Teens, Depression and Marijuana (the facts)

Marijuana and Depression.
Marijuana and Suicidal Thoughts.
Marijuana and Schizophrenia.

Do we have your attention? As parents and caregivers, you probably never thought you’d see marijuana associated with these mental health problems … but it is. New research is giving us better insight into the serious consequences of teen marijuana use, especially how it impacts mental health.

Today’s teens are smoking a more potent form of marijuana and starting use at increasingly younger ages during crucial brain development years. ¹ There is plenty of evidence indicating the ways pot impedes, even changes, the mental health of adolescents. In fact, those changes in the brain are similar to those caused by cocaine, heroin and alcohol.² The overall impact that pot has on the brain can have long term consequences, and it’s up to you to influence your teen’s life when it comes to drugs.

Depression

Weekly or more frequent use of marijuana can double a teen’s risk of depression and anxiety. ³ Teens who smoke marijuana when feeling depressed are also more likely to become addicted to marijuana or other illicit drugs. Eight percent of depressed teens abused or became dependent on marijuana during the year they experienced depression compared with only three percent of non-depressed teens.⁴

Teen girls are especially at risk. More girls than boys felt depressed in the course of a year and substance abuse can compound the problem. Daily use of marijuana among girls is associated with a fivefold increase in the odds of developing depression and anxiety.⁵

Suicidal Thoughts

Marijuana can also be linked to suicidal thoughts. A study based on data from the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse found that teenagers 12 to 17 who smoke marijuana weekly are three times more likely to have thoughts of committing suicide.⁶ The same study linked increased anxiety and panic attacks to past year marijuana use.⁷

Schizophrenia

Several studies have documented marijuana’s link with symptoms of schizophrenia and report that cannabis is an independent risk factor for schizophrenia. Heavy users of marijuana at age 18 increased their risk of schizophrenia later in life by six times.⁸

Further reports have found marijuana use increased the risk of developing schizophrenia among people with no prior history of a disorder, and that early use of marijuana (age 15 vs. age 18) increased the risk even more.⁹ In addition, youth with a personal or family history of schizophrenia are at an even greater risk of marijuana-induced psychosis.¹⁰

(In the next part learn why teens feel depresses, and the solution)

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1. El Sohly, M.A. University of Mississippi Potency Monitoring Project, 2004
2. Marijuana: Facts Parents Need to Know, Revised, NIDA, November 1998
3. Patton, GC et al. Cannabis use and mental health in young people: cohort study. British Medical Journal, 325:1195-1198, 2002.
4. 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, SAMHSA, 2007. Table 6.36B. http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/NSDUH/2k6nsduh/tabs/Sect6peTabs36to37.pdf
5. Patton, G.Cet al. Cannabis use and mental health in young people: cohort study. BMJ 325, 1195-1198, 2002.
6. Greenblatt, J. (1998), Adolescent self-reported behaviors and their association with marijuana use. National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, 1994-1996 SAMHSA
7. Ibid.
8. Andreasson, S. et al. Cannabis and schizophrenia: A longitudinal study of Swedish conscripts. Lancet, 26: 1483-1486, 1987
9. Arseneault L., et al. Causal association between cannabis and psychosis: examination of the evidence. British Journal of Psychiatry, 184: 110-117, 2004
10. van Os et al. (Dec. 2004) Prospective cohort study of cannabis use, predisposition for psychosis, and psychotic symptoms in young people, British Medical Journal, 330

Lecture by Moulana Ebrahim Bham

Topic of lecture is anti drug.

(lecture taken from www.edars.com, you can also download the lecture from this site free of cost.)

Islam and Drugs

(Article by a student of Darul Uloom, Holcombe, UK)

The young Muslims of today are facing an ever-increasing number of dilemmas. One of these is drugs. What does Islam have to say about it? How should Muslims regard drugs? To understand this we have to see what the Qur’aan and Ahaadith say regarding intoxicants i.e. narcotics.

Allah Ta’ala states in the Holy Qur’aan: -

O You who believe! Intoxicants and gambling, (dedication of) stones and (divination by) arrows are an abomination of Satan’s handiwork. Avoid (such abominations) that you may prosper. (5:90)

Allah Ta’ala has described intoxicants amongst other things as being appalling, despicable and hateful acts of Satan and he has commanded us to abstain from them, Allah thereafter states in the next verse: -

Satan’s plan is to sow hatred and enmity amongst you with intoxicants and gambling, and to hamper you from the remembrance of Allah and from prayer. Will you not give up? (5:91)

This Aayah tells us how it is a detestable act of Satan, because intoxicants apart from sowing the seeds of enmity also stop you from the sole purpose of having been sent to the world, namely the remembrance of Allah.

Bear in mind that when the term intoxicant is used it also encompasses narcotics, because they to among other things result in the loss of self-control.

There are also many Ahaadith stated by the Holy Prophet PBUH in regards to intoxicants.

1) Jabir ra reported that the Holy Prophet saw said, "Whosoever drinks wine, whip him. If he repeats it for the fourth time, kill him." He (Jabir) says, A man was later brought to the Prophet saw who had drunk wine for the fourth time. He beat him, but did not kill him. (Tirmidhi, Abu Dawood)

The following Hadith clearly states that the Holy Prophet (saw) prohibited intoxicants.

2) Ibn Umar (ra) reported that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said, "Every intoxicant is khamr (wine) and every intoxicant is haraam (unlawful). Whosoever drinks wine in this world and dies whilst consumed in it and does not repent will not drink it in the next world. (Muslim)

3) Jabir (ra) narrates that a man came from Yemen and asked the Prophet (saw) about a wine made from corn called ‘Mizr’, which they drank, in their land. The Prophet (saw) asked, "Is it intoxicating?" He replied, "Yes" The Prophet (SAW) said, "Every intoxicant is unlawful. Verily there is covenant upon Allah for one who drinks intoxicating drinks, that he will make him drink from ‘Teenatul Khabal,’ they asked, "O messenger of Allah, what is Teenatul Khabal?" He said, "The sweat of the inmates of hell or the pus (of impurities) of the inmates of hell." (Muslim)

4) Abdullah ibn Umar (ra) reports that the Prophet (saw) said, "Whosoever drinks wine, Allah will not accept his prayer for 40 days. If he seeks repentance Allah will forgive him. And if he repeats it Allah will not accept his prayer for 40 days. If he seeks repentance Allah will forgive him. And if he repeats it again Allah will not accept his prayer for 40 days. If he seeks repentance Allah will forgive him. If he repeats it for the fourth time Allah will not accept his prayer for 40 days. If he seeks repentance Allah will not accept it and he will be made to drink from the river of impurities (of the inmates of hell).

