amphetamines (speed)
cannabis (marijuana)
cocaine
crack cocaine
crystal methamphetamine (tik)
heroin
lsd (acid)
poppers
rohypnol
tik: special report in pictures - click here
amphetamines (speed)
one of the most common amphetamines today is known as speed.
amphetamines or speed, as i will call it from now on, are synthetic
stimulants which have been available since the 1930s. in the 1950s
and 60s it was commonly prescribed by doctors for depression and as
an appetite suppressant.
it usually comes as a grey, white, or dirty white, pale pink or
yellow powder, and is often contained in a 'wrap' which is a folded
piece of paper that looks like a very small envelope. illicit
tablets containing amphetamine are available, but are much less
common than the powder form of the drug.
this drug can be snorted, swallowed, injected or smoked, it has also
been known to be mixed with liquid and drank. other street names for
this drug are whiz, billy, uppers and sulphate.
amphetamines include drugs like dextroamphetamine, benzedrine,
ritalin and many other chemicals. amphetamines were originally
developed as a treatment for asthma, sleep disorders (narcolepsy)
and hyperactivity. many of the effects of amphetamines are similar
to cocaine.
amphetamine commonly used today is illegally manufactured, as
opposed to amphetamines diverted from legitimate sources. the
amphetamine sulphate powder is 'cut' with other substances (e.g.
brick dust, scouring powder, sugars, caffeine), and purity levels
are often only three to five per cent.
amphetamine is the most impure illegal drug available in south
africa.
effects of amphetamines: - increased heart rate, increased blood
pressure, reduced appetite, dilation of the pupils, feelings of
happiness and power, reduced fatigue
risks of amphetamines: - insomnia, restlessness, paranoid psychosis,
hallucinations, violent and aggressive behaviour, weight loss,
tremors
mixing viagra with amphetamines increase risk of heart problems
are amphetamines addictive
addiction to and withdrawal from amphetamines are both possible.
amphetamine use also causes tolerance to its effects. this means
that more and more amphetamine must be used to get "high." like
cocaine withdrawal, amphetamine withdrawal is characterized by
severe depression and fatigue. users will go to extreme measures to
avoid the "downer" that comes when the effect of amphetamines wears
off. heavy long term use can lead to mental illness.
cannabis (marijuana)
cannabis is derived from the plant called cannabis sativa, which is
grown all round the world. the cannabis plant can also be grown in
south africa, people trying to grow this plant in south africa on a commercial
basis unfortunately hit problems as it requires specialist equipment
and plenty of light and warmth. cannabis comes in a few different
forms those being resin, dried herbs and liquid, in south africa it is
mainly resin.
a block of cannabis is formed from the resin which is extracted from
the buds and flowers of the cannabis plant. cannabis resin comes
from various sources but mainly from morocco and lebanon, it is
usually hard and brittle from these countries and soft textured from
the likes of pakistan. resin arrives in this country in different
strengths, some being below average potency. resin has acquired
various different names some due to the strength, like skunk, others
due to peoples preferences. most common names are blow, wacky backy,
ganja, dope, hash or hashish, grass, pot and many more.
the other two forms of cannabis which have been mentioned are dried
herbs which are dried leaves and buds of the cannabis plant. the
liquid (oil) which is uncommon is prepared from the resin.
how is cannabis taken
cannabis can be smoked a number of different ways, it can also be
eaten. firstly smoking cannabis, this is done by making a joint
(hand rolled cigarette), depending on what cigarette papers are used
a joint is usually made up of three standard paper, two joined
together and one stuck at the back. tobacco is then placed along the
length of the joint, the cannabis is then added. cannabis is usually
in the form of a block of resin and needs to be warmed so it becomes
brittle and can then be broken down into small particles which are
spread evenly along the joint, the papers are then rolled to form a
cigarette. one end of the cigarette is twisted a round to seal the
end, then a roach would be added to the other end to compact the
tobacco and cannabis inside the joint. a roach is a small piece of
rolled up thin card, possibly part of the packaging of the rizla
papers. the joints are this size as usually they are shared between
a few people. the person smoking the joint would take a large inhale
of the smoke and hold it in the lungs for as long as possible to
enable the smoke to travel round the body in the blood stream like
oxygen does, eventually reaching the brain giving them the high.
