Individual Drug Info Winter 2014
Similar Properties Across Drugs Withdrawal (physical dependence) Psychological dependence Tolerance
Differences Forms Availability DEA Schedule Effects Acute Chronic Overdose Photo, originally taken by Thoric, available to use in the public domain
METHAMPHETAMINE
Methamphetamine Famous/notorious for laboratory production, short-term dopamine effects & long-term effects Stimulant (blood pressure, heart rate, alertness) DEA: Schedule II substance (Desoxyn: ADD, narcolepsy, weight control)
Methamphetamine acute effects Intense high/euphoria May last up to 12 hours (longer than cocaine) Meth Inside and Out video describing effects Energetic, talkative, excitable Insomnia Increased heart rate, blood pressure Sweating Dry mouth Jaw clenching Nausea, vomiting Comparison: meth vs cocaine,brookhaven National Laboratory, 2008 Overdose DAWN: stimulants including amphetamines and methamphetamine led to 93,562 emergency department visits in 2009
Methamphetamine chronic effects Chronic users may experience hallucinations, rage, paranoia, heart meth mouth; damage to dopamine-, serotonin-containing nerve cells Crank Bugs (Meth Project) Meth Mouth (Meth Project) Ashley s Story (Meth Project) Research supports both brain damage as well as lack of brain damage
Methamphetamine Chronic Effects Before & After Photos
Before and After Photos 3 Years and 5 months after starting meth Meth Awareness Prevention Project: http://www.mappsd.org/faces%20of%20meth.htm
Before and After 17 months after starting meth Meth Awareness Prevention Project: http://www.mappsd.org/faces%20of%20meth.htm
Before and After 3 months later Meth Awareness Prevention Project: http://www.mappsd.org/faces%20of%20meth.htm
LSD
LSD Albert Hoffman: Last Friday, April 16,1943, I was forced to interrupt my work in the laboratory in the middle of the afternoon and proceed home, being affected by a remarkable restlessness, combined with a slight dizziness. At home I lay down and sank into a not unpleasant intoxicated-like condition, characterized by an extremely stimulated imagination. In a dreamlike state, with eyes closed (I found the daylight to be unpleasantly glaring), I perceived an uninterrupted stream of fantastic pictures, extraordinary shapes with intense, kaleidoscopic play of colors. After some two hours this condition faded away.
LSD Schedule I hallucinogen synthesized in 1930s Manufacturing secretive: Nick Sand (National Geographic, 3:39) LSD acute effects Visual hallucinations (images, color, light) Altered perception of senses Seeing sounds, hearing colors Color, size of objects Altered perception of time, depth Potential anxiety/panic Experiences can vary widely Serotonin receptors may be excited or inhibited LSD experimentation on British soldiers (YouTube.com) Overdose Thought to be rare, but some individuals may not respond well, or may experience problems if drug is different than LSD DAWN: 4,028 emergency department visits in 2009
LSD Chronic effects may involve flashbacks Sudden onset of abnormal perceptions Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder Visual images remain longer than in consciousness Dr. Henry Abraham (Tufts University) blog
3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine MDMA
MDMA Molly, Ecstasy, Thizz Synthetic drug Stimulant and hallucinogenic properties
MDMA Acute effects: Euphoria Feelings of empathy/warmth toward others Jaw clenching Increased heart rate, blood pressure, perceived energy Common rave or similar environment can lead to excessive physical activity, dehydration, increased body temperature Blurred vision/involuntary eye movement Effects will vary since formula is not standardized or regulated Effects will vary based on the synthetic nature of substance MDMA-assisted therapy (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, video; 0-2:00; 14 subjects, per website) Overdose DAWN: 17,865 emergency department visits in 2008
MDMA Chronic effects Depression Anxiety Sleep issues Effects controversial, per Carl Hart, Columbia University (YouTube) Well-circulated animal studies showing neuron damage
