Year 11’s Drugs booklet Alcohol

Alcohol is a widely used legal drug. It is often referred to as a ‘social catalyst’ and is a chemical depressant- it

slows down brain activity and relaxes the body

Typically imbibed as a beverage Can come in many beverages, including beers, wines

and spirits Can sometimes be incorporated into food Slows down reactions Many die each year due to drink-driving In many religions, wine is sacred-

e.g.

In Judaism, wine is the only substance to have its own blessing and not a generic one; it is therefore holy.

In Christianity, wine is drank to symbolise the body of Christ.

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Where does it come from:   Nicotine is a chemical stimulant that is found in tobacco that is created through the leaves of the tobacco plant.

What it looks like and how it's taken:    Cigarettes, pipes, cigars, loose tobacco, chewing tobacco. Immediate effects:    Acts fast, first increasing alertness then producing a sense of relaxation.

Risks:Short term: Nicotine addiction can develop quite rapidly and regular smokers often feel anxious and irritable if unable to smoke. Smoking can restrict growth in young smokers.Long term: Other chemicals in tobacco cause lung cancer and stomach diseases, heart disease, circulation problems, wrinkled skin and premature ageing.Legal status: It is illegal for retailers to sell tobacco to anyone under 16.

 

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Caffeine

Is a stimulant drug. Caffeine was discovered by a German chemist, Friedlieb Ferdinand

Runge, in 1820. Caffeine is found in varying quantities in the beans, leaves, and fruit of

some plants, where it acts as a natural pesticide that paralyzes and kills certain insects feeding on the plants.

It is most commonly taken by humans extracted from the bean of the coffee plant or the leaves of a tea bush.

Caffeine is a CNS stimulant which temporarily takes away drowsiness. Great popularity Caffeine is the worlds most consumed psychoactive stimulant It is legal In north america 90% of adults have caffeine daily Contributes to dehydration when addicted to it The molecular formula is C8H10N4O2

Humans have consumed caffeine since the stone age

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Marijuana/Cannabis

Marijuana/Cannabis is a depressant. It has a variety of effects as well as other names such as draw, dope, puff, hash, pot, joint, spliff, wackey backey, boom, green, weed etc. It is a natural substance from the marijuana/cannabis plant. It is the most commonly used drug amongst 11-25 year olds. About roughly 2 million people in the UK smoke Cannabis.

This drug comes in either small, solid brown lumps which mainly look

like liquorice or it may look like green/ brown tobacco or it can also come as sticky dark oil.

You can also smoke cannabis in a pipe, water pipe or you can even collected in a container before inhaling it - a 'bucket'. It can be brewed as tea or cooked in cakes. People who smoke cannabis exhale the smoke strongly in their lungs and keep it held for a number of seconds. Some people even chew cannabis.

Cannabis was re-classified in January 2009 and is now a Class B drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act, 1971. The maximum penalties for possession of cannabis are either 5 years Prison sentence, unlimited fine or even both. For dealing/supplying: 14 year prison sentence or an unlimited fine or both.

The negative effects of cannabis are: Feel rather pleasant Schizophrenia More Depression Influences fertility Causes aggression when trying to give up Has an extremely negative effect on the immune system Also cannabis makes your eyes go red

According to some Scientists it can cure injuries. Cannabis has been illegal in Great Britain since 2004, but it is legal in Amsterdam and you are allowed to do it in shops there.

In India some religious holy men (Saddus) smoke cannabis because of the Hindu God Shiva who found it in the Himalayas. Shiva smoked it to achieve enlightenment and holy men believe in this although it is illegal in India.

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Cocaine-Fact File

Basic Facts Cocaine is a drug (paste) extracted from the leaves of the South American coca plant. It is a

strong stimulant that effects the body's central nervous system. A Class B drug In America 2.7 million people are addicted to cocaine plus 1.6 million have admitted using

cocaine once. Is grown as a plant in South America and is a stimulant. 50 grams of cocaine can cost £200 to £300 Crack cocaine is a highly addictive and powerful stimulant that is derived from powdered

cocaine. Crack is made by dissolving powdered cocaine in a mixture of water and ammonia or sodium bicarbonate (baking soda). The mixture is boiled until a solid substance forms. It is removed from the liquid, dried, and then broken into the chunks (rocks) that are sold as crack cocaine.

Effects:Short-term cocaine effects include: Increased blood pressureConstricted blood vesselsDilated pupilsMental alertnessIncreased energyIncreased heart rateDecreased appetiteIncreased temperature

Long-term cocaine effects include: ` Addiction

ParanoiaIrritabilityRestlessnessAuditory hallucinationsMood disturbances

Famous People Users of Cocaine:

Robin Williams Ricky Hatton

Amy Winehouse

Stephen King

Pete Doherty

Kate Moss

Bruno Mars

Matthew Perry

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Heroin

Heroin, also known as Brown, skag, H, horse, gear and smack. Heroin is a natural opiate made from morphine (opiates dull pain). Morphine is extracted from the opium poppy. Like many drugs made from opium, including synthetic opioids (e.g. methadone) heroin is a very strong painkiller. ‘Street’ heroin sold as 'brown' is sometimes used by clubbers as a chill out after a big night out. Brown is still heroin but some people mistakenly think it's not as addictive.