cooking cannabis
this drug can also be cooked, usually in the form of a cake,
biscuits etc. the cannabis is broken down into small pieces and
mixed with the cake mixture and cooked as per the instructions on
the cake mixture packet. once the cake is made and ready for eating
it would then be cut into pieces and shared.
inhaling cannabis
inhaling just the smoke off cannabis is done in a couple of ways. on
the market there is plenty of smoking devices such as pipes with
mesh grills. the cannabis is placed onto the mesh grill, heat is
applied the pipe is then sucked so that all the smoke off the
cannabis is inhaled. this method of inhalation tends to burn the
throat as the smoke is rather warm when inhaled.
using a bong
another way of inhaling this drug is to use a bong, with this method
the smoke is drawn through water in a bottle causing the smoke to be
cooled down before it is inhaled and obviously more enjoyable for
the user. a bong is a bit like an indian's piece pipe.
for a user to make a bong is fairly simple, the materials required
are all found around the home, small plastic bottle, cigarette
filter, plastic tube, i.e. a pen with the inside taken out, and a
receptacle for burning the cannabis in, for instance the outsides of
a tv aerial plug.
effects of cannabis
cannabis is a widely used drug and has been for some time in south
africa.
the effects of cannabis is determined on the individual, the state
of mind the individual was in before taking the drug, i.e. depressed
or happy etc. main effects of a user would be very talkative,
relaxed and happy. colours and sounds also play a big part in the
state of users, as these are more pronounced and usually help relax
the user. like other drugs cannabis can have its bad side of
effects, especially when higher dose's are taken. some side effects
include hallucinations and the user may become disorientated. this
in turn can also lead to the user being anxious or depressed and
possible suicidal. some users will also become paranoid especially
if taking the drug at parties with a lot of other people around.
nausea and vomiting can be present when too much of the drug is
taken at once. when smoking cannabis it usually hits the spot fairly
quickly and can last from 1 to 3 hours depending on the amount
taken. just like heroin users, cannabis users also get the munchies
and dry mouth. cannabis is classed as a drug that is fairly safe to
use without any serious long lasting damage to physical or mental
health. cannabis is still dangerous due to the damage to the lungs
through smoking, it is also said that it is not a drug that is
addictive, to some people it is, also using cannabis with tobacco
the user could get addicted to the nicotine in tobacco and get
dependent on cigarette's
cocaine
cocaine is a drug that comes under the heading of stimulants. this
drug will give the user a temporary illusion of limitless power and
hallucinations, some being bad trips (see bad trip). cocaine comes
from a south american coca plant. it is a white powder and is either
snorted or injected intravenously. once the effects of the drug
start to wear off the user will usually be left feeling depressed,
on edge and craving for more. the user could also suffer from
paranoia whilst using the drug.
cocaine and crack cocaine like heroin is very additive.
how is cocaine taken
this is a simple method where the user will chop up the powder very
fine with a razor blade or other very sharp tool. it will the be
placed on a flat smooth surface in a straight line and snorted up
the nostrils with a straw or other tube object.
cocaine can also be injected, smoked or by chewing the coca leaf.
effects of cocaine - heart rate increases, blood pressure rises,
possibility of a brain seizure, strokes, heart attack, rise in body
temperature, paranoid or violent behaviour, loss of interest with
friends and family, loss of appetite, decreased sex drive, no
interest in usual activities, sports, hobbies etc., headaches,
dizziness, insomnia
overdose on cocaine
death by overdosing on cocaine is not uncommon. overdosing can cause
a serious increase in blood pressure, which may result in bleeding
in the brain causing the possibility of a stroke. overdosing with
cocaine can cause heart and respiratory problems resulting in death.
prolonged use of cocaine can affect the nervous system, causing
constriction of blood vessels, irregular heart beat and dilation of
the pupils.
bad trip
a bad trip is where the user will imagine seeing something grotesque
and awful. in all instances the user will believe what's going
through their mind is really happening.
in one instance a user hallucinated that their arm was getting
longer and longer, heading towards the road. the user believed their
hand was going to be run over by a bus, it was so real the user
chopped off their own hand.