(Tirmidhi, Nasai, Ibn Majah and Daarami from Ibn Amr)

5) Jabir (ra) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said; "Whatever intoxicates in a greater quantity is also unlawful in its smaller quantity." (Tirmidhi, Abu Dawood and Ibn Majah)

6) Umme Salmah (ra) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (saw) prohibited every intoxicant and Mufattir (anything which excites and irritates the mind, body and heart). (Abu Dawood)

7) Abdullah Ibn Amr reports from the Prophet(saw), who said, "One who is disobedient to parents, gambles, harsh after charity and a is a habitual drunkard shall not enter paradise." (Daarami)

8) Abu Umaamah (ra) reported that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said, "Verily Almighty Allah sent me as a mercy for all the worlds; and my Almighty and Glorious Lord ordered me to abolish drums, musical instruments, idols, the cross and the affairs of the days of Ignorance. My Almighty and Glorious Lord has sworn, "By my honour, no servant among my servants shall drink a mouthful of wine but I will make him drink like it from the scorching water (of hell); and none abstains from it out of fear of me but I will give him drink from the Holy fountain." (Ahmad)

9) Ibn Umar (ra) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said, "There are three for whom Allah has forbidden paradise, a habitual drunkard, one disobedient to parents, and a careless husband who establishes impurity in his family." (Ahmad and Nasai)

10) Abu Musa Al-Asharee (ra) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said, "There are three who will not enter paradise, a habitual drunkard, one who cuts of blood ties and one who believes in sorcery. (Ahmad)

11) Ibn Abbas (ra) reported that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said’ "If a habitual drunkard dies, he will meet Allah like the one who worships idols." (Ahmad, Ibn majah from Abu Hurrairah)

12) Abu Musa (ra) reported that he used to say, "I do not differentiate whether I drink wine or worship these idols besides Allah. (Nasai )

From the above Ahaadith, we can clearly see the Prophet (saw) and the Islamic view regarding intoxicants. In another Hadith the Prophet (saw) has described intoxicants as: -

1. The key to all evils.

2. The head of all errors and lapses.

3. The most terrible of major sins.

4. The mother of all atrocities.

5. The mother of all evils.

Why are drugs, intoxicants so abhorrent, awful, foul and vile in Islam?

Let us look at what the scholars have said regarding the effects of drugs from a worldly and religious point:

Ibn Hajar Al-Makki rahmatullahi alaihe narrates from some scholars that they are 120 worldly and religious detriments in consuming hashish (Cannabis).

Not 10, not 20, but 120 harmful things occur by the consumption of drugs.

The great Ibn-e-Seena says that large amounts of it dries up semen (The fluid that carries sperm thus rendering him incapable of passion in sexual intercourse).

Ibn-ul-Bitaar says: A group of people used it (drugs) and they became mentally deranged (insane).

Imaam Zarakhshee narrates in his book upon the prohibition of Hashish (Cocaine) from Zakariyah Razee, a famous doctor, that consuming hashish causes headaches, desiccates semen, brings about confusion, Neurosis, dries up all body fluids which could cause sudden death. Also it defects the mind, induces hectic fever, tuberculosis and oedema (dropsy).

Ibn-e-Taymiyyah (a renowned scholar) says: All the faults, blemishes, bad things in khamr (wine) are present in hashish and more. Because the majority of faults in khamr effect religion, but hashish effects to a great extent both religion and body.

Thereafter Sheikh Taymiyyah describes its faults: -

1) From a religious point of view it is as intoxicating as wine, it destroys the mind, causes forgetfulness, causes to reveal secrets, destroys shame, incubates dissimation, quells self respects, obliterates intelligence, prevents salaah and instigates towards Haraam, forbidden things.

2) From a physical aspect it deteriorates the mind, cuts off the means for offspring, brings about leprosy, sickness, feverish shivers, bad breath, loss of eyebrows and teeth, warming of blood, tuberculosis, damages intestines, destroys body organs, punctures the liver, burns the stomach and weakens eyesight amongst other things.The point all botanists have unanimously agreed upon is that hashish (cannabis) is an intoxicant, one of these botanists is Ibn-e-Baitaar.

Ibn-e-Baitaar states that it is intoxicant.

All the scholars including Abu Ishaaq Sheeraazee rahmatullahi alaihe and Allahma Nawawee have stressed that it is intoxicating. Allahma Zarakhshee further writes that we have not seen anyone differ in opinion regarding this.

Ibn-e-Taymiyyah says that the fact is that it is an intoxicant like Wine. And Allahma Keerafe says that according to my research hashish is the cause of corruption and evil.

Shariah and rational thinking both point towards the prohibition of drugs.

As Imaam Zarakshee has mentioned in his book: -

All verses (of the Qur’aan) and Ahaadith which testify that intoxicants are haraam also include hashish (i.e. drugs)

The verses and Ahaadith regarding this have already been stated.

Another verse, which proves drugs to be prohibited, is: They as you concerning khamr (intoxicant) and gambling. Say " In them there is great sin and some gain for mankind, but sin is greater then the gain.

This verse, apart from informing us of how grave a sin it is to consume intoxicants, is also imparting a principle: Everything in which the evil and harm outweighs the gain is not allowed. Therefore, if we consider drugs, they deflect the sensory perceptions as well as producing hallucinations and illusions. They cause body lassitude, neurosis, decline in health, moral insensitivity etc. etc. the list is endless. Furthermore, there are no benefits whatsoever of taking drugs for recreational purposes. The perception (from Shaitan) that Class B drugs such as cannabis (dope, draw) is all right is utterly wrong. This verse clearly shows that although it seems like they may contain a few benefits, overall its evil is far greater.

It is narrated that in Sahih Muslim: Every intoxicant is khamr (wine) and all Khamr is haraam.

Imam Ibn-e-Taymiyyah states: It should be enough harm for a person just to know that it prevents you from the remembrance of Allah and salaah.

In short, everything, which obstructs a person from Zikr-ullah and salaah, is haraam like wine.

Allah Ta’ala states in the Holy Qur’aan:

And Allah has forbidden on to you the ‘khabaith’ i.e. repulsive, wicked and evil things.

What could be more evil then the thing which impairs the faculties of thought and perception in the mind?

