Marijuana
Aka: pot, dope, grass, weed, Mary Jane, reefer, ganja, kaya, doobie, keef

Facts about Marijuana
" Marijuana causes more damage to the lungs and heart than tobacco. For example, smoking just one joint is equal to smoking 5 cigarettes; smoking 4 joints is equal to smoking a whole pack of cigarettes
" Marijuana is the third most used drug behind alcohol and tobacco; Among young people who use drugs, approximately 60% use marijuana only
" Marijuana is included in the cannabis sativa category of substances; It can be administered orally, injected, or smoked
" "Jonesing" is the craving for marijuana, however, it doesn't look like cravings for other drugs; just because a user doesn't resort to violence doesn't make it any less real; the craving for marijuana is more subtle, but no less destructive

Signs of use
" Anxiety, agitation, loss of appetite, changes in sleep patterns, and depression
" Insomnia, nightmares, and vivid dreams
" Anger (rage or constantly irritable or bursts of anger)
" Long term and short term effects on memory, judgment, and perception

Caffeine
Examples of Caffeine: Coffee, Tea, Cola and other sodas, Chocolate, etc

Facts about caffeine
" One third of all people living in the United States drink five or more cups of caffeinated coffee or tea per day
" Effects of caffeine are felt with 15 - 30 minutes of ingestion including mild alertness to anxiety and muscle tension
" Many coffee drinkers develop a psychological dependence to caffeine where they feel they need a cup or two in the morning to get going
Signs of abuse
" Moderate doses keep the user awake, increase attention and delay boredom\
" Change in sleep patterns- coffee shortens sleep time and increases REM sleep
" High doses cause nausea, diarrhea, insomnia, trembling, and sensory disturbances
" Regular users experience physical dependence to the drug and may suffer withdrawal symptoms, including tension headaches and irritability, when they are deprived of the drug

Cocaine
Aka: coke, dust, toot, snow, blow, powder, lines, rock (crack)

Facts about Cocaine
" The high from cocaine lasts only 5 - 20 minutes and consequently you need more and more cocaine each time you want to get high because it interferes with the way the brain processes chemicals that create feelings of pleasure
" Cocaine has tremendous effects on a persons emotions- it can make you feel paranoid, angry, hostile, and anxious even when you are not high
" Crack is so addictive that hungry monkeys will choose it instead of food or water until they starve to death!

Signs of Use
" Red bloodshot eyes
" Runny nose and sniffling
" Change in eating and sleeping patterns
" Increased perspiration
" Anxiety and delusions

Date Rape Drugs
Date Rape Drugs are used as a sexual assault weapon.
Examples: Ecstasy, Rohypnol and GHB

Ecstasy
Facts about Ecstasy
" Ecstasy is also known as Adam, X-TC, and the Love Drug to name a few, and is often used at all-night dance parties (known as "raves"), nightclubs, and concerts
" Ecstasy begins working in 30 minutes and lasts anywhere from 3 -24 hours and can damage neurons in brain impairing senses, memory, judgment, and coordination
" Some of the effects of Ecstasy include euphoria, feelings of well-being, enhanced emotional clarity, paranoia, and hallucinations

Signs of use
" Problems remembering things they recently said or did
" Depression and confusion
" Loss of coordination, dizziness, fainting
" Sleeping problems

Rohypnol
Facts about Rohypnol
" Rohypnol is also referred to as roofies, R-2, and the date rape drug; it is often used at all-night dance parties, nightclubs, and concerts
" Rohypnol comes in tablet form and can be crushed into a powder and snorted or dissolved in a drink (where it is odorless and colorless)
" Effects of Rohypnol include an alcohol-like intoxication, amnesia, drowsiness, slowed motor skills, low blood pressure; effects can occur within 20-30 minutes and last 2-8 hours

Signs of use
" Problems remembering things they recently said or did
" Drowsiness and confusion
" Loss of coordination, dizziness, fainting
" Sleeping problems

Prescription Pills
Prescription Drugs are medicines that a doctor gives to a patient to treat a specific health condition.
Examples: Adderall and Ritalin (used to treat attention deficit disorder), Vicodin and OxyContin (used to treat pain), Valium and Xanax (used to treat anxiety and sleep disorders)

Facts about Prescription Drugs
" Taking prescription drugs without a doctors approval and supervision can be a dangerous even deadly decision
" The second most common type of illegal drug use after marijuana is the non-medical use of prescription drugs (2002 National Survey on Drug Use and Health)
" The "misuse" of prescription drugs is when a person doesn't follow the directions properly and the "abuse" of prescription drugs refers to when a person intentionally takes a prescription drug to get high or for some reason other than what the drug is intended for

Facts about Adderall
" College students say they take Adderall because it allows them to concentrate better, to stay up longer, and they are able to absorb more material
" In a study, the number of people who abuse Adderall has increased 81 percent among those 18 years and older
" The effects of Adderall range from restlessness, hallucinations, depression, high blood pressure, and circulatory collapse

Signs of abuse
" Change in sleep patterns including drowsiness and insomnia
" Hunger and stomach aches
" Elevated heart rate and blood pressure and provokes anxiety
" Physical dependence after long term use causing an increase need to take pills

Hallucinogens
Aka: acid, blotter, illusion, LSD, magic mushrooms, shrooms, PCP, angel dust
Examples of Hallucinogens: LSD, PCP, Shrooms

Facts about Hallucinogens
" Hallucinogens are drugs which affect the central nervous system producing changes in thought, perception, and mood
" The impact of hallucinogens varies from time to time so there is no way to know how much self-control a person might maintain
" There is no consistency to hallucinogenic drugs so each "trip" may differ depending on the drugs strength and purity; thus, a person never knows when they might have a "bad trip"

Signs of use
" Dilated pupils and facial flushing
" Depression
" Weakness and lack of muscular coordination
" Anxiety or paranoia
" Trembling, nausea and dizziness