There’s no Hero in Heroin

What is Heroin?

Heroin is a depressant drug, which means it slows down the messages travelling between your brain and body. Heroin belongs to a group of drugs known as ‘opioids’ that are a form of opium poppy.

Heroin comes in many different forms, the most common being white powder, coarse off-white granules, and tiny pieces of light brown ‘rock’.

Street names used for heroin include smack, gear, hammer, the dragon, H, dope, junk, harry, horse, black tar, white dynamite, homebake, china white, Chinese H, poison or Dr Harry.

Short term effects:

• a rush of pleasurable feelings and relief from physical pain
• feeling sick or vomiting
• shallow breathing, dowsiness and sleepiness
• a drop temperature
• narrowing of the pupils
• loss of sex drive

Long term effects:

• collapsed veins and skin abscesses
• risk of contracting various blood-borne viruses and blood poisoning
• chronic constapation
• increased risk of getting pneumonia and other lung problems
• fetility problems
• disturbances of the menstural cycle for women
• impotence for men
• poor nutrition and redumed immunity
• loss of relationships, career and home
• risk of overdose

OVERDOSE!!

One of the most dangerous effects of the use of heroin is the high risk of an overdose. The symptoms of this occurring include:

• dangerously low body temperature
• slowed breathing
• blue lips and fingernails
• cold, clammy skin
• convulsions and coma

In this case, if you see any of the symptoms on a friend of family member, call triple zero (000) immediately for an ambulance.

Cannabis

What is Cannabis?

Cannabis is a depressant drug, which means that it slows done messages travelling between your brain and body.

Cannabis is commonly referred to by its street names which are marijuana, grass, pot, dope, Mary Jane, hooch, weed, hash, joints, brew, reefers, cones, smoke, mull, buddha, ganga, hydro, yarndi, heads and green.

Short term effects:

Feeling of well-being

talkativeness

drowsiness

loss of inhibitions

decreased nausea

increased appetite

loss of co-ordination

bloodshot eyes

dryness of the eyes, mouth and throat

anxiety and paranoia

Long term effects:

increased risk of respiratory diseases associated with smoking, including cancer

Decreased memory and learning abilities

decreased motivation in areas such as study, work or concentration

For further information on cannabis head to the following website:

Statistics on Cannabis

Whats ‘coco’ about Cocaine?

What is Cocaine?

Cocaine is a stimulant drug that speeds up the workings of the brain. The drug is extracted from the leaves of a coca plant and is processed with other chemicals to form a white powder like substance. This substance is typically inhaled or injected into the body, though there are other ways to take the drug.

Cocaine is one of the most addictive drugs in to world.

Short term effects of its use:

The effects of taking the drug depend on the strength of the dose, the blend of the chemicals, the physiology of the person and their state of min at the time of taking the drug. The rush of taking the drug only last for a short time, 15-30 minutes after inhalation. The rush includes:

• Feelings of euphoria, exhilaration and confidence
• Accelerated heart rate
• Increase in body temperature
• A burst of energy
• Dilated pupils
• Loss of appetite
• The urge to have sex

Long term effects of its use:

Regular consumption of the drug through inhalation can result in a damaged lining of the nose and a damaged structure separating the nostrils. If the drug is regularly injected, there is high risk of blood poisoning, blood-borne viruses (eg: HIV or hepatitis) from shared equipment, damaged blood vessels and skin abscesses.

Other long-term effects include:

• Heart problems
• Behavioural problems
• severe depression
• A condition known as ‘Cocaine psychosis’ (symptoms: aggression, disturbing hallucinations, insects under the skin)

OVERDOSE!!!

When taken in high doses, cocaine will make a person feel extremely agitated, paranoid and aggressive. Physical effects will include dizziness, hallucinations, nausea and vomiting, tremors, headache and heart pain.

The consequences of an overdose include seizures, brain haemorrhage, kidney failure, heart attack or stroke.

Where to get help?

If you have taken the drug, taking the drug or want to try the drug, it is important that you get help and supervision to make yourself as safe a possible. Same ways to get help include:

• Your doctor
• Alcohol and other drug service
• Family drug help – for people concerned about a relative or friend using drugs Tel. 1300 660 068

If an overdose is suspected, call triple zero (000) immediately for an ambulance.

AMPHETAMINES!!

What are Amphetamines? 

Amphetamines are stimulates, meaning they speed up messages to and from your brain to your body. People often take amphetamines to make them feel good about themselves.

They come in many forms including powder, tablets, crystal and paste. They can also be used in many ways according to their type, such as swallowed, injected, shafted (put up your bottom), smoked or snorted.

Common names that you may know them as are:  Speed, ice, fast, crystal meth, whizz, base, paste, dexies, meth.

Amphetamines, like any other drug, will have an individual reaction when taken; everyone reacts differently, and this is because of a number of factors including your mood, strength, usage, size as well as who you are using it with. However, generally amphetamines will make you feel excited, confident, talkative, energetic and awake.

Effects on the Body:

Short term

Short term effects include not feeling hungry and struggles to sleep; you may find that you can’t sleep for a night or two. They take a while to wear off, but when they do you may feel tired, irritable and depressed for a couple of days later.

Long term

Long term effects result in poor mental health. They can cause a disease called Paranola, which makes you feel as if you are being talked about or watched when you aren’t. If used a great deal, in can cause drug induced psychosis, where you start to believe strange things or see and hear things that aren’t there.

Important Note

People take amphetamines to make them feel good, however if you already have a mental health issue you might find that they can make you feel worse. You may feel anxious, restless, irritable and suspicious when you use them. In extreme cases, you may feel angry and behave more violently then your normal self would.

Staying safe: 

Using amphetamines, and any other drug, you always carry the risk of something bad happening. Here are some tips that can help you reduce some of the risks:

• Going low, going slow
• Just use a small amount at a time and wait to see how you feel before taking more
• Don’t mix with other drugs including alcohol
• Only use with people you trust
• Have one person in your group not use it to keep an eye on you (and your friends)
• Don’t share needles
• Use clean equipment to avoid other viruses like HIV or Hepatitis C
• Make sure you eat, even you don’t feel like it
• Take a break
• Make you sure you don’t use it every day – have days off, and don’t use before big events
• Call an ambulance if things get strange and bad

If you have any worries about using the drug or any worries while on the drug it is important that you find someone to talk to about you options or find somewhere where you can get help and information. You can do this by:

Finding your nearest headspace centre or online and telephone support by visiting eheadspace.org.au