crack cocaine
crack is a form of cocaine which can be smoked, after it has been
chemically modified. crack cocaine has the same downside effects as
cocaine. the other disadvantages are respiratory problems and lung
disease
what is crack
cocaine
crack cocaine is a more powerful drug than cocaine powder and
creates a 'high' much more quickly. this is because in this form it
enables the user to smoke the drug, which comes in the form of small
rocks (a rock is a small square piece - see picture above), each
about the size of a raisin. smoking crack is less complicated than
snorting or injecting and therefore, people have switched to this
form of drug taking. it is called crack because of the sound it
makes when it is smoked.
crack cocaine is available in many parts of south africa, and
has become more affordable to young people. thin pieces of crack are
sometimes sliced off a 'rock'(a rock is a small square piece - see
picture above) and sold at a lower cost. in some areas, the
availability of cocaine powder has been reduced because of the
amount of cocaine that is being converted to crack cocaine.
crack cocaine is similar to cocaine in its effects, although crack
cocaine is much more intense and extreme in its effects. the effects
of crack cocaine can be felt by the user almost immediately and last
for about 10 minutes. feelings of well-being, exhilaration, a loss
of appetite, increased confidence and an indifference to pain and
fatigue are experienced by the user. however, the crack user often
experiences hallucinations and paranoia.
after the 'high', feelings of nausea, restlessness, sleeplessness
and exhaustion are common. this is referred to as 'crashing', where
the user falls into a depression. the user may crave another 'hit'
to overcome these feelings. heavy users sometimes take heroin to
dull the craving caused by use of crack cocaine.
crack cocaine is highly addictive, however reports that crack is
instantly addictive are false.
how is crack cocaine taken
as previously mentioned crack cocaine is smoked, using a holder, by
sucking a naked flame onto the crystal and inhaling the fumes. as
the crystal heats up it explodes, which is the cracking sound which
can be heard.
effects of crack cocaine:
heart irregularities, blood pressure rises, possibility of a brain
seizure, strokes, convulsions, heart attack, rise in body
temperature, paranoid or violent behaviour, loss of interest with
friends and family, loss of appetite, decreased sex drive, no
interest in usual activities, sports, hobbies etc, headaches,
dizziness, insomnia
crack babies
various media have reported stories of 'crack babies', babies born
addicted to crack cocaine and lacking the will to live. however,
evidence indicates that such reports are exaggerated and that a baby
will recover from the addictive effects of crack cocaine within a
few weeks. babies do have withdrawal symptoms and in some cases are
given medication to counteract the symptoms. a more severe problem
is the high incidence of birth defects associated with the use of
crack cocaine. if a woman uses crack cocaine regularly while she is
pregnant, the baby may be born with heart and lung problems.
overdose on crack cocaine
in rare cases, users have died from overdose. an overdose can cause
spasms and the user may lose consciousness or fall into a coma,
which can be fatal if medical help is not provided.
prolonged use of crack cocaine can affect the nervous system,
causing constriction of blood vessels, irregular heart beat and
dilation of the pupils.
bad trip
a bad trip is where the user will imagine seeing something grotesque
and awful. in all instances the user will believe what's going
through their mind is really happening
heroin
heroin is one of a group of drugs which are derived from the opium
poppy which are collectively know as opiates. other examples are
codeine and morphine, which are commercially produced as
painkillers.
heroin is derived from morphine which is a white powder in it pure
form, on the street it is more of a brown coloured powder, due to
the additives added. it has been know for powdered milk, talc, curry
powder, washing powder and other substances to be mixed with pure
heroin to increase the volume.
synthetic (man made) opiates are called opioids these are also
produced as painkillers such as pethidine, methadone and diconal.
how is heroin taken
a drug addict will often start taking heroin by smoking the drug
this is commonly called "tooting". the user will place the heroin
onto silver foil and warm it up from underneath with a lighter or
candle. as the heroin melts it turns into a ball of fluid, which
will roll along the silver foil, leaving a trail of black residue
(lines on the silver foil, see picture left). once it gets to this
stage it gives off fumes which are inhaled using a ball point pen
with the centre removed or a silver foil rolled up into a tube, or a
similar implement. after a short period of use addicts will find
themselves doing more and more lines in a day due to more of the
drug being required to have the same effect. once this starts
happening and more drugs are required the addicts find themselves
spending more and more money. often the next step is to start
injecting as this will hit the spot much faster and less of the drug
is required.
