Working while on drugs
Or working while not intoxicated

If you intend to work specifically with people while they are on drugs, helping them to get of the drug, the teaching here is not sufficient!
Detoxification can be a life-threatening process, some drugs deposit themselves in the bones, and detoxing can be prolonged, painful and dangerous (for example from Methadone!).

This is meant as a must–read background knowledge while working with relatives to drug users or with sober drug users

Cannabis

39% of Australians aged 14 years or over have tried cannabis. 21% of males and 15% of females have used cannabis in the last 12 months (NDS Monograph 43).
35 % of young people aged 14-19 years have used cannabis in the past twelve months. However, cannabis use was highest among males aged 20-29 years, with 68% of males in this age group reporting lifetime use and 45% reporting use in the last 12 months (1998 NDS Household Survey).
Use of marijuana among young females (aged 14-19) increased markedly between 1995 and 1998 (recent use increased from 20% to 35%), while use among young males remained stable at 36%. This has led to a convergence in use among young people

The most common acute adverse effects of cannabis are likely to be anxiety, dysphoria, panic and paranoia, particularly among naive users. Of greater public health concern is the psychomotor impairment that results from cannabis use (which with other factors may have adverse effects on driving performance)
Other acute adverse effects include the exacerbation of symptoms of schizophrenia, and an increased risk of low birth weight babies (if cannabis is smoked during pregnancy)

The major chronic effects of cannabis use are respiratory diseases associated with smoking as a method of administration, and the development of cannabis dependence. There is some evidence to suggest that, after alcohol, cannabis accounts for more drug use disorders (i.e. abuse and dependence disorders) than any other drug.

Good resources on the net: http://www.adf.org.au/library/index.html

http://www.adin.com.au/sitemap.html"> http://www.adin.com.au/sitemap.html

Heroin

An estimated 118,000 people aged 14 years and over had used heroin
(injecting and non-injecting) in the previous 12 months in 1998
In recent years heroin use has commenced at a younger age
The major harm associated with the use of heroin in Australia is the risk of fatal and non-fatal overdose. In 1998, 737 people aged 15-44 years died from accidental opioid overdose (excluding suicide)

Two thirds of heroin users reported ever having overdosed (non-fatal) with a median of three overdoses in their heroin using careers
29% of heroin users report they have overdosed in the previous 12 months
Approximately one per cent of the population have reported they have injected an illegal drug in the last 12 months

Other Illicit Drugs

In 1998, approximately four per cent of people aged 14 years or over reported using amphetamines and two percent reported using Ecstasy in the last 12 months
The large proportions of amphetamine users who inject the drug places this group at risk of blood borne infections through needle sharing
High dose amphetamine use, especially by injection, can result in a schizophreniform paranoid psychosis, associated with loosening of associations, delusions and hallucinations. High proportions of users demonstrate symptoms such as anxiety, panic attacks, paranoia and depression
Ecstasy has been implicated in a small but growing number of deaths, both in Australia and overseas. These deaths have most often been attributed to hyperthermia

With an increase in the frequency and extent of Ecstasy use, an increase in the physical Ecstasy-related harms (eg. energy loss, blurred vision, teeth problems) and the psychological harms (eg. anxiety, insomnia, depression) has been reported. Notable proportions of Ecstasy users have also reported occupational, relationship and financial problems that they attribute to their Ecstasy use
Cocaine use is uncommon in all jurisdictions except for NSW. In NSW, the use of cocaine among injecting drug users has become entrenched, and is strongly associated with heroin use.


Name of Drug
Alcohol
AKA
Beer, wine, whiskey. Several types and brands.
Classification
Depressant
Method of Use
Oral
Duration of Action
Couple hours. Healthy liver can metabolize 0.75 ounces of pure alcohol per hour.
Drug Effects
Relaxation, impaired judgement, memory loss, decrease in inhibitions, slurring of speech, loss of coordination, staggering.
Overdose Effects
Nausea, decreased respiration, unconsciousness, decreased blood pressure, coma, death
Physically Addictive?
Yes, in susceptible people or after long-term use.
Withdrawal Symptoms
Insomnia, tremors, sweating, hallucinations, convulsions, death.
Miscellaneous
Leading cause of overdose, and one of leading causes of emergency room admissions, is smoking while using nicotine patches.

The following material is basic information similar to what I give my clients in regular lectures on alcohol and alcoholism. It is not intended to be an authoritative source for you (as indeed, none of my information is), but rather a basic overview of the body’s processing of alcohol and the disease of alcoholism.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The basic ingredient of alcohol is ethanol, which is a sedative/hypnotic drug, meaning that the purpose of it is to put you to sleep. Ethanol is created through the fermentation of starches and sugars. Medically, it can be used to counteract wood alcohol (methanol) poisoning, used as a topical antiseptic (killing bacteria on the skin or in cuts), or as a solvent for other drugs.
About 85% of adult Americans are drinkers. It is estimated that there are 13.3 million people in the US who are alcohol abusers (of which about 3.3 million are adolescents). In addition, about 9 million people are alcoholics. A household survey taken in 1990 estimated that 167,380,000 people in the US have used alcohol in their lifetime, with 102,919,000 using in the past month.
Alcohol is unique among drugs used in society in that it is primarily used by people who are well, not suffering from any illness whatsoever. Also, use tends to be life long in most people. Alcohol is a weak drug, leading people to take enormous doses of it to achieve the desired effect.
Use of alcohol is not only socially accepted, but culturally required in some situations. It is aggressively advertised and officially sanctioned by the government. Because of these factors, people often have a false sense of security and an ambivalent attitude towards alcohol. Alcohol is associated with fun and recreation, but its use causes many moral, ethical, and physical problems.

BASIC EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL
As previously stated, alcohol is a sedative/hypnotic drug. Its purpose is to put you to sleep. In doing so, it depresses many areas of the brain, causing an overall impaired ability to function. Some of the effects can be positive—euphoria, relaxation, reduced inhibitions, hilarity, and talkativeness, among others. Some of the effects can be negative—impaired judgment, reaction time, and coordination, mental clouding, impaired speech and thought.
One of the signs of alcoholism is the blackout, not to be confused with passing out. In a blackout, the alcoholic may appear to be functioning normally. He or she may appear anywhere from rip-roaring drunk to completely sober. What occurs in a blackout, however, is that whatever is occurring, the alcoholic will have no memory of it, period. Nothing that happens during a blackout is ever processed by the memory centers of the brain—not even hypnosis will bring it out. Many an alcoholic has had a blackout and forgotten how they got home after a drinking spree, and there are cases on record of such things as successful surgeries performed by an alcoholic doctor who later had no memory of ever seeing the patient.
Other acute effects of alcohol use can include vomiting, many physiological changes, emotional volatility, and in rare cases, even swelling of the brain. Overdose results in sleep, coma, brain damage, and death.
Chronic use may result in addiction. Tolerance can develop, where far greater amounts of alcohol needed to produce the same effect as before. Alcohol can be psychologically addictive, with the person using alcohol to deal with life (relief drinking). Physical addiction may also develop, so that when someone ceases drinking, life-threatening convulsions and seizures (delerium tremens, "DTs") can occur. Detoxification generally takes three to five days.
Organ damage occurs in chronic users. Brain damage can range from memory loss and mental problems to Korsakoff’s psychosis, a near-vegetative state requiring full nursing care. Liver damage is extreme, with alcohol being the leading cause of cirrhosis and second only to hepatitis for liver cancer. Malnourishment, ulcers, fat deposits in the liver, throat cancer, pancreatic cancer, blood sugar abnormalities (diabetes, hypoglycemia), and heart problems are also normal.
Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is a specific set of birth defects found in children of women who drank while pregnant. Facial deformities combined with mild to severe retardation is the general hallmark of fetal alcohol syndrome. Other abnormalities may also be present, collectively known as fetal alcohol effects (FAE).
Alcohol use is involved in the majority of accidents, both automobile and otherwise, and is the cause of a great number of injuries. Most fights between adults are alcohol related. Family, social, legal, and employment problems occur often because of alcohol use. Alcohol lowers ones resistence to infections, including HIV/AIDS. And alcohol interferes with other drugs.

PROCESSING, BREAKDOWN, AND ELIMINATION OF ALCOHOL
When alcohol is ingested, it is absorbed directly into the bloodstream from the stomach. Only about 5% is excreted, while the rest is metabolized by the liver. The rate of metabolism is linear—about one normal drink for a lean person weighing about 150 pounds per hour. One normal drink is defined as one ounce of 100 proof liquor, four ounces of dinner wine, or a 12-ounce glass of beer, each of which have approximately 1/2 ounce of pure alcohol.
When alcohol is metabolized by the liver, it is broken down first into acetaldehyde, which causes some damage to the liver and pancreas. Then, it is further broken into acetone, which is the primary ingredient in nail polish remover—very toxic and damaging. Finally, it is broken down into simple sugars and eliminated.
As the liver is damaged, the breakdown of acetone into sugars is greatly affected, resulting in a buildup of acetone in the body. Strangely enough, as acetone builds up, the body begins to crave more alcohol—thus the cycle of craving that separates the alcoholic from the normal drinker. More alcohol begats more acetone begats more alcohol begats more acetone, ad nauseam, until the alcoholic becomes too intoxicated to continue or is unable to drink for other reasons.
Also, the breakdown of acetone into sugar causes the pancreas to react, sending out insulin to metabolize it. In a diabetic, the blood sugar rises to dangerous levels, while in the hypoglycemic, it drops to equally dangerous levels.

INTERACTIONS BETWEEN ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUGS
Whenever alcohol is present in the body with another drug, there are three possible effects:
1. No interaction—both drugs do exactly as intended.
2. Antagonism—alcohol interferes with the effect of the other drug.
3. Synergism—alcohol increases the effect of the other drug, often with dangerous results.
An example of antagonism is when alcohol is mixed with caffeine, often when someone drinks coffee to "sober up" after getting drunk. The caffeine will prevent the user from falling asleep. However, the user will not become sober—the other effects of alcohol will still be present—he or she is just less likely to pass out.

