DRUG FACTS
Amphetamines
Stimulants affect the central nervous system. Stimulants can cause increased heart
and respiratory rates, elevated blood pressure, dilated pupils, and decreased
appetite. In addition, users may experience sweating, headache, blurred vision,
dizziness, sleeplessness, and anxiety. Extremely high doses can cause a rapid or
irregular heartbeat, tremors, loss of coordination, and even physical collapse.
Physical exertion seems to increase the hazards of stimulants since accidental death
is due in part to the effects on the cardiovascular and body temperature regulating
systems. Fatalities under conditions of extreme exertion have been reported among
athletes who have taken stimulants in moderate amounts.
Amphetamines
Amphetamines are synthetic central nervous system stimulants that can produce
various temporary effects, including alertness, increased energy, suppressed
appetite, and feelings of well-being. As pure crystals, amphetamines appear as an
odorless, bitter-tasting, off-white powder which is water soluble. Illicit preparations
of amphetamines are often mixed with other materials and can appear as off-white
crystals, powders or chunks. They may also be supplied in capsules or tablets, which
may resemble commercial preparations. Amphetamines can be taken orally,
intravenously, or by sniffing. Chronic users of amphetamines may experience many
long-term effects, including severe anxiety, malnutrition, chronic sleeplessness, high
blood pressure, skin rash, and increased susceptibility to disease. An amphetamine
injection creates a sudden increase in blood pressure that can result in stroke, very
high fever, or heart failure. People who use large amounts of amphetamines over a
long period of time can develop an amphetamine psychosis that includes
hallucinations, delusions, and paranoia.
Methamphetamines
Methamphetamines are closely related chemically to amphetamines, but the central
nervous system effects of methamphetamines are greater. Methamphetamines are
made in illegal laboratories and have a high potential for abuse and dependence.
Methamphetamine hydrochloride, clear chunky crystals resembling ice which can be
inhaled by smoking, is referred to as "ice," "crystal," and "glass." These drugs can be
taken orally or intranasally (snorting the powder), intravenously, or by smoking. An
overdose of methamphetamine can cause delirium, panic, irregular heartbeat and
high blood pressure, circulatory collapse, nausea and vomiting, seizures, coma, and
death. Chronic use is usually marked by rapid weight loss. Use of the drug depletes
energy reserves in much the same way as physical exertion. However, chronic users
do not replenish their energy reserves because of the insomnia and suppressed
appetite caused by the drug. Severe vitamin and mineral deficiencies occur and
greatly increase the user's susceptibility to disease. Chronic abusers of
methamphetamines may experience hypothermia and convulsions that can result in
death.
Club Drugs
Club drugs are used by young adults at all-night dance parties such as "raves" or
"trances," dance clubs, and bars. MDMA (Ecstasy), GHB, Rohypnol, ketamine,
methamphetamine, and LSD are some of the club or party drugs gaining
popularity. Included among the club drugs are those associated with date rape.
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) supported research has shown that use of
club drugs can cause serious health problems and, in some cases, even death. The
mixing of these drugs with alcohol exacerbates the dangers of the drugs. Contrary to
popular belief, no club drug is risk free.
MDMA, or ecstasy, the most popular club drug, acts like a stimulant, such as
methamphetamine, or a hallucinogen, such as LSD. It is available as an aspirin-sized
pill or capsule that can be easily hidden. Its overdose effects include cardiovascular
failure and death.
GHB, or liquid ecstasy, acts as an intoxicant or sedative and is often used with
alcohol as a "date rape" drug. It is available as a clear liquid, white powder, capsule,
or pill. Its overdose effects include loss of consciousness, impaired breathing, and
death.
Rohypnol, or roofies, acts as a sedative and can cause inability to remember
events while under its influence. It is available as a white pill that dissolves easily in
carbonated beverages and is a popular "date rape" drug. Its overdose effects include
confusion and possibly death when used with alcohol.
Methamphetamine, or speed, is a stimulant that causes a false sense of
confidence, excitation, irritability, anxiety, and panic. It is highly addictive and
available as a pill, capsule, powder or in chunks that can be ingested, snorted,
injected or smoked. Its overdose effects include agitation, extreme rise in body
temperature, hallucinations, convulsions, and death.
LSD, or acid, is a hallucinogen that causes unpredictable abnormalities in sensory
perceptions. It is available as a clear liquid, tablet, capsule, or on small pieces of
blotter paper taken orally. Its overdose effects include flashbacks, psychosis, and
possibly death.
Ketamine, or "Special K", is an animal anesthetic that is similar to the
hallucinogen PCP. It is available as a liquid or white powder that can cause dream-
like states. Its overdose effects include amnesia, delirium, and death from
respiratory depression.
Source: Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, 1993.
Cocaine
Probably one of the more notorious drugs in recent times has been cocaine, perhaps
because of the number of celebrities who have used it, its prevalence among affluent
populations, and the anecdotes about its addictive properties. But cocaine is hardly a
new drug. It has been used and abused for centuries.
What Is Cocaine?
Cocaine is a stimulant, derived from the leaves of the coca plant. The juice from the
plant is boiled down and then dehydrated, leaving the familiar white powder. The
powder form is often mixed (or "cut") with a neutral powder before being sold.
Cocaine is sold in a powder form and in a crystalline form ("crack"). The powder is
typically inhaled ("snorted"), and the crystal is typically smoked. Both the powder
and the crystalline forms of cocaine can be injected using a syringe.
Cocaine's Effects On The Body
Cocaine is a powerful central nervous system stimulant, often giving the user an
initial feeling of euphoria. This feeling is typically followed by a feeling of depression.
Cocaine use can also cause people to become violent or act erratically or paranoid;
and they may experience hallucinations, confusion, anxiety, and a loss of interest in
basic needs, such as food or sex. Cocaine can cause loss of concentration, irritability,
and a loss of memory. It can impair judgment, which may lead to dangerous
behaviors, such as unprotected sex, using a dirty needle, driving while under its
influence, and violence. Cocaine interferes with the absorption of dopamine, a
chemical messenger associated with pleasure and movement.
Cocaine is one of the most addictive drugs in common use. Many addicts report
being "hooked" after their first time. Physically, cocaine causes increased body
temperature, blood pressure, and heart rate. In fact, the heart may begin to race
until it fails, causing sudden death. Strokes, heart attacks, and respiratory failure
also are common reactions. Snorting damages the linings of the nose and upper
respiratory tract. A red, runny nose or frequent nosebleeds are an indication of
cocaine use.
Other warning signs include loss of interest in family, work, or friends; a need for
large amounts of money; a decline in performance on the job or in the classroom;
anxiety; and depression.
Cocaine use during pregnancy can lead to the death of the unborn child or
miscarriage; babies can be born addicted to cocaine that passes from their mothers'
systems to theirs. Along with having to go through withdrawal, these babies often
experience developmental disabilities.
For additional information about cocaine visit the websites of the National Institute
on Drug Abuse, NIDA (www.drugabuse.gov), and the National Center for Alcohol and
Drug Information, NCADI (www.health.org).
Crack
Crack is the street name for a "freebase" form of cocaine, a very powerful central
nervous system stimulant. The freebasing process involves heating cocaine
hydrochloride with other substances, resulting in a powder that is pressed into
chunks or "rocks" and smoked in a pipe. Crack is extremely addictive, and its effects
are felt within 10 seconds.
Crack is an odorless crystalline substance that often includes cornstarch, baby
laxative's sugars, and/or local anesthetics, and other stimulants.
Short-Term Effects
Because it is smoked, crack is absorbed immediately into the bloodstream and can
reach the brain within six seconds. Crack increases motor activity and arousal and
reduces the perceived need for food and sleep. It increases heart rate, blood
pressure, respiratory rate, and body temperature. Crack can also change heart
rhythm, dilate pupils, and produce sweating, pallor, restlessness, and excitement.
High doses of crack can cause a variety of adverse reactions. These include bizarre
and violent behavior; extreme anxiety and restlessness; twitches, tremors, spasms,
and loss of coordination; hallucinations and delusions; and chest pain and nausea.
Long-Term Effects
Crack users can experience long-term physical and psychological effects. As with
other forms of cocaine, chronic users of crack experience restlessness, extreme
excitability, tremors, anxiety, insomnia, and paranoia. In addition to physical effects
similar to those caused by short-term use, chronic users may suffer loss of appetite
and weight, dehydration, constipation, rapid tooth decay, and difficulty in urinating.
Repeated use of the drug eventually decreases sexual desire, often leading to total
abstinence from sex. Impotence in males also may occur. Because it is smoked,
crack may cause chronic sore throat, heavy congestion, severe coughing, black
sputum, and lung damage.
Repeated use of large quantities of crack can cause hypertension, seizures,
respiratory arrest, and cardiac failure. A chronic user is likely to withdraw from
others, focusing on the internal sensations caused by the drug. What may have
started as a social experience becomes a solitary one. The social effects of crack use
include family problems, crime and law-enforcement problems, work-related
problems, financial problems, violence, and community breakdown.
It must be remembered that crack is a killer—it can cause death by cardiac arrest or
respiratory failure!
Depressants
The effects of depressants are in many ways similar to the effects of alcohol. Small
amounts can produce calmness and relaxed muscles, but larger doses can cause
slurred speech, staggering gait, and altered perception. Very large doses can cause
respiratory depression, coma, and even death. The combination of depressants and
alcohol can multiply the effects of the drugs, greatly increasing the risks.
There are three primary groups of depressants: barbiturates, methaqualone, and
tranquilizers.
• Barbiturates are central nervous system depressants that are prescribed for
many therapeutic purposes, including sleep disorders, anxiety, and seizure
disorders. Barbiturates are used non-medically to help people relax or sleep,
to induce a sense of euphoria, or to counteract the adverse effects of other
drugs. They are usually marketed in capsules or tablets. However, they are
also available in a liquid form or suppositories. Physical effects of long-term
use of barbiturates include: chronic fatigue, slurred speech, poor
coordination, visual disturbances, extreme dizziness, slower reflexes, reduced
sex drive and impotence, menstrual irregularities and respiratory disorders.
• Methaqualone was originally prescribed to reduce anxiety and also as a
sleeping aid. It is one of the most commonly abused drugs and can cause
both physical and psychological dependence. Large doses (more than 300
mg.) result in an intense euphoria. Some users can also experience poor
motor coordination, slurred speech, weakness, disorientation and panic. Very
high doses can also lead to respiratory depression, abnormally rapid heart
rate, tremor of the hands and legs, and muscular rigidity. Acute overdose can
result in delirium, seizures, coma, and in some instances, death.
Methaqualone is a white, bitter-tasting crystalline powder, usually made into
tablets or capsules.
• Tranquilizers are central nervous system depressants that are legally
obtainable only by prescription. Physicians prescribe them to treat anxiety,
insomnia, and skeletal muscle spasms. Low doses of tranquilizers may cause
drowsiness and a sense of well-being. High doses can produce: impaired
thinking and memory, emotional instability, altered perceptions, slurred
speech, and staggered gait and poor motor coordination. Because
tranquilizers can affect the way the mind and muscles work together, use of
these drugs can cause blurred or double vision and impaired muscular
coordination. Some users may experience overstimulation, hallucinations,
insomnia, nightmares and rage. Tranquilizers appear as white, off-white or
light yellow crystalline powders, usually in pills or capsules of a variety of
colors.
Driving while under the influence of these depressants is very hazardous. Also,
babies born to mothers who abuse these drugs are at risk for birth defects and
behavioral problems.
Be aware that depressants taken with alcohol can be lethal!
