Drug Trends: What’s Current, Signs, and Symptoms

The LiveWise Coalition Presents:

Methamphetamine—meth for short—is a stimulant drug that is chemically similar to amphetamines. Stimulants are a class of drugs that can boost mood, increase feelings of well-being, and increase energy and alertness—but they also have dangerous effects like raising heart rate and blood pressure.

Methamphetamines

Meth cont.

Meth is a white, bitter powder and easily dissolves in water or alcohol. Sometimes it's made into a white pill or a shiny, white or clear rock called a crystal. Although most of the meth used in the United States comes from “superlabs”—big illegal laboratories that make meth in large quantities—it is also made in small laboratories using inexpensive, over-the-counter and often toxic ingredients like drain cleaner, battery acid, and antifreeze.

Meth in it’s crystalized form.

How is meth used?Meth is swallowed, snorted, injected, or

smoked. “Crystal meth,” a smokeable form of methamphetamine, is a large, usually clear crystal that is smoked in a glass pipe.

What are common street names?Methamphetamine is commonly known as

“speed,” “meth,” “chalk,” and “tina.” In its smokeable form, it’s often called “ice,” “crystal,” “crank,” “glass,” “fire,” and “go fast.”

Meth cont.

What are the effects of Meth?Short Term:

Meth makes a person more awake and physically active (“twitchy”), causes rapid heart rate and irregular heartbeat, and increases blood pressure and body temperature. It can overheat you so much that you pass out; sometimes this can even be fatal.

People who inject meth risk getting HIV/AIDS or hepatitis (a liver disease) if they share used needles. People also can get HIV by having unsafe sex. They may forget to use condoms because they're high on meth.

Meth cont.

Long Term:Repeated use of meth can cause violent behavior, mood

swings, and psychosis. Psychosis can include paranoia, hearing sounds that aren’t there, and delusions (e.g., the sensation of insects creeping on the skin). The paranoia can result in homicidal and suicidal thoughts.

Meth can increase a person’s sex drive and is linked to risky sexual behaviors and the transmission of infectious diseases, such as HIV. However, research also indicates that long-term meth use may be associated with decreased sexual function, at least in men.

Over time, meth use may also cause:Skin sores (“Pick Marks”)Severe weight loss “Meth mouth”AgingProblems with thinking, emotion, and memory

Meth cont.

Signs of use:

Meth can give people an excess of energy. They might talk and move around a lot. They might not stop to eat or sleep.

Meth users often scratch their skin, causing sores. They might have burns on their lips or fingers from using a hot pipe.

Meth can cause rapid mood swings. For example, people might seem excited, and then become angry and violent. They might act afraid that someone's out to get them. They might want to kill themselves.

Meth cont.

Example from “Faces of Meth”

Marijuana

“Buddah Purple Kush”Marijuana is a mixture of the

dried and shredded leaves, stems, seeds, and flowers of the cannabis sativa plant. The mixture can be green, brown, orange, purplish, or gray.

Marijuana has a chemical in it called delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, better known as THC.

THC is the main psychoactive ingredient in marijuana.

Over 400 other chemicals are also found in marijuana.

Marijuana’s strength or potency is related to the amount of THC it contains.

Since the 1970’s the percentage of THC continues to increase, and according to measures from confiscated marijuana, it tests around 10% THC on average

How is marijuana used?Marijuana is used in many ways. The most common

method is smoking loose marijuana rolled into a cigarette called a “joint” or “nail.” Sometimes marijuana is smoked through a water pipe called a “bong.” Others smoke “blunts”—cigars hollowed out and filled with the drug. And some users brew it as tea or mix it with food.

What are common street names?There are many slang terms for marijuana that vary

from city to city and from neighborhood to neighborhood. Some common names are: “pot,” “grass,” “herb,” “weed,” “Mary Jane,” “reefer,” “skunk,” “boom,” “gangster,” “kif,” “chronic,” “ganja,” “dank,” “loud,” “dro,” “hydro,” “sticky,” “sticky-icky,” “purp,” “loud,” and “bud.” Just to name a few.

Marijuana cont.

What are the effects of marijuana?Short Term:

Within minutes of inhaling, a user begins to feel “high,” or filled with pleasant sensations.

Brain Functioning:THC binds to neurons in the brain called

cannabinoid receptors.This then interferes with various functions of the

brain, to include learning and memory. A recent study followed people from age 13 to 38

and found that those who used marijuana a lot in their teens and continued into adulthood had a significant drop in IQ, even if they quit.

Marijuana cont.

True or False – it’s safe to drive after using marijuana.

False - The cerebellum is the section of our brain that controls balance and coordination. When THC affects the cerebellum’s function, it makes scoring a goal in soccer or hitting a home run pretty tough. THC also affects the basal ganglia, another part of the brain that’s involved in movement control.

Marijuana cont.

Long Term Effects:Lungs and Airways

People who use and abuse marijuana are also putting their lungs at risk.

One joint has 4 times as much cancer-causing tar as one tobacco cigarette.

Marijuana cont.

AddictionMarijuana, addictive?

About 9 percent of people who use marijuana become dependent on it.

Withdrawal symptoms:

IrritabilitySleep problemsWeight loss

Marijuana cont.

Signs and symptoms of Marijuana Abuse:Rapid, loud talking and bursts of laughter in

early stages of intoxicationSleepy or stuporous in the later stagesLack of concentration and coordinationForgetfulness in conversationInflammation in the whites of the eyesOdor similar to burnt rope on clothing or

breathDistorted sense of time passage and a tendency

to overestimate time intervalsCraving for sweetsIncreased appetiteUse or possession of paraphernalia including

roach clips, packs of rolling papers, pipes or bongs

Marijuana cont.

AlcoholSTANDARD DRINK SIZE:

Beer12 oz.

Wine5 oz.

Liquor1 – 1.5 oz.

Alcohol is generally consumed as a drink.

New trends for alcohol consumption:Eye DropsTamponsEnemasVaping

Alcohol cont.

Short Term Effects of AlcoholBreathing difficulties Distorted vision and hearing Impaired judgment Decreased perception and coordination Unconsciousness Anemia (loss of red blood cells) ComaBlackouts (memory lapses, where the drinker

cannot remember events that occurred while under the influence)

Alcohol cont.

Long Term Effect of AlcoholChange in mood and

behaviorCardiomyopathy –

Stretching and drooping of heart muscle

Arrhythmias – Irregular heart beat

StrokeHigh blood pressure Steatosis, or fatty

liver

Alcoholic hepatitisFibrosis

CirrhosisPancreatitisCancer of the Mouth,

Esophagus, Throat, Liver, and Breast

Compromised immune system.

Alcohol Cont.

Signs and Symptoms of intoxication:

Slurred speechPoor balanceDrooping EyelidsDrowsinessVomiting DiarrheaUpset stomachHeadachesEye Nystagmus

Alcohol cont.

Rx Drugs are quickly becoming a serious problem in Nebraska.

4 Categories of Rx Drugs that are abused:OpiatesCNS DepressantsStimulantsDextromethorphan (DXM)

NOTE: Alcohol can change the effects of these drugs

Prescription Drugs

Opiates Rx Pain relievers – Oxycodone, Hydrocodone,

Morphine, Fentanyl, and Methadone…to name a few.

How are they used?The pills are either swallowed whole, crushed

and snorted, or crushed and melted down to be injected.

What are the effects?Slows the heart, slows breathing, feeling of

relaxation and euphoria.

Rx Drugs cont.

Street names for Opiates:Hydros, Hillbilly heroin, Oxy, OC, Oxycotton,

Percs, Happy pills, and Vikes

Signs and Symptoms of use:Glossy eyesSlurred speechSlow reactionsTrack marks (from injections)Constant runny nose or nosebleeds (from

snorting)

Can lead to heroin use as a cheaper form of getting high.

Rx Drugs cont.

CNS DepressantsBarbiturates, Benzodiazepines, and Sleep

Medications.

How are they used?Taken as a pill or capsule whole or crushed and

snorted.

What are the effects?Depressant to the central nervous system,

slows heart rate, slows breathing, causes drowsiness, causes an “out of body” like sensation.

Rx Drugs cont.

Street names for CNS DepressantsBarbs, Reds, Red birds, Phennies, Tooies,

Yellows, Yellow jackets, Candy, Downers, Sleeping pills, Tranks, A-minus, and Zombie pills

Signs and Symptoms of use:Glossy eyesSlurred speechExtreme drowsinessSlow reactions

Rx Drugs cont.

StimulantsDextroamphetamine (Dexedrine and

Adderall), Methylphenidate (Ritalin and Concerta)

How are they used?The pills are either swallowed whole, crushed

and snorted, or crushed and melted down to be injected.

What are the effects?High blood pressure, Increased heart rate,

Irregular heartbeat, extremely high body temps, seizures, heart failure.

Rx Drugs cont.

Street names for Stimulants:Skippy, The smart drug, Vitamin R, Bennies,

Black beauties, Roses, Hearts, Speed, and Uppers.

Signs and Symptoms of use:Rapid speechDilated pupilsShortness of breath HostilityParanoia

Rx Drugs cont.

Dextromethorphan (DXM)Over the counter cough and cold medicine –

(i.e., Robotussin, NyQuil, Coricidin, and Vicks)

How is it used?Most commonly drank in the liquid/syrup form.

Some will use the pills, and most recently found in some powder forms.

What are the effects?Feelings of disassociation, impaired motor

function, numbness, nausea, vomiting, increased heart rate, and increased blood pressure.

Rx Drugs cont.

Street names for DXMRobo-tripping, Skittling, Dex, or Candy.

Signs and Symptoms of use:Slurred speech

Inability to speakDrowsiness

Dilated pupilsDelayed reactionsLethargy

Rx Drugs cont.

Spice, K2, Synthetic MarijuanaHerbs that look like potpourri or marijuana and

are supposed to mimic the effects of marijuana.Claims to be the “legal high” – refer toLB298

“Tyler’s Law” and LB811.Often labeled as “not for human consumption”

How is it used?Sold as incense or potpourri, but generally

smoked like marijuana, or some people use in tea.

Synthetic Drugs

What are the effects of K2/Spice?Relaxed feelings similar to marijuanaSome cases, extreme anxiety, paranoia, and

hallucinations.

Synthetic Drugs cont.

Street names for K2Fake weed, Yucatan Fire, Skunk, Moon Rocks,

Scooby Snax, and Crazy Clown.

Signs and Symptoms of useDilated pupilsLethargySlow reactionsChange in behaviors – increased anxiety,

paranoia, agitation, and depression.

Synthetic Drugs cont.

Bath SaltsSynthetic cathinones similar to amphetamines

and stimulants.

How are they used?Swallowed, inhaled, or injected, with the worst

dangers being associated with snorting or needle injection.

Synthetic Drugs cont.

Street names:Labeled as Plant food, Jewelry cleaner, or

Phone screen cleaner – sold online by the names of “Bloom,” “Cloud Nine,” “Vanilla Sky,” “White Lightning,” and “Scarface.”

Signs and Symptoms of use:Extreme agitation, hallucinations & delusions,

chest pain, suicidal thoughts, high blood pressure, acute toxicity, hyperthermia, delirium, violent behavior, foaming at the mouth, extreme paranoia, Parkinson-like limb twitching, and severe insomnia.

Synthetic Drugs cont.

Additional trends you’re seeing?

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Questions:

http://www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse

http://www.samhsa.gov/data/

http://www.justice.gov/dea/druginfo/factsheets.shtml

http://www.whitehouse.gov/ondcp

http://abovetheinfluence.com/drugs/alcohol/

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