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Alcohol - Cocaine - Ecstacy - Heroin - Marijuana

ALCOHOL
Used to excess, alcohol can affect every system of the body. Alcohol abuse can have devastating effects on the family, job performance, society and public safety. Effects depend on amount consumed, the personality and mood of the drinker. Reactions can range from relaxation and euphoria to withdrawal or violence. Alcohol impedes fetal development.

Signs of Intoxication: Incoordination, slurred speech, vomiting, loss of consciousness.
Withdrawal Symptoms: Anxiety, insomnia and/or delirium tremens (DT's or "the shakes").


EFFECTS OF CHRONIC ABUSE

Dependency, permanent damage to vital organs, premature mental aging, metabolic abnormalities

  • Mind & Behaviour: Excitability, anxiety, depression, insomnia, possible violent behaviour, memory lapses, mental capacity, paranoia, auditory hallucinations, dementia.

  • Central Nervous System: Depressed activity.

  • Heart & Blood: Risk of anemia, high blood pressure, heart disease

  • Brain: Risk of stroke, permanent brain damage.

  • Lungs: Progressively depressed respiration with increased consumption.

  • Liver: Risk of alcoholic hepatitis, cirrhosis, disrupted glucose production

  • Stomach: Risk of ulcers and gastritis

  • Muscles: Muscle wasting due to vitamin and nutritional deficiencies

  • Sexual Organs: Possible impotence.

    Other Risks: Increase risk of cancer in various organs. Diminished ability of the immune system to identify cancer cells. Inflammation of pancreas, heart & muscles. In sufficient amounts, can cause respiratory failure, coma, death.

COCAINE
Snorted, smoked or injected, cocaine is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream. Acute tolerance develops quickly. This, along with the drug's strong reinforcement properties, makes it highly addictive.

Signs of Intoxication: In low doses: feelings of well being and elation soon followed by anxiety, depression and paranoia. In high doses: rapid respiration, incoordination, anxiety and paranoia. Onset of tremors, nausea, convulsions, seizures.
Withdrawal Symptoms: Sleep and eating disorders, depression, anxiety, cravings for the drug, impulsive and compulsive behaviour, malnutrition.


EFFECTS OF CHRONIC ABUSE
  • Mind and Behaviour: Delusions, sleep deprivation, depression, anxiety disorders, paranoia, violent behaviour, altered perceptions of reality which can lead to aggressive or homicidal behaviour; violent psychotic disorders which could last days or weeks after the drug has been stopped.

  • Central Nervous System: Directly stimulated.

  • Heart & Blood: Rapid or irregular heartbeat, hypertension, constricted blood vessels and arteries. In large does: ruptured blood vessels: may cause death due to heart attack or cardiac failure.

  • Brain: Constricted blood vessels and decreased blood flow to some brain areas can lead to tissue damage, smoke, hemorrhage and permanent brain damage.

  • Nose: Injury to nasal passages from snorting.

  • Lungs: Lung abnormalities and edema (excess watery fluid). Respiratory depression which can cause death.

  • Liver: Danger of liver failure; high incidence of hepatitis in intravenous users due to unsterile/shared needles.

  • Kidneys: Damage failure

  • Gastrointestinal System: Abdominal difficulties which may require surgery; damaged tract.

  • Bones & Muscle: Rhabdomyolysis (potentially fatal disease destroying skeletal muscle).

  • Sexual Organs: Sexual dysfunction is common in heavy users.

    Other Risks: Risk of diseases transmitted by unsterile or shared needles (hepatitis, AIDS); risk of chronic heart and connective tissue disease; risk of severe weight loss and malnutrition due to decreased appetite.



"CRACK" or "ROCK"

Free-based, alkalinised cocaine. Smoked. Users face greater risks of dying suddenly. Produces intense euphoria, followed within minutes by "crash". Leads to frequent dosing and very rapid addiction.

ECSTASY


MDMA (known as Ecstasy) is a mind-altering drug with hallucinogenic effects. Ecstasy is produced in improvised labs and packaged for cultural appeal to youths. Use of ecstasy can have severe physical and psychological consequences and is potentially lethal.

