This drug can be either a stimulant or a sedative depending on the strain used. It is either smoked or eaten and causes a feeling of being "high" for several hours after use. Several regularly observed physical effects are an increase in heart rate, bloodshot eyes, dry mouth, dry throat and increase in appetite. Use of this drug may decrease short-term memory and comprehension, alter the sense of time and reduce ability to perform certain tasks such as driving a car. This drug can also produce paranoia and psychosis. Some terms for this drug are: marijuana, weed, grass, pot, reefer, joint, roach, mary jane, maui wowie, loco weed.
This drug has similar effects of alcohol. If taken in small amounts it can produce a calm state and relaxed muscles. Larger doses can cause a slurring of speech, staggered gait and an altered perception. Very large doses can cause a decrease in respirations, coma or death. When in combination, alcohol and depressants can multiply the effects of both which would increase risk. Some terms for this drug are: bump, coke, snow, candy, toot and flake C. It can be ingested by snorting, smoking, injection or oral consumption. The substance is a white crystalline powder usually mixed with other substances such as corn starch, powdered milk, sugars or flour.
M-AMP (Methamphetamine/Speed/Ecstasy)
This drug is a stimulant and can cause an increase in heart and respiratory rates, along with elevated blood pressure, dilated pupils and decrease in appetite. Users may also experience sweating, headache, blurred vision, dizziness, sleeplessness and anxiety. Very high doses can cause rapid or irregular heartbeat, tremors, loss of coordination and physical collapse. When used in injection form there is a sudden increase in blood pressure that can result in stroke, very high fever or heart failure. Users of this drug report feeling restless, anxious and have mood swings. With increased doses comes increased effects. Users, over a long period of time, can develop an amphetamine psychosis which could include hallucinations, delusions and paranoia.
Amphetamines are substances taken to boost energy, mood and confidence, as well as to suppress appetite(Amphetamine is a collective term given to amphetamines, dextroamphetamines and methamphetamines, all of which act similarly in the body. Out of these, methamphetamines are the strongest. (In the 1930s, they were used in nasal decongestants and to treat narcolepsy, ADHD and minimal brain dysfunction.)
This drug is also a stimulant and has similar effects as methamphetamine (ecstasy). Terms for this drug are: white stuff, miss emma, monkey, "M". The form is usually white crystals, hypodermic tablets or injectable solutions. Ingestion can be either orally, smoked or through injection.
OxyContin is a tradename for the narcotic oxycodone hydrochloride (HCl), an opiate agonist. Oxycodone, a semisynthetic opioid derived from the opioid alkaloid thebaine, is similar to codeine, methadone, and morphine in producing opiate-like effects. Source: DEA Drug Intelligence Brief, "OxyContin: Pharmaceutical Diversion." March 2002
Oxycodone is a Schedule II drug under the Controlled Substances Act because of its high propensity to cause dependence and abuse.
This drug interrupts the functions of the neocortex, the part of the brain which controls intellect and instinct. The drug also blocks pain receptors which could cause violent PCP episodes resulting in self-inflicted injuries. PCP effects vary, but most frequently there is a sense of distance and estrangement. Time and body movements slow down and muscular coordination worsens along with the senses being dulled. Speech is blocked and incoherent. After chronic use there is paranoid and violent behavior along with hallucinations. Large doses of this drug could produce convulsions, coma, as well as heart and lung failure. This drug is a hallucinogen.
Sedative-hypnotics are Central Nervous System (CNS) depressants and are a category of drugs that slow normal brain function. There are numerous CNS depressants; most act on the brain by affecting the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Neurotransmitters are brain chemicals that facilitate communication between brain cells. GABA works by decreasing brain activity. Although the different classes of CNS depressants work in unique ways, ultimately it is through their ability to increase GABA activity that they produce a drowsy or calming effect that is beneficial to those suffering from anxiety or sleep disorders.
Nicotine is a stimulant and sedative to the central nervous system. The substance is physically and psychologically addictive. When ingesting nicotine, there is an almost immediate result of the person feeling "happy" due to a discharge of epinephrine from the adrenal cortex. This is followed by stimulation of the central nervous system and other endocrine glands, which causes a quick release of glucose. After this stimulation, there is depression and fatigue which then compels the user to seek more nicotine to get back to the "happy" feeling. Over 50 million Americans smoke, which makes nicotine one of the most addictive substances in the United States.
In 1989 the Surgeon General issued a report stating that cigarettes and other forms of tobacco are addicting and that the substance which causes the addiction is nicotine.
Tobacco smoking will result in the absorption of nicotine via the lung and oral/nasal tissues. The nicotine is then metabolized into approximately 20 different metabolites and excreted in the urine. Continine is a major metabolite and accumulates in the body when smoking is a regular occurance.
These drugs are central nervous system depressants. They are typically used as sedatives, hypnotics and anticonvulsants. The usual method of ingestion is by oral capsules or tablets. The symptoms seen when someone is taking these drugs looks like those of being intoxicated with alcohol. Chronic use of barbiturates will lead to physical dependence and higher levels of tolerance. There are short-acting barbiturates such as Secobarbital (Seconal) which when taken for 2 to 3 months can produce physical dependence. There are also long-acting barbiturates such as Phenobarbital (Nembutal and Luminal). Some other terms for barbiturates are: Amobabital (Amytal), Yellow Jackets, Reds, Blues, Amy's, and Rainbows.
Methadone is used for treatment of moderate to severe pain and for opiate dependence of such drugs as heroin, Vicodin, Percocet and morphine. This drug is a narcotic analgesic and in most States a person must go to a pain clinic or methadone maintenance clinic for this prescription. This is a long-acting pain reliever which lasts from approximately 12 to 48 hours after ingestion. The withdrawal from methadone is more prolonged than that of heroin. Some other terms for methadone are: Amidone, burdock, dollies, jungle juice, junk, dolls, mud, phyamps, red rock, tootsie roll, fizzies, balloons, breaze, buzz bomb, and cartridges.
