Dangerous Drugs You Need to Know

This is a continual piece of my previous article entitled The scary things of drug addiction.

GHB

GHB or gamma hydroxybutyrate, normally appears in a liquid form, is an illegal drug that has neither color nor odor. It’s reported to be produced illegally in home basement labs and like Ecstasy, it’s designed specifically for those who go to “rave parties”, particularly among teens and young adults.

GHB is a popular illegal drug which is sometimes called “Cups”, “Georgia Home Boy”, “G” and “Liquid Ecstasy”, and it’s often used by most teens to achieve intense rush of happy feeling. When GHB is mixed with alcohol, it can be very deadly, even though it’s taken at low doses. It has known to cause side effects that may include decreased heart rate to the dangerous level, seizure, hallucination, puking, respiratory problem, and at high doses, GHB can cause coma or even stop breathing within 60 minutes.

Cough Syrup

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Cough syrup is a legal drug that can cause sweating, hallucination, slurred speech, dizziness, insomnia, lethargy, high blood pressure (hypertension), and delusion when it’s taken in excess. The mixture of cough syrup with other drugs can result in heart problem, liver damage, increased blood pressure, brain damage, and central nervous system problem. It can also lead to death if it’s taken together with alcohol.

Antidepressants

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Antidepressants refer to any drugs that are used to treat depression, and among them, Prozac, Remeron, Numbutal, Paxil, Zoloft, and Celexa are some of the commonly abused antidepressants. Antidepressants have proved to have caused side effects both in short-term (anxiety, insomnia, agitation, suicidal thoughts, aggression, tremors, hallucination, hostility, violent actions/ thoughts, confusion, nervousness, incoherent thoughts, paranoid reactions, psychosis, Akathisia/ a painful inner agitation, irritability, Mania) and in long-term (anxiety, headache, hallucination, Paranoia, irregular heartbeat, addiction).

Marijuana

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Making from the mixture of the shredded seeds, stems, leaves and the flowers of the hemp plant Cannabis sativa L., Marijuana is the most commonly misused drug in the United States. It appears as gray, brown or green dried parsley to the naked eyes.

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“Weed”, “Grass”, “Mary Jane”, “Pot”, “Herb”, “Cannabis”, “Chronic”, “Dope”, “Joint”, “Blunt”, “Reefer” and “Texas Tea” are some of its street names/slang terms. Marijuana is a known mind-altering drug that can cause hallucinogen, loss of concentration and strong mood swing if taken in huge doses. Apart from that, it leads to euphoric effects of a short-term impaired learning and memory, laziness, increased heart rate, poor memory, dry mouth, lung damage, restlessness, lack of motivation, psychosis, red eyes, loss of coordination, drowsiness, distorted hearing and vision, increased appetite/ compulsive eating disorder; while in long-term, its usage is linked to the behavioural disorders, lung damage, growth disorders, reduced ability of the body to fight against illnesses and lung infections, heart damage, difficulty to focus the attention either at work or in school, psychotic symptoms, paranoia, delayed motor skills and reduction of male sex hormones. Frequent use of Marijuana can cause wheezing, respiratory (airway and lung) infections and blockages, frequent colds, cough, and/or bronchitis.

Opiates

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Opiates comprise of any drugs which are derived from the unripe seedpod of the opium poppy Papavar somniferum. The natural products of codeine and morphine, and heroin (one of the semi-synthetic drugs) are also classified in a group of opiate.

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Opiates has many slang terms/street names such as “China White”, “Big O”, “D’s”, “Chinese Molasses”, “Heroin”, “Tar”, “Smack”, “Chasing the Tiger”, “Fizzies”, “Dillies” and “Horse”. The pharmaceutical names for opiates are Lortab, Paracodin, Percodan, Codeine, Darvon, Dolphine, Propoxyphene, Morphine, Percocet, Dilaudid, MethadoneNorvopropoxyn, Oxycontin, Demerol, Oxycodone, Hyrdrocodone, Darvocet and Vicodin.

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As like other drugs, the use of opiates can cause effects which may include vomiting, cold/clammy skin, urinary retention, hypothermia, papillary constriction, constipation, apathy, dizziness, hypotension, depression, drowsiness and confusion. In a case that when opiate is used in higher doses, it can significantly cause coma or/and death.

Barbiturates

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Using therapeutically as hypnotics, anticonvulsants and sedatives, barbiturates are central nervous system depressants, which normally taken orally as tablets or capsules. The excessive use of barbiturates can cause tolerance and physical dependence, and their effects are always viewed to have similar on intoxication to the alcohol. Barbiturates which were taken at 400mg/day for duration of 2-3 months, has clinically proven to have a side effect of physical dependence. During the period of drug abstinence, one may experience withdrawal symptoms, and in certain occasion, the withdrawal symptoms experiencing by the individual can be severe enough to cause death.

