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Party
drug info
Ecstasy
Ecstasy is the common name for MethyleneDioxyMethAmphetamine,
or MDMA. It is a synthetic drug usually sold as small tablets which come
in a variety of colours and sizes. It is also available as powder and
can be snorted or injected. Ecstasy is a stimulant because it speeds
up the functions of the central nervous system.
The effects of ecstasy depend on the amount taken,
the person's experience with the drug, their expectations, the mood they
are in and the way in which the drug is taken. Effects can also depend
on the quality and purity of the drug. The effects can start after about
an hour and can last up to six hours, but may last as long as 32 hours.
Immediate effects of ecstasy can include: increased
feelings of self confidence, wellbeing and feeling close to others; a
rise in blood pressure, body temperature and pulse rate; jaw-clenching;
teeth-grinding; sweating; dehydration; nausea; and anxiety.
As ecstasy may cause the body's temperature to increase
it is important to keep sipping water to prevent dehydration. Drinking
water does not reduce the effects of ecstasy, it only prevents dehydration.
Drinking too much water, however, may lead to serious health complications
in some people.
Ecstasy may also produce a "hangover" effect. Symptoms
can include loss of appetite, insomnia, depression and muscle aches. It
can also make concentration difficult, particularly on the day after ecstasy
is taken.
Higher doses of ecstasy can produce hallucinations,
irrational behaviour, vomiting and convulsions. There is some evidence
to suggest that long term use of ecstasy may cause damage to the brain,
heart and liver.
Overdose of ecstasy can occur and some deaths have
been related to overheating and dehydration. There has been one reported
death in the UK from the nteraction between ecstasy and the protease inhibitor,
ritonavir. It is thought that ecstasy and ritonavir are metabolised through
the same pathways in the liver. Using both drugs at the same time can
potentially increase the levels of ecstasy in the blood to toxic levels.
LSD
LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide), trips and acid are commonly used terms
for hallucinogens, which are a group of drugs that can change a person's
perception. These drugs produce changes in thought, sense and mood and
can make the user experience things that may not exist.
The most common form of LSD comes in small paper
squares that are soaked in the tasteless drug. These tabs of paper are
commonly printed with eye catching graphics such as Pokemon with a hair
raising look of excitement.
LSD can affect individuals differently depending
on their mood and their experience with using the drug. A personal experience
of tripping can vary from one of intense pleasure to one of extreme anxiety
or a sense of losing control. These effects can be felt for up to 12 hours.
Long term regular users of LSD can sometimes develop
tolerance to the drug, and anxiety at times of not using the drug. There
appears to be no physical withdrawal symptoms from hallucinogens.
special k
Special K, or Ketamine, has seen an increased rise in popularity among
users over the past ten years. Many people who use the drug report out
of body experiences. This is usually reported as a feeling of disorientation
and is commonly known as a k-hole. Some people have reported nausea and
vomiting. Excessive use of the drug can lead to urinary and digestive
problems other reports have shown convulsions to be a side effect, although
this seems less common.
Usually available in powder form, the drug is taken
by snorting. Excessive amounts can lead to increased unwanted side effects.
GHB and Special K can both have unwanted
side effects by themselves. It is uncertain what their combined effects
may be.
tobacco
There are three main chemicals found in tobacco: nicotine; tar and carbon
monoxide. Nicotine is a chemical that acts on the brain and causes people
to become dependent on tobacco. The immediate effect of nicotine on the
brain is to make you feel alert, active, and/or relaxed. Nicotine causes
the blood vessels to narrow, which then affects blood pressure. Nicotine
also makes the heart beat faster. However, these effects only happen when
you smoke tobacco, not when you use nicotine in other forms such as nicotine
replacement therapy. This is because smoking delivers nicotine to the
body very quickly.
Tar is a black substance that comes from burning
tobacco. It is released in tobacco smoke in the form of tiny particles.
Tar is the main cause of lung and throat cancers and also makes asthma
and other lung diseases worse. It also causes yellow stains on teeth and
fingers.
Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas that you can't
see or smell. It is found in tobacco smoke (also in car exhaust and smoke
from fires). When a person smokes, carbon monoxide enters the bloodstream
more easily than the oxygen that we need to breathe. The lungs then take
in less oxygen, and this can lead to hardening of the arteries and heart
disease.
The benefits of giving up smoking are almost immediate.
After 6 hours the heart rate slows down and the blood pressure drops slightly.
It takes just 12 hours for nicotine to be expelled from the body. After
24 hours, breathing improves as the lungs work towards getting rid of
the carbon monoxide. Within two months blood circulation to the hands
and feet improves and after just one year of quitting you are far less
likely of getting heart disease.