Signs of Intoxication: Increased energy, sense of pleasure, sociability, feeling of euphoria. Negative effects may include sweating, muscle tension, increased heart rate, suppressed appetite, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, grinding of teeth, jaw pain, anxiety, panic attacks, tremors and hallucinations.
Withdrawal Symptoms: Confusion, panic, insomnia - may last for weeks


EFFECTS OF CHRONIC ABUSE
  • Mind & Behavior: Severe depression, confusion, anxiety, paranoia, apathy, distortions in perception and memory, insomnia, suicidal tendencies.

  • Heart & Blood: Increased heart rate and blood pressure, possible cardiovascular failure induced by high body temperature and dehydration.

  • Brain: Destruction of serotonin neurons, possible irreparable brain damage.

  • Lungs: Damage; may cause internal bleeding.

  • Liver: Jaundice and liver damage.

  • Kidneys: Kidney failure.

  • Muscles: Muscle tension, rigidity, breakdown of skeletal muscle.

    Other Risks: Severe hypertension (possibly to 110 degrees Fahrenheit or 43 degrees Celsius) tachycardia; convulsions, sudden collapse, coma: potentially fatal.

HEROIN


A central nervous system depressant, heroin is an addictive drug with profound physical and psychological effects. Used intravenously, there is a risk of infection and disease (hepatitis, AIDS) due to unsterile/shared needle use.

Signs of Intoxication: Euphoria, constricted pupils, flushing of the face, drowsiness, respiratory depression, nausea.
Withdrawal Symptoms: Acute insomnia, flu-like symptoms with weakness, chills, sweating and muscle spasms; loss of appetite, tremors and panic.


EFFECTS OF CHRONIC ABUSE
  • Mind and Behaviour: Mental clouding. Alters emotions leading to bouts of anxiety, sadness, depression.

  • Central Nervous System: Depresses activity. Pain sensation consciously perceived but not interpreted as pain.

  • Heart & Blood: Depresses heart activity. Low blood pressure. Possible cardiac failure.

  • Lungs: Depresses breathing, pneumonia, lung abscess.

  • Liver: Enlarged liver, liver dysfunction, high incidence of hepatitis with unsterile or shared needle use.

  • Kidneys: Toxicity, kidney failure, inhibits urine voiding.

  • Bones & Muscles: Infections including inflammation of the bone marrow, adjacent bone tissue and muscles.

  • Immune System: May depress the body's ability to fight infection.

    Other Risks: Weight loss, edema (excess watery fluid), loss of consciousness, coma; potentially fatal.

MARIJUANA


Marijuana is a hallucinogen which alters mood and cognition. Generally smoked or eaten for its major psychoactive ingredient THC. Effects depend largely on user's mood and personality as well as the amount and strength of the preparation used. Effects range from feelings of relaxation, well being, with enhanced sensations and perceptions to reduced social interaction and increased passive behaviour. For some people the drug may have little or no effect at all. Marijuana smoke contains many of the same carcinogenic compounds found in tobacco smoke thereby increasing the risk of lung cancer and other respiratory ailments.

Signs of Intoxication: Bloodshot eyes, incoordination, enhanced sensations and perception, increased appetite, dry mouth, possible dizziness and nausea.
Withdrawal Symptoms: Symptoms may include restlessness, irritability, mild agitation, insomnia, sleep disturbances, nausea, cramping and craving for drugs.


EFFECTS OF CHRONIC ABUSE
  • Mind and Behaviour: Decreased sense of time, confusion, inability to carry out multistep tasks, short term memory impairment; users may become apathetic, anxious; high doses may trigger paranoia, hallucinations and "flashbacks" in susceptible individuals.

  • Heart & Blood: Reduces oxygen delivery to heart muscle. May increase heart rate and lower blood pressure. This may pose significant risks to people with heart disorders.

  • Lungs: Heavy smokers suffer bronchial irritation and inflammation leading to an increased risk of bronchitis and other pulmonary disorders. Possibly carcinogenic.

  • Immune System: Possible decrease in immune responses increasing risk of infections and disease.

  • Sexual Organs: Reduces hormone levels; may reduce fertility in both men and women.
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