MAN3030: Appendix B

Child Protective Services: Intake

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Appendix B

Substance Abuse and Child Maltreatment

Discussion

While a parents alcohol and/or other drug abuse presents known risks to children, the Division of Family and Children Services recognizes and embraces the following tenets in its approach to families struggling with substance abuse:

Addiction has pervasive effects on the entire family and others who are close to the addict;

Most parents do not want to be addicted to drugs;

Most parents do want what is best for their children and are sincere in their desire to meet their childrens needs, but are limited in their capacity to do so as a result of their addiction;

The unnecessary placement of the children from the home can have long-term effects on both children and parents because of disrupted attachments, further exacerbating issues that contribute to addiction and posing potential barriers to successful treatment and recovery;

In many cases, the risks posed by a parents drug use can be effectively managed while preserving the family, unless the childs immediate safety cannot be insured, through intensive service coordination, monitoring, and case management between DFCS, treatment providers, and in-home support services.

Family Preservation Programs offered by the division are Early Intervention, Prevention of Unnecessary Placement (PUP), Homestead and Parent Aide Programs. These are critical components of a continuum of services that may be implemented as controlling safety interventions to effectively manage risks posed to children. Through the PUP Program, drug assessments and drug screens can be purchased to assist the department in its investigation. PUP can also be approved for necessary treatment services. Homestead and Parent Aide Services can enhance the support available to families through the in-home provision of services. For a detailed discussion of the Family Preservation Programs, see Section 2107.

With increasing awareness and understanding of the nature of alcohol and other drug abuse, there is a shared perspective among experts in the fields of drug addiction and child welfare that children are placed at significantly greater risk of abuse and neglect when parents engage in drug related activity. Years of study and research provide powerful evidence that alcohol and other drug abuse and drug addiction pose adverse effects on families and children. As physical addiction to drugs progresses, the extent of damage from alcohol and other drug abuse reveals itself in various forms, including physical and emotional deprivation of children, economic mismanagement, loss of employment, an increased likelihood of domestic violence, and physical/emotional instability. Parental drug use places children at greater risk of abuse and neglect in the following ways:

drug use impairs judgement, decision-making ability and the cognitive reasoning capacity of the parent, placing children at risk for all forms of maltreatment;

drug use may result in erratic, unstable, unpredictable, and potentially violent, or conversely, non-responsive behavior by parents, placing their children at greater risk of physical abuse and neglect;

common characteristics of the alcohol and other drug abusing parents environment impact childrens safety by exposing them to hazardous drug paraphernalia, other drug using/drug seeking individuals frequenting the residence, significant others/spouses who may be enabling the parents drug use, and violent domestic relations, posing serious implications as to the parents ability to adequately protect the children;

in the midst of the effects of drug use, parents significantly decrease their ability to provide adequate supervision, care and control of their children;

drug addiction leads to chaotic family functioning, including mismanagement of financial resources and loss of employment and income, placing children at greater risk of disruption because of their inability to meet minimal basic needs of their children (e.g., food, shelter, clothing).

The Nature of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse and Addiction

Alcohol and other drug abuse and addiction is a complex and multifaceted problem that carries with it intense, and often emotional, value judgments toward the user and the users addiction. The tendency is to assign negative character attributes to drug addicted individuals, labeling them as bad people. It is imperative that Social Services look beyond the social and cultural stereotypes associated with drug addiction, as well as examining personal attitudes and belief systems about alcohol and other drug abuse.

The impact of alcohol and other drug abuse varies significantly from person to person. The following characteristics are relatively universal to addiction and chemical dependence, regardless of the specific substance or substances of choice. Understanding these concepts will serve as a foundation for effective intervention and case management.*

Alcohol and other drug abuse is progressive

Most people do not begin taking a drug with the intent to become addicted, and they resist the notion that they could ever become dependent. There are four recognized phases in addiction:

1. experimental use, motivated by curiosity or social pressure,

2. intensified use, indicated by progressively more regular and planned use that begins to impact the users life,

3. habitual use, marks the onset of chemical dependency where the user has usually developed tolerance to the original drug of choice, and use is focused more on getting high rather than for the social experience, and

4. dependency, or addiction, evidenced when the user can no longer manage life without getting high and the drug use has pervaded all areas of life, including work, relationships and finances.

The earlier a person begins to use drugs, the more likely that person is to become addicted

Generally, children who are introduced or exposed to drugs while very young are more susceptible to heavier use and abuse than individuals whose experimentation begins at a later age. Drugs such as alcohol, tobacco and marijuana are sometimes referred to as gateway drugs because they are often the drugs children are first introduced to, preceding the experimentation and use of other drugs.

Anyone can become an addict

Addiction does not discriminate according to race, socio-economic status or gender. Some individuals demonstrate higher thresholds to addiction than others, but exposure to the right substance under the right circumstances has the potential to lead to chemical dependence. There are primarily two ways to become an addict:

1. genetic predisposition (four times more likely to become addicted)

2. long-term, repeated use/exposure to substances

Alcohol and other drug abuse is a family problem on many levels

Research indicates that some people are genetically at higher risk of becoming chemically dependent. But it is also clear that children learn coping behaviors within the family context and may see drug use as an accepted means to deal with stress. Additionally, drug abuse by any member of the family impacts the family system as a whole, trying to deal with the behavioral, psychological, and emotional effects of drug use. Although not as obvious as other types of maltreatment such as physical abuse, parental substance abuse has a domino effect on the emotional and psychological wellbeing of children. Children of addicts are often put in positions of having to provide for themselves and other siblings in the home. Having to take on more parental roles within the family frequently produces adverse effects on the childs school performance and ability to sustain social relationships.

Denial is intrinsic to the problem

Alcohol and other drug abusers generally deny the drug use or minimize the drug use. It is not uncommon for family members to also deny the users addiction in an effort to preserve and protect the family.

Addiction is systemic

Alcohol and other drug abuse impacts all aspects of the users physical, emotional, work and social life. Health, employment and relationships are affected.

Addiction often afflicts those who are already the most vulnerable

Persons most severely affected by alcohol and other drug abuse have family histories wrought with multiple stresses including drug abuse, mental health disorders, child maltreatment and failures in employment. These individuals, already struggling to cope, are further impaired by their drug use, posing significant challenges in the treatment process.

Polysubstance abuse is common and poses unique risks to families and children

The use of a combination of alcohol and other drugs is not uncommon. Some addicts use certain combinations of alcohol and other drugs to counteract the drugs effects or to obtain an enhanced psychoactive state. Research indicates that specific combinations of drugs possess unique and identifiable physical and behavioral effects.

Relapse is inherent to addiction

Relapse is considered part of the recovery process, as is the case with many diseases. It is important to recognize that an instance of relapse does not necessarily mean failure. Each instance of relapse must be assessed and evaluated individually for the impact on the parents level of functioning and the safety of the children. When possible, a relapse plan should be part of the treatment process.

* Adapted from Protecting Children in Substance Abusing Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, National Center on child Abuse and Neglect.

Successful intervention for families dealing with alcohol and other drug abuse begins with an understanding of the nature of drug addiction, the ability to identify substances and to understand their physical and psychological effects and a commitment to work collaboratively with other services to support the abusing person through treatment and into recovery.

Facts About Alcohol and Other Drugs

The following is a description of commonly used and abused substances. This information provides basic education, knowledge and reference about specific drugs and their effects on the body. This list is not all inclusive, and some categories may overlap.

