Alcohol
Drug Type:
Depressant
Facts for Parents:
Twenty-five percent of eighth graders admit to having been intoxicated at least once.
Other names:
Beer, wine, liquor, booze
Form of Consumption:
Oral
Effects:
Addiction (alcoholism), dizziness, nausea, vomiting, hangovers, slurred speech, interrupted sleep, motor problems, aggressive behavior, pregnancy problems, respiratory depression, and death (at high doses).
Drug Name:
amphetamines
Drug Type:
Stimulating
Facts for Parents:
Chronic use can cause psychosis with symptoms of schizophrenia.
Other names:
Speed, uppers, ups, hearts, black beauties, pep pills, capilots, bumble bees, Benzedrine, dexadrine, footballs, biphetamine
Form of Consumption:
Oral, injected, pulled or smoked.
Effects:
Addiction, irritability, anxiety, high blood pressure, paranoia, psychosis, depression, aggression, seizures, dilated pupils, dizziness, lack of sleep, lack of appetite, malnutrition, high risk of HIV, hepatitis and other contagious diseases if injected.
Drug Name:
methamphetamines
Drug Type:
Stimulating
Facts for Parents:
Some users do not sleep for 3 to 15 days.
Other names:
Speed, meth, crank, crystal, ice, fire, croak, crypto, white cross, glass. “Ice” is the street name for the guy who smokes.
Form of Consumption:
Oral, injected, pulled or smoked.
Effects:
Addiction, irritability, aggression, hyperthermia, strokes, paranoia, psychosis, seizures, heart and blood vessel toxicity, hallucinations, arrhythmia, formication (the feeling that insects are crawling under the skin).
Drug Name:
ecstasy
Drug Type:
Stimulating
Facts for Parents:
It is the most popular drug at night parties (called raves) and is the most common of those known as “designer drugs”.
Other names:
XTC, Adam, MDMA
Form of Consumption:
Oral
Effects:
Psychiatric disturbances such as panic, anxiety, depression and paranoia. Muscle tension, nausea, blurred vision, sweating, increased heart rate, tremors, hallucinations, fainting, chills, trouble sleeping, and poor appetite.
Drug Name:
Ritalin
Drug Type:
Stimulating
Facts for Parents:
Some children buy it or steal it from their classmates at school.
Other names:
speed west coast
Form of Consumption:
The pill is reduced to powder and is pulled or injected.
Effects:
Lack of appetite, fevers, seizures and severe headaches. High risk for HIV, hepatitis and other infections. Paranoia, hallucinations, repetition of excessive mindless movements and tasks, tremors, muscle twitches.
Drug Name:
Herbal Ecstasy/Ephredine
Drug Type:
Stimulating
Facts for Parents:
Main ingredients are caffeine and efredin.
Form of Consumption:
Oral
Effects:
High palpitations and high blood pressure. Epileptic seizures, heart attacks, strokes and death.
Drug Name:
Designer Drugs
Drug Type:
stimulants
Facts for Parents:
The structural change of the molecules of a drug to create a new substance results in what are known as “Designer Drugs”
Other names:
Synthetic heroin, goodfella
Form of Consumption:
Injected, pulled or smoked.
Effects:
Instant respiratory paralysis. High possibility of overdose by his power. Many of the same effects of heroin.
Drug Name:
Cocaine
Drug Type:
Stimulating
Facts for Parents:
A very addictive drug. Frequent use can produce paranoia, hallucinations, aggression, insomnia, and depression.
Other names:
Coke, snow, nose candy, flake, blow, big C, lady, white, snowbirds.
Form of Consumption:
Pulled or dissolved in water and injected.
Effects:
Addiction, dilated pupils, elevated blood pressure and heartbeat. High breathing, seizures, heart attacks, insomnia, anxiety, restlessness, irritability, high temperature, death from overdose
Drug Name:
Crack
Drug Type:
Stimulating
Facts for Parents:
A cheap form of cocaine that can be even more addictive.
Other names:
Smoked.
Effects:
Just like cocaine.
Drug Name:
Heroin
Drug Type:
opiates
Facts for Parents:
Those who use heroin quickly develop a tolerance to the drug in such a way that they need more and more to feel the effects or to feel good.
Other names:
Smack, horse, mud, brown, sugar, junk, black tar, big H, dope.
Effects:
Addiction. Unclear vocalization, slow gait, constricted pupils, sluggish eyelids, night vision problems, numbness, respiratory depression or shortness of breath, dry skin, epidermal infections. High risk to HIV, hepatitis and other contagious diseases, if injected.