 About
Poole DAAT
|
||||
| Local
Initiatives
|
||||
Information:
Drugs
Amphetamines |
||||
| Services
|
||||
| Youth
Issues |
||||
| Information:
Alcohol |
||||
| Harm Minimisation
|
||||
| If you want to know more
about these drugs or any others please go to FRANK. |
Amphetamines or Speed (Class B or Class A if prepared for injection). First synthesized in 1887 Amphetimine was not pharmacologically used until 1927 when it was used as a replacement for ephedrine (a plant derivative used in medications for congestion and asthma). It has been used for weight loss medication as it reduces appetite and as a performance enhancer. Usually sold in wraps the powder is off-white or pinkish and can sometimes look like small crystals. Crystal Meth (methylamphetamine) is a powerful and addictive form of Speed. Amphetamines have a similar effect to cocaine and makes people feel alert, focussed, motivated, restless and excited. Typically the speed is only about 5-15% amphetamine with Base Speed being purer. Speed can cause difficulty sleeping, irritability and depression lasting up to two days. It can strain the heart and damage the immune system. In the long term a person could develop anxiety, depression, aggression, psychosis and paranoia. It is particularly dangerous if taken with alcohol or antidepressants or by people with high blood pressure. Back to menu |
|||||
Ecstasy (Class A Substance) (Methylenedioxymethamphetamine) Ecstasy is an hallucinogenic but can also be used as a stimulant. The effects of Ecstasy last for about three to six hours and include a heightened sense of awareness, alertness and great love with a gradual comedown. Pure ecstasy is a white crystalline powder known to chemists as MDMA, which was patented in 1912 for as a drug to control bleeding. It has been used in studies on adrenaline, and psychotherapy most recently in trials treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Ecstasy can cause long term physical and psychological problems. It can cause hyperthermia (dangerously high body temperature which can lead to fitting), hyponatremia (low sodium levels in plasma possibly leading to swelling of the brain), and a reduction in serotonin transporters possibly causing depression and memory deficits. It has also been linked to liver, kidney and heart problems along with increased cold, flu, throat infections, cystitis, with dangerous effects on anyone with asthma, heart conditions, blood pressure problems and epilepsy. Ecstasy tablets available on the street are often made with amphetamines, caffeine, Paracetamol, Ibuprofen, and unknown pharmaceuticals sometimes not containing any MDMA at all. Some man-made drugs can be passed off as Ecstasy such as PMA (Para-methoxyamphetamine) AKA "Dr Death" a potent and highly neurotoxic hallucinogenic amphetamine which can cause accelerated and irregular heartbeat, blurred vision, nausea, vomitting, hyperthermia and death. Several deaths have occurred as this slow effect drug was thought to be inactive and a second pill containing MDMA being taken. Back to menu |
|||||
| Mephedrone (Class B) Mephedrone (meow meow, MCAT, meph, drone) and the family of Cathinone derivatives (part of the amphetamine family) have been made illegal. They are relatively new and use of it grew dramatically in a short period of time, according to anecdotal evidence, both nationally and locally. The intended effect is alertness, euphoria, excitement, stimulation talkativeness and feelings of empathy. Side effects: nose bleeds, hallucinations, nausea, vomiting, blood circulation problems, rashes, anxiety, paranoia, fits, delusions, teeth grinding, inability to open the mouth normally, headaches, heart palpitations, insomnia, overheating of the body, cold/blue fingers and can create a psychological dependence. Mephedrone, in its off-white/yellowish powder form, is taken by snorting, "bombed" (swallowed in a paper wrap), smoked and in some cases injected. It also comes in pills and capsules. Back to Menu LSD (Lysergic Acid Diethylamide) (Class A) Created in 1938 by Albert Hoffman and accidentally absorbed into his body in 1943 whereupon he discovered its powerful hallucinogenic properties. It is synthesized from a fungus found on rye flour called ergot and was originally expected to be an ingredient for a respiratory and circulatory stimulant but has so far been found to have no medical use. LSD is not considered to be addictive, a tolerance may be built up but this diminishes within a few days. There is no evidence to suggest that it causes long term physical problems. However, trips are random and can be extremely frightening and disturbing as it feeds off a person's imagination and heightens the mood you are in. It has been known for people to jump from buildings or step into traffic whilst under the influence of LSD. It can cause long term psychological effects and also possible changes in personality. LSD can also trigger hitherto undetected mental health problems. Street LSD, or Acid, is usually bought as tiny squares of blotting paper and is sometimes known by the pictures on the paper. It can also be found as liquid or tiny pellets. Back to menu |
|||||
Cannabis (Class B) The drug is also known as marijuana, ganja, grass, hash, hashish, pot, sinsemella, skunk, smoke, spliff, wacky backy, weed etc. Cannabis is a flowering plant originally from Central and South Asia. It has a long history of use as a fibre (hemp), medicinal purposes and as a recreational drug with discoveries dating back to the 3rd millennium B.C. The most widely used street drug in the UK cannabis, in its most popular form, is the dried flowers and leaves of the female plant, also known as marijuana, containing 3%-22% THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol - the main psychoactive chemical compound found in cannabis). There are about 400 chemical compounds in the average cannabis plant. Hashish, a concentrated resin produced from the flowers of the female plant, can be more potent than marijuana and is usually smoked or chewed. Hash oil, or honey oil, is a mix of essential oils and resins extracted from the foliage with solvents and may have more than 60% THC content. This is used for cooking and baking (e.g. cake or cookies). There are also stronger strains of herbal cannabis available which is made from the bud with no seeds (sinsemella) and is known as skunk, homegrown or netherweed. It is difficult to work out the strength of a batch as traditional herb and the skunk type herb does overlap in its strength. Also, you will not be able to tell which part of the plant has been included - the leaves, stalk and flowers all have different levels of THC. The scent of the cannabis is not a certain measurement of its potency. Levels in adulterated products such as resin and "soap bar" (which ingredients have been found to include animal excrement, engine oil, henna etc) will be even harder to determine. After taking cannabis some people feel relaxed, happy, have a loss of inhibitions, an enhanced appreciation of music and colour, whilst others may become anxious or paranoid, or experience feelings of confusion, hallucinations. Physically the body has an increased heart rate, lowered blood pressure, memory impairment. It is generally believed that smoking cannabis is harmful to the lungs, as with the smoking of any substance. Frequent use can lower fertility by cutting a man's sperm count and suppressing a woman's ovulation. If pregnant, smoking cannabis can cause the baby to be born smaller than expected and there is a risk of birth defects. Long term use can cause a person to become more tired, less motivated and depressed. There are suggestions that it may impair a person's ability to concentrate, organize and use information. Cannabis use has been linked to the onset of mental health problems including anxiety, psychosis, depression and schizophrenia. Further information about the effects of cannabis on mental health is available on the Royal College of Psychiatrists website. Back to menu |
|||||
| Heroin (Class A substance) Heroin was synthesized from morphine in 1874 and again independently 23 years later and marketed with the mistaken idea that it was less addictive than the morphine. Morphine itself was derived from the opium poppy. Heroin usually appears as a white (in its purist form) or brown powder or as a black tar like substance. It is injected, heated over foil, snorted, or smoked. Heroin can be cut with different substances to bulk out the amount that is sold and can contain brick dust, nutmeg, sugar or starch ….. these added ingredients can lead to poisoning and can be dangerous in their own right. Buying heroin on the street you will not know the purity of the substance. Heroin can give a feeling of pleasant euphoria leading to calm relaxation. Tolerance develops quickly requiring higher doses of the drug. It can create dependence both physically and mentally by which time the drug needs to be taken to avoid the withdrawal symptoms. Sudden withdrawal by heavy users can be fatal. Heroin use has risks such as contracting blood borne viruses (BBV), bacterial or fungal endocarditis (inflammation of the inner lining of the heart causing inflammation/swelling interrupting the blood flow to the heart valves leading to heart failure, stroke and or multiple organ damage). Other effects are nausea, hallucinations, dizzy spells, and changes in eating and sleeping patterns. Overdoses do happen leading to respiratory failure, particularly when taken with other substances. It can reduce your coughing ability causing you to choke on your own vomit. Injecting heroin can cause the deterioration of the veins leading to gangrene and other infections. Back to menu |
|||||
|
Cocaine (Class A substance) The coca leaf was originally chewed by the indigenous people of South America. Scientists in the mid-nineteenth century worked to isolate the cocaine alkaloid. It was used in a variety of experiments, medications and in drinks including wine and the original recipe for Coca Cola. Cocaine is a white powder and usually snorted. Crack is a form of cocaine made into small lumps or rocks which make a cracking noise when burnt. Often cut with other substances a UK customs study in June 2009 found plastics, animal worming treatments, diuretics, boric acid (used as an insecticide and weather/fireproofing) along with anaesthetics, antihistamines, and pain killers. Cocaine is a stimulant with Crack working faster and lasting for about ten minutes, the powder snorted takes effect after a longer period and lasts about 20-30 minutes. It creates a feeling of confidence and euphoria. There is a strong temptation for the person using cocaine to take more once the first dose has worn off. Cocaine's side effects include: flu like systems, careless risk taking, overdose leading to death from raised body temperature, convulsions and respiratory or heart failure. Mentally people may start to feel depressed, anxious and/or paranoid. There can be a strong psychological dependence due to changes in the brain and possible long term alterations in the nervous system. Use with other drugs or alcohol can increase the side effects and can potentially be fatal. Cocaine and alcohol create a toxic chemical in the body. Speedballing (taken with heroin) can also be fatal. Crack users have taken heroin to dull their cravings thus creating an addiction to that also. Back to menu |