Dailamah Al-Humairee states: I asked the Holy Prophet (saw), ‘O Messenger of Allah ( saw ), Verily we are in a cold land, and we have to work hard therein, and we prepare wine from this wheat which gives as strength in our works and in the chill of our cities.’ He asked, ‘Does it intoxicate?’ ‘yes’ he replied. He said, ‘Give it up.’ I said, ‘Verily the people can not give it up.’ He said, ‘If they do not give it up, fight with them.’ (Abu Dawood)

This Hadith explains to us the principle cause of what is haraam. Chiefly, if it intoxicates it is haraam. The very same reason and cause is to be found in drugs.

Some might say that all drugs do not intoxicate, that drugs like heroin and hashish are only depressants which slackens and weakens the mind. The answer to this is in the following Hadith:

It has been narrated by Umme-Salmah, she states: The Prophet (saw) prohibited every intoxicant and muftir (every substance which slackens the mine).

Imam Zarakshee notes in his kitab: The scholars have stated that muftir is everything that causes slackness.

He then states: The Hadith (which has been mentioned above) particularly proves the prohibition of hashish because if it is not regarded as an intoxicant if definitely comes under the definition of ‘muftir’ (substance which causes drowsiness and the weakening of the mind etc.).

Moving on, the unanimity of the ummah on the prohibition of narcotics is also narrated from many scholars. Imaam Zarakshee states:

The consensus of the Ummah is narrated from several scholars in the prohibition of hashish; scholars include Qiraafi and ibn-e-Taymiyyah.

And if that was not enough, Ibn-e-Taymiyyah has further said: Whosoever regards it lawful has become kafir (Irreligious; ‘God forbid’).

The scholars of all four madhab’s unanimously agree that consuming anything intoxicating is haraam, certain plants have also been included as Imam Rafee’ clearly says that, ‘The scholars have included intoxicating plants etc. within the prohibition.’

So far the prohibition of drugs has been proven by means of the Qur’aan, Sunnah and Ijmah (consensus of the ulama). Its can further be proved by ‘Qiyaas’ (deduction by analogy) i.e. logical reasoning. When a person is intoxicated (or ‘stoned’ in street language) he does not know what he is doing. He could easily kill someone or fornicate etc. In the same manner, to feed his habit, he will most probably have to steal. These are, without a shadow of a doubt, unlawful. And there is a general rule that whatever leads to something haraam (unlawful) is in itself haraam. Thus drugs have been proven as haraam by all four sources of jurisprudence (Qur’aan, Sunnah, Ijmah and Qiyaas).

What is the legal punishment for consuming drugs?

Imam Mawardee has stressed that by consuming plants, which cause over-excitement (intoxication) ‘hadd’ (legal punishment i.e. 80 lashes) will become necessary.

Imam Qiraafi states that all the ulama of this period have agreed that its consumption is haraam. However, there is a difference of opinion as to what (punishment) becomes incumbent by drugs; either hadd because it intoxicates or tazir (reprimand) because it corrupts the mind.

In addition, in his book Az-Zakheera he states hadd or tazir will be imposed.

According to three prominent Imaams (Imam Shafee’, Imam Malik and Imam Ahmad) consuming anything intoxicating however small the amount will bring the legal punishment of 80 lashes to the person.

However, in the Hanafi madhab in Fatawa ‘Al-Khulasa lil-Hanafiyyah’ it is stated:

If an intoxicating amount has been taken then according to Imam Muhammad hadd will be necessary and according to Imam Abu Hanifah and Imam Abu Yusuf he will be reprimanded severely, but the hadd will not be imposed.

Tazir (reprimand) is such a punishment that holds no specific amount and it is for the Judge to decide.

Bear in mind that according to some scholars, in certain cases, tazir could prove to be more severe than the hadd itself e.g. When the person persistently commits the crime.

Conclusion:

Drugs are Haraam. It is necessary to abstain from them. They ruin people’s lives physically, mentally, morally and spiritually. If anyone is involved with drugs they should stop immediately and seek help.

May Allah help and protect us all. Ameen.

(content taken from www.inter-islam.org)

(Daril Uloom, Holcombe, UK)

Myth Busters

Mythbusters: Some Myths You've Heard Before, And Maybe Even Believed, Until Now

Many people say that pot is harmless because it's natural. But tobacco and even poison ivy grows naturally and they have some nasty effects. Tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, is the chemical that causes some smokers to develop "tolerance" to its effects, and crave more of the drug, leading to addiction.

Today's marijuana is twice as powerful on average as it was 20 years ago and its effects and risks vary. Also some weed is laced with acid, PCP or even includes chemicals like formaldehyde (yes, that's the stuff they put into corpses and the dissection frogs in biology class).

MYTH: There are no long-term consequences if you smoke weed.
Smoking up can lead to significant health, learning and mental health problems, which can ruin your future. It impairs judgment, which can lead to risky decisions when it comes to sex, reckless driving or doing things that would normally seem stupid to you, like illegal pranks or dares.
Weed can also affect your performance in school and in sports. You may even get kicked off your team completely or lose your driver's license or other privileges if you lose your parents' trust and respect.

MYTH: Magazine models are the ideal and all women should look like them.
Did you know that the average American(I am talking about American because this is where our teens take their greenwich time from, unfortunately!) woman is actually 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighs 142 pounds? These days you can hardly turn a few pages in a magazine without getting flooded with images of the "perfect" man or woman. But look around – there are all sorts of successful, attractive, interesting people in the world all with different shapes and sizes.
Hadeeth tells us that Allaah do not look at our faces or our forms, but He does look at our deeds and our hearts. Unfortunately all WE do care about is face and forms. Todays Teens have a low self-esteem, and hence are most susceptible to body image pressures and may suffer from eating disorders that are harmful to the body and mind. And without treatment, up to 20 percent of people with serious eating disorders die. With treatment, that number falls to 2 - 3 percent.

MYTH: Smoking pot is safer than smoking cigarettes.
Neither is good for you and here's why: Inhaling burning dried plant smoke into your lungs, whether it's tobacco or pot, is bad for you. Maybe you aren't too worried about cancer at this point in your life, but, just so you know, one marijuana joint can deliver four times as much cancer-causing tar as one tobacco cigarette. (NIDA)

MYTH: Everyone in high school smokes pot nowadays.
Actually not everyone's smoking pot. The simple fact is that most teenagers do not use marijuana. Among students surveyed in a yearly national survey, fewer than one in five high school seniors has smoked pot in the last month and the trend of teens using marijuana has been down in the past few years. (Monitoring the Future). You will have to believe that the world is a different place than what movies try to make us believe!

