Marijuana:

Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug. Street names includegrass, pot, weed, bud, Mary Jane, dope, indo, hydro. Smoked in a joint, pipe, or bong, or sometimes mixed in food. Immediate effects include bloodshot eyes, dry mouth and throat, increased heart rate, impaired or reduced comprehension, altered sense of time, reduced ability to perform tasks requiring concentration and coordination, paranoia, intense anxietyor panic attacks, altered cognition, impaired learning, memory, perception,and judgment, difficulty speaking, listening, thinking, problem solving, and forming concepts. Chronic smokers may have many of the same respiratory problems as tobacco smokers, including daily cough and phlegm, chronic bronchitis symptoms, frequent chest colds, respiratory infections, and abnormal functioning of lung tissues.

Alcohol:

Taken orally, immediate effects include dizziness, slurred speech, disturbed sleep, nausea, vomiting, respiratory depression, impaired motor skills and learning, and violent behavior. May cause fetal alcohol syndrome for women who are pregnant.

Tobacco:

Smoked in cigarettes, cigars, and pipes, or chewed. Overtime it causes emphysema, chronic bronchitis, heart and cardiovascular disease, and cancer of the lung, larynx, esophagus, bladder, pancreas, kidney, and mouth. May cause spontaneous abortion, pre-term delivery, and low birth weight for pregnant women.

Inhalants:

Inhalants include volatile solvents, gases, and nitrites that are sniffed, snorted, huffed, or bagged to produce intoxicating effects similar to alcohol. These substances are found in common household products like glues, lighter fluid, cleaning fluids, and paint products. Inhalants depress the central nervous system, producing decreased respiration and blood pressure. Effects include headache, muscle weakness, abdominal pain, severe mood swings, violent behavior, numbness and tingling of hands and feet, lack of sense of smell, nausea, nosebleeds, liver, lung, and kidney damage, chemical imbalance in the body, fatigue, lack of coordination, loss of appetite, and hepatitis or peripheral neuropathy (from long-term use). Rashes around the nose and mouth, and wheezing may develop.

Steroids:

Commonly used steroids include Anadrol, Oxandrin, Dianobol, Winstrol,, Durabolin, Depo-Testosterone, and Equipoise. Taken orally in pill form, injected into muscles in liquid form, or rubbed on the skin in gel form. Effects include acne and breast development in men, and increased irritability and aggression. Long-term use may result in liver cancer, heart attacks, high cholesterol, and sterility. Withdrawal symptoms include mood swings, fatigue, restlessness, loss of appetite, insomnia, reduced sex drive, and depression. Injection leads to risk of contracting or transmitting hepatitis or HIV.

Ritalin:

Tablet is crushed and powder is snorted or injected. Effects include loss of appetite, fevers, convulsions, severe headaches, irregular heartbeat and respiration, paranoia, hallucinations, delusions, excessive repetition of movements and meaningless tasks, tremors, and muscle twitching. There is an increased risk of contracting HIV, hepatitis, and other infectious diseases if injected.

Stimulants / Opiates / Hallucinogens:

Cocaine:

Cocaine is the second most commonly used illicit drug in the United States. Street names include blow, nose candy, snowball, tornado and wicky stick. Snorted or dissolved in water and injected. Immediate effects include pupil dilation, elevated blood pressure and heart rate, and increased respiratory rate and body temperature. If injected, there is an increased risk of contracting HIV, Hepatitis, and other infectious diseases. Other effects include paranoia, seizures, heart attack, respiratory failure, constricted peripheral blood vessels, restlessness, irritability, anxiety, loss of appetite, tactile hallucinations, and insomnia. The mixing of cocaine and alcohol create cocaethylene while increasing risk of sudden death. Cocaine-related deaths are often a result of cardiac arrest or seizures followed by respiratory arrest.

Crack:

Crack or "rock" is the smoked form of cocaine. It is heated and smoked in a pipe. It has the same side-effects as cocaine, but, at an increased rate. Smoking crack can cause severe chest pains with lung trauma and bleeding.