Hallucinogens
Hallucinogens are drugs that distort one's perceptions, sensations, thinking, self-
awareness, and emotions. The most well-known hallucinogens include phencyclidine
(PCP), also called "angel dust;" lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), also known as
"acid;" mescaline and peyote; and psilocybin, also called "magic mushrooms." These
drugs cause unpredictable reactions, including erratic behavior and violence. Users
having a "bad trip" sometimes cause harm to themselves or others. The experience
can leave psychological scars and sometimes "flashbacks," where the "trip" is relived
months or even years later, long after the drug use has ended.
Some Common Drugs
PCP is a white crystalline powder that is highly soluble in water and alcohol. It is
available as a powder, tablet, capsule, or liquid. PCP is commonly applied to leafy
materials such as parsley, oregano, mint, or marijuana and smoked.
LSD is usually sold in the form of small tablets, in thin squares of gelatin, or on
stamp-sized pieces of paper. Always taken orally, tolerance to LSD develops rapidly.
Mescaline is a natural hallucinogen that is derived from the fleshy parts or buttons of
the peyote cactus. It is smoked or taken orally. Psilocybin is an active ingredient in
certain species of mushrooms.
Physical Effects
Hallucinogens cause increased heart rate and blood pressure, sleep disorders,
tremors, incoherent speech, loss of coordination, loss of awareness of pain, nausea
and vomiting, high fever, convulsions, coma, and heart and lung failure.
Psychological Effects
Users of hallucinogens report seeing (even "hearing") colors and shapes and of
having a distorted perception of distance and time during a "trip." Afterward, they
often feel estranged from others, depressed, anxious, and paranoid. They also
experience confusion, suspicion, and loss of control over their actions. Many PCP-
related deaths are not the result of overdose. Numerous accidental drownings, leaps
from high places, vehicular accidents, suicides, homicides and self-mutilations have
occurred because of the unpredictable psychological effects of this drug.
Since hallucinogens interfere with thought and concentration, activities such as
driving a vehicle or operating machinery can be especially hazardous. Hallucinogens
produce visual, auditory and tactile distortions, as well as distortions of time and
distance. Poor judgment, slower reflexes, poor coordination, distraction and
drowsiness can all occur when an individual is under the influence of hallucinogens.
Additional Information
For additional information about hallucinogens, visit the websites of the National
Institute on Drug Abuse, NIDA (www.drugabuse.gov), and the National
Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information, NCADI (www.health.org).
Heroin and Other Opiates
Heroin comes from the family of drugs known as opiates, or narcotics. The family
includes useful drugs such as morphine and codeine. It also includes the illicit drug,
opium. Opiates, derived from the resin of the seed pod of the Asian poppy plant, are
processed into any number of forms, including liquid, crystals, and powder.
Heroin, the opiate most commonly sold on the streets, is usually processed into a
white or brown powder. It is often mixed (or "cut") with another powder to reduce its
potency and to increase the profits of the dealer. The powder can be inhaled
("snorted") or ingested ("eaten") or smoked, but the most common route of
administration is intravenous injection.
Addicts often share needles, spreading diseases such as hepatitis and the virus that
causes AIDS. Over half of all new HIV infections occur among injecting drug users
and their sexual partners, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).
The legal opiates, such as morphine and codeine, also are abused. Their use is
tightly controlled, as is the use of synthetic versions such as meperidine (sold under
the brand name Demerol).
What It Does
Heroin and other opiates are powerful and effective painkillers. They "kill" pain by
blocking pain recognition by the brain. This property makes morphine and codeine
useful as a "pain blocker" in medical use. The actions of opiates, though, lead to
psychological dependence and physical addiction. The addiction causes a craving that
many addicts are willing to sacrifice any- and everything to satisfy, including
engaging in risky behavior, such as unprotected sex and acts of violence. They may
neglect their health and basic needs, such as nutrition.
Addiction can take place after just one use. When the high wears off, an addict may
experience panic or paranoia. They may have insomnia and be physically ill.