MYTH: You can't get addicted to marijuana.
Long-term marijuana use can lead to addiction in some people. Each year, more teens enter treatment with a primary diagnosis of marijuana dependence than for all other illicit drugs combined. (NSDUH)

MYTH: Niacin (vitamin B3) can help you pass marijuana drug tests.
Despite what you may have heard, no scientific evidence indicates that taking niacin can alter a urine drug test result for marijuana. And taking excessive amounts of niacin can also cause severe side effects such as hepatotoxicity (serious liver damage). (CDC - Morbidity & Mortality Report, April 20, 2007)

What Are Performance Enhancing Substances?

For some athletes, winning is everything -- and they'll do anything to be the strongest, the fastest, and the best. Instead of old-fashioned hard work and training, some athletes are turning to performance enhancing substances to boost athletic performance, ward off fatigue, and enhance their physical appearance. Performance enhancing substances are taken to increase muscle mass and strength, reduce weight, and hide the use of other illegal substances.

So what's the problem with taking performance enhancing substances? (besides putting your aakhirah in jeopardy?)
Negative side effects, that's what. Whether they're over-the-counter or illegal, performance enhancing substances can take their toll on a developing body, which is why it's especially dangerous for teen athletes to experiment with these substances.

What are steroids?
Anabolic androgenic steroids are a group of powerful compounds closely related to the male sex hormone testosterone. There are very few legitimate medical uses of anabolic androgenic steroids, including treatment of severe testosterone deficiency and certain kinds of anemia. Body builders, long-distance runners, cyclists and other athletes who may use these substances illegally claim that anabolic steroids give them a competitive advantage and/or improve their physical appearance.

What are the common names or slang terms for steroids?
The common names or slang terms for anabolic androgenic steroids include Juice, Roids, Gym Candy, and Pumpers.

What do steroids look like?
Anabolic androgenic steroids come in tablets or injectable liquid form.

How are steroids used?
Anabolic androgenic steroids can be taken orally or injected. Athletes and other abusers typically take steroids in periods of weeks or months, rather than continuously, in patterns called cycling. Users generally combine or “stack” several different types of steroids to maximize their effectiveness while attempting to minimize negative side effects.
What are their short and long-term effects on the body?
Although anabolic androgenic steroids may increase lean muscle mass, strength, and the ability to train longer and harder, the serious side effects of steroids are many and may not be reversible. The minor side effects of steroid use include acne, oily skin, excess hair growth, and deepening of the voice. The major side effects of steroid use include an increased risk of cancer, increased risk of heart and liver disease, jaundice, fluid retention, reduction in HDL-C (“good cholesterol”), high blood pressure, changes in blood coagulation, increased risk of atherosclerosis, swelling of the soft tissues of the extremities (edema), and obstructive sleep apnea. Side effects specific to men can include testicular atrophy or the shrinking of the testicles, reduced sperm count, infertility, baldness, and the development of breasts. For women, side effects can include enlargement of the clitoris, changes in the body contour growth of facial hair, disruption of the menstrual cycle, deepened voice and infertility.An increase in androgenic (male) hormones may also lead to aggressive behavior. Research also indicates that steroid users often suffer from paranoid jealousy, extreme irritability, delusions, and impaired judgment stemming from feelings of invincibility.Adolescents who abuse steroids are at a significant risk of suffering irreversible side effects, including stunted growth, accelerated puberty changes and abnormal sexual development. Adolescent girls in particular may suffer from severe acne, excessive body and facial hair, deepened voice, permanent enlargement of the clitoris, disruption of the menstrual cycle, and permanent infertility.

Competition can be a great thing – but not when you value your winning record over your deen, brain and body. Winning isn’t everything, especially when you are risking your aakhirah, health and reputation to get ahead. Even if you’re using a legal performance enhancing substance, you are still putting your health and body at risk. Parents should know the facts about performance enhancing substances so that they can have an educated conversation with their teen about the dangers and consequences of using these substances.

KIMBERLEY PROGRAM AUDIO

You can listen to the kimberley lectures by Raabta and Crescent of hope here:


lecture by Muhammad Ashraf from Raabta

Powered by Podbean.com

MORE ANTI DRUG POSTERS BY KIDS

Inspired by children of Kimberley, few children of johannesburg have also attempted at anti drug posters, this time photoshop files:

PROGRAM IN KIMBERLEY

RAABTA and CRESCENT OF HOPE were invited by the people of Kimberley for a drug awareness program on 5th and 6th of june, 2009. Various programs were arranged by the kind hosts including lectures at MOGHAL PARK MASJID and MADRASAH. The lectures given by Mr. Rafiq Mayet of crescent of hope, and Mr Ashraf Muhammad of Raabta would soon be made availabe on this blog INSHALLAAH.

The teachers of all the various madaaris had also arranged a poster compitition amongst their students about drug awarness. Hundreds of children participated in the contest and the result was awe inspiring. Following are just a few examples from hundreds of posters thoughtfully designed by the youngsters of Kimberley.

If you are interested in arranging lecture programs about drug awarness in your area, pls contact:

Ashraf Muhammad

073 788 8768

2CB and 2-CT-7

These two drugs are hallucinogens. This means that they’re substances which induce a state in which you see objects and reality in a distorted way (and this may include seeing hallucinations). 2C-B and 2C-T-7 have effects somewhere between ecstasy and LSD and so can also act as stimulants and cause changes in your emotions.

Slang:
Street names for drugs can vary around the country. 2CT-7 is also known as T-7, 7-up, seventh-heaven and Tripstacy. Nexus; Bees; Venus; Bromo Mescaline

The effects
A little bit of 2C-B feels like ecstasy. It's an energetic experience. 2CT-7 is similar.
Users feel really aware of colours, sounds and smells.
The body feels hypersensitive and lots of people get aroused.
The effects can usually last from two to four hours.

Chances of getting hooked
They’re both relatively new drugs to the market so currently there’s very little information. However, they are not the type of drugs on which people are likely to become physically dependent.

Appearance and use
They're sold as white powder or tiny 5mg pills. Most people take several at a time and effects can last from 4-8 hours. The more you take, the more intense and uncontrollable the experience.
Normally swallowed, they are also snorted. Other routes, such as by smoking, appear to be less common.

The risks
*They both may make you hallucinate like LSD.
*Users may become depressed.
*Drugs like these can bring on headaches, nausea, vomiting, panic attacks and, particularly at high doses, more serious confused, agitated or even delirious states.
*Evidence from other drugs like ecstasy and LSD suggest that regular use can leave people tired, disorientated and anxious.
*It’s not yet known if there’s any long term damage.