injecting heroin
injecting heroin is like a ritual for the user. once the heroin is
purchased the preparation starts. firstly everything will be put out
on display and placed in order. the kit includes, heroin, syringe
with needle, spoon, lighter or candle, cigarette filter, belt,
citric acid and water. the heroin is put onto the spoon with citric
acid, the right amount of water will then be mixed with the heroin
and citric acid, (the citric acid is used to breakdown the heroin so
it can be injected). at the same time the spoon is held over the
heat source so all the three substances are mixed together. once
mixed, a cigarette filter will be placed onto the spoon, the
solution will then be drawn up the syringe through the filter, this
is to filter out any impurities. it is now ready to be injected into
a vein usually in the arm. the belt or similar implement such as a
shoe lace is tied tightly around the arm to stop the blood flow,
this will cause the veins to stand out for easier injection. after
long periods of use the veins will become damaged and other areas of
the body are used for injecting into. other places used are in the
groin area, behind the knees or in serious cases in the neck. it has
been know for addicts veins to collapse.
effects of heroin:
short term effects of heroin: sedation / drowsiness (known as
gouching), euphoria (the feeling of well being), reduced anxiety, no
feeling of pain (analgesia),
serious effects: aids due to sharing needles, skin infection from
injecting, collapsed veins due to injecting, poisoning due to
additives added to the drugs by dealers, liver damage, rotten teeth
due to "tooting"
overdose
addicts usually don't intend to overdose. the reasons for overdosing
are few but can be very serious and has in the past resulted in
death.
if an addict has been restricted from taking the drug for a long
period of time, for example, due to imprisonment. the addict could
overdose if they were to use the same amount of the drug they were
taking before they had the long spell of not using.
another reason for overdosing is due to the strength of heroin. some
dealers will mix other substances with the heroin making it weaker.
if a pure bag of heroin was taken, this could amount to a serious
overdose.
what to look for - sleep pattern will change dramatically (usually
lack of sleep during the night), staying in the bedroom away from
others who don't use the drug, not mixing with others, not going out
with usual friends to the pub etc., silver foil will start to
disappear, lack of money,
hyper and more energy than usual, personal items (stereo's, games
machines, computers etc.) get sold to feed the addiction, money
starts to disappear, dramatic weight loss, looking pale and gaunt in
the face (no colour), eye pupils very small, with little reaction,
don't keep personal hygiene up to standard, loss of interest in
cooked meals/depressed appetite, eating lots of sweet foods like
chocolate bars and yoghurts, lies (a drug addict will tell blatant
lies to try and cover his tracks), in trouble with the law
parents often mistake the effects of heroin use with alcohol use
(but no smell of alcohol would be present)
why is heroin addictive
it's not just heroin that is addictive, other opiates are just as
addictive. after a short period of use taking heroin or other
opiates, it changes the way the nerve cells in the brain work. these
cells rely on the drugs for them to function and end up being
dependent on it. when a regular user stops taking the drug the nerve
cells become very active and start craving for the drug, which
causes withdrawal symptoms, which is commonly known as cold turkey.
what is cold turkey
treatment
there is no magical cure for an addict to stop the habit.
unfortunately some people say an addict will come off heroin once
they are ready, this could be after 12 years or more. a couple of
common treatments are methadone & naltrexone.
methadone: this is a commonly used method to stop the use of heroin,
it is usually in a liquid form and is taken orally. unfortunately
methadone is just as addictive as heroin. addicts are weaned off
over a matter of months, then in some cases offered naltrexone
whilst getting counselling.
naltrexone
this is a blocker and stops any effect heroin has on the user.
before naltrexone is administered the user must be clear of opiates
and opioids for at least 7 - 10 days. a urine test is normally
carried out to ensure the body is clean. the addict must be under
supervision for at least an hour to ensure there are no side
effects. naltrexone is taken in tablet form daily, also counselling
would be given to get the addict back into society. most
establishments offering the above treatment would do random drugs
test on known addicts.
implants: this is done under a local anaesthetic and involves an
implant of naltrexone, which is released into the body slowly.