Alcohol

Alcohol, including beer, wine and hard liquor, is the most commonly used and widely abused psychoactive drug in the United States. Alcohol is absorbed by the stomach, enters the bloodstream and goes to all the tissues of the body. The effects of alcohol are dependent on a variety of factors, including a persons size, weight, age and gender, as well as the amount of food and alcohol consumed. Women are at much greater risk of the effects of alcohol. Research indicates that women become intoxicated more rapidly and produce less enzymes in their stomachs to break down alcohol. Women who consume three or more drinks a day may begin to have health problems that do not occur in men until they have nine drinks or more. Women also tend to have a higher fat concentration which keeps alcohol in the body longer. Additionally, estrogen enhances alcohol absorption, and this poses increased risks to women taking oral contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy.

Alcohol, even at low doses, significantly impairs the judgment and coordination required to drive a car safely. Low to moderate doses of alcohol can also increase the incidence of a variety of aggressive acts, including domestic violence and child abuse. In 1987, 64% of all reported child abuse and neglect cases in New York City were associated with parental alcohol and drug abuse. Additionally, alcohol is present in more than 50% of all incidents of domestic violence. The alcohol content varies between different beverages. Generally, beer is 4%, wine is 12% and hard liquor is up to 50% alcohol.

Prolonged and excessive use of alcohol can lead to addiction (alcoholism). Sudden cessation of long-term alcohol intake is likely to produce tremors, hallucinations and convulsions. Long-term effects of excessive consumption can result in permanent organ damage to the brain and liver. In addition, mothers who consume alcohol during pregnancy may give birth to infants with fetal alcohol syndrome, resulting in mental retardation and other irreversible physical abnormalities in the infant. Research indicates that children of alcoholic parents are at greater risk than other children of becoming alcoholics.

Other Names: beer, wine, wine coolers, malt liquor, booze, hooch, juice, sauce; users may refer to specific brand names or names of mixed drinks

Negative Effects:dizziness, slurred speech, disturbed sleep, nausea, vomiting, hangovers, impaired motor skills, violent behavior, impaired learning, fetal alcohol syndrome, respiratory depression and death, addiction

Appearance:liquid

Method of Ingestion:orally

Amphetamines

Amphetamines are stimulants or uppers, usually made synthetically in unsafe illegal labs. They operate by stimulating the central nervous system. Individuals who use amphetamines experience an exaggerated sense of well-being and high energy, a release of social inhibitions and feelings of cleverness, competence, and power. Some users avoid sleep for 3 to 15 days while binging. The effects resemble those of cocaine, but last longer, generally from 4 to 6 hours depending on the dose and potency. The term amphetamine is used to refer to a large class of stimulants:

I.Amphetamines: black beauties, white bennies

II.Dextroamphetamines: dexies, beans

III.Methamphetamines: crank, meth, crystal, speed

The different types of amphetamines have such similar chemical compositions and effects that even experienced users may not be able to tell which drug they have taken. The drugs can be taken orally, injected, smoked or snorted. Injecting or smoking leads to an immediate intense sensation (often referred to as a rush) that lasts only a few minutes and is described as extremely pleasurable. Oral or intra-nasal use produces a milder euphoria (often referred to as a high) rather than a rush. Amphetamines taste extremely bitter, and injection and snorting are painful.

Ice is a slang term for smokeable methamphetamine that has a translucent rock-like appearance and is a highly addictive and toxic form of amphetamine.

Chronic amphetamine use produces a psychosis that resembles schizophrenia and is characterized by paranoia, picking at the skin, and auditory and visual hallucinations. Extremely violent and erratic behavior is frequently seen among chronic abusers.

