DRUGS

Amphetamines
Nicknames; Speed - - Whizz--- billy---base

EFFECTS Feeling of increased energy and confidence

PROBLEMS: mood swings—verbal aggression---anxiety---depression
Appetite suppresser and can cause paranoia.

Long term and heavy use can sometimes activate an underlying mental health problem

Cannabis
Nicknames: Draw - Ganja - pot - Weed - Blow - Grass - Dope – solid- skunk

EFFECTS: a feeling of intoxication –being relaxed and talkative
Heightens the senses especially with colour taste and sound

PROBLEMS: can affects short-term memory and ability to concentrate as well as co- ordination, - a user can show sighs of lethargy and a lack of motivation

Long term and heavy use can sometimes activate an underlying mental health problem

Cocaine
Nicknames; Charlie - Coke – Snow - white

EFFECTS: Feeling of extreme confidence & alertness LASTING for approx 2 hours - A strong ‘high’ for first 20 minutes

PROBLEMS: frequent use over a short period can leave user restless, confused, and very depressed and can cause paranoia

Long term and heavy use can cause severe nasal damage, mental health PROBLEMS, or heart PROBLEMS

Crack cocaine
Nicknames: Rocks – stone - pebbles

Effect: Intense ‘high’ lasting about 10 - 20 minutes

PROBLEMS:
Highly addictive, difficult to control uses, mood swings,
Verbal aggression, anxiety, depression, smoking crack can harm the lungs and cause chest pains

Long term and heavy use can sometimes activate an underlying metal health problem

Ecstasy
Nicknames: ‘ Es‘ - doves – mitsubishis - dolphins

EFFECTS: State of euphoria - extreme well being towards other people
Sound, colour and emotions can seem much more intense, rushes of energy lasting for 3 to 6 hours

PROBLEMS:
As ecstasy starts working (coming up) users may feel Nausea - dizziness – sweating –jaw tension– increased heart rate which can lead to dehydration and- overheating
(The come down) can leave users tired and depressed for days

Heroin
Nicknames: ‘H’ - smack – scag – brown

EFFECTS: blissful drowsiness - emotional & physical numbness –
A feeling of well being

PROBLEMS: very addictive, tolerance develops quickly, users who start by smoking or snorting heroin sometimes switch to injection to maximise the high

Injecting can damage vains, sharing needles, spoons etc, puts users at risk of hepatitis B and C or HIV

Ketamine
Nicknames: Special K vitamin k or just k

EFFECTS: A feeling that the mind has been separated from the body (out of body experience) Lasts up to 3 hours. The effects are influenced by the users mood and environment

PROBLEMS as ketamine numbs the body a user may be physically unable to move, also can risk serious injury without feeling pain
Excessive doses carry some risk of breathing problems and heart failure.

Ketamine is very dangerous when mixed with alcohol and other drugs

LSD
Nicknames: ‘A’ - Acid - trips – tabs - blotter –dots

EFFECTS Hallucinations - - sense of movement and time can speed up or slow down, objects, colours and sound may become distorted, lasts up to possibly 8 - 12 hours

PROBLEMS: once trip starts there is no way of stropping it, the effects depend on the users mood, where they are and who there with. Accidents can happen while users are hallucinating.
Users can experience flashbacks, for some time afterwards

LSD can complicate mental health PROBLEMS such as depression, anxiety and schizophrenia.

Drug:Nitrites - Amyl / Butyl
Nicknames: poppers - rush – liquid gold

EFFECTS Users get a brief head rush, some experience the impression of time slowing down, and effects fade 2 to 5 minutes after use

PROBLEMS: users often experience a headache afterwards, regular use causes skin PROBLEMS around the mouth and nose

Taking poppers is very dangerous for people with anaemia, glaucoma, and breathing or heart PROBLEMS

Solvents
EFFECTS swift intoxication, dizzy, giggly.

PROBLEMS: abusing solvents can lead to nausea, vomiting, black outs and heart PROBLEMS. accidents can happen when the user is high because their senses are affected

Using solvents can cause instant death by freezing the larynx. Long term use can damage the brain, liver, and kidneys

Tranquillisers
Nicknames: Tranx - eggs - benzos – jellies

EFFECTS relieve tension and anxiety, slows things down mentally
Higher doses can make user drowsy and forgetfully

PROBLEMS: (some from long term use)
Users trying to quit may suffer panic attacks

Highly dangerous if injected - risk of death if combined with alcohol - high risk of dependence from long term use

EFFECTS cause hallucinations; objects, colour and sound become distorted. Effects depend on the users mood, where they
Are and who they are with. Trips last about 4 hours.

PROBLEMS bad trips can happen and can be very frightening, once the trip has started theres no going back

Like any hallucinogen, magic mushrooms can complicate mental health problems.

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