cold turkey
cold turkey is a common name for a drug addict who is going through
the withdrawal symptoms to try and kick the addiction, also know as
detoxification or detox. this usually occurs between 8 and 24 hours
after the last intake of the drug. there are a lot of symptoms as
the body starts to get all it's feelings back, after the long term
drug abuse. most addicts will have similar symptoms, such as
diarrhoea, aches and pains, cramps in the stomach, vomiting, sweats
and cold chills. the person who is having the withdrawal symptoms
may feel that they are dying (and in a lot of cases go straight back
on heroin after a couple of days). those who manage to carry on will
have the symptoms for between 4 to 8 days. unfortunately still not
much help is available at this stage the only thing to do is take
painkillers and diarrhoea tablets which may help a little.
what next - after the cold turkey stage the battle is still on. this
is just the start of the recovery period. the next step is to get
the brain sorted out, as the craving is still there and the addict
still wants their fix. at this stage counselling and blockers are
usually needed to help the addict through the everyday tasks they
have to contend with. the main thing to try and do is keep the
addict occupied. addicts at this stage are often unemployed,
possibly homeless with nothing to do.
get them to seek employment, there is also a lot of college courses
for young and old, anything will do to keep their brains occupied.
try and encourage them to take up some form of hobby or other
interests. one of the worst things they can do is hang around with
other users as they will go straight back into using again, and the
whole process starts from the beginning
crystal methamphetamine
(also see the full
tik page)
crystal methamphetamine is a colourless, odourless form of
d-methamphetamine, a powerful and highly addictive synthetic
(man-made) stimulant. crystal methamphetamine typically resembles
small fragments of glass or shiny blue-white "rocks" of various
sizes. like powdered methamphetamine (another form of
d-methamphetamine), crystal methamphetamine is used because of the
long-lasting euphoric effects it produces. crystal methamphetamine,
however, typically has a higher purity level and may produce even
longer-lasting and more intense physiological effects than the
powdered form of the drug.
crystal methamphetamine typically is smoked using glass pipes
similar to pipes used to smoke crack cocaine. crystal
methamphetamine also may be injected. a user who smokes or injects
the drug immediately experiences an intense sensation followed by a
high that may last 12 hours or more depending on dose and how the
drug is administered.
effects and risks of crystal methamphetamine
crystal methamphetamine increases arousal in the central nervous
system by pumping up levels of two neurotransmitters, norepinephrine
and dopamine. at low doses, it boosts alertness and blocks hunger
and fatigue. at higher doses, it causes exhilaration and euphoria.
at very high doses, the drug can cause agitation, paranoia, and
bizarre behaviour.
crystal methamphetamine use is associated with numerous serious
physical problems. the drug can cause rapid heart rate, increased
blood pressure, and damage to the small blood vessels in the
brain--which can lead to a stroke.
chronic use of the drug can result in inflammation of the heart
lining. overdoses can cause hyperthermia (elevated body
temperature), convulsions, and death.
individuals who use crystal methamphetamine also may have episodes
of violent behaviour, paranoia, anxiety, confusion, and insomnia. the
drug can produce psychotic symptoms that persist for months or years
after an individual has stopped using the drug.
crystal methamphetamine users who inject the drug expose themselves
to additional risks, including contracting hiv (human
immunodeficiency virus), hepatitis b and c. chronic users who inject
methamphetamine also risk scarred or collapsed veins, infections of
the heart lining and valves, abscesses, pneumonia, tuberculosis, and
liver or kidney disease.
crystal methamphetamine is very addictive, like methamphetamine
(powder) 95% of those who are hooked on meth became hooked after the
first time
lsd (acid)
commonly used names include trips, tabs, strawbs, blotters, dots.
chemical name: lysergic acid diethylamide. full chemical name: lysergic
acid diethylamide or lysergide.
how it is taken: lsd is a powder, which is made into a liquid, spotted
onto tiny squares of blotting paper with a design printed on one side,
and supplied. only a very small amount of the drug needs to be taken to
experience the effects. lsd is also supplied as ‘microdots’, though this
is rarer now.
effects:
lsd is a powerful hallucinogen. the effects of lsd, known as a ‘trip’,
may last from eight - 12 hours. while they last, users’ experience of
reality may be heavily altered. their sense of movement and time may
speed up or slow down, and objects, colour and sound may become
distorted. although influenced by the user’s surroundings and state of
mind, the effects of lsd are highly unpredictable. a trip may be
experienced as mystical, euphoric, utterly terrifying, or a combination
of all three, but it is not possible to predict with certainty which it
will be.
