ontheir side with long wooden pipes, the bowl upturned over a smoking ball of opium.

P


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Parietal lobe: One of the four subdivisions of the cerebral cortex; it is involved insensory processes, attention, and language. [5]Physical dependence: An adaptive physiological state that occurs with regular drug useand results in a withdrawal syndrome when drug use is stopped; usually occurs withtolerance. [3]

Polyneuropathy: Permanent change or malfunction of nerves. Sudden sniffing death - Atype of death that can occur when inhaled fumes fill up the cells in the lungs withpoisonous chemicals, leaving no room for the oxygen needed to breathe. This lack of oxygen can lead to suffocation, respiratory failure, and death. [9]Polyneuropathy: A drug that distorts perception, thought, and feeling. This term istypically used to refer to drugs with actions like those of LSD. [5]Psychoactive: Having a specific effect on the mind. [1]Psychedelic MushroomsFor millennia, Psychedelic or hallucinogenic mushrooms have figured in society, cultureand religion. There are more than 180 species of mushrooms which contain thepsychedelics Psilocybin or Psilocin. They have a long history of use in Mexico and tribal

societies and are currently one of the most popular and commonly available naturalpsychedelics. Psilocybin and Psilocin are the psychoactive ingredients responsible for the hallucinatory state or trip the user experiences some twenty minutes after consuming the mushrooms. The effect of which is similar to that of LSD but shorter livedand will be outlined in the LSD section.Some of these Magic Mushrooms, are actually more poisonous than they arehallucinogenic, great care must be taken to pick the correct types. In fact it is a rule of thumb with users that you should never pick them without being accompanied bysomeone who has picked them before. In the United Kingdom, taking or possessingshrooms, is legal, but preparing them including drying them or selling them is anoffense under the misuse of drugs act. The Netherlands, in recent years, has made thepossession of Magic Mushrooms totally illegal, which may surprise people who areaware of its relaxed laws on Cannabis. Magic Mushrooms can be dried, eaten fresh,cooked or boiled into a tea.Psychoactive drug: A drug that changes the way the brain works. [5]

RReceptor: A large molecule that recognizes specific chemicals (normallyneurotransmitters, hormones, and similar endogenous substances) and transmits themessage carried by the chemical into the cell on which the receptor resides. [5]Relapse: In drug abuse, relapse is the resumption of drug use after trying to stop takingdrugs. Relapse is a common occurrence in many chronic disorders, including addiction,that require behavioral adjustments to treat effectively. [5]Reuptake: The process by which neurotransmitters are removed from the synapse bybeing "pumped" through transporters back into the axon terminals that first releasedthem. [5]Reuptake pump (transporter): The large molecule that actually transportsneurotransmitter molecules back into the axon terminals that released them. [5]


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Reward: The process that reinforces behavior. It is mediated at least in part by therelease of dopamine into the nucleus accumbens. Human subjects report that reward isassociated with feelings of pleasure. [5]Reward system (or brain reward system): A brain circuit that, when activated, reinforcesbehaviors. The circuit includes the dopamine-containing neurons of the ventral

tegmental area, the nucleus accumbens, and part of the prefrontal cortex. Theactivation of this circuit causes feelings of pleasure. [5]Route of administration: The way a drug is put into the body. Drugs can enter the bodyby eating, drinking, inhaling, injecting, snorting, smoking, or absorbing a drug throughmucous membranes. [5]Rush: A surge of pleasure that rapidly follows administration of some drugs. [3]SSerotonin: A neurotransmitter that regulates many functions, including mood, appetite,and sensory perception. [5]Sex hormones: Hormones that are found in higher quantities in one sex than in theother. Male sex hormones are the androgens, which include testosterone; and the

female sex hormones are the estrogens and progesterone. [2]SolventsSolvents are an extremely distasteful class of abusive substances. Readily availablefrom hardware stores, solvent abuse was popularized in the late seventies as the drugof choice of the Punk Rock scene. The industrio-chemical nature of solvents, especiallysolvent glue, was a strong representation of the Punk vision. Other solvent inhalantsinclude aerosols, nail varnish, gas lighter fuel and petrol.The general availability of these products makes them popular among poor or destitutechildren around the world. For the equivalent of 10 cents, a street kid in Casablanca,Morocco, can buy a small tube of bicycle inner tube repair glue, enough to take him outof the world that he inhabits and into a feeling of contentment and warmth. This is afamiliar story all over the world and is indicative of the depravity that generallyassociates itself with solvent abusers. Often the glue is inhaled from a plastic bag,sometimes over the head, it is not difficult to imagine how often an unconscious user has died of suffocation in this process.

Stimulants: A class of drugs that elevates mood, increases feelings of well-being, andincreases energy and alertness. These drugs produce euphoria and are powerfullyrewarding. Stimulants include cocaine, Methamphetamine, and methylphenidate(Ritalin). [5]Synapse: The site where presynaptic and postsynaptic neurons communicate with eachother. [5]Synaptic space (or synaptic cleft): The intercellular space between the presynaptic andpostsynaptic neurons. [5]TTemporal lobe: The lobe of the cerebral cortex at the side of the head that hears andinterprets music and language. [5]Tetrahydrocannabinol: See THC.


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Thalamus: Located deep within the brain, the thalamus is the key relay station for sensory information flowing into the brain, filtering out important messages from themass of signals entering the brain. [5]THC: Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol; the main active ingredient in marijuana, which actson the brain to produce its effects. [1]

Tobacco: A plant widely cultivated for its leaves, which are used primarily for smoking;the tabacum species is the major source of tobacco products. [3]Tolerance: A condition in which higher doses of a drug are required to produce thesame effect as during initial use; often leads to physical dependence. [3]Toluene: A light colorless liquid solvent found in many commonly abused inhalants,including airplane glue, paint sprays, and paint and nail polish removers. [9]Transporter: A light colorless liquid solvent found in many commonly abused inhalants,including airplane glue, paint sprays, and paint and nail polish removers.[ [5]Trichloroethylene: A liquid used as a solvent and in medicine as an anesthetic andanalgesic. Found in cleaning fluid and correction fluid. [9]V

Ventral tegmental area (VTA): The group of dopamine-containing neurons that make upa key part of the brain reward system. These neurons extend axons to the nucleusaccumbens and the prefrontal cortex. [5]Vertigo: The sensation of dizziness. [6]Vesicle: A membranous sac within an axon terminal that stores and releasesneurotransmitter. [5]WWithdrawal: Symptoms that occur after chronic use of a drug is reduced or stopped. [2]

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