Illicit Drugs

illicit drugs

drugs that are illegal to possess, produce or sell and continue to be a problem in our society today

• 11% of canadians reported using at least one illicit drug in 2013

• women less than men

• highest percentage are from BC, AL and NS

• 3.4-6.6% of global pop used drugs is past year and 12% of those drug dependent or with drug use disorder

• 0.4 of deaths and 0.8% people disability adjusted life years attributed

• 2% canadians aged 15 and older reported at least one harm due to illicit drug use

• 15-24 yo 5 times more likely to report harm

what did Bill C-8, the Controlled Drugs and Substances act do?

• passed in June 19th 1996

• expanded the reach of Canadas drugs laws and continues Canadas heavy reliance on a failed policy of criminal prohibition

what has been installed to deal with illegal drug use

• anti drug programs

• treatment programs → need to be complex

cocaine

crystalline white alkaloid powder derived from leaves of South Africa coca shrub

• 1880s freud praised cocaine as treatment

• 1911 laws passed restricting use

• generally sold on street as a hydrochloride salt which can be diluted

• affects mood judgement and motor skill coordination with most dramatic effects on vision

• heightens feelings like irritability excitability and startle response

methods of cocaine use

• powder → snorted through the nose

  • causes dmg to mucous membranes in nose and sinusitis, damaging sense of smell or creating a hole in the septum

• smoking (freebasing)

  • more popular due to poo around needle injection

  • major danger related to volatile mixes required and risk of explosion

• intravenous injections

shoot up

introducing large quantities of cocaine rapidly into the body

• leads to a 15-20 minute sense of euphoria but then user crashes

• to counteract crash users shoot up frequently

physical effects of cocaine

felt rapidly and dependent on how it’s taken

• snorted cocaine → enters bloodstream through the lungs in less than one minute and reaches the brain in 5 minutes

• smoked/injected → reaches brain quicker

• cocaine binds with receptor sites in CNS and produces intense pleasures

• anesthetic and CNS stimulant

• can slow HR in smaller doses

• larger doses increase HR breathing rate and BP, loss of appetite, postponed physical and mental fatigue, convulsion, muscle twitching or exaggerated reflexes, irregular heartbeat, paranoid thinking, anxiety or death

• temporary relief of depression, decreased fatigue, increased alertness, heightened self confidence

• increased dosage: irritable and apprehensive, paranoid or violent

cocaine affected babies

cocaine crosses placenta so when taken during pregnancy it can cause miscarriage and premature delivery

• brain damage, Heart defects, kidney problems and malformed heads arms and fingers

• Babies show signs of withdrawal at birth, are unable to repo and or relate to people and are difficult to console or comfort

• cocaine transmits through breastfeeding

freebase cocaine

more powerful and costly than powder of chip (crack) form

• converted to pure-based by removing hydrochloride salt and many of cutting agents

• smoked through water pipe

• reaches brain within seconds

• more dangerous than snorted cocaine → produces intense high that disappears quickly, leaving an intense craving for

• more

• freebases become severely addicted and experience serious health problems and financial ruin

crack

street name given to freebase cocaine processed from cocaine hydrochloride using ammonia or sodium bicarbonate and water, then heating the substance to remove the hydrochloride

• can be produced with ether but very risky

• dried, soapy-looking substance broken up into rocks and smoked

• 5x as powerful as cocaine → highly addictive

• addiction accelerated by speed at which crack is absorbed through the lungs and he intensity of the high

amphetamines

large and varied group of synthetic agents that stimulate the CNS

• small doses act like adrenaline but with repeated use dependence develops

• high dosage over long periods of time can produce → hallucinations, delusions and disorganized behaviours, paranoia, antisocial and aggressive

• therapeutic uses in treatment of ADHD in children and obesity

methamphetamine (meth)

potent, long-acting drugs that strongly acitivates the brains reward centre by producing a sense of euphoria

• crystal meth can cause brain damage resulting in impaired motor skills and cognitive functions, psychosis and increase risk for heart attacks and stroke

• can be snorted,!smoked, injected or orally ingested → diff methods induce diff effects

• pleasure effects typically an intense rush lasting only a few mins when snorted or over eight hours when smoked

• relatively simple production made with common OTC ingredients

physical effects of methamphetamine

smaller doses → increased physical activity, Alertness and a decreased appetite but wears off quick

long term use → Can cause severe dependence, psychosis, paranoia, aggression, weight loss and stroke, user may not sleep or eat for days, Oh irritability and agitation has been associated with violent behaviours among some users

ice

potent form of methamphetamine created in Canada

• when smoked ice is odourless and it’s effects can last more than 12 hours

• prolonged use can cause fatal lung and kidney damage and lost-lasting psychological damage

most extensively used illicit drug in canada

marijuana

• in past year prevalence was 3x higher in youth 15-24

marijuana

• derives from cannabis sayings or indica (hemp) plants

• top grade cannabis produces reactions similar to hashish (potent cannabis prepared from resin of plant which contains high conc. of THC

  • hash oil (obtained from percolating a solvent through fried marijuana to extract the THC may contain up to 70% THC

what is the psychoactive substance in marijuana

tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)

• key to determining how powerful the high marijuana will produce

• levels have increased over the years

physical effects of marijuana and forms

• can be brewed and drank in tea if baked into quick breads and brownies

• most rolled into joints or smoked in pipe or bong

• effects generally felt within 10-30 mins and wear off within 3 hours

• most notable effect is dilation of eyes blood vessels

• coughing, dry mouth and throat, increased thirst and appetite. lowered blood pressure and mild muscular weakness

• anxiety and paranoia

effects of long-term marijuana use

• potential long term effects include → psychological dependence, increased risk of cancer, respiratory system irritation, reduced motivation, schizophrenia, impaired attention and memory, suppression of the immune system and blood pressure changes

• pregnant women are at higher risk for stillbirth or miscarriage and for low birth weight babies and babies with abnormalities of the nervous system

• babies are 5 times more likely to have features similar to FASD babies

marijuana and medicine

• controlling nausea and vomiting associated with chemo

• improving appetite

• reduction or delay of loss of learn muscle associated with AIDS-wasting syndrome

• reduced muscle pain and spasms of multiple sclerosis

• temporarily relieves eye pressure of glaucoma

what are 3 main components for access to medical weed

1. authorization to possess dried marijuana

2. license to produce

3. access to supple of marijuana seeds or dried weed

marijuana and driving

• clear hazard to drivers and others on road bc drug substantially reduces a drivers ability to react and make quick decisions in a way comparable to drinking and driving

opiates

• aka narcotics

• derived from parent drug opium

• includes morphine, codeine, heroin and black tar heroin

  • morphine more powerful than opium → used in hospital settings for relief of severe pain

  • codeine is less powerful and derived form morphine → found in prescription cough syrups and other OTC painkillers

• highly addictive

• among oldest analgesics known and case drowsiness, relieve pain and induce euphoria

heroin

white powder derived from morphine

black tar heroin → sticky, dark brown, foul-smelling substance made from morphine

• depressant → produces dreamy, mentally slow feeling and drowsiness

• can ask cause drastic mood swings

• slows reputation and urinary output and constricts the pupils

• symptoms of tolerance and withdrawals within 3 weeks of use

• some find rush pleasurable some unpredictable and unpleasant

route of administration of heroin

• mainlining → most common, an intravenous injection of powdered heroin mixed in a solution

• causes veins to scar and eventually collapse

heroin treatment

• most programs unsuccessful with high relapse rates

• district pattern of withdrawal and being craving another dose 4-6 hours later

• most difficult is 24-72 hours but a after withdrawal has passed symptoms subside

methadone used to treat synthetic opioid addiction as well as opiates like morphine and heroin

• synthetic narcotic that blocks effects of opioid withdrawal and reduces cravings

• dosage decreased over time

• available in daily basis heroin specialized drug treatment clinics or prescribed by family physicians and dispensed by community pharmacists

• controversial bc it’s replacing one addiction with another

steroids

anabolic steroids → artificial forms of male hormone testosterone that promote muscle growth and strength

• produce euphoria, diminish fatigue, increased bulk and power

• when stopped there is psychological withdrawal particularly caused my physique loss

• performance enhancing effects is continued alarming trend

• two common alternatives → GHB and Clenbuterol both with negative side effects