Types of DRUGS - unodc.org

1 Types of under international controlDRUGSI ntroduction ..3 Cannabis ..4 Cocaine ..5 Ecstasy ..6 Heroin ..7 Hallucinogens: LSD ..8 Methamphetamine ..9 ContentsPhotos: Ioulia Kondratovitch2 What are DRUGS ? Technically speaking, theyare chemical substances that affect thenormal functioning of the body and/orbrain. Not all DRUGS are illegal. For example,caffeine (found in coffee or Coca-Cola),nicotine (in cigarettes) and alcohol are alltechnically legal DRUGS , although they areusually not referred to as such. Medicines,whether prescribed by a doctor or availableover the counter at pharmacies, are legaldrugs to help us recover from illnesses, al-though they can also be DRUGS are DRUGS that are so harm-ful that countries across the world havedecided to control them. Countries havepassed several international laws, in theform of United Nations conventions, thatspecify which DRUGS are the DRUGS discussed in this brochureare illegal. This means that generally, it isagainst the law to own, use or sell thesedrugs tend to have several street namesand this brochure will tell you some ofthem.

2 However, it is not a complete list andthe DRUGS might have different names inyour country or city. These names may alsochange over time. The street names do nottell you anything about the strength orpurity of a drug. All illegal DRUGS have immediate physicaleffects, which you can read about in thisbrochure. But DRUGS can also severely hin-der psychological and emotional develop-ment, particularly among young people. Infact, DRUGS can take away potential thatusers can never get back because theybecome a substitute for developing other,natural coping the DRUGS are discussed sepa-rately in this brochure, they are often usedtogether. This mixing of DRUGS can haveunpredictable, severe effects on the bodyand/or mind of the , DRUGS cloud the judgement ofusers. This means that drug users oftentake more risks, such as having unsafe can lead to them getting infected withhepatitis or HIV and other sexually trans-mitted is it?

3 Cannabis is a tobacco-like greenish orbrownish material made up of the driedflowering tops and leaves of the cannabis(hemp) plant. Cannabis resin or hash is the driedblack or brown secretion of the floweringtops of the cannabis plant, which is madeinto a powder or pressed into slabs orcakes. Cannabis oil or hash oil is a liquidextracted from either the dried plant mate-rial or the is it taken?All forms of cannabis are usually resin and oil can also be eaten orbrewed in tea. How does it affect users?Cannabis can make users feel pleasurablyrelaxed and sometimes euphoric. Usersmay also experience a more vivid sense ofsight, smell, taste and are the risks associatedwith cannabis use?In the short term, users have an increasedappetite and pulse rate. Users also haveproblems performing physical and intellec-tual tasks such as driving a car and think-ing logically. With large doses, users perceptions ofsound and colour may be sharpened, whiletheir thinking becomes slow and the dose is very large, the effects ofcannabis are similar to those of hallucino-gens and may cause anxiety, panic andeven psychotic users of cannabis risk developingpsychological dependence to the pointwhere they lose interest in all other activi-ties, such as work and personal relation-ships.

4 Recent studies in the UnitedKingdom show a link between cannabis useand an increase in risksCannabis smoke contains 50 per cent moretar than high-tar cigarettes, which putsusers at an increased risk of lung cancerand other respiratory sticksCannabis4 What is it?Cocaine is a fine white or off-white powderthat acts as a powerful stimulant. It isextracted from the leaves of the coca the street, it can be diluted or cut with other substances to increase thequantity. Crack is cocaine that has beenfurther processed with ammonia or sodiumbicarbonate (baking soda) and looks likesmall flakes or is it taken?Cocaine is usually sniffed/snorted or inject-ed, whereas crack is smoked. How does it affect users?Cocaine can make users feel exhilaratedand euphoric. Furthermore, users oftenexperience a temporary increase in alert-ness and energy levels and a postponementof hunger and fatigue. What are the risks associatedwith cocaine use?

5 Short-term effects include loss of appetite,faster breathing and increases in bodytemperature and heart rate. Users maybehave bizarrely, erratically and sometimesviolently. Excessive doses of cocaine may lead toconvulsions, seizures, stroke, cerebralhaemorrhage or heart users of cocaine risk a num-ber of health problems, some of themdepending on how they take the cocaine severely damages nosetissue; smoking can cause respiratory prob-lems; whilst injection can lead to abscess-es and infectious diseases. Other risks,regardless of how the drug is taken, includestrong psychological dependence, malnu-trition, weight loss, disorientation, apathyand a state similar to paranoid psychosis. Other risksMixing cocaine with alcohol is a dangerouscocktail and can greatly increase thechances of sudden is it?Ecstasy is a psychoactive stimulant, usual-ly made in illegal laboratories. In fact, theterm ecstasy has evolved and no longerrefers to a single substance but a range ofsubstances similar in effect on , any tablet with a logo is nowreferred to as ecstasy regardless of itschemical makeup.

6 While the drug is usually distributed as atablet, it can also be a powder or can have many different shapesand is it taken?It is usually swallowed but can also besnorted or injected. How does it affect users?Ecstasy can heighten users empathy levelsand induce a feeling of closeness to peoplearound them. It can also make users feelmore sociable and energetic. What are the risks associatedwith ecstasy use?In the short term, ecstasy can make thebody ignore distress signals such as dehy-dration, dizziness and exhaustion and itcan interfere with the body s ability to reg-ulate temperature. Furthermore, ecstasycan severely damage organs such as theliver and the kidneys. It sometimes leads toconvulsions and heart failure. Large doses of ecstasy also cause rest-lessness, anxiety and severe ecstasy use can damage cer-tain parts of the brain, resulting in seriousdepression and memory risksTablets or pills that are sold as ecstasy may contain other potentially dangeroussubstances which can vary widely instrength and YorkersEcstasy6 What is it?

7 Heroin is an addictive drug with pain-killing properties processed from morphine,a naturally occurring substance from theopium poppy plant. Pure heroin is a whitepowder. Street heroin is usually brownishwhite because it is diluted or cut withimpurities, meaning each dose is is it taken?It is usually injected but can also be snort-ed, smoked or inhaled. How does it affect users?Heroin can relieve users tension, anxietyand depression. Users feel detached fromemotional or physical distress or pain. Withlarge doses, users may experience euphoria. What are the risks associatedwith heroin use?Short-term effects include constrictedpupils, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness,inability to concentrate and apathy. Heroin is very addictive and users mayquickly develop physical and psychologicaldependence. They also risk developing tol-erance for the drug, which means theyneed constantly higher doses to achievethe effect they heroin use has a variety ofsevere health effects.

8 Among other things,it can cause severe weight loss, malnutri-tion and constipation. It can also lead tomenstrual irregularity, sedation and chro-nic apathy. Abruptly quitting heroin use leads towithdrawal symptoms which can be severesuch as cramps, diarrhoea, tremors, panic,runny nose, chills and sweats. Other risksUsers risk overdosing on heroin, which canlead to coma and death through respirato-ry ladyHeroin7 What is it?LSD is a semi-synthetic drug derived fromlysergic acid, which is found in a fungusthat grows on rye and other , commonly referred to as acid , isone of the most potent hallucinogens. It isusually sold on the street as small squaresof blotting paper with drops containing thedrug, but also as tablets, capsules or occa-sionally in liquid form. It is a colourless,odourless substance with a slightly is it taken?It is usually does it affect users?Taking LSD leads to strong changes inthought, mood and senses in addition tofeelings of empathy and , the exact effects of LSD varydepending on the mental state of the userand the environment when taking the drug.

9 What are the risks associatedwith LSD use?Short-term, LSD produces delusions anddistorted perceptions. The user s sense ofdepth and time changes and colours, soundand touch seem more intense. Some LSD users experience severe, terri-fying thoughts and feelings such as fear oflosing control, fear of insanity and death,and despair. The physical effects are small comparedto the psychological and emotional include dilated pupils, increased heartrate and blood pressure , loss of appetite,sleeplessness, dry mouth and are they?Hallucinogens, or psychedelics , are DRUGS that alter users state ofconsciousness and produce different kinds of halluci-nations. The main Types of hallucinogens are d-lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), phencyclidine(PCP), hallucinogenic amphetamines, mescalineand psilocybe Acid Diethylamide8 What is it?Methamphetamine is part of the group ofdrugs called amphetamine-type stimulants(ATS). It is a synthetic drug that is usuallymanufactured in illegal comes as a powder,tablet or as crystals that look like shards is it taken?

10 It can be swallowed, sniffed/snorted,smoked or does it affect users?Methamphetamine stimulates a feeling ofphysical and mental well being, as well asa surge of euphoria and exhilaration. Usersexperience a temporary rise in energy,often perceived to improve their perform-ance at manual or intellectual tasks. Usersalso feel postponement of hunger are the risks associatedwith methamphetamine use?Short-term, users can lose their appetiteand start breathing faster. Their heart rateand blood pressure may increase and thebody temperature may go up and causesweating. With large doses, users may feelrestless and irritable and they may experi-ence panic doses of methamphetaminecan lead to convulsions, seizures and deathfrom respiratory failure, stroke or methamphetamine use canlead to malnutrition, weight loss and thedevelopment of psychological dependence. Once chronic users stop taking metham-phetamine, a long period of sleep, and thendepression, usually risksMethamphetamine use sometimes triggersaggressive, violent and bizarre behaviouramong meth/Ice/Crystal meth/Tik/Shabu/YabaMethamphetamine9 Vienna International Centre, PO Box 500, 1400 Vienna, Austria Tel: (+43-1) 26060-0, Fax: (+43-1) 26060-5866, in Slovakia May