ACID

See LSD

AEROSOLS

See GASES, GLUES and AEROSOLS

ALCOHOL

Alcohol is seen by many as a more socially acceptable drug, but that’s not to say it’s any less powerful than other drugs. Technically speaking, it's a nervous system depressant, which means it slows down your body's responses in all kinds of ways. Just enough can make you feel great, too much and you’ll have a hangover the next day.

Slang:

booze, bevy

THE EFFECTS

Alcohol will often exaggerate whatever mood you're in when you start drinking.
It takes your body an hour to process one unit of alcohol.

Chances of getting hooked
For some people drinking gradually gets out of control and results either in regular binge-drinking, heavy harmful drinking or alcoholism (alcohol dependence).

Appearance and use
Alcohol comes in a whole range of different drinks. Spirits usually contain a higher level of alcohol to wine or lager. While ‘alcopops’ and ready-to-drink ‘mixers’ may not seem it, they usually contain more alcohol by volume than beer or cider.

The risks
*One drink too many can leave you feeling out of control – like slurring your words, losing your balance and vomiting.
*Psychological and physical dependence on alcohol can creep up on you. Tolerance gradually increases the more you drink excessively on a regular basis, so you may find you'll need more alcohol to reach the same state. In other words, you may seem to be getting better at holding your drink when that’s really a sign of a developing problem.
*Alcohol can make you mouthy, argumentative and aggressive. There’s no way of knowing beforehand if you’re going to turn into a nasty drunk.
*Serious overindulgence can lead to alcohol poisoning which could put you in a coma or even kill you.
*Alcohol is the root cause generally for contributing to all kinds of problems , from violent crime to domestic violence and to car-related deaths.
*Long-term excessive use of alcohol causes illnesses such as liver damage, stomach cancer and heart disease.
*Fetal damage in pregnant women at high dose or frequency

AMANITA MUSCARIA

See MAGIC MUSHROOMS

AMPHITAMINE

See SPEED

AMYL NITRITE

See POPPERS

ANABOLIC STEROIDS

The male hormone, testosterone, is an anabolic steroid. The effects of the other anabolic steroids are often very similar to the effects of testosterone. The anabolic steroids can be used in medicine to treat anaemia and muscle weakness after surgery. They shouldn’t be confused with the other main kind of steroids, corticosteroids, which are used to treat other medical conditions, such as asthma, eczema and skin inflammations.

Slang:
Street names for drugs can vary around the country. Roids. Product names include Sustanon 250, Deca-Durabolin, Dianabol, Anavar, Stanozolol.

The effects
Sports enthusiasts claim steroids make them able to train harder.
If taken during a strict exercise regime, they can help build muscle mass.
They can also help users recover from strenuous exercise faster.

Chances of getting hooked
A user can quickly become psychologically dependent (meaning you develop an increased desire to keep taking the drug even in spite of possible harmful effects).
After stopping, withdrawal symptoms can include headaches, lethargy and depression.

Appearance and use
Anabolic steroids can be bought as tablets to be swallowed or as a liquid which is injected.
They’re often used by bodybuilders, athletes and other sports people because of the performance enhancing effects. Some people at times consume 10-100 times the medical dose.

The risks
*Users claim the drug makes them feel more aggressive. Normally calm people can become irritable and aggressive, or even violent, and they can experience mood swings.
*If you're young, abuse of anabolic steroids can stop you growing properly.
*Injecting any drug can cause vein damage, ulcers and gangrene particularly with dirty needles. *Shared needles and other injecting works can help the spread of HIV and hepatitis virus infections.
*If you're male, regular use can lead to erection problems, growing of breasts, becoming sterile and developing acne. It can also make your testicles shrink.
*If you're female, you can get acne, extra facial hair, a deep voice, shrinking breasts, an enlarged clitoris, an increased risk of menstrual problems and changes in sex drive.
*You could experience dramatic mood swings.
*You may find that you start getting paranoid and confused, along with having trouble sleeping.
*Steroids can also give you high blood pressure and increase your risk of liver failure, stroke or heart attack.

BASE or BILLY

See SPEED

ANAVAR

See ANABOLIC STEROIDS

BENZOS

See TRANQUILLISERS

BEVY or BOOZE

See ALCOHOL

BHANG, BLACK, BLAST or BLOW

See CANNABIS

BLOTTER

See LSD

BLUNTS, BUDS or BUSH

See CANNABIS

BROWN

See HEROIN

BROMO

See 2CB

BROWNIES or BURGERS

See ECSTASY

BUTYL NITRITE

See POPPERS

C OR CHARLIE

See COCAINE

CANNABIS

Cannabis is the most widely used illegal drug. Made from parts of the cannabis plant, it’s a naturally occurring drug. It is a mild sedative (often causing a chilled out feeling or actual sleepiness) and it’s also a mild hallucinogen (meaning you may experience a state where you see objects and reality in a distorted way and may even hallucinate). The main active compound in cannabis is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

Slang:
Street names for drugs can vary around the country. Bhang, black, blast, blow, blunts, Bob Hope, bush, dope, draw, ganja, grass, hash, hashish, hemp, herb, marijuana, pot, puff, Northern Lights, resin, sensi, sinsemilla, shit, skunk, smoke, soap, spliff, wacky backy, weed, zero. Some names are based on where it comes from... Afghan, homegrown, Moroccan etc.

The effects
.Some people may feel chilled out, relaxed and happy, while others have one puff and feel sick.
Others get the giggles and may become talkative.
Hunger pangs are common and are known as 'getting the munchies'.
Users may become more aware of their senses or get a feeling of slowing of time, which are due to its hallucinogenic effects.
Clearly a stronger 'joint' (e.g. skunk or sinsemilla) may have more powerful effects.

Chances of getting hooked
There is some psychological dependence with cannabis (where there is a desire to keep taking the drug even in spite of possible harms) and this occurs in about 10% of users. There are no physical withdrawal symptoms from cannabis use.
If you've only been using for a short while there should be no problem stopping but with continued regular use of cannabis, this can become more difficult. You’re also at risk of getting addicted to nicotine if you roll your spliffs with tobacco.

Appearance and use
Cannabis comes in different forms.
Hash is a blacky-brown lump made from the resin of the plant. It's quite often squidgy.
Grass or weed (traditional herbal cannabis) is made from the dried leaves of the plant and looks like tightly packed dried herbs. Less common is cannabis oil, which is dark and sticky and comes in a small jar.
Recently, there have been various forms of herbal or grass-type cannabis that are generally found to be stronger than ordinary ‘weed’, containing on average 2-3 times the amount of the active compound, THC. These include ‘sinsemilla’ (a bud grown in the absence of male plants and which has no seeds), ‘homegrown’, ‘skunk’ (which has a particular strong smell) and ‘netherweed’.
These are forms of herbal cannabis often grown from selected seeds by intensive indoor methods (e.g. using hydroponic methods, artificial lighting etc.) to optimise their potency.
Most people mix cannabis with tobacco and smoke it as a spliff or a joint. Some people put it in a pipe. And others make tea with it or stick it in food like cakes or ‘cannabis cookies’.

The risks
*Even hardcore smokers can become anxious, panicky and suspicious.
*It affects your coordination, which is one of the reasons why drug driving is just as illegal as drink driving.
*Some people think cannabis is harmless just because it’s a plant – but it isn’t harmless. *Cannabis, like tobacco, has lots of chemical 'nasties', which can cause lung disease and cancer with long-term or heavy use, especially as it is often mixed with tobacco. It can also make asthma worse.
*Cannabis is risky for anyone with a heart problem as it increases the heart rate and can affect blood pressure.
*There’s also increasing evidence of a link between cannabis and mental health problems such as schizophrenia. If you’ve a history of mental health problems, depression or are experiencing paranoia, then taking this drug will actually increase the problem.
*Use of cannabis can cut a man's sperm count and suppress ovulation in women. If you’re pregnant, smoking cannabis may harm the baby.
*Regular, heavy use makes it difficult to learn and concentrate. Some people begin to feel tired all the time and can't seem to get motivated.
*Some users may want to buy stronger herbal cannabis to get ‘a bigger high’ but unpleasant reactions can be more powerful when you use stronger strains, and stronger varieties may lead in time to more severe dependence or more severe mental health effects.

CATHA EDULIS or CHAT

See KHAT

CB

See 2CB

CHEER

See LSD

CHICKEN FEVER or CHICKEN YELLOW

See PMA

CHRISTINE

See CRYSTAL METH

CIGGIES

See TOBACCO

COKE

See COCAINE

COCAINE

Cocaine powder, freebase and crack are all forms of cocaine. They are stimulants with powerful, but short-lived, effects. Stimulants temporarily speed up the processes of your mind and body. ‘Freebase’ cocaine and ‘crack’ cocaine, can be smoked, and so can reach the brain very rapidly in high dosage. Snorted powder cocaine is absorbed more slowly. Hence, smoked freebase or crack tends to be much stronger and more addictive than snorted powder cocaine. However, all forms of cocaine prepared for injection (whether powder cocaine or crack) can also reach the brain rapidly in high doses and so can be very addictive too.

Slang:
Street names for drugs can vary around the country. For powder cocaine – coke, Charlie, C, white, Percy, snow, toot. For crack – rocks, wash, stones, pebbles, base, freebase

The effects
Taking cocaine makes users feel on top of the world. Its effect is like the stimulant ‘amphetamines’ (speed) but is stronger and doesn't last as long. People taking it feel wide-awake, confident and on top of their game.
Cocaine is a stimulant, so it can raise the body’s temperature, make the heart beat faster and stave off feelings of hunger.
The effects of crack smoking are virtually immediate, peaking for about two minutes and lasting for only about 10 minutes. For snorted coke there is a slower time to peak but the effects still don’t last that long (around 20-30 minutes).

Chances of getting hooked
Coke is very addictive. It can be difficult to resist the craving and strong psychological dependence due to changes in the brain. Recent evidence suggests possible long-term changes to the nervous system.
Although psychological dependence is more of a problem than physical withdrawal symptoms - low moods and feeling very rough soon after stopping can tempt people to take more coke.

Appearance and use
‘Coke’, or cocaine powder, is a white powder that's usually divided into lines on a smooth surface and snorted up the nose with a rolled up note or straw. It is not easily smoked.
‘Crack’ is a form of cocaine made into small lumps or rocks (which makes a cracking noise when burnt). A rock of crack is about the size of a raisin. It's usually smoked in a pipe, glass tube, plastic bottle or in foil. Either ‘crack’ or ‘freebase’ forms of cocaine are smoked in this way.
Both powder and crack forms of cocaine are prepared to make a solution for injecting.

Purity
A wrap of cocaine powder can be cut with, for example, sugar or starch.
The purity of crack depends on the purity of the cocaine used originally to produce the crack.

The risks
*After a big night on cocaine, it's not unusual for people to feel like they've got the flu.
* Some people are over-confident on it and so may take very careless risks.
*The hit from coke doesn't last long and from ‘crack’ lasts even less. When the effects start to wear off there can be a very strong temptation to take more, particularly with the long ‘come down’, the crash period can happen days later.
* Crack and cocaine powder users have died from overdoses. High doses can raise the body's temperature, cause convulsions and respiratory or heart failure. Risk of overdosing increases if crack is mixed with heroin, barbiturates (sedatives) or alcohol.
* Cocaine is highly risky for anybody with high blood pressure or a heart condition. Perfectly healthy, young people can have a fit or heart attack after taking too much coke and you may not know you’ve got a pre-existing heart condition.
* Those who get into cocaine very often find they begin to crave it more. And because the effects wear off so quickly, cocaine and crack can become an expensive habit to keep.
* Using cocaine a lot makes people feel depressed and run down.
* People who use crack or coke regularly often develop serious problems with anxiety and paranoia. It's a known cause of panic attacks.
*Large or frequent use of coke tends to knock sexual desire on the head.
* Cocaine can bring previous mental health problems to the surface. If a close relative of yours has had serious mental health problems, it’s possible there might be an increased risk for you in taking cocaine.
* Injecting any drug can cause vein damage, ulcers and gangrene, particularly with dirty equipment. Sharing of needles and other injecting works can help the spread of HIV and hepatitis virus infections.
* It's easier to overdose if you’re injecting your cocaine. Cocaine is a local anaesthetic and it deadens pain at the injection site. This makes it harder for users to notice the damage they may be doing.
* Using cocaine with other drugs or alcohol (whether with depressant or stimulant substances) can substantially increase risk of side-effects.
* Alcohol and cocaine together can be particularly dangerous as the substances interact in the body to produce a toxic chemical. The risks further increase if other drugs are taken as well. *Injecting a mixture of cocaine and heroin, known as a 'speedballing' is a dangerous cocktail – with potentially fatal results.
* Taking cocaine when you're pregnant can damage your baby. It may cause miscarriage, premature labour and low birth weight babies. Babies born to mothers who keep using throughout their pregnancy may experience a withdrawal syndrome after delivery.
* Heavy crack users may take heroin to try to dull their cravings. As a consequence, some crack users have become dependent on heroin as well.
* Regularly smoking crack can cause breathing problems and pains in the chest. Smoking anything damages the lungs.