Synthetics are currently popular 2C-I, MDMA, bath salts, synthetic cannabis Lower price (think about economy s influence) Drug popularity changes with time (synthetics were popular in 1970s) Health-related issues will subsequently ebb and flow as drugs move in and out of favor That acknowledged, some can be devastating: Krokodil (CBS, 2013)
CANNABIS
Cannabis Cannabis sativa Different subspecies/ varietals used for clothing vs drug use Active ingredient: THC DEA: Schedule I Despite state regulations, marijuana still federally illegal
Medical cannabis (12/13/13, source: procon.org) Alaska (98) Montana (04) Arizona (10) Nevada (00) California (96) New Hampshire (13) Colorado (00) New Jersey (10) Connecticut (12) New Mexico (07) Delaware (11) Oregon (98) Hawaii (00) Rhode Island (06) Illinois (13) Vermont (04) Maine (99) Washington (98) Michigan (08) Washington, DC (10)
Cannabis Acute effects THC acts on cannabinoid receptors, increases dopamine, serotonin Increases appetite Euphoria, may be followed by sedation/relaxation Dizziness, lack of coordination Eyes glazed, red Short-term memory issues ASAP Science: Your Brain on Marijuana (via YouTube) Overdose Doesn t generally doesn t occur Large amount required Smoking a lot may induce sleepiness Eating too much may trigger nausea, vomiting Q13 News story, Michigan Mixing any chemical substances can potentially cause a problem DAWN: Over 400,000 emergency department visits, 2011
Cannabis Chronic effects Respiratory distress Mood swings Impaired memory (potential hippocampus damage) Loss of motivation, sex drive 2011 NIMH/NIDA study Daily use may reduce brain receptor number Receptors regenerated with cessation Society of Nuclear Medicine. "Chronic marijuana smoking affects brain chemistry, molecular imaging shows." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 13 June 2011. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110606131705.htm>.
Heroin
Heroin Narcotic Synthesized from morphine in late 1800 s Morphine synthesized from opium poppy Heroin 10x more powerful than morphine Was thought to be less addictive After many people became addicted, heroin was outlawed in 1920 s Drug Ads (wings.buffalo.edu) Schedule I
Heroin Availability DEA reports most heroin in US comes from Mexico At left, estimates of heroin production in Mexico, metric tons (USDOJ)
Heroin Acute effects Euphoria Slow, shallow respiration Analgesia Skin flushing/redness Stupor Dry mouth Nausea/vomiting Overdose Frequently occurs when mixing with other substances DAWN: 258,482 emergency department visits, 2011
Heroin: Chronic Effects Respiratory problems Collapsed veins from injection High rate of injection use leads to increased disease transmission risk
MUSHROOMS
Mushrooms Psilocybin/psilocin are two active psyhoacticve substances found in magic mushrooms Couple dozen species Taken orally Recognized for centuries Probably used in religious rites Hallucinogen Schedule I
Mushrooms Acute effects: Relaxation Altered perception of reality Altered perception of time Sense of connection to others/universe Visual hallucinations (images, color, light) Potential for anxiety and subsequent panic, heart rate & blood pressure increase Chronic effects: A bad trip may trigger fear Hallucinogens may exacerbate mental illness Being investigated as treatment for OCD, depression, smoking cessation Johns Hopkins Psilocybin Cancer Project (via YouTube, 0:30-4:03)
4-iodo-2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine 2C-I
2C-I 2,5-dimethoxy-4- iodophenethylamine Smiles Synthetic substance Usually inhaled or taken orally; may also be taken via blotter paper Stimulant & hallucinogenic properties Schedule I
2C-I Impacts dopamine & serotonin Onset of effects may not be immediate, triggering overdose Little information on brain impact Additives, chemical changes make drug unpredictable, similar to bath salts
2C-I Short-term effects: Stimulant effects on heart rate, blood pressure Potential gastrointestinal effects (nausea, indigestion) At higher doses, hallucinogenic effects Very little known about chronic effects