the risks:
once a trip starts, there is no way of stopping it. a ‘bad trip’ can be
terrifying. users can forget that the drug is responsible, and feel
frightened, paranoid and out of control. lsd can trigger or complicate
underlying mental problems such as depression, anxiety or schizophrenia.
panic attacks and anxiety can last for many months after
use
users may experience ‘flashbacks’ long after they have used lsd, in
which parts of a trip are briefly relived
lsd can produce tolerance, so some users who take the drug repeatedly
need to take progressively higher doses to achieve the same effects.
this is extremely dangerous, given the unpredictability of the drug lsd
can impair judgement and the user should never drive while under the
influence lsd should not be taken with other drugs, and it can react
very dangerously with some prescription drugs.
poppers
poppers is a term used for a group of chemicals known as alkyl
nitrites, these include butyl nitrite, amyl nitrite and isobutyl
nitrite. on the street the names used vary which include rush,
thrust, liquid gold, ram, rock hard, tnt, amyl and others. poppers
come as a clear or gold-coloured liquid in bottles or tubes. poppers
are taken by inhaling the vapour thorough the mouth or nose. care
must be taken because if this substance is swallowed the
consequences could be fatal. poppers are being used lately in dance
cultures as they give the user a rush of energy, the effect however
do not last very long, they usually fade about two to five minutes
after the initial intake.
effects of poppers:
users get a very brief but intense head rush. this is caused by a
sudden surge of blood through the heart and brain, some users
indicate that they get the sense of time slowing down, blood vessels
dilate (enlarge) resulting in a flushed face and neck. the effects
usually last between 2 - 5 minutes
risks of poppers:
if taken whilst dancing this drug can make people feel faint and
sick, taking alkyl nitrites is very dangerous for people with
anaemia, glaucoma, breathing or heart problems, users often
experience a headache afterwards,
regular use can cause skin problems around the mouth and nose,
poppers can burn the skin if spilt, poppers can kill if swallowed
are poppers addictive
unfortunately there is little information on poppers even though
they have been around for so many years. the simple answer is no
they are not addictive, such as the likes of heroin and cocaine.
however the user could keep taking the drug unconsciously just to
get that rush.
rohypnol
rohypnol (flunitrazepam) is a type of benzodiazepine, a class of
drugs that depresses the central nervous system. you may have heard
of valium, these are also benzodiazepines used as sedatives and
antianxiety agents. rohypnol was developed as a sleeping aid. it is
also used in therapy settings to relax patients and to get them
talking. rohypnol is manufactured in europe and latin american and
is sold in many countries around the world. these pills are round,
white and smaller than aspirin.
rohypnol is inexpensive and used a lot in the united states, it has
become popular with school and college students. rohypnol is used
mostly at parties, and usually taken with alcohol. it has a
synergistic effect with other drugs such as alcohol. this means that
one drug increases the effect of the other.
because rohypnol is colourless, odourless and flavourless, it can be
slipped into drinks unnoticed. this is one reason this drug is so
dangerous. people may consume it without knowing. it dissolves
quickly and takes effect in 20-30 minutes. its effects can last 8-12
hours. within the past few years, rohypnol has become known as the
"date rape" drug. people will come home from a party and have no
idea what happened to them because they unknowingly ingested
rohypnol, passed out, and woke up several hours later with no memory
of the evening.
although overdoses are rarely fatal, emergency services are
sometimes required because rohypnol can cause a person to vomit,
hallucinate, have trouble breathing and fall into a coma. when
rohypnol is combined with alcohol the outcome is usually worse.
withdrawal symptoms may occur and include headaches, sore muscles,
hallucinations, convulsions, and possibly seizures 1-2 weeks after
quitting the drug.
effects of taking rohypnol: amnesia (memory loss), muscle
relaxation, lower inhibitions: an inhibition is when you feel like
you can't do something. when inhibitions are lowered, people feel as
if an obstacle has been removed. therefore, they can talk more
freely and feel less shy, vomiting, hallucinating, trouble
breathing, coma
risks of taking rohypnol: hallucinations, convulsions, possibilities
of a seizure 1-2 weeks after quitting the drug.
is rohypnol addictive
continued, repeated use of rohypnol may result in addiction and
although rohypnol is a sedative, it can cause aggressive behaviour
in some people.