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Barbiturates have many slang terms/street names such as “Red Devils”, “Barbies”, “Sleepers”, “Red Birds”, “Pink Ladies”, “Barbs”, “Tooies”, “Block Busters”, “Tranqs”, “Yellowjackets”, “Downers”, “Barbs”, “Blue Bullets”, “Phennies”, “Yellows”, “Blues”, “Reds” and “Pinks”. The pharmaceutical names for Barbiturates are Talbutal, Alphenal, Allobarbital, Tuinal, Stadodorm, Secobarbital, Luminal, Butobarbital, Butisol, Florinal, Immenoctal, Pentobarbital, Nembutal, Phenobarbital, Thiopental, Cyclopentobarbital, Seconal, Neodorm, Amobarbital, Rohypnol and Amytal.

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The use of barbiturates can cause short-term effects which include lowered blood pressure, confusion, poor concentration, fatigue, fever, slurred speech, dizziness, loss of coordination and judgement, weight gain, slow brain function, suicidal thoughts, sluggishness, depression and slow breathing; while their long-term effect can lead to increased risk of diabetes, weight gain and high blood pressure; physical dependence and withdrawal symptoms for those who stop using barbiturates.

Crack Cocaine

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Crack cocaine is the most potent form of cocaine which is made by cooking cocaine powder with baking soda, before breaking it into smaller pieces called rocks. It resembles tan or white pellets and comes in crystals or solid blocks. It may also appear as yellow, pale or white rose to the naked eyes. Crack cocaine is very dangerous even it’s just used only once, since it can cause strokes or heart attacks and even death. It’s also very addictive until the users can’t stop using it even they’re just using it for the first time.

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When it’s smoked and heated, crack cocaine crackles. Hence, it got its name. Its slang terms/street names are “Apple jacks”, “Ball”, “Candy”, “24-7″, “Cookies”, “Crumbs”, “Devil drug”, “Base”, “Badrock”, “Dice”, “Electric kool-aid”, “Crack”, “Cloud”, “French fries”, “Chemical”, “Grit”, “Beat”, “Hard ball”, “Fat bags”, “Hotcakes”, “Gravel”, “Ice cube”, “Kryptonite”, “Crunch and munch”, “Piece”, “Glo”, “Rock star”, “Scrabble”, “Jelly beans”, “Snow coke”, “Nuggets”, “Topo (Spanish)”, “Tornado”, “Hail”, “Troop”, “Sleet”, “Roxanne/Rox”, “Paste”, “Sugar block” and “Prime time”.

Crack cocaine causes short-term effects which include increased heart rate, hallucinations, vomiting, chest pain, psychosis, violent/bizarre/erratic behavior, rapid breathing, convulsion, hyperactivity, paranoia, irritability, and even death. When the body of the user becomes tolerated with crack cocaine, they become addicted to increase the intake of the drug, which later, causing them too addicted to take greater amounts of cracked cocaine to stimulate their “good feeling”. Over the time, the user will have infertility, sexual dysfunction, damaged reproductive organ, severe depression and addiction. Daily use of crack cocaine can lead to loss of appetite, liver, lung, and kidney damage. In high intakes, crack cocaine can cause irreversible damage to blood vessels particularly in the brain and heart, which eventually causing heart attacks, strokes, and even death.

Cocaine

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As like crack cocaine, cocaine is another potent form of drug which usually appears in a form of white powder. It’s a powerful local anesthetic and central nervous system (CNS) derived from the dried leaves of the coco plant found in South America. Cocaine has many slang terms/street names such as “Snow”, “Aunt Nora”, “Blow”, “C”, “Rock cocaine”, “Coke”, “Ball”, “Dust”, “Charlie”, “Nose candy”, “Paradise”, “Crack”, “Toot”, “Bernice”, “Mojo”, “White”, “Sneeze”, “Sniff”, “Flake” and “Pony”.

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Since cocaine is a potent stimulant, it can bring extreme energy and restlessness, fast and intense feeling while slowly causing spasms, tremors, delirium, intense “high”, over-sensitivity, hallucinations, paranoia and a craving for more. One is discouraged to try on cocaine as they can get hooked easily even just using it for the first time, and in most cases, the users feel nervous, anxiety, convulsion and depressed, and hence, they get addicted to use more of the drug in order to get good feeling. If the user snorts cocaine, they can get damage in the septum between the nostrils, in which a hole is observed in the middle of the nose. In large doses, cocaine causes difficulty in breathing, psychosis, severe tooth decay, fever, irreversible damage to blood vessels in both the brain and heart (causing heart attacks, strokes and even death), sleep deprivation, unresponsiveness, short-lived and unconsciousness. It has known to cause the rise of the body temperature and blood pressure, heart beat even faster and abnormally than usual. In short, cocaine is dangerous that it may cause strokes, heart attacks and even death for just using it once.

Ecstasy

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Ecstasy (MDMA or 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine) is both a hallucinogenic and a stimulant drug sold illegally on the street. This illegal drug is also called a designer drug as it’s known to create intense “high” and a rush of good feelings (a high) among its users, whether they’re feeling bad or good. It’s most popular among teens and young adults who go to clubs, “rave parties” or concerts. It’s said that ecstasy can make them feel “extremely good feelings” and keep them active without rest for days, and its effect can last them up to 6 hours.

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In 1914, Ecstasy was first synthesized by a German drug company for the purpose to treat obesity. It usually comes in capsule, tablet or pill form, marking by its cartoon-looking images, and its tablets are sold illicitly in North America and Europe. In its preparation, its content may also include methamphetamine and amphetamine. It has many slang terms/street names such as “XTC”, “E”, “XE”, “A”, “007″, “Adam”, “Roll”, “Shabu”, “Kleenex”, “Ecsta”, “Hug”, “Eve”, “Snowball”, “M&M”, “Decadence”, “Domex”, “California sunrise”, “Triple stacks”, “Love drug”, “Love pill”, “Love’s speed”, “Hug drug”, “Elephants”, “Roll”, “Beans”, “Essence”, “Pink pig”, “Lollipop”, “Cadillac”, “Clarity” and “Scooby snacks”.

People don’t always realise how dangerous this drug is. Each year, many young adults have been sent to the emergency rooms due to its extremely dangerous side effects. Taking this drug together with alcohol is awfully dangerous and can even cause death. In the short-term basis, ecstasy can cause cramps, apathy, confusion, muscle tension, sleep deprivation, paranoia, listlessness, insomnia, vomiting, mood swings, fear, blurred vision, sweating or chills, depression, impaired judgement, involuntary teeth clenching or grinding of teeth, and severe nervousness; while in the long-term basis, it can cause anxiety, kidney failure, psychosis, permanent brain damage (ecstasy can cause minerals and salts in the blood to become dangerously diluted/thinned out, and can eventually cause the brain to swell and damage), and memory loss. Daily use of ecstasy has frequently reported to cause adverse effects (such as increased heart rate, stomach cramps, chills, dry mouth, nausea, sweating, anxiety, confusion, muscle tension, and paranoid, like someone is attempting to hurt them), and while dancing or doing any physical activities, their body can become dangerously overheating, which can be extremely lethal.

Ketamine and Rohypnol

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Ketamine, also called “special K”, “Cat Valium” and “vitamin K”, sold as a prescription anesthetic drug, usually comes in a powdered or a liquid form. When it’s mixed together with Valium, GHB or alcohol, it can become extremely dangerous and may even be very lethal. While at lower doses, it can cause increased heart rate, at higher doses, it can depress both breathing and consciousness. Frequent use of ketamine has been linked to cause mental disorder, neuroses or a tremendous psychological dependence.

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Rohypnol is anesthetic as well as strong sleeping pills. It’s sometimes called “Roofies”, “R-2″, “La Rocha”, “Roche”, “Mexican valium”, “Rophies”, and “Forget-me-pill”. Worldwide, Rohypnol has been used for many “date rapes”. It’s said to be a tranquilizer, about 10 times more powerful than Valium. Its effect takes place very quickly, sometimes in as short as 10 minutes after being taken, and it reaches to its peak up to 8 hours which can completely bring a person to unconsciousness. When it’s mixed together with cannabis and alcohol, it can suppress both respiratory and central nervous systems that could cause stop breathing. Improper use of Rohypnol has been associated to adverse effects which include skin rashes, stomach problems, hallucinations and vertigo.

LSD

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LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) is a hallucinogenic drug produced from a fungus that grows on rye and other grains, especially in crystal form in illegal labs. Prior to distribution, its crystal form is converted to a liquid form to be sold illegally on the street in capsules or gelatine squares (also called “window panes”) or tablets (also called “microdots”). LSD is sometimes called “Battery acid”, “Boomers”, “Cid”, “Dots”, “Golden dragon”, “Loony toons”, “Hippie”, “Daffy duck”, “Acid”, “Hippie”, “Doses”, “Purple heart”, “Blotter”, “Tab”, “Superman”, “Lucy in the sky with diamonds”, “Zen”, “Microdot”, “Window pane”, “yellow sunshine” and “Pane”.

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LSD is colorless, tasteless and odourless, and is normally painted onto a small square paper where people swallow or lick on it. After being taken, LSD can alter one’s sense, space and time, in which the user may say they “see” sounds, “hear” colors” and its effect is always unpredictable. Imagine, if someone goes on an “acid trip”, the drug will get them done in about 12 hours! User may also go through panic, sadness, scary hallucinations, confusion- a condition called “bad trips”. Not only this, the user may also experience “bad trips” after the drug wears off. Under this situation, the user may think they’re in “a critical moment” or “in a very dangerous state”. Other adverse effects include increased blood pressure, body temperature and heart rate, sleeplessness, severe depression, visual hallucinations, psychosis, tremors, dry mouth, sweating or chills, loss of appetite and dilated pupils.

This article is not complete, kindly visit article written by Judy Sheldon, The most abused substances. Her detailed information supplements the incomplete part of this article.

Final remark:

Information contained herein is for educational purpose. This article is aimed to create awareness on drugs. Make sure that your friends, relatives, family members, or anyone you know, and you yourself, don’t get addicted to the drugs mentioned herein or any dangerous drugs not listed here. Remember, drugs will ruin your life, your family and your future!

Now, you can gain more health knowledge by visiting my health blog entitled HealthAssist. More upcoming updates and latest health information are right on the way!