The effects Heroin slows down body functioning and substantially reduces physical and

psychological pain. Most users get a rush or buzz a few minutes after taking it. A small dose of heroin gives the user a feeling of warmth and well-being. Bigger doses can make the user sleepy and very relaxed. The first dose of heroin can bring about dizziness and vomiting.

Chances of getting hooked

Heroin is highly addictive. Over time, effects of heroin on the brain cause 'craving' and a strong psychological desire to keep on using.

The law

Heroin is a class A drug. This means that possessing it can lead to a prison sentence of up to 7 years and an unlimited fine. Supplying (which includes giving it to a friend) could lead to a life sentence and another unlimited fine.

The risks Deaths from overdoses occur. But the risk increases after a period off the

drug because the body's tolerance for the drug goes down. Overdoses can lead to coma and even death from respiratory failure (i.e.

when breathing stops). If heroin is taken with other drugs, including alcohol, overdose is more likely.

There's also a risk of death due to inhaling vomit as heroin stops the body's cough reflex working properly.

Injecting heroin can do nasty damage to your veins and has been known to lead to gangrene (death and decay of body tissue, usually a digit or a limb) and tissue infections.

The risks of sharing needles and other works to inject are well-known, putting you in danger of

infections like hepatitis B or C and HIV/AIDS.

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Anabolic Steroids

Effects: They mimic effects of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone. They encourage growth of masculine features such as lowering of

voice and increasing body hair.

Origins: Do not exist naturally, they have to be manufactured. Can only be manually manufactured through a series of chemical

rich procedures.

Legality: In the U.K, they’re classed as a class C drug. In the U.S, possession is a federal crime and is punishable by up to a

year in prison. They’re banned by all major sporting organisations, including FIFA,

NBA, NFL, NHL etc.

Adverse Effects: Elevated blood pressure, some increase cholesterol. Acne is also

fairly common. Testosterone can cause baldness in women. Can cause aggressive behaviour and violence, and even suicide due

to depression. Also addictive. Phrase “Roid Rage” was coined after studies found nearly all takers

became more aggressive.

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LSD by Bryn Lansdown

LSD is an abbreviation of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, and is also known as lysergide or acid. It is a hallucinogenic drug and is taken in small tabs like these ones on the right:

It is known to be a dangerous drug, however, the danger of the drug is in its potential to make the user extremely unaware and more likely to act dangerously, rather than any chemicals in the drug likely to cause long-term harm to the user.

The psychological effects of LSD, known as a ‘trip’, usually last about twelve hours (the length and nature of the trips vary from person to person, and also depend on the amount of LSD taken). During the trip, the user may experience bright colours, a distortion of time, morphing of objects, or the feeling of a loss of their identity (known as an ‘ego-death’). Trips can be positive or negative, and usually heighten the mood that the user is in when they take the tab. After this, there is usually a period of about two hours where it is difficult to sleep but most of the effects have worn off. Sometimes, a user may experience a ‘flashback’, which involves the user re-experiencing a previous trip, usually weeks or months after (but it can be longer).

Compared to many other recreational drugs, it has a very low dependence potential (drugs such as alcohol and nicotine are a lot more addictive).

It is a class A drug, meaning that possession of such a drug in the UK can be punishable by a sentence of seven years imprisonment. Selling of LSD can be punishable with a life sentence.

LSD has been used to treat alcoholism and cluster headaches in the past, but it has also been used to induce creativity and ‘spiritual experiences’. Some users claim to have had ‘out of

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body experiences’, or divine encounters. There are some who argue that religious experiences observed in LSD sessions are indistinguishable from descriptions in sacred scriptures around the world.

MorphineMorphine is an opiate analgesic which is mainly used as a strong form of painkiller in hospitals. It is formed from the common poppy plant. It is particularly used to help severe and agonising pain. Morphine also has the potential to be very addictive. Morphine is a medical drug; however, when it is used illegally it is classified as a Class A drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act of 1971. This means it is illegal to have, give away or sell. Possession can get you up to seven years in jail, and supplying anyone else, can get people a life sentence, and/or an unlimited fine. Morphine illegally is almost exactly the same as methadone, and it can come in tablet form, as a liquid to swallow, or as an injection.

The effects of morphine are very extensive. In general, like all opiates, morphine is a depressant. It slows down body functioning and reduces physical and psychological pain. The main effect is to give a feeling of warmth, relaxation and detachment. It can also help to relieve feelings of anxiety. Also, morphine normally gives the user a rush or buzz after a few minutes, although less than that from heroin. Morphine can give help relieve fear or anxiety because it gives the user a sense of euphoria from endorphins.

