Prevention

A mixture of green, brown, or gray flowers or leaves that have been dried or shredded from a hemp plant, called Cannabis sativa. Hashish, hash oil, and sinsemilla are stronger forms of marijuana. The main ingredient of marijuana is THC (tetrahydrocannabinol).

Other names: Weed, pot, reefer, grass, dope, ganja, Mary Jane, sinsemilla, herb, Aunt Mary, skunk, boom, kif, gangster, chronic, 420, and doobie.

Methods of Use: smoked or eaten.
Marijuana rolled into a cigarette is called a “joint”, when placed in hollowed out cigars its called a “blunt”.
Marijuana can also be mixed into food or other drinks, like tea.

Effects: Bloodshot eyes, dry mouth and throat, impaired or reduced comprehension, altered sense of time, reduced ability to perform tasks requiring concentration and coordination, such as driving a car, paranoia, intense anxiety or panic attacks, altered cognition, impairments in learning, memory, perception, and judgment-difficultly speaking, listening effectively, thinking, retaining knowledge, problem solving, and forming concepts.

Signs of Abuse: red blood shot eyes, smelly hair and clothing, acting silly for no apparent reason, having a hard time remembering things, trouble walking.

Print & Online Resources

Tips for Teens on Marijuana (PDF) U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Prevention. (Rev. 2008)

Marijuana Facts for Teens: (PDF)National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institute of Health. (Rev. 2008)

Marijuana: Facts Parents Need to Know: (PDF)National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institute on Health. (Rev. 2007)

http://www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse/marijuana: (web site)

Heroin users tend to develop a tolerance to the drug and often need more and more to feel the effects. The change of an overdose is a risk on the streets where the purity of the drug is unknown. White to dark powder or tar like substance.

Other names: Smack, Horse, Mud, Brown Sugar, Junk, Black Tar, Big H, Dope, Skag, Skunk, White horse.

Methods of Use: injected, smoked, or snorted.

Effects: euphoria, nausea, confusion, staggering gait, impaired mental functioning, slowed down respiration, death.

Signs of Abuse: tack marks on arms, slowed and slurred speech, vomiting, pinpoint pupils, clammy skin.

Print & Online Resources.

Tips for Teens on Heroin (PDF) U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Prevention. (Rev. 2008)

Some users avoid sleep for days. Meth can increase crime and cause environmental harms. White or slightly yellow crystal like powder or large rock-like chunks.

Other names: Speed, meth, crystal, crank, tweak, ice, glass, uppers, black beauties, chalk, fire.

Methods of Use: Swallowed, injected, snorted or smoked.

Effects: Addiction, irritability, anxiety, increased blood pressure, paranoia, aggression, compulsive behavior, stoke, depression, inability to sleep, increased sensitivity to noise, extreme anorexia, formication, increased risk of infectious diseases with injection.

Signs of Abuse: inability to sleep, presence of inhaling paraphernalia, razor blades, minors, and straws, injecting paraphernalia, syringes, heated spoons, or surgical tubing, scabs, open sores.

Print & Online Resources.

Meth Space: New Danger To Children:  (video) (Community Anti Drug Coalitions of America, satellite broadcast. (3/21/08)

Tips for Teens on Meth (PDF) U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Prevention. (Rev. 2008)

Illegal in the United States until 18 years of age.

Tobacco contains nicotine, a high addictive drug. Cigarettes are made from dried tobacco leaves.

Other names: Smoke, cancer stick, butts (cigarettes), Chew Dip, Spit Tobacco, Snuff (smokeless tobacco)

Methods of Use: Cigarettes, cigars, pipes (smoked) , Smokeless Tobacco: chewed

Effects: Addiction, heart and cardiovascular disease, Cancer of the lung, larynx, esophagus, bladder, pancreas, kidney and mouth, Emphysema and chronic bronchitis, spontaneous abortion, pre-tern delivery, and low birth weight.

Signs of Abuse: Wheezing, coughing, bad breath, frequent colds, smelly hair or clothing, yellowing of teeth or fingers, frequent mouth sores, bleeding gums

Print & Online Resources

Tips for Teens on Tobacco (PDF): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Prevention. (Rev. 2008)

Tobacco Addiction: Website

Signs of Abuse: Teeth clenching, chills, unusual displays of affection, problems remembering things, slurred speech, sleep problems.

Ecstasy/MDMA:

Ecstasy is methlenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), a “designer” or custom made drug. A stimulant popular at parties, raves and clubs because of the stimulant effect allowing users extended time dancing.

Other Names: E, X, XTC, Adam, Bean, Roll.

Methods of Use: swallowed in a pill form typically with branded images on them.

Effects: Heart attacks, muscle tension, blurred vision, sweating, fainting, chills, sleep problems, hallucinations, loss of control of some body movements, clinched teeth, live and heart failure.

GHB–Gamma Hydroxybuytric Acid

User may transport in small bottles or eye drop bottles. Used during “date rapes” and other assaults. It is a federal crime to use any controlled substances to aid in sexual assault.

Other Names: Liquid Ecstasy, Liquid X, Grievous Bodily Harm, Georgia Home Boy.

Methods of Use: snorted, orally in liquid form, smoked, or mixed into drinks.

Effects: Liver failure, vomiting, tremors, seizures, comas, fatal respiratory problems, unconscious and possible immobility.

Rohypnol–Flunitrazepam

Referred to as the “date rape” drug. creates a drunk feeling that lasts two-eight hours. Used in sexual assaults.

Other names: Roach, roofies, the forget pill, rope, rophies, ruffies, R2, roofenol, la roche, rib.

Methods of Use: swallowed or snorted.

Effects: visual and gastrointestinal disturbances, memory loss, difficulty with motor skills, dizziness, blackouts.

Ketamine–Ketamine Hydrochloride

Popular at raves. A general anesthetic for medical procedures in people and animals.

Other names: Vitamin K, Super-K, Ketalar, Special K, K-hole.

Methods of Use: Snorted or Smoked, can dissolved into beverages in liquid form or injected.

Effects: Delirium, impaired motor function, profound visual distortions, a lost sense of time, senses and identity, death.

LCD

D-lysergic acid diethylamide. The most powerful hallucinogen known to humans. Can be in the forms of tablets or squares of paper.

Other names: acid, blotter, boomers, Doses, microdot, yellow sunshine.

Methods of Use: Swallowed or absorbed through mouth tissues.

Effects: increased body temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, loss of appetite, sleeplessness, tremors, persistent mental disorder.

Print and Online Resources.

Tips for Teens on Club Drugs (PDF) U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Prevention. (Rev. 2008)

Clubdrugs.gov

Inhalants are substances or fumes from products that are sniffed or “huffed” to cause an immediate high. Hundreds of legal household products can be sniffed or “huffed” to get high.

Other names: Glue, kick, bang, sniff, huff, poppers, whippets, Texas shoeshine, Nitrous oxide, laughing gas, aerosol sprays, cleaning fluid, solvents.

Methods of Use: Vapors are inhaled.

Effects: headache, muscle weakness, severe mood swings and violent behavior, numbness and tingling of hands and feet, loss of sense of smell, nosebleeds, liver, lung, and kidney damage, fatigue, loss of appetite, death.

Signs of Abuse: missing household products, chemical smell on clothing, paint stains on face or body, red eyes, runny nose, drunk, dizzy or dazed appearance, unusual breath odor.

Print & Online Resources

National Inhalant Prevention web site.

Inhalant.drugabuse.gov.

Household Highs:  Understanding Inhalants: (video) (Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America Satellite Broadcast, 8/27/09).

National Institute on Drug Abuse: Info Facts on Inhalants 2009 (pdf) –pdf handout.

National Survey on Drug Use and Health Report: Characteristics of Recent Adolescent Inhalant initiates (pdf).

Tips for Teens on Inhalants (pdf) U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Prevention. (Rev. 2008)

Cocaine is one of the most powerfully addictive drugs. Cocaine is made from the coca plant and can be in a powder or crystal form.

Other names: Cocaine: Coke, snow, nose candy, blow, big C, lady, white, powder, dust, toot,
Crack: rock, freebase

Methods of Use: Cocaine: snorted or dissolved in water and injected. Crack: heated and smoked in a pipe.

Effects: Addiction, pupil dilation, elevated blood pressure and heart rate, increased respiratory rate, increased risk of infectious disease from injecting, paranoia, seizures, heart attacks, tactile hallucinations, insomnia, death

Signs of Abuse: red bloodshot eyes, runny nose, frequent sniffing, bloody noses, high energy, frequently needing money.

Print & Online Resources

Tips for Teens on Cocaine (PDF) U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Prevention. (Rev. 2008)

Cracking the Habit:  (Video) (Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America satellite broadcast, 10/20/07)

Signs of Abuse: dilated pupils, distorted sense of sight, hearing, and touch, faintness, irrational behavior.

LSD

D-lysergic acid diethylamide. The most powerful hallucinogen known to humans. Can be in the forms of tablets or squares of paper.

Other names: acid, blotter, boomers, Doses, microdot, yellow sunshine.

Methods of Use: Swallowed or absorbed through mouth tissues.

Effects: increased body temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, loss of appetite, sleeplessness, tremors, persistent mental disorder.

Psilocybin–Mushrooms

Purchased primarily through mail order.

Other names: Shrooms, caps, magic mushrooms, purple passion.

Methods of Use: swallowed or brewed in teas.

Effects: nervousness, paranoia, nausea, flashbacks, altered states of perception and feelings, hallucinations.

Phencyclidine–PCP

Marijuana joints  can be dipped in PCP without smokers knowledge.

Other names: angel dust, boat, hog, Ozone, Wack, Love Boat, peace pill, elephant tranquilizer.

Methods of Use: Snorted, smoked, swallowed, or injected.

Effects: Hallucinations, inability to feel physical pain, depression, anxiety, paranoia, delusions, decrease in blood pressure and heart rate death.

Print and Online Resources.

Tips for Teens on Hallucinogenic Drugs (PDF) U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Prevention. (Rev. 2008)

Other names: Arnolds, Gym Candy, Pumpers, Stackers, Weigh Trainers, Juice, Rhoids.

Methods of Use: swallowed , applied to skin, or injected into muscle.

Effects: baldness, development of breast in men, impotence, growth of facial hair for women, deepened voice for women, swelling of feet or ankles, bad breath, mood swings, liver cancer, depression, acne.

Signs of Abuse: rapid growth of muscles, opposite sex characteristics, extreme irritability.

Print and Online Resources.

Tips for Teens on Steroids: (PDF) U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Prevention. (Rev. 2008)

Steroid Abuse.gov.

Pain Medications: Vicodin, OxyContin, Percocet, Darvon, Codeine.
Stimulants: Ritalin, Concerta, Adderall, Focalin, Dexedrine.
Sedatives & Tranquilizers: Valium, Xanax, Ativan, Klonopin, Restoril, Ambien, Lunesta, Mebaral, Nembutal.
Over-The-Counter: DXM , Dextromethorphan, found in common cough medicine.

Print & Online Resources.

Addiction by Prescription: Discover who is misusing prescription medicines and how these addictions may differ from addictions to illicit drugs. Also, learn about how prescription medication abuse is treated in this video.

Getting High on Prescription and Over-The-Counter Drugs is Dangerous (PDF).