CRAZY MEDICINE

See CRYSTAL METH

CRACK

See COCAINE

CRYSTAL METH

Methylamphetamine (commonly referred to as methamphetamine) is one of a group of stimulant drugs called amphetamines that act on the brain and nervous system. Like cocaine and amphetamines, methylamphetamine has stimulant properties but is much longer acting. The crystalline form – sometimes called ‘Ice’ – like ‘crack cocaine’ can be easily smoked and can rapidly lead to high blood levels. It’s also long-acting compared to crack so it’s an extremely powerful and addictive stimulant.

Slang:
Street names for drugs can vary around the country. Ice, glass, Tina and Christine, yaba.

The effects
It can bring on a feeling of exhilaration and produces increased arousal and activity levels.
People feel more awake and it suppresses appetite.
Smoking the purer crystalline form (also known as 'crystal meth' or 'ice') produces a very intense 'rush' similar to that produced by crack cocaine but longer-lasting - between 4 and 12 hours.

Chances of getting hooked
Extended use can lead to psychological and physical dependence. Injecting the drug intravenously or smoking it is highly addictive. The greater potency of the 'ice' form, particularly when smoked, makes it a more dangerous drug than other forms of methylamphetamine.

Appearance and use
Illicit methylamphetamine is produced in tablet, powder, or crystalline forms. These products are taken orally, snorted or injected but, unlike amphetamine, methylamphetamine can also be smoked.
The tablet form is sometimes referred to as 'yaba' and the crystalline smokeable form often referred to as ‘ice’.

The risks
*The drug can cause a rapid heart rate and a rise in blood pressure. The higher the dose, the greater these effects.
* Other acute effects include agitation, paranoia, confusion and violence.
* Methylamphetamine-induced psychosis has been widely reported in countries where there’s epidemic use. Psychosis is a serious mental state where you lose touch with a sense of reality. There is some evidence of long-term brain changes that may gradually improve after sustained abstinence.
* In cases of overdose – stroke, and lung, kidney and gastrointestinal damage can develop, and coma and death can occur.
*Methylamphetamine use can be associated with injecting and with sharing of paraphernalia with attendant risks of HIV and hepatitis virus infections.
*Using the drug may also increase libido and risky sexual behaviour thereby increasing further the risk of blood borne virus transmission in some.

DEXAMPHITAMINE or DEXIES

See SPEED

DECA-DURABOLIN

See ANABOLIC STEROIDS

DICONAL

See METHADONE

DIANABOL

See ANABOLIC STEROIDS

DIHYDROCODEINE

See METHADONE

DOTS or DROPS

See LSD

DOPE or DRAW

See CANNABIS

DOWNERS

See TRANQUILLISERS

DOUBLE STACKED

See PMA

E

See ECSTASY

DUST

See COCAINE

ECKIES

See ECSTASY

ECSTASY

This is often called the original designer drug because of its synonymous relationship with rave culture in the early 90s. Clubbers took ecstasy to stay awake and dance for hours. The effects take about half an hour to kick in and tend to last between 3 to 6 hours, followed by a gradual comedown.

Slang:
Street names for drugs can vary around the country. E, pills, brownies, Mitsubishi's, Rolex's, Dolphins, XTC.

The effects

An E gives people an energy buzz that makes them feel alert and alive.
Ecstasy makes people feel in tune with their surroundings – sounds and colours are more intense.
Users often feel great love for the people they're with and the strangers around them.
Lots of people feel chatty on E. (These chats don't always make sense to people who aren't on an E).

Chances of getting hooked
It's possible to build up tolerance to E, which means people take more to get the same buzz. You may also develop a psychological dependence (the desire to keep on using even in spite of potential harm).
There’s some uncertainty about the long term side effects of Es. But evidence suggests it can cause damage to the brain causing long term problems – like depression, personality change and memory loss.

Appearance and use
Pure Ecstasy is a white crystalline powder known to chemists as MDMA.
Ecstasy sold on the street is usually in tablet form although it's getting more common to see it sold as powder. Es come in all sorts of colours and some of them have pictures or logos stamped into them. They’re usually swallowed although some people do smoke or snort them. People have been known to take another E when they haven't initially felt the expected ‘high’. The danger then is that both Es kick in and you’ve a double dose to deal with.

Purity
A big problem with Es is that they're rarely pure. They can be cut with amphetamines (like speed), caffeine and other substances because it’s cheaper to produce.
Some of the new man-made drugs like PMA and 4-MTA can be passed off as E’s. Their effects can be very different or they may take longer to kick-in with a risk of the user double-dosing to compensate (risking double the side effects).

The risks
*Physical side effects can develop that include: dilated pupils, a tingling feeling, tightening of the jaw muscles, raised body temperature and the heart beats faster.
*Short-term effects of use can include anxiety, panic attacks, confused episodes and paranoid or psychotic states.
* There’s no way of telling what’s in an E until you've swallowed it. So, there may be negative side effects from other ingredients in the tablet.
*E’s can make users feel a bit down after use.
* There’ve been over 200 ecstasy-related deaths in the UK since 1996. Ecstasy use is the cause of death in many of the cases but there have been some involving other substances sold as Ecstasy e.g. PMA.
* Ecstasy affects the body's temperature control. Dancing for long periods in a hot atmosphere increases the chances of overheating and dehydration.
* Drinking too much fluid after taking E can also be dangerous or even fatal. Ecstasy can cause the body to release a hormone which prevents the production of urine. Drink too quickly and it interferes with your body's salt balance, which can be as deadly as not drinking enough water.
* Using Ecstasy has been linked to liver, kidney and heart problems. Anyone using too much can become paranoid and depressed.
*Some long-term users report getting colds, flu and sore throats more often. This may be attributed to the drug putting your immune system under pressure.
* There’s research to suggest that the exhaustion and dehydration associated with Ecstasy can activate urine infections like cystitis in women.
* Anyone with a heart condition, blood pressure problems, epilepsy or asthma can have a very dangerous reaction to the drug.