If you're thinking of quitting call the Quitline on
131 848.
cocaine
Cocaine powder is a drug that originates from the leaves of the coca
plant found predominantly in South America and more increasingly across
parts of Asia. Cocaine is a stimulant, meaning it has neurological effects
that speed up the brain and the nervous system.
It is most commonly snorted, but it can also be injected.
The effects of cocaine - also known as coke - are almost immediate. It
is quickly metabolised and about half of the dose is excreted from the
body within an hour. It is due to this quick metabolising of the drug
that many users crave more.
Cocaine gives most users a feeling of being high
due to increased alertness. However, it can also have negative effects
including mood swings, aggression and loss of appetite. Excessive use
of the drug can lead to heart attack.
speed
Speed is the street name for a group of amphetamines which include "crystal
meth", "ice" and "goey". The most common way to take the drug is to snort
or inject it, but it can also be taken by swallowing or shafting (putting
it up your bum). People who inject should use clean syringes and not share
other injecting equipment to minimise the transmission of HIV and Hepatitis
C.
Speed is a stimulant, which increases your heart
rate and gives many of its users a general sense of well being and alertness.
However, it does have many side effects. Depending on the amount taken
it can make the user feel anxious or panicky. Particularly in long term
users, speed has been linked with aggression and mood swings.
Overdoses of speed can lead to heart attack and bleeding
blood vessels in the brain. There have been some recorded cases of death
due to speed overdose.
After taking speed most users experience a "coming
down" period. Depending on the amount taken, this usually lasts a couple
of days and may affect mood and appetite. It is important to keep well
hydrated while on speed. Increased activity, such as dancing, can lead
to dehydration. By drinking lots of fluids while on speed you can prevent
dehydration and aid in the recovery process. Also, good nutrition with
fresh food, such as fruit and vegetables, both the day before and the
days after taking speed, can lessen the "come down" effect by replenishing
the body.
marijuana
Marijuana is probably the most common illegal drug used in Australia.
The dried leaves from the Cannabis Sativa plant are crushed and hand rolled
into joints (cigarettes). It is also common to find marijuana mixed in
baked foods such as cakes and cookies.
THC is the chemical in marijuana that gives people
a sense of being high. When the leaves are smoked, THC goes to the brain
via absorption into the blood stream by the lungs. If marijuana is eaten
the process is much slower as absorption into the blood stream occurs
as it is being passed through the stomach and intestines.
Body fat absorbs THC. Over time it is released from
fatty tissue slowly back into the blood. It can take up to one month for
a single dose of THC to completely leave the body.
While small amounts of marijuana can leave the user
with a pleasant sense of being high and relaxed, long term use can have
negative effects. Anxiety and paranoia are commonly reported side effects
of long term or large quantity users. Also, restlessness, confusion and
forgetfulness have been reported. Long term use can also lead to a decrease
in sex drive and a low sperm count in men.
There is no evidence that marijuana use in itself
leads to the use of other drugs.
GHB
(aka GBH)
The chemical name for GHB is gamma-hydroxybutyrate. The substance was
originally developed as an anaesthetic, but due to unwanted side effects
the drug was withdrawn from most parts of the world. Street GHB is made
from a base of gamma-butyrolactone, which is used in products such as
wood strippers and paint thinners.
When mixed with alcohol GHB can have an excessive
depressive effect. This may lead to respiratory distress. Other reported
side effects of the drug include vomiting, convulsions and coma. The drug
is usually available in liquid form and packaged into small vials. Analysis
of used vials has shown that the concentration of GHB can vary greatly
from one batch to another.
In low doses, users of the drug report euphoria and
an enhanced sense of touch. However, it should be noted that the drug
is reportedly responsible for several incidents in nightclubs where patrons
have had to be hospitalised.
GHB and Special K can both have unwanted side effects
by themselves. It is uncertain what their combined effects may be.
alcohol
Alcohol is the most widely used drug in Australia, if not the world.
It is a socially acceptable drug, however it can cause both personal health
problems as well as negative social issues just as illegal substances
do.
Alcohol affects the brain and nervous system by slowing
them down. While in small amounts alcohol can make us feel relaxed and
at ease it can have severe effects in larger doses. Typical reactions
to drinking too much alcohol in a short period of time include vomiting,
headaches, and sometimes, can cause aggression. Long term effects of regular
excessive drinking may include liver and brain damage, digestive problems,
depression and memory loss.
Alcohol can interact with other drugs, including
prescription medications like sleeping pills. Due to the effects efavirenz
has on the central nervous system and nevirapine has on the liver (two
HIV anti viral drugs) alcohol is best used in moderation while on these
medications. If you have increased side effects while on either of these
drugs it is probably best to discuss the issue with your doctor.
Based on information supplied
by CEIDA and Paul Dillon (from articles appearing in the Sydney Star Observer).
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