Withdrawal from heroin and other opiates can be extremely painful. In some cases,
addicts are given a lesser form of opiate known as methadone to ease them through
the withdrawal phase.
An overdose of heroin or other opiates can cause sudden death. The drugs suppress
the heart rate and breathing and can cause stroke or heart attack. Along with the
risk of hepatitis and the virus that causes AIDS, addicts who inject heroin also suffer
from skin abscesses, inflamed or collapsed veins, tetanus, and a cardiac disease
caused by a bacterium passed from one needle-user to another. There also is the
danger that the drug was mixed with an unsafe substance, such as rat poison or
soap powder.
Heroin and other opiate use during pregnancy can lead to the death of the unborn
child or miscarriage. Babies can be born addicted to the drugs that pass from their
mothers' systems to theirs. Along with having to go through withdrawal, these
babies often experience developmental disabilities.
More Information
For more information on heroin and other opiates, visit the websites of the National
Institute on Drug Abuse (www.drugabuse.orga) and the Center for Substance Abuse
Treatment (www.samhsa.gov/centers/csat/csat.html
Inhalants
The substances that may be posing the greatest danger to adolescents these days
are not sold in back alleys by drug pushers, but at the local hardware store.
Inhalants are breathable chemical vapors that produce mind-altering effects. Youth
are likely to abuse inhalants because they are readily available and inexpensive.
Inhalants fall into several categories:
• Solvents, including paint thinner, gasoline, glue
• Gases, including butane and propane, aerosol propellants
• Sprays, ether, nitrous oxide; and nitrates, including cyclohesoyl, nitrite,
acunyl nitrite, butyl nitrite.
A Real Danger
The use of inhalants is deadly serious. Reports of deaths of first-time users are
common. Only alcohol use kills more youth. Nearly all abused inhalants produce
effects similar to anesthetics, which act to slow down the body's functions. Sniffing
highly concentrated amounts of chemicals in solvents or aerosol sprays can directly
cause heart failure and death. The inhaled chemicals displace oxygen from the lungs
and from the central nervous system, suffocating the user or causing lasting brain
damage.
Other irreversible effects from inhalants include hearing loss, limb spasms, central
nervous system or brain damage, and bone marrow damage. Serious, but potentially
reversible effects, include liver and kidney damage, and blood oxygen depletion.
Warning Signs
Using inhalants is called huffing. The most common way to use them is to spray or
pour the chemicals into a plastic bag and then place the open end of the bag over
the mouth and nose. Soft drink cans or socks might also be used.
Signs that someone is using inhalants include a drunken appearance – slurred
speech, loss of coordination, and bloodshot eyes. The user has trouble concentrating
or paying attention. Many of the symptoms imitate the flu.
The person, the person's breath, or the person's clothing may smell of the chemical.
Some of the chemicals act as appetite suppressants, causing weight loss. There may
be sores or rashes around the mouth and nose.
Persons suspected of inhalant abuse require immediate medical treatment.
Additional Information
For additional information on inhalant abuse, visit the websites of the National
Institute on Drug Abuse, NIDA (www.drugabuse.org), and the National
Clearinghouse on Alcohol and Drug Information, NCADI (www.health.org).
Marijuana
Marijuana, or cannabis sativa, is the most widely used illicit drug in the United
States. Marijuana is a mind-altering drug which distorts perception and diminishes
motor skills. Hashish and sensimilla are other forms of cannabis. Known as a
"gateway drug," marijuana frequently opens the door to use of other drugs.
According to a 2000 survey of Missouri public-school students (grades 6, 8, 10, and
12), 21 percent reported any use, and 12.5 percent reported use in the 30 days
preceding the survey.
Commonly known as grass, pot, or weed, marijuana is a tall, leafy, dark-green plant
(cannabis sativa) that is cultivated for street sales.
How It Is Used
Marijuana gets its hallucinogenic properties from the chemical THC, short for delta-9-
tetrahydrocannabinol. It is just one of more than 400 chemicals found in the
marijuana plant – many for which the effects on the human body are not yet known.
THC is found throughout the marijuana plant but is concentrated in oils found in the
leaves and in the seeds. Through hybridization, marijuana grown today is many
times more potent than that grown even 10 years ago. It is grown extensively out-
of-doors in warm climates, both in the United States and in other countries, and
indoors under lights in cooler locations. International smuggling is a major concern of
U.S. law enforcement officials.
Smoking is the most common method of using marijuana. The leaves and other
parts of the plant are dried and then crumbled into smaller pieces that are then
rolled into a cigarette called a "joint" or burned in pipes or water pipes called
"bongs." Occasionally, small cigars are hollowed out and filled with marijuana or a
joint is dipped in a volatile fluid before smoking. Marijuana also is sometimes added
to food and ingested.
Its Effects
People under the influence of marijuana are said to be "high."
Short-term Effects or Symptoms Include:
• Sleepiness and increased hunger (sometimes called "the munchies")
• Difficulty keeping track of time
• Impaired or reduced short-term memory
• Inability to perform tasks requiring concentration, including driving a vehicle
• Increased heart rate that may pose a danger to those with heart disease
• Bloodshot eyes, dry mouth and throat
• A lowering of inhibitions leading to unsafe behavior, such as unprotected sex
• Panic attacks, paranoia, and hallucinations.
Long-term Marijuana Use Can Lead to:
• Increased risk for certain cancers, including lung cancer, because of the high
concentrations of cancer causing chemicals in marijuana tar
• Lower testosterone levels in males that may inhibit or prevent the
development of male sexual characteristics in adolescent boys
• Higher testosterone levels in females which can lead to increased facial and
body hair and acne
• Lower sperm counts in men and increased risk of infertility in women
• Psychological dependence
• A condition called "burnout," where the user appears to be dull, slow, and
inattentive
• Physiological aspects, including retention in the system for weeks after use.
Marijuana is the most frequently used and abused illicit substance. Despite its
widespread use, there are currently no known proven medical uses. Research
continues, though, on the efficacy of medical use with certain chemotherapy patients
and others.
Information
For additional information about marijuana, please visit the websites of the Center
for Substance Abuse Prevention (www.samhsa.gov/centers/csap/csap.html), and the
National Institute on Drug Abuse (www.drugabuse/gov).
Methamphetamines
Methamphetamines are synthetic amphetamines or stimulants that are produced and
sold illegally in pill form, capsules, powder, and crystalline chunks. "Crank," "speed,"
and "ice" are common street names for methamphetamines.
Crank refers to any form of methamphetamine. Ice is a clear, crystallized, smokeable
chunk of methamphetamine that produces a more intense reaction than cocaine or
speed. Methamphetamines stimulate the central nervous system, and the effects
may last anywhere from 8 to 24 hours. Crank and ice are extremely addictive and
produce a severe craving for the drug.
In addition to the physical effects, the production and processing of
methamphetamines also is dangerous. The ignitable, corrosive, reactive, and toxic
nature of chemicals used to produce the drugs can cause explosions, fires, toxic
fumes, and damage to health and environment.
Physical Effects
Methamphetamines are highly addictive and users can experience physical and
psychological effects. Compared with cocaine, methamphetamine has a much longer
duration of action and a larger percentage remains unchanged in the body. Smoking
or ingesting methamphetamine causes the user to experience an intense rush or
"flash" that lasts only a few minutes; snorting or oral ingestion produces euphoria.
Methamphetamine is often used in a "binge and crash" pattern. Users try to maintain
the high by binging on the drug.
Short-Term Effects Include:
• Increased attention and decreased fatigue
• Increased activity
• Decreased appetite
• Increased respiration
• Hyperthermia (body temperature elevated to dangerous, sometimes lethal
levels)
Long-Term Effects Include:
• Dependence and addiction psychosis
• Paranoia and Hallucinations
• Mood disturbances
• Stroke
• Weight loss
Repeated use of the drug can lead to addiction, violent behavior, anxiety, confusion,
insomnia, and psychotic behavior (including intense paranoia and visual and auditory
hallucination.) Chronic use can also result in inflammation of the heart lining and
other cardiovascular problems.
