Transcript L3 Drugs-Psychoactive drugs

Drugs-Use and
Abuse
Lesson 3
“Psychoactive Drugs”
Psychoactive Drugs

Chemicals that affect the CNS and alter
activity in the Brain
Stimulants


What Are They?
Stimulants are a class of drugs that
elevate mood, increase feelings of
well-being, and increase energy and
alertness and speed up the CNS
Examples of stimulants include
cocaine, crack amphetamines,
Methamphetamine, methylphenidate
(Ritalin®), nicotine, and MDMA (3-4
methylenedioxy Methamphetamine,
better known as Ecstasy)
What Are the Common Street
Names?



Cocaine is generally sold on the
street as a fine, white, crystalline
powder, known as "coke," "C,"
"snow," "flake," "blow," "bump,"
"candy," "Charlie," "rock," and
"toot."
"Crack," the street name for the
smoke-able form of cocaine, got its
name from the crackling sound
made when it's smoked.
A "speedball" is cocaine or crack
combined with heroin or crack and
heroin smoked together.
How Are They Used?
Stimulants can be taken in several
ways:
 Swallowed in pill form
 Snorted in powder form
 Injected
 Heated in crystal form and
smoked (inhaled into the lungs).
Health Consequences





high blood pressure, shortness of breath, nausea,
vomiting, and diarrhea.
panic attacks and feelings of restlessness, irritability,
and anxiety.
violent behavior, confusion, and insomnia.
ST’s can lead to overdose, which can cause acute
emergencies with the heart or brain, sometimes
resulting in sudden death.
Withdrawal-The signs of withdrawal are profound
depression, apathy, fatigue, long periods of sleep, a
lingering impairment of perception, disorientation,
and anxiety.
Depressants



Depressants are substances that
depress the activity of the central
nervous system. Depressants are often
referred to as "downers" because of
their sedative, hypnotic and
tranquilizing effects.
Barbiturates, Tranquilizers, Rohypnol,
GHB are common depressants
Street Names: Downers, Barbs, Blue
Devils, Red Devils, Yellow Jackets,
Yellows, Quaaludes, Ludes, Valium,
Poppers
Effects on the body….

impaired judgment, inebriation, slurred
speech, and loss of motor coordination.

Other symptoms include a weak and rapid
pulse, slow or rapid but shallow breathing,
and cold and clammy skin.
Date rape drugs………..

Rohypnol a legal sleep aid & GHB an
illegal depressant, are often used in drugfacilitated sexual assaults because of its
sedative properties.
Withdrawal from depressants….


Withdrawal from depressants can be extreme,
After 24 hours without the drug, symptoms such
as anxiety and agitation may develop,
Depending on the potency of the drug,
withdrawal will peak between two to eight days,
causing appetite loss, nausea, vomiting,
abdominal cramps, increased heart rate, and
excessive sweating, Some severe symptoms of
withdrawal may be delirium, convulsions, and in
some cases, death.
Narcotics
Opiates are: Opium, Morphine,
Heroin, Codeine
Street Names: Smack, Horse,
Mud, Brown sugar, Junk, Black
tar, China white,
Effects on the body:
 Well known for their medical use
of relieving severe pain, narcotics
are commonly abused drugs
because of their euphoric effect
and highly addictive quality
Withdrawal


Withdrawal symptoms such as watery eyes,
runny nose, yawning and perspiration will
develop only six to eight hours following the last
use of the drug.
more severe withdrawal symptoms may develop,
including restlessness, irritability, appetite loss,
tremors, stomach cramps, diarrhea, and chills
alternating with excessive sweating. It may take
one to two weeks for the body to return to
"normal."
Hallucinogens
Where Do Hallucinogens Come From?
 Some hallucinogens can be found in plants. Mescaline
comes from a cactus called peyote. And certain mushrooms,
also known as magic mushrooms, are hallucinogens.
But many hallucinogens are chemicals that don't
occur in nature. Some examples are:
 LSD, MDA, an amphetamine, MDMA--an amphetamine,
called ecstasy, PCP (phencyclidine)
 Street Names: Mesc, Buttons, and Cactus, Magic
Mushrooms, 'shrooms, Hog, Angel Dust, Loveboat, White
lightning, Blue heaven, Ecstasy and Sugar Cubes
Body effects…………
Hallucinogens cause:
 distortions of reality, particularly with sight
smell, and touch.
The "trips" caused by hallucinogens can last for
hours. Parts of these trips can feel really good,
and other parts can feel really terrible. Flash backs
can occur hours, even days after taking the drug.

There is no evidence that hallucinogens cause a
physical dependence; however, psychological
dependence occurs and extended use may
result in permanent brain damage.
Designer drugs
Ecstasy is a slang term
for an illegal drug that has
effects similar to those of hallucinogens and
stimulants. All-night dance club "raves" or
"trances" is where ecstasy is often used.
 Common Street Names?
ecstasy, E, XTC, X, Adam,
hug, beans, clarity, lover's
speed, and love drug

How Is It Used? and affects
MDMA is usually taken by mouth in a pill,
tablet, or capsule
 a "hit" of ecstasy lasts for 3 to 6 hours.
abusers might feel very alert or "hyper“,

They may also experience distortions in time
and other changes in perception, such as
an enhanced sense of touch.
the side effects……..



including feelings of sadness, anxiety,
depression, and memory difficulties—can last for
several days to a week
Other Effects On the Body
MDMA can also cause muscle tension,
clenching of teeth, nausea, blurred vision,
fainting, and chills or sweating. It increases heart
rate and blood pressure.
MDMA abusers can also become dehydrated
through vigorous activity in a hot environment.