Heroin:

Street names include smack, thunder, hell dust, big H and nose drops. Smoked, snorted, or injected. Effects include slowed and slurred speech, slow gait, constricted pupils, droopy eyelids, impaired night vision, vomiting, reduced appetite, constipation, respiratory depression or failure, and dry itching skin infections. Chronic use may cause collapsed veins, infection of heart lining and valves, abscesses, liver disease, pulmonary complications, and various types of pneumonia. Heroin overdose may cause slow and shallow breathing, convulsions, coma, and possibly death. Users put themselves at risk for contracting HIV, hepatitis B and C, and other infectious diseases if injected.

Oxycontin:

Street names include Hillbilly heroin, Oxy and Oxycotton. OxyContin is the brand name of a time-release formula of the analgesic chemical oxycodone. It is a prescribed pain reliever. Snorted, injected, or chewed. Long-term usage can lead to physical dependence. A large dosage can cause severe respiratory depression, coma, and even death. Withdrawal symptoms include restlessness, muscle and bone pain, insomnia, diarrhea, vomiting, cold flashes with goose bumps, and involuntary leg movements.

Phencyclidine (PCP):

Street names include Angel Dust, Supergrass, Killer Weed, Embalming Fluid, Rocket Fuel, wack and ozone. Snorted, smoked, taken orally, or injected. Effects include numbness, slurred speech, loss of coordination, rapid and involuntary eye-movements, hallucinations (outer-body experiences), respiratory attack, depression, anxiety, disorientation, fear, panic, paranoia, and aggressive/violent behavior. There is an increased risk of contracting HIV, hepatitis, and other infectious diseases if injected.

Amphetamines/Methamphetamine:

Street names include Meth, poor man's cocaine, crystal meth, ice, glass and speed. Taken orally, injected, snorted, or smoked. Effects include irritability, anxiety, increased blood pressure and body temperature, paranoia, depression, aggression, convulsions, dilated pupils, blurred vision, dizziness, sleeplessness, loss of appetite, and malnutrition, and brain damage. Withdrawal symptoms include depression, anxiety, fatigue, paranoia, aggression, and intense cravings. Damage to the brain caused by meth usage is similar to Alzheimer's disease, stroke, and epilepsy. There is an increased risk of contracting HIV, hepatitis, and other infectious diseases if injected.

CLUB DRUGS

The three most commonly used club drugs are Ecstasy, Ketamine and GHB. They are easily obtained at raves, dance clubs, and underground dance parties. These drugs are very dangerous and can cause long-term brain damage.

Paraphernalia used at raves include: menthol nasal inhalers, Vicks Vapor Rub, eye drops, surgical masks, glow sticks, candies, lollipops, pacifiers, water, juice, sports drinks, soft drinks, and drug testing kits. Painter's masks are often worn with menthol vapor rub applied inside the masks. Inhalers, rubs, eye drops, and glow sticks are believed to enhance the visual effects of Ecstasy. Candy is used to hide the drugs. Lollipops and pacifiers are used to prevent involuntary teeth clenching.

Ecstasy (MDMA):

Street names include XTC, go, X, Adam and hug drug. Taken orally in pill form, It has effects of an amphetamine and a hallucinogen. Effects usually last four to six hours. Ecstasy can cause rapid dehydration and rapid increase in body temperature. It can increase heart rate and blood pressure. Therefore, posing a greater risk for people with circulatory problems or heart disease. Physical effects include muscle tension, involuntary teeth-clenching, nausea, blurred vision, rapid-eye movement, faintness, chills, and sweating. Psychological effects include a state of panic, confusion, depression, insomnia, severe anxiety, and paranoia.

