What's The Deal with Drugs?

The Time of Your Life

Can You Pass This Drug Test?

So What's The Deal With Drugs?

Do You Know the Signs of a Bad Trip or Overdose?

Hidden Dangers

So What's The Deal With Drugs?

The Truth is, drugs affect people in different ways - and you just never know how a drug is going to affect you!

Recreational Drugs	Supply and Use	Effects	The DOWN side
DESIGNER/CLUB DRUGS - chemical alterations of legal drugs
Rohypnol* - A Central Nervous System (CNS) depressant “Roofies, Roache2, Rib, Mind Eraser, Forget Pill”	Small white pill (or blue) in bubble package Taken by mouth Onset of action in 20-30 minutes Effects may last from 8-12 hours	Initial relaxed, mellow feeling or ‘buzz’ Followed by disorientation and slurred speech Slows reaction time and coordination Can produce ‘staggering drunk’ effects	Decreased heart rate and breathing Amnesia Sleep disorders Decreased consciousness, coma and death
G.H.B.* - C.N.S. depressant “Liquid E, Liquid X, Fantasy, Gamma10, Blue Love, Scoop, Easy Lay, Grievous Bodily Harm”	Odorless, colourless liquid Can be reduced to a powder and pressed into tablet form Taken by mouth Rapid onset in 10- 15 minutes Effects will last approximately 3 hours	Same as above plus... GHB also claims to be an aphrodisiac as well as a hangover cure Used by addicts to come down from ‘uppers’ such as ephedrine, ecstasy, speed or coke	Same as above plus... GHB can cause agitation and aggression Overdose margin is very small e.g. difference between desired effect and fatal dose
Ketamine* – C.N.S, depressant “Ket, Special K, Vitamin K, Kat Valium, Bump”	Swallowed in liquid form Powder form can be snorted or added to a joint or a cigarette Onset of action in 15-20 minutes Residual effects can last up to 24 hours	Drowsiness, nausea, confusion Disassociation described as a ‘near death’ or ‘out of body’ experience called a 'K Hole’	Same as Rohypnol plus... May cause recurrent flashbacks Seizure risk is high if used with other drugs
*Ecstasy (MDMA)** - stimulant + hallucinogen “Love Pill, E, Becky, XTC, X Adam”	Swallowed in tablet form Often marked with popular symbols pressed into the pill e.g. Nike or butterfly Powder form can be snorted Onset of action in 20-30 minutes Effects last for 3-6 hours	Initial adrenaline rush gives ‘mind expanding’ effects Known as the ‘love drug’, it exaggerates feelings of connectedness, touch, taste and sight Dry mouth, jaw clenching Dehydration	Fear and confusion if anxious Reduces seratonin, affecting emotions, memory, sleep and mood Increased heart rate and body temperature Muscle tension, tremors, convulsions Overheating, coma, death
* also known as a rape drug
STIMULANT DRUGS “Uppers”
Amphetamines “Speed, Pep Pills, Bennies, Ice, Meth, Crank, Crystal Ice”	Smoked (crystal) or swallowed in pill or capsule form Can also be injected or snorted Onset of action in 20 minutes Effects last for 4-6 hours	Energized alertness, sleeplessness Experience a ‘rush’ or ‘high’ Dilated pupils Restlessness and irritability Loss of appetite	Mood swings Weight loss Hallucinations, paranoia Very addictive Liver failure and risk of stroke
Cocaine – stimulant + anesthetic drug “Crack, Coke, Snow, White Lady, Uptown”	White or beige powder or coarser chunks called rock or crack cocaine Most often snorted (sniffing or railing) but can also be injected Crack is most pure form and is smoked Rapid onset in 5-10 minutes lasting 30 minutes	If sniffed gives “numb nose” effect (anesthetic effect) Initial ‘rush’ with increased energy and mental alertness Increased heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, and body temperature Dilated pupils	Bizarre, erratic or violent behaviour Anxiety and restlessness, panic, seizures Hallucinations Extreme excitability (‘wired’) and paranoia Will take a ‘downer’ drug to come down Heart failure, coma, stroke and death
SEDATIVE DRUGS “Downers”
Barbituates & Benzodiazepines “Tranks, Sleepers, Vees, Sticks, Nembies, Blue Devils, Barbs, Goof Balls, Yellow Jackets”	Swallowed in pill form or injected Onset of action in 20-30 minutes Effects last 4-6 hours	Impaired judgment and mental confusion Drowsiness, slurred speech, headache Used to come down off of stimulant type drugs such as ‘E’ or cocaine	Pin point pupils Very addictive Decreased heart rate, breathing, coma Death from overdose is a real risk
HALLUCINOGENIC DRUGS - alter reality
PCP “Angel Dust, Killer Hog, Super Grass, Peace Pill”	powder, tablet,chunks or crystal form Usually smoked but can be snorted, injected or swallowed	Slurred speech, blurred vision Poor coordination, confusion, agitation Outer body experiences, feel invincible	Anxiety, depression, uncontrolled aggression Flashbacks are common Death from accident or overdose
LSD “Acid, Cubes, Purple Haze, Tabs, Blotter, Micro Dot”	Usually swallowed in powder pellets (microdots), gelatin chips (windowpanes) or squares of blotter paper	Dilated pupils Trembling, rapid heart beat Hallucinations can be pleasant or frightening Mood swings Extreme thirst May disassociate or have out of body experiences	Psychosis or breaks from reality, flashbacks Emotional breakdown Paranoia, intense anxiety Bizarre and even violent behaviour Recurrent flashbacks Tolerance develops quickly
Mescaline “Cactus, Mesc ”	Usually swallowed in dry chopped up natural form
Psilocybin “Magic Mushrooms, Schrums”	dried or capsule form Usually swallowed but can be injected
Other natural hallucinogens can be found in the seeds of some varieties of morning glory, jimson weed and nutmeg with similar effects
INHALANTS
Nitrous Oxide “Laughing Gas, Whippets”	Rapid onset (within seconds) Inhaled with mask or filled balloons	Poor motor coordination Impaired vision and memory Headache Abusive, violent behaviour Lightheadedness	Death due to oxygen starvation or overdose Nerve damage, muscle weakness, anemia Weight loss, bone marrow and liver damage High risk of sudden death
Amyl Nitrite or Butyl Nitrite “Poppers, Snappers, Rush, Locker Room"	Inhaled or sniffed from gauze or ampules
Many other ingredients such as gasoline, paint thinner and glue may be inhaled to obtain a short term high with the same ‘down’ side consequences.

Rohypnol, GHB, and Ketamine can also be used to sexually assault or rob someone. Because they are often colourless, tasteless, and ordourless, they can easily be added to beverages unknowingly.

It can happen to anyone. Even you! When secretly slipped into a beverage, even a glass of Ice Tea, sedating substances can leave ANYONE vulnerable.

REDUCE YOUR RISK!

always keep your drink in sight
don't accept open-container drinks from anyone
avoid "group drinks" such as punch bowl or containers which are passes around as these are the easiest to dose
if you notice any powder on the glass or it has a funny taste (slightly salty or bitter) be suspicious. Throw it out or better yet, save a sample for police analysis
if you experience sudden "staggering drunk" effects such as dizziness, slurred speech nausea, difficulty walking tell someone you trust immediately
ask a friend to get you to a safe place or to a hospital for medical attention

WATCH OUT FOR EACH OTHER and TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS!