E-book Download "PLAYSAFE - GUIDE TO SAFE PARTYING" HERE (pdf)

Transcription

1 We understand that the use of narcotics is not going away so rather than tell you "don't" because you probably will, we're offering you accurate information so you can make informed choices. NOTE: We are still gathering information of current trends, prices and phrases of these common drugs in South Africa. Please be patient. If anyone disagrees with these stats and street prices etc, please us so we can update the info. E-book Download "PLAYSAFE - GUIDE TO SAFE PARTYING" HERE (pdf) It is important to know that illegal drugs are NOT controlled which means that every Tom, Dick and Harry from China to Timbuktoo is mixing.. and cutting... and bulking up. So the chances of your drugs containing added substances that could be physically harmful to your body are pretty high. Illegal drugs are often bulked-up with junk or laced with other addictive drugs. Tests have revealed rat poison, pool chemicals, heroin in ecstacy pills, etc. BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU BUY ON THE STREET. Get a test-kit of you can. (info on test kits - coming soon) Drug addiction can EASILY lead you to being a Mule! BEWARE. THERE ARE FOUR STEPS TO DRUG DEPENDENCY - The experimental stage - The recreational phase. You don t actively try to acquire the drug, but partake when your friends offer it to you. - The regular-use stage. You obtain the drug yourself and make sure you always have a stash. You use drugs once or twice a week. - The dependency phase or addiction. At this stage drugs will be the most important thing in your life and any attempt to separate you from the drug will be met with fierce resistance. Drug addiction is a deadly disease if not treated. No wonder it s described as a journey to nowhere. COMMON DRUGS - Here's the quick version. Read the rest of the page for detailed info from a medical and statistical perspective. ECSTACY - E, Eccy, Ex, pills, plakkers, party smarties,... drop a pill, double drop, chow, buzzing, rolling, wired, bumbled. Swallowed. Crushed and snorted (not a good idea). Inserted up the anus. R30 to R50 per pill. Very common recreational drug. Usually imported from Europe, Nigeria. No physical addiction. Possible psychological addiction. USE WITH CARE. 1 / 19

2 Symptoms & treatment of overdose: (coming soon) COCAINE - coke, snow, blow, - chop us a line, cut a line, do a line, - snorted up the nose. R300 to R500 a gram (level tea-spoon). Very addicitve. Symptoms & treatment of overdose: (coming soon) HEROIN - smack, - snorted or injected into the veins. (street price & terminology anyone?) highly addictive - extremely dangerous Symptoms & treatment of overdose: (coming soon) CRYSTAL METH, TIK - meth, meth-mouth, - (street price & terminology anyone?) highly addictive - extremely dangerous. STAY AWAY FROM THIS STUFF... not even ONCE! More info on Meth coming soon. Symptoms & treatment of overdose: CRACK - by-product of cocaine. Smoked through a small glass tube - chasing the dragon R50 a 'piece' Cheap but highly addictive! Symptoms & treatment of overdose: (coming soon) KHAT, SUGARS, (is this correct?) (street price & terminology anyone?) Symptoms & treatment of overdose: (coming soon) LSD (ACID) (street price & terminology anyone?) Symptoms & treatment of overdose: (coming soon) MARIJUANA - weed, doobie, pot, smoke, slowboat, bong, pipe. Smoked, eaten. R70 - R120 a 'bankie' (bank coin bag), price dependent on strain and where you buy. Symptoms & treatment of overdose: (coming soon) SPEED - (street price & terminology anyone?) Symptoms & treatment of overdose: (coming soon) ALCOHOL - Legal but controlled. Booze, dop, drink. - have a dop. Very addictive Symptoms & treatment of overdose: (coming soon) NICOTINE - Legal but controlled. Cigs, smokes, fags. Very addictive Symptoms & treatment of overdose: (coming soon) OH BY THE WAY... Meth users: this could be YOU!! 2 / 19

3 WAKE UP and GROW UP!!! Stay the hell away from meth!!! SPECIAL REPORT: DRUGS - By David Moseley and the Health24 team This article was compiled with the help of one of South Africa s leading drug experts, superintendent Casper Venter, a pharmacist in the chemical unit of the forensic science laboratory of the South African Police Service (SAPS); senior superintendent Deven Naicker, national head of narcotics at the SAPS; and the Medical Research Council. FORGET EVERYTHING YOU THOUGHT YOU KNEW ABOUT DRUGS Drugs may make you feel great, but the crippling damage they cause to the brain has remained unseen - until now. For the first time scans have shown exactly how these substances mutilate our minds - while psychiatrists deal with the fall-out. FROM the height of ecstasy to the depths of hell. As quick as a flash. Then brain damage for the rest of your life. This is what the latest street drugs can do to you. And even after you ve stopped, these drugs can scorch the delicate tissue of your brain and change you into a monster capable of the most horrifying acts of violence. Or leave you in a dark well of depression, from which nothing will be able to save you. It doesn t matter which drug you try, even if it s only once you have to know you re playing with fire. The stuff you re smoking, sniffing or shooting up is going to hit your brain with the force of a lightning bolt. It s not the moral custodians, teachers and religious ministers who say so. It s hardened policemen, chemical scientists and psychiatrists who are witnessing the effects of these drugs with bewilderment. Forget everything you thought you knew about drugs. Nothing can prepare you for the havoc now caused by charlie and crystal, hot ice, china white and liquid ecstasy. And it s not happening somewhere else, it s happening here in our neighbourhoods, schools and universities, to normal teenagers who just wanna have fun and adults who should know better. It makes the drugged-hippie era look like a Sunday school picnic. Modern drugs are so much more powerful, so much more intense, taking you to ecstatic peaks of euphoria and energy then dropping you into the depths of despair. No wonder it s called a crash. 3 / 19

4 Until recently no one knew the extent of the devastation caused in your brain by this chemical violence. Now we re beginning to find out. And it s not a pretty sight. - Midwives are holding babies born with their intestines outside their bodies. - Policemen are handling the victims of merciless crimes. - Neurologists, with the help of the latest technology, are assessing the extent of the brain damage being caused If you think this is bad you should prepare yourself for the next drug wave about to hit the country, says superintendent Casper Venter of the SAPS forensic laboratories. There s the drug called yellow honey, a deadly new form of marijuana that is seven times stronger than normal dagga and can cause a brain meltdown. This drug surfaced in Los Angeles recently. The SAPS Narcotics Bureau predicts it will gain a foothold in South Africa soon and will make the tik problem look like child s play. Many local drugs have an added danger when they re manufactured in someone s loo, kitchen or warehouse, you have no idea what they really contain. Street drugs are often cut with highly addictive heroin to ensure you become physically dependent. On top of that street drugs can be sold in hugely concentrated form; sometimes they are up to times more powerful than the dose the human body can safely handle. It s like pouring jet fuel into an old jalopy. Street drugs may also contain harmful impurities. For example, a chemical in mandrax tablets can cause lung cancer. In the wake of drug use follow the crimes associated with it. Violent crime in the Western Cape has increased enormously and is attributed to the dramatic rise in the use of tik. We re seeing more and more that when people are murdered, they re not stabbed or shot once or twice, but as many as 60 times. Tik changes the brain chemistry and numbs the reactions of users. Killing or raping someone is nothing to them, says Venter. The nine most common street drugs The substances discussed here are illegal and are listed in the South African Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act, Act 140/92. The most common street drugs abused in South Africa are classified according to their effect on the brain. There are three main classes: uppers (stimulants), 4 / 19

5 downers (depressants) and hallucinogens (which cause you to see strange things). E-book Download "PLAYSAFE - GUIDE TO SAFE PARTYING" HERE (pdf) S (STIMULANTS) Uppers include cocaine, crack, Ecstasy, tik, crystal meth or methamphetamine, amphetamines, ephedrine and khat. These substances stimulate the brain and increase the heart rate. Young people use them to feel stronger, more energetic and more decisive. Typical signs of stimulant use are a reduced appetite, high energy levels, insomnia, dilated pupils, talkativeness, irritability, anxiety, increased excitability and hyperactivity, abrupt mood changes, impatience and nervousness. Cocaine Street names: blow, charlie, coke This mind-altering drug, extracted from the coca bush in Peru, Bolivia and other mountainous countries A feeling of exhilaration, euphoria, hyperactivity, self-confidence, heightened awareness and boundless Some users will experience headaches, tremors, apprehension and insomnia after a single dose. Large Your pulse rate increases, your blood pressure rises and your pupils dilate. After long-term use you ll lo Cocaine interferes with the natural secretion of dopamine and serotonin, two of the brain s chemical me The scary fact is cocaine eventually depletes the level of neurotransmitters to such an extent that depre 5 / 19

6 If the depletion is total and permanent even the best antidepressants will be futile and the user may nev Crack Street names: rocks, freebase Crack is a cheap and deadly form of cocaine, turned into smokeable rocks with the use of additives. C Feelings of wellbeing, mental exhilaration and euphoria. The high is intense but lasts little over 10 minut The euphoric feeling is quickly followed by devastating depression equal in intensity, creating the need The same as for cocaine but intensified. Users may see snowlights or halos. Their heart rate may beco Because it s smoked it delivers a high dose of the drug to the brain in less than 10 seconds with a po Ice - Crystal (CRYSTAL Meth METHAMPHETAMINE) Street names: crystals, crystal, meth, rock, candy, batu, glass, LA glass, super ice, hot ice, LA cr This newer and deadlier form of crystallised Odourless methamphetamine and smoked is glass nearly pipes, 100 it per is more cent pure lethal methamph than crac 6 / 19

7 Within seconds smokers feel an intense wave of physical and mental exhilaration. The effects may last Intense feelings of anxiety, depression, sleeplessness and fatigue, and eventually psychosis. Toxic psy Users need ever-heavier doses to reach the same high. Prolonged use damages the lungs, liver and kid Brain damage greater as with tik, degree. but to a <<<<<<<<< Ecstasy Street names: XTC, e, pills, party smarties, plakkers, Adam, MDMA Ecstasy is a rave or party drug and is often taken to enable the user to dance through the night. It s kno There s an enhanced sense of pleasure, increased self-confidence and loads of energy, peacefulness, Users may develop blurred vision, sweat a lot, clench their teeth or bite the inside of their cheeks and s Even in small doses Ecstasy can be dangerous to people with heart disease and asthma. Large doses 7 / 19

8 Ecstasy affects your brain by increasing the release and activity of at least three neurotransmitters (ser DANGER: Many knocked-together street drugs are sold as heroin or cocaine substitutes to naive or de Methamphetamine Street names: tik, tik-tik, crystal, meth, crystal meth, crank, uppers, speed Tik is also a knocked-together drug and is sold in the form of powders, pills and capsules that are sniffe Like cocaine and crack, tik leads to increased alertness, energy and self-confidence, a heightened sens Aggression, violence, psychotic behaviour, memory loss and heart and brain damage. Long-term users Trembling hands, increased heart rate and sweating. An overdose can result in stroke and heart failure Tik acts as a stimulant, similar to cocaine but stays in the system for longer. The exhaustion of the br In the Western schizophrenia Cape there and are already young psychosis tik users among who have tik users. Parkinson s. It seems as Psychiatrists if This tik damages is reflected are the also by hum the wo 8 / 19

9 DOWNERS (DEPRESSANTS) These suppress or delay certain brain functions. Depending on which part of the brain is being suppressed, they are divided into sub-groups: either narcotic or tranquillising substances such as heroin or substances that make you sleepy such as mandrax. Heroin DOWNER Street names: smack, mud, china white, brown, Mexican brown, brown sugar, gear, H, horse, ju Heroin is produced from the resin of the opium poppy and is the most dangerous and addictive narcotic A profound sense of warmth and wellbeing envelops the user and blocks feelings of pain and insecurity The hell Within six to eight hours symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, chills, excessive sweating and muscle an First it leads to suppression of pain, drowsiness, heaviness of the limbs, shallow breathing, a weak puls Heroin is quickly changed to morphine in the brain, which acts on certain receptors to give that feeling o DOWNER Mandrax 9 / 19

10 Street names: whites, buttons South Africa has the highest per capita mandrax abuse in the world. Mandrax (methaqualone) tablets a You feel totally laid back, at peace and without a care in the world. You re giving the world the proverbia Take too much of it and you ll feel nauseous, lose consciousness or fall into a stupor. Mandrax users can develop physical and psychological dependence on the drug, constantly craving its Mandrax use alters the brain chemicals, suppressing brain function so that the user becomes like a zom HALLUCINOGENS These psychedelic drugs distort reality, plunging the user into a dream world where everything is distorted and colours become audible and sounds visible. Taken in large quantities they scramble your brain, resulting in delusions and hallucinations. They also rev up the brain, causing mood swings that can vary from euphoria to the deepest depression or violence. Sometimes the loss of self and depression can be so severe that suicide is possible. Cannabis HALLUCINOGEN Street names: dagga, weed, marijuana, dope, grass, pot, ganja, hash, hashish 10 / 19

11 In South Africa cannabis is grown in rural areas and sold as a means to put food on the table. Cannabis You feel euphoric and relaxed. Panic attacks, hallucinations, flashbacks and memory loss. It causes frequent sinusitis and bronchitis and may cause infertility in men and women. Lung cancer is THC changes the brain chemistry that governs feelings, memory, the senses and co-ordinated moveme LSD (LYSERGIC HALLUCINOGEN ACID DIETHYLAMIDE) Street names: acid, blotter acid, microdot, white lightning LSD is an odourless and colourless drug available in two forms: paper stamps impregnated with LSD o It seems as though you have your senses crossed, giving you the feeling of hearing colours and seeing Mental disorders such as schizophrenia and severe depression. 11 / 19

12 Increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, numbness and weakness. LSD affects a large number of chemicals in the brain, including the neurotransmitters dopamine and se Cocaine Street names: blow, charlie, coke This mind-altering drug, extracted from the coca bush in Peru, Bolivia and other mountainous countries A feeling of exhilaration, euphoria, hyperactivity, self-confidence, heightened awareness and boundles Some users will experience headaches, tremors, apprehension and insomnia after a single dose. Larg Your pulse rate increases, your blood pressure rises and your pupils dilate. After long-term use you ll lo Cocaine interferes with the natural secretion of dopamine and serotonin, two of the brain s chemical m The scary fact is cocaine eventually depletes the level of neurotransmitters to such an extent that dep If the depletion is total and permanent even the best antidepressants will be futile and the user may n 12 / 19

13 Crack Street names: rocks, freebase Crack is a cheap and deadly form of cocaine, turned into smokeable rocks with the use of additives. Feelings of wellbeing, mental exhilaration and euphoria. The high is intense but lasts little over 10 minut The euphoric feeling is quickly followed by devastating depression equal in intensity, creating the need The same as for cocaine but intensified. Users may see snowlights or halos. Their heart rate may beco Because it s smoked it delivers a high dose of the drug to the brain in less than 10 seconds with a po Ice - Crystal (CRYSTAL Meth METHAMPHETAMINE) Street names: crystals, crystal, meth, rock, candy, batu, glass, LA glass, super ice, hot ice, LA This newer and deadlier form of crystallised methamphetamine is nearly 100 per cent pure methamph Within seconds smokers feel an intense wave of physical and mental exhilaration. The effects may last Intense feelings of anxiety, depression, sleeplessness and fatigue, and eventually psychosis. Toxic ps 13 / 19

14 Users need ever-heavier doses to reach the same high. Prolonged use damages the lungs, liver and kid Brain damage greater as with degree. tik, but <<<<<<<<< to a Ecstasy Street names: XTC, e, pills, party smarties, plakkers, Adam, MDMA Ecstasy is a rave or party drug and is often taken to enable the user to dance through the night. It s k There s an enhanced sense of pleasure, increased self-confidence and loads of energy, peacefulness, Users may develop blurred vision, sweat a lot, clench their teeth or bite the inside of their cheeks and s Even in small doses Ecstasy can be dangerous to people with heart disease and asthma. Large doses Ecstasy affects your brain by increasing the release and activity of at least three neurotransmitters (se DANGER: Many knocked-together street drugs are sold as heroin or cocaine substitutes to naive or d Methamphetamine 14 / 19

15 Street names: tik, tik-tik, crystal, meth, crystal meth, crank, uppers, speed Tik is also a knocked-together drug and is sold in the form of powders, pills and capsules that are sniff Like cocaine and crack, tik leads to increased alertness, energy and self-confidence, a heightened sen Aggression, violence, psychotic behaviour, memory loss and heart and brain damage. Long-term user Trembling hands, increased heart rate and sweating. An overdose can result in stroke and heart failure Tik acts as a stimulant, similar to cocaine but stays in the system for longer. The exhaustion of the br In the Western schizophrenia Cape there and are already psychosis young tik users among who have tik users. It Parkinson s. seems as if This Psychiatrists tik damages is reflected are the by also hum the w DOWNERS (DEPRESSANTS) These suppress or delay certain brain functions. Depending on which part of the brain is being suppressed, they are divided into sub-groups: either narcotic or tranquillising substances such as heroin or substances that make you sleepy such as mandrax. Heroin DOWNER 15 / 19

16 Street names: smack, mud, china white, brown, Mexican brown, brown sugar, gear, H, horse, jun Heroin is produced from the resin of the opium poppy and is the most dangerous and addictive narco A profound sense of warmth and wellbeing envelops the user and blocks feelings of pain and insecurity The hell Within six to eight hours symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, chills, excessive sweating and muscle a First it leads to suppression of pain, drowsiness, heaviness of the limbs, shallow breathing, a weak pul Heroin is quickly changed to morphine in the brain, which acts on certain receptors to give that feeling Mandrax DOWNER Street names: whites, buttons South Africa has the highest per capita mandrax abuse in the world. Mandrax (methaqualone) tablets a You feel totally laid back, at peace and without a care in the world. You re giving the world the proverbia 16 / 19

17 Take too much of it and you ll feel nauseous, lose consciousness or fall into a stupor. Mandrax users can develop physical and psychological dependence on the drug, constantly craving its Mandrax use alters the brain chemicals, suppressing brain function so that the user becomes like a zom HALLUCINOGENS These psychedelic drugs distort reality, plunging the user into a dream world where everything is distorted and colours become audible and sounds visible. Taken in large quantities they scramble your brain, resulting in delusions and hallucinations. They also rev up the brain, causing mood swings that can vary from euphoria to the deepest depression or violence. Sometimes the loss of self and depression can be so severe that suicide is possible. Cannabis HALLUCINOGEN Street names: dagga, weed, marijuana, dope, grass, pot, ganja, hash, hashish In South Africa cannabis is grown in rural areas and sold as a means to put food on the table. Cannab You feel euphoric and relaxed. Panic attacks, hallucinations, flashbacks and memory loss. 17 / 19

18 It causes frequent sinusitis and bronchitis and may cause infertility in men and women. Lung cancer is THC changes the brain chemistry that governs feelings, memory, the senses and co-ordinated moveme LSD (LYSERGIC HALLUCINOGEN ACID DIETHYLAMIDE) Street names: acid, blotter acid, microdot, white lightning LSD is an odourless and colourless drug available in two forms: paper stamps impregnated with LSD o It seems as though you have your senses crossed, giving you the feeling of hearing colours and seein Mental disorders such as schizophrenia and severe depression. Increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, numbness and weakness. LSD affects a large number of chemicals in the brain, including the neurotransmitters dopamine and se SPYING ON YOUR BRAIN New technology has allowed doctors to pinpoint the areas of the brain most affected by drug abuse. One method is the brain Spect (single photon emission computed tomography) which uses gamma rays to construct two- or three-dimensional images of active brain regions. With a brain Spect doctors can look at the damage done by impaired blood flow caused by 18 / 19

19 various drugs, explains Dr Pieter Botha of the department of radiology at Tygerberg Hospital in Cape Town. Drugs such as alcohol, cocaine or marijuana impair the effectiveness of blood vessels in the brain, constricting blood flow to certain areas. On scans these affected areas show up as holes in the brain. The pictures above show the brain Spects of three different crack abusers. The colours on the scan indicate levels of brain activity. Red is best, with yellow, green and blue highlighting diminishing areas of activity. FACT: Nowadays more and more drugs are manufactured so they can be smoked this way the effect can be experienced much faster. When one smokes tik (methamphetamine), for example, it reaches the brain within 30 seconds and gives you a high but when swallowed it takes 10 to 15 minutes to get to the brain. THERE ARE FOUR STEPS TO DRUG DEPENDENCY - - The experimental stage - - The recreational phase. You don t actively try to acquire the drug, but partake when your friends offer it to you. - - The regular-use stage. You obtain the drug yourself and make sure you always have a stash. You use drugs once or twice a week. - - The dependency phase or addiction. At this stage drugs will be the most important thing in your life and any attempt to separate you from the drug will be met with fierce resistance. Drug addiction is a deadly disease if not treated. No wonder it s described as a journey to nowhere. This article was compiled with the help of one of South Africa s leading drug experts, superintendent Casper Venter, a pharmacist in the chemical unit of the forensic science laboratory of the South African Police Service (SAPS); senior superintendent Deven Naicker, national head of narcotics at the SAPS; and the Medical Research Council. 19 / 19