There are a number of severe consequences that can arise when taking morphine illegally. Morphine is extremely addictive, so if taken a few times, mental addiction will soon occur, because of the body being used to the drug. With high doses of morphine, the user can become very sleepy, and if the dose is too high, the user will fall into a coma, or stop breathing completely. First time users also suffer from vomiting and severe constipation. Like all other opiates, morphine also greatly increases the risk of miscarriage, or a still birth. Another major impact of having a dependency on morphine is the withdrawal symptoms. When the body is suddenly deprived of morphine, it produces serious flu-like symptoms, such as: nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and chills. Long term use also leads to tolerance as the body becomes used to the drug and requires more to relieve pain. Furthermore, rare but very serious withdrawal symptoms can also cause seizures and convulsions.

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Some nicknames around Britain include: M, Mr Blue, Miss Emma, block, or cube.

Magic mushrooms

Magic mushrooms are mushrooms that grow in the wild. They produce similar hallucinogenic- type effects to LSD when you eat them. There are deadly poisonous species of magic mushrooms, so if you don't know what you're doing, it’s wise not to take them. The effects for both mushrooms can take between 30 minutes to two hours to happen. The strongest part of the experience takes 4-10 hours and the after-effects usually last 2-6 hours. The more you take, the longer your trip could last. The Mushrooms can make you feel confident, relaxed and in good spirits. They can also distort colour, sound and objects. One effect can be that your senses get mixed up so that, for example, you think you can hear colours and you can see sounds. They can also speed up and slow down your sense of time and movement. You may feel like you're dreaming when you're awake. You can feel more emotionally sensitive. Some people become creative and feel enlightened.

The new Drugs Act 2005 says that now both fresh and prepared (e.g. dried or stewed) magic mushrooms that contain psilocin or psilocybin are classified as Class A drugs. Possession can get you up to seven years in jail and/or an unlimited fine. Supplying someone else, including your friends, with magic mushrooms can get you life imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine. Both types of mushrooms can make you feel sick, tired and disoriented. Bad experiences are seriously frightening and unsettling. And you can't tell whether you're going to have a bad experience or a good experience. Also you can get flashbacks some time afterwards. You may be at risk when you’re not in complete control of what you're doing. Your perception of your body and the world around you can be distorted. Eating the wrong kind of mushroom can make you seriously ill, and even kill you. Magic mushrooms can complicate any mental health issues you may have aswell.

Daniella Westbrook's has had a struggle with cocaine addiction. she first tried the drug at the age of 14, in a nightclub. After winning her role in EastEnders at the age of 16, Westbrook was a regular on the London club scene, and her cocaine usage escalated. By the age of 21, she was spending £400 a day on cocaine. It is estimated that she has spent over £250,000 on drugs, used 5g of cocaine every single day throughout her first pregnancy,and has admitted that during her lowest ebb she attempted suicide several times. In May 2000, Westbrook was photographed at the British Soap Awards, where an image of her missing septum was given to a series of tabloid newspapers, unveiling her secret and highlighting her excessive drug abuse. Danniella was checked into rehab and six months later, she appeared on the Channel 4 show 'The Priory' with the claim that she was clean and had been free from drugs for months.[3] However, hosts Jamie Theakston and Zoe Ball struggled to get coherent answers from Danniella, who was under the influence of drugs despite her claims of abstinence. Reflecting back on the event in 2002, Westbrook commented. Danniella re-entered rehab in order to kick her drug habit, which she has now successfully done. Westbrook has since undergone reconstructive surgery on her nose to replace her eroded septum

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Amphetamine

Amphetamine is a drug that is known to cause increased wakefulness and focus in association with decreased fatigue and appetite. It is in the same class of drugs used to treat conditions such as attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD). It is also used to treat symptoms of brain injury, narcolepsy and other fatigue related issues.

Effects:

Feel awake Excited More talkative

Classing:

Amphetamine pills are a class B drug. If the drug is prepared for injection then it is a class A drug.

General Information:

The drug is a stimulant that people take to make themselves feel awake.

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Methadone

The Basics

• Methadone is an opiate (a sedative or narcotic drug containing opium or any of its natural or synthetic forms.)

• It can help relieve anxiety. It makes you feel relaxed and warm.• Its usually a green liquid, but it can be injected or a tablet.

The law

• Methodone is a class A drug.• Possession can get you up to seven years in jail.• Dealing can get you a life sentence.

Medical use

• Sometimes Methodone is used to get people off heroin.• It helps them get past the psychological addiction.

Danger

• Some people are sick the first time or may become constipated.

• High doses can send into a coma or make you stop breathing

• If you are on a methodone program your driving license won’t be valid.

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