Other Names: speed, meth, crank, crystal, ice, uppers, ups, black beauties, pep pills, copilots, bumblebees, hearts, benzedrine, dexedrine, footballs, biphetamine, glass, dexies

Negative Effects:irritability, anxiety, increased blood pressure, paranoia, depression, aggression,, convulsions, dilated pupils and blurred vision, insomnia, loss of appetite, and malnutrition/anorexia, nerve cell damage, addiction

Appearance:capsules, pills, tablets, white poser, rock resembling wax, shards of glass

Method of Ingestion:orally, injected, snorted, or smoked

Cocaine/Crack

Cocaine is a drug extracted from the leaves of the cocoa plant. Although its effects are similar to those of amphetamines, it is a separate class of drugs. It is a potent brain stimulant and one of the most powerfully addictive drugs. Cocaine is distributed in two main forms:

1. cocaine hydrochloride is a white crystalline powder that can be snorted or dissolved in water and injected, and

2. crack is cocaine hydrochloride that has been processed with ammonia

or sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and water into a free base cocaine. These chips, chunks or rocks can be smoked.

Cocaine is highly addictive. Crack cocaine and injected cocaine reach the brain quickly and bring an intense and immediate high. Snorted cocaine produces a high more slowly. Behavioral effects may include a surge in energy, a feeling of intense pleasure and increased confidence. The effects of powder cocaine last about 20 minutes. Heavy use of cocaine may produce hallucinations, paranoia, aggression, insomnia and depression. Cocaines effects are short lived, and once the drug leaves the brain, the user experiences a coke crash that includes depression, irritability and fatigue.

Other Names: coke, snow, nose candy, flake, blow, big C, lady, white, snowbirds

Negative Effects:central nervous system stimulation, pupil dilation, elevated blood pressure, elevated heart rate, increased respiratory rate, increased body temperature, stuffy or runny nose, ulceration of the mucous membrane of the nose, AIDS, hepatitis and other diseases caused by injecting cocaine with contaminated equipment, insomnia, loss of appetite, tactile hallucinations, paranoia, seizures, death by cardiac arrest or respiratory failure, constricted peripheral blood vessels, feelings of restlessness, irritability, and anxiety, harm to health and development of infants born to women who use cocain while pregnant.

Appearance:cocaine is a white crystalline powder; crack has the appearance of salt, white to tan pellets, or crystalline rocks that look like soap

Method of Ingestion:cocaine is inhaled or injected; crack is smoked

Ecstasy (methylenedioxymethamphetamine)

Ecstasy is a synthetic drug that acts simultaneously as a stimulant and a hallucinogen. It stimulates the central nervous system and produces hallucinogenic effects and often produces a sense of well-being, sensory distortions and long periods of sleeplessness. Ecstasy has been shown to cause brain damage in animals. It depletes the brain chemical, serotonin, which affects mood, sleeping and eating habits, thinking processes, aggressive behavior, sexual impulse and function, and sensitivity to pain. Studies with rats and monkeys have shown that use of Ecstasy can reduce serotonin levels in the brain by 90% for at least two weeks.

Ecstasy is derived from methamphetamine and amphetamine, and belongs to a class of drugs known as designer drugs. A designer drug is created by altering the molecular structure of an existing drug or drugs to create a new substance. The street names of designer drugs vary according to time, place, and manufacturer, and the names change frequently.

Other Names: XTC, X, Adam, MDMA

Negative Effects:psychiatric disturbances, including panic, anxiety, depression, and paranoid thinking, muscle tension, nausea, blurred vision, fainting, chills, sweating, increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, tremors, hallucinations, reduced appetite, sleep disturbance

Appearance:tablet, capsule, powder or liquid

Method of Ingestion:swallowed, snorted, smoked or injected

Hallucinogens

LSD is the most common hallucinogen. It is produced from lysergic acid, which is found in ergot, a fungus that grows on rye and other grains. It is commonly referred to as acid and is sold on the street in tablets, capsules or occasionally in liquid form. It is odorless and colorless with a slightly bitter taste, and it is usually taken by mouth. Most often, LSD is sold as a blotter acid where the drug is imprinted on small, colorful sheets of paper. A single dose costs around $4 - $5 and the effects can last from 3 to 12 hours.

Users refer to their experience with LSD as a trip and may experience panic, confusion, suspicion, anxiety and loss of control. Flashbacks can occur even when use has ceased. Most users of LSD voluntarily decrease or stop its use over time. LSD is not considered to be an addictive drug, because it does not produce compulsive drug-seeking behavior like cocaine, amphetamines, heroin and alcohol.

Other Names:acid, microdot, tabs, doses, trips, hits, or sugar cubes, big D, purple haze, white lightning

Negative Effects:slowed and slurred speech, slow gait, constricted pupils, droopy eyelids, impaired potentially devastating psychiatric effects, elevated body temperature, elevated blood pressure, suppressed appetite, sleeplessness, tremors, chronic recurring hallucinations (flashbacks)

Appearance:colored tablets, blotter paper, clear liquid, and thin squares of gelatin

Method of Ingestion:orally, licked off paper; gelatin and liquid can be put in the eyes

Heroin

Heroin is a highly addictive drug derived from morphine, which is obtained from the opium poppy. It is a downer that affects the brains pleasure systems and interferes with the brains ability to perceive pain. Heroin can be used in a variety of ways, depending on user preference and the purity of the drug. Heroin can be injected into a vein (mainlining), injected into a muscle, smoked in a water pipe or standard pipe, mixed in a marijuana joint or regular cigarette, inhaled as smoke through a straw (known as chasing the dragon) or inhaled as powder through the nose.

Heroin is a fast-acting drug, especially when injected or smoked. Injected heroin reaches the brain in 15 to 30 seconds. The high from heroin is experienced as intense pleasure. Users develop high tolerance levels very quickly, requiring more and more of the drug to reach the same effects.

Other Names:smack, horse, mud, brown sugar, junk, black tar, big H, dope, stuff, eleven-fifty, Helen, Harry, dynamite, doo-jee, China-white, Mexican-brown

Negative Effects:slowed and slurred speech, slow gait, constricted pupils, droopy eyelids, impaired night vision, dry skin, itching, skin infections, vomiting, constipation, nodding off, decreased sexual pleasure, indifference to sex, sedation proceeding to coma, respiratory depression, HIV infection from injection, can impair immune system addiction, reduced appetite, slow, irregular heart rate, irregular blood pressure, menstrual irregularity, death from overdose

Appearance:white to dark brown powder or tar-like substance

Method of Ingestion:injected, smoked or inhaled

Inhalants

Inhalants are breathable chemical vapors that produce psychoactive effects. They fall into the categories of (1) solvents, (2) nitrites and (3) anesthetics. These are usually in the form of ordinary household products which are inhaled or sniffed to get high such as model airplane glue, nail polish remover, hair spray, gasoline, the propellant in aerosol whipped cream, spray paint, fabric protector, air conditioner fluid (freon), cooking spray and correction fluid. These products are sniffed, snorted, bagged (fumes inhaled from a plastic bag) or huffed (inhalant-soaked rag, sock, or roll of toilet paper in the mouth) to achieve a high. Inhalants are also sniffed directly from the container.

Inhalants produce effects similar to anesthetics which slow the bodys functions. The user may feel stimulated, disoriented, out-of-control, giddy, light-headed and even display violent behavior. Inhalant abuse can cause severe damage to the brain and nervous system, leading to impaired mental and physical functioning. Because inhalants deprive the body of oxygen, they can lead to unconsciousness and death, commonly referred to as sudden sniffing death (SSD).

Other Names:nitrous oxide, laughing gas, whippets, poppers, snappers, rush, bolt, locker room, bullet, climax, aerosol sprays, cleaning fluids, solvents

Negative Effects:headache, muscle weakness, abdominal pain, sever mood swings, and violent behavior, numbness and tingling of the hands and feet, decrease or loss of sense of smell, nausea, nosebleeds, liver, lung, and kidney damage, brain damage, dangerous chemical imbalances in the body, fatigue, lack of coordination, loss of appetite, decrease in heart and respiratory rates, hepatitis, weight loss, permanent damage to the nervous system, seizure, coma, death

Appearance:nitrous oxide comes in a metal cylinder sold in a balloon or shipped cream aerosol spray can; other inhalants include common household products like spray paint, gas, paint thinner and glue

Method of Ingestion:vapors are inhaled

Marijuana

Marijuana is a green or gray mixture of dried, shredded flowers and leaves of the hemp plant (Cannabis sativa). It is the most often used illegal drug in this country. Most users roll loose marijuana into a cigarette, called a joint. It can also be smoked in a water pipe, called a bong. Some users mix marijuana into foods or use it to brew tea. A recently new way of smoking marijuana is done by slicing open a cigar and replacing the tobacco with the marijuana, making what is called a blunt. When the blunt is smoked with a 40 oz. Bottle of malt liquor, it is called a B-40.

All forms of cannabis are mind-altering (psychoactive) drugs, containing THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol). There are approximately 400 chemicals in a cannabis plant, but THC has the greatest effect on the brain. Most ordinary marijuana has an average of 3% THC. Sinsemilla, made from just the buds and flowering tops of female plants, has an average of 7.5% THC with a range as high as 24%. Hashish, the sticky resin from the female plant flowers, has an average of 3.6% THC with a range as high as 28%. Hash oil, a tar-like liquid distilled from hashish, has an average of 16% THC with a range as high as 43%.

Other Names: weed, pot, reefer, grass, dope, ganja, mary jane, sinsemilla, hash, herb, Aunt Mary, skunk, boom, kif, gangster, chronic

Negative Effects:increased heart rate, bloodshot eyes, dry mouth and throat, impaired or reduced short-term memory, impaired or reduced comprehension, altered sense of time, reduced ability to perform tasks requiring concentration and coordination, altered motivation and cognition, paranoia, psychological dependence, impaired perception and judgement, intense anxiety or panic attacks

Appearance:dried parsley with stems and/or seeds which are rolled into `cigarettes. Hashish looks like brown or black cakes or balls

Method of Ingestion:usually smoked, sometimes eaten

Methamphetamines

D-methamphetamine is a new form of an old drug, amphetamines, which are central nervous system stimulants. Meth is a crystal-like powdered substance that sometimes comes in large rock-like chunks. When the powder flakes off the rock, the shards look like glass, which is another nickname for meth. Meth is usually white or slightly yellow, depending on the purity. Making and buying meth is cheaper and longer lasting than cocaine at $25.00 for a four day high. Meth can be snorted, swallowed, injected or smoked. If smoked or injected, users report increased energy and motivation, often coupled with a false sense of invincibility. If snorted or swallowed, the onset is not as extreme and not accompanied by and initial rush.

Scientific research has shown that methamphetamine releases high levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which stimulates brain cells, causing enhanced mood and increased body movement. Initially, small doses of meth do increase the ability to concentrate. Meth enables people to work around the clock, often for days on end. Meth suppresses appetite, and in small doses is used to clinically treat obesity. Because of this, meth appeals to young women trying to lose weight.

Meth is addictive, and users develop a tolerance very quickly, requiring higher and higher doses to get high and going longer and longer binges. Some users avoid sleep for 3 to 15 days while binging. Prolonged use of meth can result in symptoms resembling those of schizophrenia and are characterized by paranoia, hallucinations, repetitive behavior patterns, and delusions of parasites or insects on the skin. Users often obsessively scratch their skin to get rid of these imagined insects. Long term use, high dosages, or both can bring on full-blown toxic psychosis, exhibited by violent and aggressive behavior and extreme paranoia. As the user comes off a meth binge, behavioral indicators may include non-purposeful, repetitious, compulsive behavior such as picking at the skin, pulling out ones hairs, and compulsive cleaning.

