»» Dry mouth and lips. »» Nervousness. »» Dilated pupils. »» Restlessness. »» Nausea and vomiting. »» Heart failure or stroke. »» Dependence/addiction

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1 Amphetamines (Speed, Ice) Speed is part of the amphetamine family of drugs, which also includes ice. Ice is the purest form of amphetamine, followed by base and then speed. The potential for addiction and physical and mental problems from using all amphetamines is very high. Speed and Ice facts at a glance The signs and symptoms of using amphetamines can include:»» Increased and irregular heart rate»» Blurred vision»» Increased breathing»» Overheating and sweating»» Teeth grinding»» Dry mouth and lips»» Nervousness»» Aggression»» Restlessness»» Headaches Consequences of using amphetamines may include:»» Chronic sleep problems»» Heart failure or stroke»» Emotional instability»» Severe depression»» Cracked teeth through grinding /addiction»» Violence»» Nerve cell damage»» Death»» Panic attacks Effects of using speed: In the short term, using amphetamines can lead to increased and irregular heartbeat and breathing, excessive sweating, overheating, blurred vision, teeth grinding and jaw clenching, dilated pupils, nausea and insomnia. There are also strong links between amphetamines, violence and other reckless behaviours that put the user and others at risk. Ice is more potent that other forms of amphetamine, and is much more pure than speed. Long term use can lead to significant dental issues, stroke and heart failure and a risk of dependence, while injecting speed intravenously greatly increases the risk of contracting HIV or hepatitis. Users also face serious psychological issues with prolonged use including attention and memory issues, decreased emotional control, paranoid delusions, hallucinations, mood swings and depression. This can have serious social and financial consequences for the user.

2 COCAINE Cocaine is a stimulant that has similar effects to other amphetamines such as speed and ice. However, it can produce a more intense and shorter high depending on the dose. It can also be further processed to form base and crack. All forms of cocaine are highly addictive and can cause serious physical and mental health problems for a user. COCAINE facts at a glance The signs and symptoms of using cocaine can include:»» Tremors»» Agitation»» Chest pain»» Lethargy»» Nose bleeds»» Overheating and sweating»» Aggression»» Muscle twitches»» Increased heart rate»» Reduced appetite Consequences of using cocaine may include:»» Stroke»» Impaired sexual performance»» Convulsions»» Nasal damage»» Seizure»» Death»» Kidney failure»» Violent or erratic behaviour»» Nasal and sinus congestion Effects of using cocaine: In the short term, cocaine can produce increased heart rate, paranoia, agitation, dilated pupils,hallucinations, tremors, muscle twitches, nausea and vomiting. The immediate effects of the drug can intensify when it s taken in larger quantities, and can produce an irregular heartbeat, chest pain, hyperthermia, seizures or stroke. Using large quantities of cocaine frequently can also lead to cocaine psychosis. This is characterised by paranoid delusions, hallucinations and bizarre, aggressive or violent behaviour. These symptoms usually stop a few days after the user has taken cocaine, but in some cases require further medical treatment. As well as cocaine psychosis, long-term users also face the potential problems of eating and sleeping disorders, impaired sexual performance, ongoing respiratory problems, convulsions, kidney failure and are at an increased risk of experiencing a stroke. Sharing needles to inject drugs greatly increases the risk of contracting hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV/AIDS. Using cocaine in combination with alcohol can also be dangerous. When the two are mixed the body produces a substance in the blood called cocaethylene, which can be more toxic than cocaine alone.

3 ECSTACY The active ingredient in ecstasy is meant to be MDMA, however, as this ingredient becomes more difficult to obtain, drug makers turn to a number of other chemicals to make ecstasy tablets. As a result, pills marketed as ecstasy are more likely to contain other drugs such as speed or other hallucinogens. ECSTACY facts at a glance The signs and symptoms of using ecstacy can include:»» Increased blood pressure and pulse»» Vomiting»» Jaw clenching»» Sweating»» Nausea»» Loss of appetite»» Panic»» Teeth grinding»» Tremors»» Nervousness»» Increased body temperature Consequences of using ecstacy may include:»» Chronic sleep problems»» High blood pressure»» Severe depression»» Nerve cell damage»» Body overheating»» Cracked teeth from grinding»» Dehydration»» Emotional instability»» Memory impairment»» Heart failure Effects of using ecstacy: As with all stimulants, the chemicals in ecstasy speed up the central nervous system. There are usually three phases associated with taking ecstasy: Coming Up: The user may experience tightening of muscles, especially in the jaw, dilated pupils, visual distortions, nausea or vomiting, strong pulse, increased temperature, confusion and panic. Plateauing: Where the user may feel more awake, relaxed and confident and have lower urine output and increased thirst. Coming down: The user will often feel physically exhausted, depressed, anxious, paranoid, irritable or may be unable to sleep. The comedown can be more intense if the user has taken other drugs, including alcohol. In the short term, ecstasy can produce increased heart rate and blood pressure, overheating, jaw clenching, teeth grinding, tremors, nausea, enlarged pupils and anxiety. There is a greater risk of physical and psychological harm as a result of taking ecstasy for those with the conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, epilepsy, liver problems, hypertension, panic attacks or a history of mental illness. Longer-term effects of using ecstasy include cracked teeth through clenching and grinding, high blood pressure, memory and attention impairment, lethargy, decreased emotional control, severe depression and possible nerve cell damage.

4 MARIJUANA There are a number of different ways in which marijuana can be produced as well as taken. While they all have different potencies, all three types of marijuana (cannabis, hashish and hash oil) are capable of causing a variety of mental and physical problems that result from short and long term use. marijuana facts at a glance The signs and symptoms of using marijuana can include:»» Slow thinking»» Panic attacks»» Increased appetite»» Reduced motivation»» Slow reflexes and paranoia»» Blood shot or glassy eyes»» Problems concentrating»» Delusions»» Reduced coordination Consequences of using marijuana may include: throat, tongue»» Respiratory illness»» Sleep problems»» Memory problems and depression»» Schizophrenia»» Cancer of lung, mouth,»» Learning difficulties Effects of using marijuana: In the short term, using marijuana can lead to learning difficulties, impaired motor skills, slower reflexes, reduced coordination and bloodshot or glassy eyes. Short term use can also lead to acute mental health issues such as memory loss, learning difficulties, mood swings, paranoia, anxiety, decreased motivation, hallucinations, dependence, psychosis and psychotic symptoms and suicidal thoughts. Marijuana can also lead to deterioration in the condition of people with pre-existing mental illnesses and symptoms of schizophrenia. While these mental illnesses may disappear when people stop using, there is a risk that with continued use these illnesses can become long lasting. These, and other problems associated with marijuana use are more common in those who first use at an early age and use higher doses for longer periods of time. If a person is dependent on marijuana and suddenly stops using it, they usually experience withdrawal symptoms, as their body readjusts to functioning without the drug. These symptoms usually last for less than a week, although people often experience difficulties with concentration, memory and learning as well as problems sleeping.

5 Other Drugs (Hallucinogens and Depressants) There are a wide range of drugs that are just as harmful as the more commonly used drugs, such as ecstasy or marijuana. These drugs can be depressants, such as sleeping pills and heroin or hallucinogens such as LSD, magic mushrooms or Ketamine. Hallucinogens at a glance (Acid/LSD, Magic Mushrooms, Ketamine) The signs and symptoms of using hallucinogens can include:»» Altered perception»» Drowsiness»» Numbness»» Disorientation»» Vomiting»» Nausea Consequences of using hallucinogens may include:»» Flashbacks»» Fear from hallucinations»» Self harm»» Lack of coordination»» Violence DEPRESSANTS at a glance (Heroin, Sleeping tablets, other Opiates) The signs and symptoms of using depressants can include:»» Slurred speech»» Slow breathing»» Low blood pressure»» Reduced coordination»» Low heart rate»» Lethargy/Drowsiness Consequences of using depressants may include:»» Highly addictive»» Chronic constipation»» Infections»» Reduced sex drive»» Menstrual irregularity and infertility in women»» Overdose and death Effects of using depressants: Street heroin is mixed with many other chemicals, making it highly poisonous and difficult to estimate its purity. This makes accidental overdose more likely, as well as increasing the risk of skin, heart and lung infections. The risk of contracting blood borne diseases such as HIV/AIDS or hepatitis B and C also increases or people who share needles. Long term complications from using depressants include constipation, mood swings, depression and other mental health issues, memory impairment, irregular periods and infertility in women and loss of sex drive in men. People who use depressants regularly are also likely to develop a tolerance to the drug, as well as a physical and psychological dependence to it.