What is a drug?

A drug is any substance (with the exception of food and water) which, when taken into the body, alters
the body's function either physically and/or psychologically.

Drugs may be legal (e.g. alcohol, caffeine and tobacco) or illegal (e.g. cannabis, ecstasy, cocaine and
heroin).

What is a psychoactive drug?

Psychoactive drugs affect the central nervous system and alter a person's mood, thinking and behaviour.

Psychoactive drugs may be divided into four categories:

1. Stimulants
Stimulants act on the central nervous system and are associated with feelings of extreme well-
being, increased mental and motor activity. Examples include cocaine, crack cocaine,
amphetamines (speed) and ecstasy (which is also a hallucinogen).
2. Depressants
Depressants are chemicals that slow down the central nervous system and suppress brain
activity causing relief from anxiety. The most common depressants are alcohol and cannabis.
Others include barbiturates and benzodiazepines (e.g. valium, temazepam).
3. Opiates & Opioids
Opiate and opioid drugs provide pain relief, euphoria, sedation and in increasing doses induce
coma. Examples include heroin, morphine, opium, methadone, dipipanone and pethidine
4. Hallucinogens
Hallucinogens cause changes in a person's perception of reality. These include cannabis, LSD,
ecstasy and psilocybin (magic mushrooms).

Why do people use drugs?

People use drugs for a variety of reasons.

Opiates are a group of drugs that are used for treating pain. They are derived from opium which comes
from the poppy plant. Opiates go by a variety of names including opiates, opioids, and narcotics. The
term opiates is sometimes used for close relatives of opium such as codeine, morphine and heroin,
while the term opioids is used for the entire class of drugs including synthetic opiates such as Oxycontin.
But the most commonly used term is opiates.

These are some of the common opiates and their generic names. They are listed in order of increasing
strength.

Codeine
Vicodin, Hycodan (hydrocodone)
MS Contin Kadian (morphine)
Oxycontin, Percoset (oxycodone)
Dilaudid (hydromorphone)
Duragesic (fentanyl)

2. What is Morphine?

This medication is used to treat severe pain. Morphine belongs to a class of drugs known as
opioid (narcotic) analgesics. It works in the brain to change how your body feels and responds to pain.
Due to the euphoric effects of the drug, morphine is also commonly used illegally by drug abusers. Some
of the street names for morphine include God's Drug, MS, Morf, Morpho, Dreamer, First Line, Emsel,
Unkie and Mister Blue.

The side effects is:

Induce euphoria.
Nausea, vomiting, constipation stools (constipation).
Confusion.
Sweating.
Can cause fainting, heart palpitations.
Restlessness and mood swings.
Dry mouth

3. What is heroin?

Heroin is an illegal, highly addictive drug processed from morphine, a naturally occurring
substance extracted from the seed pod of certain varieties of poppy plants. It is typically sold as a white
or brownish powder that is cut with sugars, starch, powdered milk, or quinine. Heroin is a depressant
It affects the body's central nervous system by slowing down the activity of certain chemicals in the
brain This slows down the whole body, including breathing and heart rate. Known as Hammer, H, Smack,
Horse, White, Beige.

The side effects:

SHORT-TERM EFFECTS
LOW DOSES
 Shallow breathing
Nausea and vomiting
Constipation
Sleeplessness
Loss of balance and coordination
Loss of concentration
Feeling of well-being
Relief from pain

HIGH DOSES
Slow breathing
Pupils narrow to pin points
Skin cold to touch
Coma and death

LONG-TERM EFFECTS
Dependence
Loss of appetite
Chronic constipation
Heart, chest and bronchial problems
Women often experience irregular periods and are susceptible to infertility
Men can experience impotence

4. Cocaine

Coke, Freebase, Crack, Charlie, C, Rock

DESCRIPTION:

Cocaine is a stimulant drug which affects the central nervous system by speeding up the activity of
certain chemicals in the brain, producing a feeling of increased alertness and reduced fatigue.
Short-term effects
Increased breathing and pulse-rates
Increased blood pressure
High body temperature
Increased alertness
Reduced appetite
Feeling of wellbeing
Enlarged pupils
Anxiety, irritability and suspiciousness
Exaggerated feelings of confidence and energy
Inability to sleep
LONG-TERM EFFECTS
Tolerance and dependence
Aggressive or violent behaviour
Loss of appetite, weight loss and malnutrition
Irritability or emotional disturbances
Restlessness
Paranoia
Periods of psychosis
Auditory hallucinations
 Convulsions
Reduced resistance to infection.
There are also dangerous effects associated with the method of use. Snorting can damage the fragile mucous
membrane in the nasal passages. It produces burns and sores on the membranes that line the interior of the
nose.
Injecting cocaine can result in blocked blood vessels that can cause major damage to the bodys organs,
inflamed blood vessels and abscesses, blood poisoning, bacterial infections which may damage the heart
valves, vein collapse, infection at injection site, bruising or more serious injuries if users inject into an artery or
tissue.
OVERDOSE
Overdose can cause:
Increased heart-rate
Seizures
Hyperventilation
Heart failure
Respiratory failure
Burst blood vessels in the brain
Death

5. Cannabis

Cannabis

Mull, Pot, Weed, Leaf, Gunga, Marijuana

DESCRIPTION:

Cannabis is difficult to classify pharmacologically because it has a variety of effects. It is primarily a

SHORT-TERM EFFECTS
Loss of concentration
Impaired balance
Slower reflexes
Increased appetite
Increased heart-rate
Feeling of well-being
Loss of inhibitions
Confusion
LONG-TERM EFFECTS
Bronchitis
Lung cancer
Dependence
Interference with sexual drive and hormone production
Change in motivation
Decreased concentration
Decreased memory and learning abilities
Schizophrenia and manic depression (bipolar disorder) in those who have a vulnerability to the condition.

6. Amphetamines

Amphetamines are a group of drugs commonly known as Speed, Whizz, Ice, Uppers

Includes:
Amphetamine Sulphate

Dexamphetamine

Methamphetamine - chrystal, meth, or rock.

Description:

Stimulant drugs that speed up certain chemicals in the brain.

Dexamphetamine is used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

SHORT-TERM EFFECTS
Hyperactivity
Increased blood pressure, breathing and pulse-rates
Anxiety, irritability, suspiciousness, panic attacks and a threatening manner
Increased energy, alertness, confidence and talkativeness
Reduced appetite, inability to sleep and enlarged pupils.
LONG-TERM EFFECTS
Malnutrition
Reduced resistance
Infection
Violent behaviour
Emotional disturbances
Periods of psychosis
Tolerance

HOW TO TREAT DRUG ADDICTION:

1. you must have an intention to stop

2. Get help. Consult to a doctor

3. strengthen the faith

4. Do and think positive

5. Stay away from drug user society