These drugs are typically used for the treatment of depression type disorders. Overdoses can produce central nervous system depression and heart disorders. Tricyclic antidepressants are the most common cause of death from prescription drugs. These medications are taken orally and sometimes by injection. Some names for drugs which are tricyclic antidepressants are: amitriptyline (Elavil), desipramine (Norpramin), imipramine (Tofranil), nortriptyline (Pamelor) and protriptyline (Vivactil).
These are substances that are typically used to "mask" the use of illegal drugs in a urine specimen.
Alcoholism has the following four symptoms:
Use of alcohol relates to many social problems, which include: traffic accidents, drownings, vandalism, assaults, murder, suicide, unwanted pregnancies and transmission of sexual disease. Alcohol kills approximately 200,000 people a year in the USA.
In addition to injury related to alcohol intake, there is work loss, and social disruption. Alcohol is one of the world's most popular drugs and the most common cause of disabling injuries and great financial loss.
Intoxication means "to poison yourself" and is the poisoning of the body with alcohol or other drugs which could cause stupefaction and/or excitement. Would you ever drive while intoxicated? Whether your answer is "yes" or "no", please read the following information.
Beer, wine, or other alcoholic beverages, all have the same effect of depressing the central nervous system. This causes the bodily functions that are controlled by the brain to slow down. These include the ability to have good judgement, your reasoning skills, memory retention, slurring of speech, controlled muscle movements and your emotional stability. When alcohol intake is low, the drinker feels relaxed and less inhibited and is enjoying themselves. This state also puts the alcohol in control of decision making, causing less responsible actions on the part of the person drinking. Alcohol Effects and Driving:
If you continue to drink in excess your motor functions would deteriorate and you could become unconscious. You could quit breathing and die due to lack of oxygen.
At least 60% of people killed between midnight and 4 a.m.are due to alcohol related crashes. Approximately 25 cents of every $1.00 you spend for auto insurance is used to pay for damage caused by drunk drivers. Not to mention the cost to you, as an individual. (See chart below)
Most people ask someone who is out with them and is possibly drinking as well. Mmmmm - if drinking causes impaired judgement and you both are drinking - well, asking your friend or someone who is also drinking, is not the best choice for getting a good indication of your level of intoxication. You should test yourself for your blood alcohol content (BAC) using a quick self testing alcohol test strips.
There are several factors that determine the rate of alcohol absorption into the bloodstream, and those are time, body weight and stomach contents.
TIME - The liver helps with alcohol metabolism and can process approximately one ounce of alcohol an hour in someone who has a good liver. The rate of metabolism is different for men and women. After ingestion of one ounce of alcohol, it would take a man approximately one hour and 15 minutes to return to a BAC of 0.00 and with a woman it would take approximately one hour and 30 minutes. The average body can metabolize approximately 0.015% blood alcohol per hour.
BODY WEIGHT - Generally, the bigger you are, the more alcohol you can absorb before becoming intoxicated. Since this is not always the case, it would be best to test yourself when you start "feeling good" to make sure you don't drink too much.
STOMACH CONTENTS - An empty stomach will allow the alcohol to absorb more quickly into the bloodstream and your ability to become intoxicated happens quickly. Drinking alcohol on a full stomach will slow down the alcohol absorption into the bloodstream, but you will still get the same level of intoxication that you would with an empty stomach - it will just take longer for you to feel the effects.
Our bodies metabolize alcohol through chemical breakdown and this occurs at a steady rate. A small amount of alcohol is excreted through sweat and urine leaving the body, but not enough to make a difference in the level of intoxication. Some people think that exercise, hot coffee or cold showers help "get rid of" the alcohol. But these things just help keep the body awake, it does not help metabolize the alcohol. See the chart below for approximate hours it takes to return to a blood alcohol content level of zero after drinking, based on gender and body weight.
Blood Alcohol Level Estimates (Men)
Blood Alcohol Level Estimates Women)
Test yourself, test your friends - drink responsibly and be safe instead of sorry
The following is a chart showing the minimum and maximum detection time, on average, that certain drugs stay in a person's system. *
Substance | Minimum | Maximum |
Alcohol | 24 hours | |
Amphetamines (AMP) | 2-7 hours | 2-4 days |
Barbiturates (BAR) | 4 to 6 hours |
4.5 days for short acting
10 days for long-acting |
Benzodiazepines (BZO) | 4 to 6 hours | up to 10 days |
Buprenorphine (BUP) | 4 to 6 hours | up to 10 days |
Cannabinoids (THC) | 2 Hours |
Infrequent user: up to 10 days
Chronic user: 6 weeks |
Cocaine Metabolite (COC) | 1.25 - 4 hours | 2-3 days |
Cotinine (NIC) | 30 days or longer | |
Methadone (MTD) | 2-7 hours | 2-4 days |
Methamphetamine (MAMP) | 2-7 hours | 2-4 days |
Methaqualone | Up to 10 days | |
Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) | 2-4 hours | 1-3 days |
Opiates (OPI) | 2.5 hours | 2-3 days |
Oxycodone (OXY) | 2.5 hours | 2-3 days |
Phencyclidine (PCP) | 4-6 hours | 7-14 days |
Propoxyphene | 4-6 hours | 7-14 days |
Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCA) | 4-6 hours | up to 10 days |
* These values are based on an average person.
Some people may metabolize drugs at a different rate and, thus, have slightly different time frames as to how long the drug will stay in the body.
Factors which affect metabolism: