Drugs
- Amphetamines
- Nicknames; Speed - Phet – Whizz - Billy - Base
EFFECTS - Feeling of increased energy and confidence
PROBLEMS: mood swings—verbal aggression---anxiety---depression
Appetite suppresser
Long term and heavy use can sometimes activate an underlying mental health problem
- Cannabis & Cannabis Resin
- Nicknames: Draw - Ganja - Pot - Weed - Blow - Grass - Dope – Solid- Skunk
EFFECTS: a feeling of intoxication –being relaxed and talkative
Heightens the senses especially with colour taste and sound
PROBLEMS: can affects short-term memory and ability to concentrate as well as co- ordination, - a user can show sighs of lethargy and a lack of motivation
Long term and heavy use can sometimes activate an underlying mental health problem
- Cocaine
- Nicknames; Charlie - Coke – Snow
EFFECTS: Feeling of extreme confidence & alertness lasting for approx 2 hours - A strong ‘high’ for first 20 minutes
PROBLEMS: frequent use over a short period can leave user restless, confused, and very depressed
Long term and heavy can cause severe nasal damage, mental health problems, or heart problems.
- Crack Cocaine
- Nicknames: Rocks – Stone – Pebbles – White - Shots
Effect: Intense ‘high’ lasting about 10 - 20 minutes
PROBLEMS: Highly addictive, difficult to control uses, mood swings,
Verbal aggression, anxiety, depression, smoking crack can harm the lungs and cause chest pains
Long term and heavy use can sometimes activate an underlying metal health problem
- Ecstasy
- Nicknames often named after the logo on them: ‘ Es‘ - Doves – Mitsubishis - Dolphins
EFFECTS: State of euphoria - extreme well being towards other people
Sound, colour and emotions can seem much more intense, rushes of energy lasting for 3 to 6 hours
PROBLEMS:
As ecstasy starts working (coming up) users may feel Nausea - dizziness – sweating –jaw tension– increased heart rate which can lead to dehydration and- overheating
(The come down) can leave users tired and depressed for days
- GHB
- Nicknames: ‘G’ – Liquid Ecstasy – Grievous Bodily Harm
EFFECTS: At lower doses, GHB can relieve anxiety and produce relaxation. Combining use with other drugs such as alcohol can result in nausea, loss of muscle control and difficulty breathing. GHB may also produce withdrawal effects, including insomnia, anxiety, tremors, and sweating.
PROBLEMS: Other effects include difficulty thinking, hallucinations, slurred speech, headaches and amnesia. GHB has reportedly been used in cases of date rape. Because GHB is odourless and tasteless, it can be slipped into someone's drink without detection.
- Heroin
- Nicknames: ‘H’ - Smack – Brown
EFFECTS: Blissful drowsiness - Emotional & Physical numbness –
A feeling of well being
PROBLEMS: Very addictive, tolerance can develop quickly, users who start by smoking heroin sometimes switch to injection to reduce the cost.
Injecting can damage veins, sharing needles, spoons etc, and puts users at risk of hepatitis B and C or HIV
- Ketamine
- Nicknames: Special K, vitamin K or just K
EFFECTS: A feeling that the mind has been separated from the body (out of body experience) Lasts up to 3 hours. The effects are influenced by the users mood and environment
PROBLEMS: As Ketamine numbs the body a user may be physically unable to move, also can risk serious injury without feeling pain
Excessive doses carry some risk of breathing and bladder problems and heart failure.
Ketamine is very dangerous when mixed with alcohol and other drugs
- LSD
- Nicknames: ‘A’ - Acid - trips – tabs - blotter –dots
EFFECTS: Hallucinations - sense of movement and time can speed up or slow down, objects, colours and sound may become distorted, lasts up to possibly 8 - 12 hours
PROBLEMS: Once trip starts there is no way of stopping it, the effects depend on the users mood, where they are and who there with. Accidents can happen while users are hallucinating.
Users can experience flashbacks, for some time afterwards
LSD can complicate mental health problems such as depression, anxiety and schizophrenia.
- Magic Mushroom
- Nickname: Shrooms, Mushies.
EFFECTS: Cause hallucinations; objects, colour and sound become distorted. Effects depend on the users mood, where they are and who they are with. Trips last about 4 hours.
PROBLEMS: Bad trips can happen and can be very frightening, once the trip has started there is no going back
Like any hallucinogen, magic mushrooms can complicate mental health problems.
- Drug: Nitrites - Amyl / Butyl
- Nicknames: Poppers - Rush – Liquid gold
EFFECTS: Users get a brief head rush, some experience the impression of time slowing down, and effects fade 2 to 5 minutes after use
PROBLEMS: Users often experience a headache afterwards, regular use causes skin problems around the mouth and nose
Taking poppers is very dangerous for people with anaemia, glaucoma, and breathing or heart problems.
- Solvents
- EFFECTS: Swift intoxication, Dizzy, Giggly.
PROBLEMS: Abusing solvents can lead to nausea, vomiting, black outs and heart problems, accidents can happen when the user is high because their senses are affected
Using solvents can cause instant death by freezing the larynx. Long term use can damage the brain, liver, and kidneys
- Tranquillisers
- Nicknames: Tranx - Eggs - Benzos – Jellies
EFFECTS: Relieve tension and anxiety, slows things down mentally
Higher doses can make user drowsy and forgetful
PROBLEMS: (some from long term use)
Users trying to quit may suffer panic attacks
Highly dangerous if injected - risk of death if combined with alcohol - high risk of dependence from long term use