Methamphetamines are manufactured in clandestine laboratories located, generally,
on abandoned farms. Methamphetamines can be produced with readily available and
inexpensive materials. Many of these materials, though, are highly volatile. Due to
its illegal manufacture, dosage is impossible to control and its chemical composition
is unknown.
Health Risks
Some of the many health-related consequences associated with methamphetamine
use include increased respiration, tremors, convulsions, and such cardiovascular
problems as chest pain, hypertension, and increased heart rate. Methamphetamine
also is thought to damage brain cells that contain dopamine and serotonin, which
transmit impulses to the brain. Methamphetamine use can reduce dopamine levels,
producing symptoms similar to those of Parkinson's Disease. It also may damage
nerve endings.
Hyperthermia and convulsions, as well as such cardiovascular side effects as chest
pain and hypertension, caused by methamphetamine use may result in death.
Increased heart rate and blood pressure, leading to damaged blood vessels in the
brain, may produce strokes. Methamphetamine use affects the lungs, kidneys, and
liver. Pulmonary edema and cardiac arrest may occur after prolonged use.
Prenatal Complications
Methamphetamine use during pregnancy can cause major problems for babies,
including asocial behavior, an inability to bond, tremors, and birth defects.
Developmental problems may result because of reduced blood flow, and the drug
may have a toxic effect on the fetal brain.
Treatment
Methamphetamine users may experience long-term physical and psychological
effects. Current treatment efforts include those used for other addictions:
detoxification, residential treatment, and outpatient rehabilitation. Little information
is available concerning methamphetamine-specific treatment programs. However,
research on protocols used in other states is being reviewed.
Public Education and Prevention
Public education on the devastating effects of methamphetamine use on the human
body and the environment, and about access to treatment services for those who
need them, is essential to address growing methamphetamine use in Missouri as well
as other states.
Also, community-wide prevention strategies are needed to reduce the likelihood that
methamphetamines will be used and to promote health and safety for the people of
Missouri.
Oxycontin
OxyContin is a trade name product for the generic narcotic oxycodone hydrochloride,
an opiate agonist. Oxycodone is a central nervous system depressant. Oxycodone's
action appears to work through stimulating the opioid receptors found in the central
nervous system that activate responses ranging from analgesia (pain killing) to
respiratory depression to euphoria. People who take the drug repeatedly can develop
a tolerance or resistance to the drug's effects. Most individuals who abuse oxycodone
seek to gain the euphoric effects, mitigate pain, and avoid withdrawal symptoms
associated with oxycodone or heroin abstinence.
The Effects
Oxycodone is abused for its opiate-like effects. The strength, duration, and known
dosage of OxyContin are the primary reasons the drug is attractive to both abusers
and legitimate users. OxyContin is designed to be swallowed whole; however,
abusers ingest the drug in a variety of ways. OxyContin abusers either crush the
tablet and ingest or snort it or dilute it in water and inject it. Crushing or diluting the
tablet disarms the timed-release action of the medication and causes a quick,
powerful high. Abusers have compared this feeling to the euphoria they experience
when taking heroin. In fact, in some areas, the use of heroin is overshadowed by the
abuse of OxyContin.
The drug is most often administered orally. The growing awareness and concern
about AIDS and blood-borne pathogens easily transmitted by syringe needle use, has
made the oral availability of Oxycodone attractive to the typical opiate abuser.
"Poor Man’s Heroin"
OxyContin and heroin have similar effects; therefore, both drugs are attractive to the
same abuser population. OxyContin is sometimes referred to as "poor man's heroin,"
despite the high price it commands at the street level. A 40 mg tablet of OxyContin
by prescription costs approximately $4 or $400 for a 100-tablet bottle in a retail
pharmacy. Street prices vary depending on geographic location, but generally
OxyContin sells for between 50 cents and $1 per milligram. Thus, the same 100-
tablet bottle purchased for $400 at a retail pharmacy can sell for $2,000 to $4,000
illegally.
OxyContin is, however, relatively inexpensive for those covered by health insurance,
since the insurance provider covers most costs associated with doctor visits and the
prescription. Unfortunately, many OxyContin abusers whose health insurance will no
longer pay for prescriptions and who cannot afford the high street-level prices are
attracted to heroin. OxyContin abusers sometimes commit theft, armed robbery, and
fraud to sustain their habits.
As with most opiates, the adverse effects of oxycodone abuse are dependence and
tolerance development. Oxycodone's co-formulation with acetaminophen has also
increased the likelihood of acetaminophen-induced hepatic necrosis with chronic
dosing.
Information
For additional information on OxyContin and the abuse and addiction to other
prescription drugs, visit the website of the National Institute on Drug Abuse
(www.drugabuse.gov).
Stimulants
Stimulants affect the central nervous system. Stimulants can cause increased heart
and respiratory rates, elevated blood pressure, dilated pupils, and decreased
appetite. In addition, users may experience sweating, headache, blurred vision,
dizziness, sleeplessness, and anxiety. Extremely high doses can cause a rapid or
irregular heartbeat, tremors, loss of coordination, and even physical collapse.
Physical exertion seems to increase the hazards of stimulants since accidental death
is due in part to the effects on the cardiovascular and body temperature regulating
systems. Fatalities under conditions of extreme exertion have been reported among
athletes who have taken stimulants in moderate amounts.
Amphetamines
Amphetamines are synthetic central nervous system stimulants that can produce
various temporary effects, including: alertness, increased energy, suppressed
appetite, and feelings of well-being. As pure crystals, amphetamines appear as an
odorless, bitter-tasting, off-white powder which is water soluble. Illicit preparations
of amphetamines are often mixed with other materials and can appear as off-white
crystals, powders or chunks. They may also be supplied in capsules or tablets, which
may resemble commercial preparations. Amphetamines can be taken orally,
intravenously, or by sniffing. Chronic users of amphetamines may experience many
long-term effects, including: severe anxiety, malnutrition, chronic sleeplessness,
high blood pressure, skin rash, and increased susceptibility to disease. An
amphetamine injection creates a sudden increase in blood pressure that can result in
stroke, very high fever, or heart failure. People who use large amounts of
amphetamines over a long period of time can develop an amphetamine psychosis
that includes hallucinations, delusions, and paranoia.
Methamphetamines
Methamphetamines are closely related chemically to amphetamines, but the central
nervous system effects of methamphetamines are greater. Methamphetamines are
made in illegal laboratories and have a high potential for abuse and dependence.
Methamphetamine hydrochloride, clear chunky crystals resembling ice, which can be
inhaled by smoking, is referred to as "ice," "crystal," and "glass." These drugs can be
taken orally or intranasally (snorting the powder), intravenously, or by smoking. An
overdose of methamphetamine can cause: delirium, panic, irregular heartbeat and
high blood pressure, circulatory collapse, nausea and vomiting, seizures, coma, and
death. Chronic use is usually marked by rapid weight loss. Use of the drug depletes
energy reserves in much the same way as physical exertion. However, chronic users
do not replenish their energy reserves because of the insomnia and suppressed
appetite caused by the drug. Severe vitamin and mineral deficiencies occur and
greatly increase the user's susceptibility to disease. Chronic abusers of
methamphetamines may experience hyperthermia and convulsions that can result in
death.
Caffeine
A common stimulant that many people use everyday is caffeine. It is found in coffee,
tea, soft drinks, chocolate, and other foods. Too much caffeine can cause problems,
such as anxiousness, headaches, and the "jitters."
Sources: "NIDA Capsules," National Institute on Drug Abuse, Jan. 1995; Center for Substance Abuse Prevention,
1993 Rev. June 1995