Rohypnol (Flunitrazepam):

Street names include R-2, Mexican Valium, roofies and circles. Taken orally in pill form, snorted, or dissolved in a drink. Sedation occurs within 20-to-30 minutes. One milligram can impair a victim for at least eight hours. Side effects include drowsiness, confusion, disorientation, headaches, blackout (amnesia), memory impairment, dizziness, sedation, tremors, and nightmares. Effects are greater when combined with alcohol.
GHB:

Street names include liquid Ecstasy, Scoop, Easy Lay, Georgia Home Boy, Grievous Bodily Harm, Liquid X and Goop. Snorted, taken orally in liquid form, smoked, or dissolved in fluid. Effects occur within 15-to-30 minutes and last three to six hours. In lower doses, GHB causes drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, and visual disturbances. At higher dosages, unconsciousness, seizures, severe respiratory depression, and coma can occur. GHB has been used to commit sexual assaults.

Ketamine:

Street names include jet, super acid, Special "K", green, K, cat and Valium. Ketamine is a tranquilizer most commonly used on animals. The liquid form can be injected, consumed in drinks, or added to smokable materials. The powder form can be used for injection when dissolved. It can also be injected intramuscularly. The Effects of higher doses are delirium, amnesia, and impaired motor function. It impairs the senses, judgment, and coordination for 18-to-24 hours. Effects include hallucinations, numbness, depression, lack of coordination, lost sense of time and identity, distorted thoughts, "out-of-body" experiences, and convulsions. It has been reportedly used as a date-rape drug

Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD):

LSD is the most potent hallucinogen. Taken orally, sometimes mixed in gelatin, or liquefied into eyes. Effects take place within 30-to-45 minutes after ingestion and can last 30-to-90 minutes. Physical reactions may include dilated pupils, lowered body temperature, nausea, "goose bumps," profuse perspiration, increased blood sugar, and rapid heart rate. During the first hour after ingestion, the user may experience visual changes with extreme changes in mood. Hallucinogenic symptoms include impaired depth and time perception, accompanied by distorted perception of the size and shape of objects, movements, color; sound, and touch. Flashbacks can occur for several months after use.

Mushrooms:

Taken orally, it causes hallucinations, nausea, sweating, and increased blood pressure. Like LSD, the mushrooms alter the way the mind perceives things, but experiences vary for each individual and it is common for the user to experience hallucinations and a feeling of euphoria along with a perception that objects, colors and sounds are distorting. The physical effects usually kick in after half an hour, and they include an increase in heart rate, blood pressure and pupil size, and depending on the amount of mushrooms consumed the effects can last up to four hours.

Cold Medicine

Why are kids abusing cough and cold medicine? Teens say they can get high by taking mass quantities of any over-the-counter medicine that contains dextromethorphan, or DXM. Medicine containing DXM are easily obtainable, affordable, and legal. Access is as easy as walking into a local drugstore or raiding a medicine cabinet. Many teens assume that DXM is not dangerous because it is over-the-counter.

"Triple C" - Coricidin HBP Cough and Cold contains 30 mg of DXM in red tablets.

Users that take large quantities run additional health risks because "Triple C" contains an antihistamine as well as other ingredients.

Decongestants, expectorants, and pain relievers in other Coricidin and OTC Cough and Cold products compound the risks associated with DXM and could lead to a serious drug overdose.

Street names for DXM include: "Candy," "C-C-C," "Dex," "DM," "Drex," "Red Devils," "Robo," "Rojo," "Skittles," "Tussin," "Velvet," and "Vitamin D."

Users are often refered to as "syrup heads," and the act of abusing DXM is often called "dexing," "robotripping," or "robodosing."

The abuse of products containing DXM can cause hallucinations, loss of motor control, and disassociative, out-of-body, sensations.

When consumed in large quantities, DXM can cause hyperthermia or high fevers.

Other possible side effects include: confusion, impaired judgment, blurred vision, dizziness, paranoia, excessive sweating, slurred
speech, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, headache, lethargy, numbness of fingers and toes, redness of face, dry and itchy skin, loss of consciousness, seizures, brain damage, and even death.