Commonly Abused Drugs by Helen

Commonly Abused Drugs

helendang21004 — 2016-01-05 01:30:47 UTC

Depressant (drug used to reduce symptoms of mental illness): Oxycodone

helendang21004 — 2016-01-05 01:46:16 UTC

Oxycodone is an opioid pain medication which can be referred to as a narotic. It is used to treat moderate to severe pain.

Street Names:

Kicker
Blue
OC
Oxycotton
OX
Oxy
Hillbilly Heroin

How is it used?

taken orally
if it comes as a solution, concentrated solution, tablet, or capsule, take every 4-6 hours with our without food as prescribed by doctor
if it comes as a extended-release tablet, swallow it with water

Short term effects:

When taken as prescribed, it can cause...

euphoria
extreme relaxation
reduced anxiety
pain relief
sedation

Side effects include....

Nausea.
Vomiting.
Loss of appetite.
Dry mouth.
Constipation.
Dizziness.
Stomach pain.
Drowsiness.
Flushing.
Sweating.
Weakness.
Headache.
Mood changes.

Irregular heart rate and/or rhythm.
Chest pain.
Hives, itching, or rash.
Swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs.
Hoarseness.
Difficulty breathing or swallowing.
Seizures.
Extreme drowsiness.
Postural hypotension.
Lightheadedness.

Long term effects:

kidney and liver failure
reduction of brain's ability to adapt to new input
psychological dependence
physical dependence

Stimulant (psychoactive drugs that induce temporary movements): Cocaine

helendang21004 — 2016-01-05 01:46:30 UTC

Cocaine is an addictive stimulant which was originally developed as a painkiller; it is made from the coca plant which is native in South America.

Street Names:

Charlie

Aunt Nora

Bernice

Binge

Blow

Coke

Dust

Flake

Mojo

Nose Candy

Paradise

Sneeze

Sniff

Snow

Toot

White

How is it used?

powder form inhaled through nose (snorted) and then absorbed in nasal tissue
powder dissolved in water and injected
cocaine heated into rock crystal to make crack and smoked; absorbed into blood-stream through the lungs
ingested
rubbed onto gums

Short term effects:

Loss of appetite
Increased heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature
Contracted blood vessels
Increased rate of breathing
Dilated pupils
Disturbed sleep patterns
Nausea
Hyperstimulation
Bizarre, erratic, sometimes violent behavior
Hallucinations, hyperexcitability, irritability
Tactile hallucination that creates the illusion of bugs burrowing under the skin
Intense euphoria
Anxiety and paranoia
Depression
Intense drug craving
Panic and psychosis
Convulsions, seizures and sudden death from high doses (even one time)

Long term effects:

Permanent damage to blood vessels of heart and brain
High blood pressure, leading to heart attacks, strokes, and death
Liver, kidney and lung damage
Destruction of tissues in nose if sniffed
Respiratory failure if smoked
Infectious diseases and abscesses if injected
Malnutrition, weight loss
Severe tooth decay
Auditory and tactile hallucinations
Sexual problems, reproductive damage and infertility (for both men and women)
Disorientation, apathy, confused exhaustion
Irritability and mood disturbances
Increased frequency of risky behavior
Delirium or psychosis
Severe depression
Tolerance and addiction (even after just one use)

Hallucinogen (psychoactive agent that causes substantial subjective changes in thoughts, emotions, and consciousness): Peyote

helendang21004 — 2016-01-05 01:46:49 UTC

Peyote is a hallucinogenic drug from the small spineless cactus, Lophophora williamsii, that contains mescaline. Mescaline can be extracted from peyote or produced synthetically.

Street Names:

Britton
Half Moon
Hokori
Hikuli
Hyatari
Nubs
P
Seni
Tops
Bad Seed (marijuana + peyote; peyote)

How is it used?

the crown of the cactus is has disc-shaped buttons that are cut from the roots and dried; they are chewed or soaked in water to produce an intoxicating liquid
ground into a powder and smoked

Short term effects:

nausea
increased body temperature
increased blood pressure
increased heart rate
loss of appetite
sleeplessness
numbness
weakness
tremors
pleasure
anxiety
fear of death, losing control, and insanity

Long term effects:

hallucinogen persisting perception disorder (HPPD) or "flashbacks"

Club Drug (a controlled substance usually taken by youg people at dances or raves): Rohypnol (flunitrazepam)

helendang21004 — 2016-01-05 01:47:05 UTC

Rohypnol is an intermediate-acting benzodiazepine with properties similar to those of Valium. It is used in the treatment of insomnia as a pre-medication in surgical procedures and for inducing anesthesia. It is an aid for sexual assault as the victim can be paralyzed and will eventually forget what they experienced afterwards. It can also be used to boost the highs from heroin, modulate the effects of cocaine, and to produce profound intoxication.

Street Names:

forget me drug
roches
roofies
ruffles
date rape drug
la roche
R2
rib
roach
roofenol
rope
rophies
the forget pill
getting roached
lunch money drug
Mexican Valium
pingus
Reynolds
Robutal
wolfies
Rochas Dos
Row-Shay

How is it used?

can be taken orally
ground up and snorted
ground up and dissolved into a drink

Short term effects:

sleepy, relaxed, drunk feeling
blackouts
memory loss
dizziness
respiratory depression
nausea
disorientation
difficulty with motor movements and speaking

Long term effects:

physical dependence
psychological dependence

Marijuana

helendang21004 — 2016-01-05 01:47:10 UTC

Marijuana is traced to the dried leaves, stems, flowers, and seeds of the hemp plant, Cannabis sativa. It contains mind-altering chemicals such as delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

Street Names:

How is it used?

smoked as a cigarette (joint) or from a pipe (bong)
tobacco removed from cigar and replaced with pot ("blunt")
can be mixed with other drugs or regular food

Short term effects:

increased heart rate
less coordination and balance
unreal sense of mind
altered sense and sense of time
changes in mood
difficulty with thinking and body movement
impaired memory

Long term events:

reduced thinking, memory, learning functions
breathing problems
possible increased risk for lung cancer
increased chance of heart attack
if user is pregnant, marijuana may affect part of the fetus's brain
hallucinations
paranoia
worsening symptoms in users with schizophrenia
depression
anxiety
suicidal thoughts

helendang21004 — 2016-01-05 03:10:14 UTC

helendang21004 — 2016-01-05 03:16:08 UTC

helendang21004 — 2016-01-05 03:35:32 UTC

helendang21004 — 2016-01-05 04:08:10 UTC

helendang21004 — 2016-01-05 04:38:46 UTC

How do drugs affect the brain?

helendang21004 — 2016-01-05 04:46:19 UTC

Drugs are chemicals that affect the brain; they tap into its communication system and interfere with the way neurons (nerve cells) normally send, receive, and process information. Certain drugs can activate neurons because their chemical structure mimics that of a natural neurotransmitter. This similarity in structure tricks receptors and allows the drugs to attach onto and activate the neurons. However, they don’t activate neurons in the same way as a natural neurotransmitter which eventually leads to abnormal messages being transmitted through the network of the brain.

Why are drugs pleasurable and addictive?

helendang21004 — 2016-01-05 04:51:07 UTC

Most drugs target the brain’s limbic system, also known as the reward system, by flooding the circuit with dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter present in areas of the brain that control movement, emotion, motivation, and feelings of pleasure. When activated at normal levels, this system rewards our natural behaviors. However, flooding the system with drugs produces exciting effects, which strongly reinforce the behavior of drug use. Because of this, the user is tempted to continue drug usage and eventually grow addicted to the substance.

helendang21004 — 2016-01-05 04:52:35 UTC

What does marijuana do to your brain?

helendang21004 — 2016-01-05 04:55:15 UTC

Oxycodone

helendang21004 — 2016-01-05 04:58:04 UTC