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.

HORSE

See HEROIN

HOME-GROWN

See CANNABIS

ICE

See CRYSTAL METH

ISOBUTYL NITRITE

See POPPERS

JELLIES

See TRANQUILLISERS

K

See KETAMINE

KETAMINE

Ketamine is a short-acting but powerful general anaesthetic which depresses the nervous system and causes a temporary loss of body sensation. That’s why it has been used for operating on humans and animals. It has powerful hallucinogenic qualities (with a distortion of objects and reality).

Slang:
Street names for drugs can vary around the country. Green, K, special K, super K, vitamin k

The effects
Ketamine can cause perceptual changes or hallucinations like LSD, in addition to its effects on reducing bodily sensation. Users can trip for up to an hour and may feel after-effects for some hours.
It can give the user a floating feeling as if the mind and body have been separated.

Chances of getting hooked
You can become psychologically but not physically dependent on ketamine (which means you can develop the desire to keep taking it in spite of potential harm but without any withdrawal effects on stopping use).
You may need to take increasing amounts of ketamine to achieve the same effect (tolerance).

Appearance and use
Legally produced ketamine comes in liquid form which is usually injected. The illegally produced version usually comes as a grainy white powder which is usually snorted but it may also be obtained as a tablet.

Purity
Legally produced ketamine will be pure. But illegally produced tablets are commonly found with ephedrine added (which is commonly used for treatment of allergies and asthma). Sometimes these are passed off as ecstasy.

The risks
*Users may be physically incapable of moving while under the influence.
*Ketamine can cause panic attacks, depression, and taken in large doses, can make existing mental health problems worse.
*Because you don't feel any pain when you're on ketamine, you can injure yourself badly and not know you've done it.
*High doses, especially with other depressant drugs like alcohol, can dangerously suppress breathing and heart function and can lead to unconsciousness.
*Ketamine is very dangerous when mixed with ecstasy or amphetamines. It can result in high blood pressure.
*If high enough doses are taken, the anesthetic effect can result in death, for example due to unconsciousness and inhalation of vomit.
*There have been recent reports in the medical literature of serious bladder and related problems found in ketamine users.

KHAT

Khat (Catha edulis) is a herbal substance containing may different compounds. Its main effects are due to two compounds with stimulant properties similar to, but less powerful than, amphetamines. Stimulants speed up your mind and body. It comes from a leafy green plant of the same name. Used mostly in Africa, Khat is becoming more common in Europe - particularly in some immigrant communities.

Slang:
Street names for drugs can vary around the country. Khat, quat, qat, qaadka, chat.

The effects
. Khat is a stimulant and chewing it can make people more alert and talkative and can produce feelings of elation.
. It can also suppress the appetite.
· Although it's a stimulant, many users report a feeling of calm if it's chewed over a few hours. Some describe it as being 'blissed out'.

Chances of getting hooked
Khat can make a user psychologically dependent (with a desire to keep using in spite of potential harm). When they stop using they may feel lethargic or mildly depressed.

Appearance and use
Khat is a leaf which is chewed over a number of hours

The risks
*If you use it a lot, you may develop insomnia, high blood pressure and heart problems and sexual problems like impotence. There’s also a longer-term risk of development of mouth cancers.
*It can give you feelings of anxiety and aggression.
* It can make pre-existing mental health problems worse and can cause paranoid and psychotic reactions (which may be associated with irritability, anxiety and losing touch with reality).