Other Names: speed, meth, crank, crystal, ice (ice cream, batu, shabu), fire, croak, crypto, white cross, glass, moth, water

Negative Effects:irritability, anxiety, increased blood pressure, paranoia/psychosis, aggression, nervousness, convulsions, heart and blood vessel toxicity, insomnia, loss of appetite and malnutrition/anorexia, hallucinations, addiction

Appearance:white powder, rock resembling glass like shards

Method of Ingestion:orally, injected, snorted, or smoked

PCP

Phencyclidine, or PCP, is a white crystalline powder with a distinctive bitter chemical taste. PCP appears on the illicit drug market in a variety of tablets, capsules and colored powders. It is normally used in one to three ways: snorted, smoked or eaten. When smoked, PCP is often applied to a leafy material such as mint, parsley, oregano, tobacco or marijuana. When mixed with marijuana, it is called crystal supergrass and killer joints. Many people who use PCP may do it unknowingly, as it is often used as an additive to other drugs such as marijuana, LSD and methamphetamine. A PCP high generally lasts 2-4 hours, although the effects can continue as long as a day, and users may experience after-effects lasting a few days. It was originally developed in 1959 as an intravenous anesthetic and was later used in veterinary medicine as a powerful tranquilizer.

Other Names:angel dust, ozone, wack, rocket fuel, peace pill, elephant tranquilizer, dust, hog, KJ, sherms, embalming fluid

Negative Effects:hallucinations, out of body experiences, impaired motor coordination, inability to feel physical pain, death from respiratory arrest, depression, anxiety, disorientation, fear, panic and paranoia, aggressive behavior and violence

Appearance:white crystalline powder, tablets, capsules, colored powders, liquid

Method of Ingestion:snorted, smoked, eaten, injected

Rohypnol

Rohypnol is the brand name for a drug called Flunitrazepam, a sedative that is 10 times more powerful than Valium. Rohypnol is not legally available for prescription in the United States, but is available in over 60 countries for treatment of insomnia. The drug creates a sleepy, relaxed, and drunk feeling that lasts 2 to 8 hours and a single dose costs from $1.50 to $5.00. Roofies are frequently used in combination with alcohol and other drugs. They are sometimes taken to enhance a heroin high or to mellow or ease the experience of coming down from a cocaine or crack high. Used with alcohol, roofies produce disinhibition and amnesia. The drug has no taste or odor. Within 10 minutes of ingestion, the drug may produce effects that include dizziness, disorientation, sensations of being too hot or too cold, nausea, inability to speak or move and eventual unconsciousness. Rohypnol has recently gained the reputation as the date rape drug because of the vulnerability of the person who ingests it.

Other Names:roach, roofies, the forget pill, rope, rophies, ruffies, R2, roofenol, la roche, rib

Negative Effects:blackouts with complete memory loss, a sense of fearlessness and aggression, addiction, overdose (rare), dizziness and disorientation, nausea, difficulty with motor movements and speech

Appearance:a small white tablet with no taste or odor when dissolved in a drink

Method of Ingestion:swallowed as a pill, dissolved in a drink, or snorted

Special K

Special K is ketamine hydrochloride, a drug widely used as an animal tranquilizer by veterinarians. It is produced by drying ketamine until it turns from a liquid to a powder, and it is a powerful hallucinogen. The drug is usually snorted but is sometimes sprinkled on tobacco or marijuana and smoked. It is often used in combination with other drugs such as Ecstasy, heroin and cocaine. Users sometime call the high caused by Special K K hole and describe profound hallucinations that include visual distortions and a lost sense of time, sense and identity, lasting anywhere from a half hour to 2 hours.

Other Names:Vitamin K, new Ecstasy, psychadelic heroin, Ketalar, Ketaject, Super-K, breakfast cereal

Negative Effects:delirium, amnesia, impaired motor function, potentially fatal respiratory problems

Appearance:white powder, similar to cocaine

Method of Ingestion:snorted or smoked

Social Services ManualChild Protective Services, Chapter 2100, Appendix B

February 1999Page 2