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

The Sin about Synthetic Drugs

It is becoming more alarming about the legal production and purchasing of illegal drugs in something known as Synthetic Drugs. In Australia, right now, you are able to get the strong effects of ecstasy, cocaine or cannabis straight over the counter as a result of the booming synthetic drug industry.

These people behind the crafty alternatives have become a new breed of ‘Drug Lord’ – untouchable, unstoppable and very, very rich.

The below video elaborates more on the issue and explains the struggle the Australian police and government are having with the illegal drug industry.

ABC: Synthetic Drugs

Energy Drinks

The concern for energy drinks is becoming popular; the dangers surrounding the sheer volume of energy stimulating products in the marketplace and the easy access to minors is receiving a lot of press.

While most energy drinks have less caffeine than a coffee, they are heavily dosed with sweetener making it easy to drink and thus make the product more appealing to the younger demographic.

As a result, we are seeing an increase in the incidents of the dangerous side effects surrounding energy drinks of those 18 and younger from consuming too many energy drinks at the one time.

The Top 10 dangers of drinking too many energy at one time include:

1. Cardiac Arrest
2. Headaches and Migraines
3. Insomnia
4. Type 2 Diabetes
5. Drug Interaction
6. Addiction
7. Risky behaviour
8. Jitters and Nervousness
9. Vomiting
10. Allergic reactions

From: Current Opinions in Pediatrics (Apr 2012)

ABC’s Catalyst has produced an episode based on the dangerous effects of consuming energy drinks as well as a true story concerning an overdose on energy drinks. Click the link below to watch.

Catalyst: Energy Drinks

Testing Times

Do you think it is beneficial to have a drug testing system in Australia, despite the fact that the law states that drugs are illegal and this may increase the amount of drug uses? Given that Australia is the leading country in the amount of deaths caused by drugs, watch this clip from 60 minutes on channel 9 and have a think about whether the drug testing system would be beneficial in Australia or not.

Testing Times

Eccy – X – Ecstacy | Party drugs

What is Ecstasy?

Commonly known as ‘Ecstasy’, MDMA is a stimulant drug that’s also a hallucinogen which speeds up messages to and from your brain, and alters you perception of reality.

What does ecstasy do?

When taken, ecstasy might make someone:

• Confident, relaxed and close to other people
• Have faster breathing and heartbeat
• Clench their jaw and grind their teeth
• Feel sick, anxious or paranoid
• Dehydrated, which can be dangerous
• Less sleepy or hungry
• Hallucinate

However, it is important to remember that everyone has a different reaction when taking drugs, so some people may experience different reactions to other people.

High doses of ecstasy can:

• Make you take risks or do dangerous things
• Make your vomit and convulse (shake vigorously)
• Increase the likelihood you’ll experience long term health problems
• When taken regularly, lead to irrational behaviour or anxiety, which means they are acting out of character for that person.

Ecstasy can be particularly dangerous if:

• You’ve got high blood pressure or a heart condition
• You’ve got diabetes, asthma, epilepsy or hypertension
• You’re dealing with a condition like depression, anxiety or another mental health issue
• You’ve got kidney problems

STAYING SAFE

If you or some you are with does take ecstasy, here are some tips to keep it as safe as possible:

• Sip water regularly rather than sculling it.
• Wear light, loose clothing so you don’t overheat
• Take rests from dancing every 45 minutes or so allowing you breathing and temperature to get back to normal before you get back up.

Watch out for warning signs of dehydration which include:

• Feeling hot, unwell and confused
• Trouble talking
• Having headaches and vomiting
• Having trouble peeing, or having thick, dark urine
• Heart rate not going back to normal when resting
• Fainting, falling over, having fits

If you do happen to notice someone with these symptoms, escort the person to a quiet, cool area to rest making sure someone is with them at all times. Get some cool water, and tell them to sip it slowly. Splash some water on their skin, and fan them. Call and ambulance, and make sure you let the ambulance officers know what the person has taken – this will help them treat your friend.

For further information and sites to keep you safe when using ecstasy head to the following websites:

Ravesafe

Australian Drug Foundation

Erowid

Though this type of drug is taken to ‘have a good time’, taking ecstasy does not always have positive outcomes so it is important to be aware of the effects associated with this particular drug and to stay safe if you decide to use it. Anyway, do you really need drugs to have fun?!?! I know I don’t …

Classifying Drugs

What are drugs?

A drug is any substance which, when taken, affects the way the mind and/or the body works.

The term ‘drug’ covers a large number of substances. It includes legal substances such as caffeine and alcohol, over the counter and prescribed medications and substances such as cannabis and heroin.

There are three main types of drugs, classified according to the effect the drug has on the Central Nervous System (CNS).

• Depressants: Slows down your Central Nervous System meaning that messages to and from the brain are slow.
• Hallucinogens: Cause hallucinations when in use
• Stimulants: Increase your Central Nervous System meaning that messages to and from the brain are fast.

If ever taking drugs in your lifetime, it is important to know what drug you are taking and the affects that it can have on your natural body functions. These affects can be both short term and long term, and even life threatening.