EGGS

See TRANQUILLISERS

EDWARD

See ECSTASY

ESSENCE

See ECSTASY

ELEPHANTS

See ECSTASY

FAGS

See TOBACCO

FLY AGARIC

See MAGIC MUSHROOM

FLASH

See LSD

FANTASY

See ECSTASY

GANJA

See CANNABIS

GBH

See GHB

GASES, GLUES and AEROSOLS

Solvents cover a huge number of substances: gas lighter refills, aerosols containing hairspray, deodorants and air fresheners, tins or tubes of glue, some paints, thinners and correcting fluids, cleaning fluids, surgical spirit, dry-cleaning fluids and petroleum products. When inhaled, solvents have a similar effect to alcohol. They make people feel uninhibited, euphoric and dizzy.
Inhalants are either chemicals in gaseous form or volatile solvents (liquids) that becomes gas at the time of use, which are inhaled by people for their psychoactive effects.

Slang:
Thinners, volatile substances. Gasoline; Acetone; Mineral Spirits; Freon; Computer Duster; Glue

The effects
Users say it's like being drunk with dizziness, dreaminess and fits of the giggles. And it can be difficult to think straight.
Depending on what's being inhaled, you can hallucinate. This can last for up to 45 minutes.
The hit is quite short so users tend to keep repeating the dose to keep the feeling going.
It can give people a 'hangover' afterwards, giving them severe headaches and leaving them tired. Depending on the substance, it can leave a red rash around the mouth.
They are also Anaesthetic; Intoxicant; Dissociative

Chances of getting hooked
There's no evidence that inhaling solvents can make a user physically dependent although a tolerance can build up within 2-3 days of continual use. It’s possible to be psychologically dependent (with a desire to keep using even in spite of potential harm).

Appearance and use
All household have different substances which, when abused, can cause different effects.
Solvents are sniffed from a cloth, a sleeve or a plastic bag. Some users put a plastic bag over their heads and inhale that way. Gas products can be squirted directly into the back of the throat which makes it difficult to control the dose.

The risks
*People can experience vomiting and blackouts.
*There’s a risk of fatal heart problems which have been known to kill users the very first time they sniff.
*Squirting gas products down the throat is a particularly dangerous way of taking the drug. It can make your throat swell so you can't breathe and slows down your heart.
*You risk suffocation if you inhale from a plastic bag over your head.
*Sniffing can seriously affect your judgment and when you're high there's a real danger you'll try something reckless.
*Long-term abuse of solvents has been shown to damage the brain, liver and kidneys.
*It can be hard to get the amount right. Just enough will give the desired high – a little too much can result in coma.
*Using solvents in combination with alcohol can lead to an increased risk of death.

GEAR

See HEROIN

GIANLUCCA

See COCAINE

GHB

Gammahydroxybutrate (GHB) is a dangerous drug with sedative and anaesthetic effects. It's hard to tell the difference between a dose that gives a pleasant buzz and one that leads to an overdose that could kill you.

Slang:
Street names for drugs can vary around the country. GHB, GBH, Liquid Ecstasy

The effects
A small capful has a euphoric effect that makes users feel happy, sensual and uninhibited.
As more is taken, it acts more like a sedative or downer and makes people sleepy.

Chances of getting hooked
There’s limited evidence on this but there does appear to be some liability of GHB to cause withdrawal symptoms on stopping its regular use.
There may be some tendency to keep using in some cases even in spite of potential harm (psychological dependence) but this is not well established.

Appearance and use
GHB is usually sold as an odourless liquid in small bottles or capsules (it does come in powder form but is rarer). It tastes slightly salty. the strength of GHB varies so it can be very difficult for people to know how much they’re taking.
The effects start between 10 minutes to one hour and can last up to seven hours or so.

Purity
The strength of the liquid varies widely from bottle to bottle. And when mixed badly, it can really burn the mouth.

The risks
*Users feel disoriented and sick. Muscles can go numb or start to spasm (which can cause slight twitches or pulses).
*Its use can be fatal when mixed with alcohol or other drugs.
*Users can lose consciousness, as it's hard to know what strength the dose is.
*Because GHB can really knock you out it's been linked to drug assisted sexual assault. And because it's almost tasteless it's easily slipped into a drink.

GLASS

See CRYSTAL METH

GREEN

See KETAMINE

GOLD DUST

See COCAINE

GRASS

See CANNABIS

H

See HEROIN

HASH or HASHISH

See CANNABIS

HAWK

See LSD

HERB

See CANNABIS

HEMP

See CANNABIS

HEROIN

Heroin is a natural opiate made from morphine (opiates dull pain). Morphine is extracted from the opium poppy. Like many drugs made from opium, including synthetic opioids (e.g. methadone) heroin is a very strong painkiller. ‘Street’ heroin sold as 'brown' is sometimes used by clubbers as a chill out after a big night out. Brown is still heroin but some people mistakenly think it's not as addictive.


Slang:
Street names for drugs can vary around the country. Brown, skag, H, horse, gear, smack.


The effects
Heroin slows down body functioning and substantially reduces physical and psychological pain.
Most users get a rush or buzz a few minutes after taking it.
A small dose of heroin gives the user a feeling of warmth and well-being.
Bigger doses can make the user sleepy and very relaxed.
The first dose of heroin can bring about dizziness and vomiting.


Chances of getting hooked
Heroin is highly addictive. Over time, effects of heroin on the brain cause 'craving' and a strong psychological desire to keep on using. Also tolerance builds and the desired effects reduce so much that users have to take more just to get the same effects and even more just to feel 'normal' or to avoid a very unpleasant withdrawal state.
Drugs have been developed to help treat heroin addiction. These include opiate substitutes for heroin such as methadone and subutex (buprenorphine) and also drugs like naltrexone that block the effects of heroin so you can't get a high once you have become drug-free



Appearance and use
Heroin comes as a white powder when it's pure (diamorphine), such as that used by doctors. Owing to the range of substances it's cut with, street heroin can be anything from brownish white to brown. It is either smoked or dissolved in water and injected or, if high purity, it is snorted.


Purity
A user has no way of knowing what their heroin is mixed with. Recent tests have shown it can contain nutmeg, brick dust, and ground-up gravel but it’s more commonly mixed with sugar, starch, powdered milk, or quinine.

The risks
*Deaths from overdoses occur. But the risk increases after a period off the drug because the body's tolerance for the drug goes down.
*Overdoses can lead to coma and even death from respiratory failure (i.e. when breathing stops).
*If heroin is taken with other drugs, including alcohol, overdose is more likely. Other downers such as benzodiazepine tranquillisers are also associated with heroin overdose deaths.
*There's also a risk of death due to inhaling vomit as heroin stops the body's cough reflex working properly.
*Injecting heroin can do nasty damage to your veins and has been known to lead to gangrene (death and decay of body tissue, usually a digit or a limb) and tissue infections.
*The risks of sharing needles and other works to inject are well-known, putting you in danger of infections like hepatitis B or C and HIV/AIDS.