Synergism:
There are three different types of synergism, each of which should be considered separately. We can show the results of them with simple "math" problems.
1. Less than additive sedation. 1+1=1.5. Alcohol plus a narcotic (codeine, vicodin, heroin) will result this way. Sedation will increase, but not as much as you might expect.
2. Additive sedation. 1+1=2. Alcohol plus a benzodiazepine (librium, valium) will result this way.
3. Greater than additive sedation. 1+1=3, or 4, or even 10. This is called potentiation. Alcohol plus a barbiturate (seconal, phenobarbital, tuinal) will do this, often with fatal results.

CATEGORIES OF DRUGS AND MEDICATIONS THAT ALCOHOL INTERFERES WITH:
Psychoactive drugs:
Stimulants
Sedative/Hypnotics
Anticonvulsants
Narcotics/Opiates
Antipsychotics
Antidepressants
Cannabinols (marijuana)
Hallucinogenics
Analgesics (painkillers):
Aspirin (never take for a hangover—alcohol irritates the stomach lining, aspirin irritates the stomach lining, result may be an ulcer)
Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
Drugs for blood, heart, and circulation:
Anticoagulants
Antihypertensives (blood pressure medicines)
Antianginals (for chest pains)
Anti-alcohol drugs (antabuse)
Antihistamines
Antiasthmatics
Chemotherapeutics (cancer drugs)
And always consult with your doctor if you do any drinking and are on any medication. Don’t consider the above list to be all-conclusive.

PROGRESSION OF THE DISEASE OF ALCOHOLISM:
I. Social drinker
The occasion determines whether the person will drink or not, and if they do, it is not to get drunk but simply to enjoy the socil occasion. The use is in moderation, and the social drinker can control their consumption. He or she is not psychologically nor physically dependent.
II. Alcohol Abuser
The alcohol abuser seeks the effect of alcohol when drinking, with less regard to the situation. The intention is to get drunk and there is some loss of control.
III. Addiction
Psychological addiction, often eventually leading to physical addition. The person’s biochemistry has been altered. There is no control over drinking—the person needs to feed their addiction.

The progression of addiction is not a logical one because alcoholics make adjustments in their behavior in order to cope with their addiction. The progression is uneven, but definitely downward. It is generally difficult to tell when abuse ends and addiction begins, but it is generally clear to tell that it does get worse.

There are different types of addiction:
Some people may just be psychologically addicted without developing a physical addiction. They still have no coping skills for dealing with life without the use of alcohol and have no control over their intake.
Some people drink daily, often large amounts, without ever appearing drunk. These maintenance drinkers are alcoholics with high tolerance levels, who are both psychologically and physically addicted. They will go into withdrawal if drinking ceases.
Late stage alcoholics have psychological dependence leading to physical dependence. There is increased tolerance (or often decreased, if liver damage is severe), loss of control, increased and ongoing cravings, and withdrawal symptoms if drinking is stopped. These people feel the cravings so intensely that they forego normal necessities of life—food, shelter, companionship, for alcohol.
And finally, there is the periodic alcoholic. This is a person who may rarely drink, but when they do, they binge, often for several days at a time. They may have horrible consequences from their drinking. Then they may stop for long periods of time and live fairly normal lives. They are not addicted, but when they do drink there is absolutely no control. Once they start, they cannot stop.


ALCOHOLISM AND HEREDITY:
There is now increasing amounts of evidence that alcoholism is controlled by heredity. Studies have shown:
1. If a child was born to and raised by at least one alcoholic parent, there is a 46% chance that child will become alcoholic.
2. If a child was born to an alcoholic parent, but raised by non-alcoholic parents (i.e., adopted, or having no contact with the alcoholic parent after early divorce or death), there is a 50% chance that child will become alcoholic.
3. If the child was born to non-alcoholic parents, but raised by at least one alcoholic parental figure (i.e., stepparent or adoptive parent), the child has a 14% chance of becoming alcoholic.
4. If the child was born and raised by non-alcoholics, the likelihood of that child becoming alcoholic is 8%.
Environment does definitely play a part (as shown by the fact that children born to non-alcoholics, but raised by alcoholics are nearly twice as likely to become alcoholics as children who have no alcoholism in their families), but the vast majority of influence is hereditary.

Name of Drug
 Amphetamines

AKA
Diet pills, Bennies, Cross Tops, Dexies
Classification
Stimulant
Method of Use
Oral, Intravenous, Nasal
Duration of Action
4-6 hours
Drug Effects
Increase in alertness, wakefulness, mood, energy, irritability, and restlessness. Insomnia, anxiety, panic, paranoia.
Overdose Effects
Agitation, hallucinations, convulsions, elevated temperature, death.
Physically Addictive?
Yes
Withdrawal Symptoms
Disorientation, apathy, "crash"—long period of sleep, itching, suicidal depression..
Miscellaneous

Name of Drug
Amyl Nitrate, Butyl Nitrate

AKA
Poppers, Snappers, Locker Room, Rush, Heart On
Classification
Hallucinogenic
Method of Use
Inhaled
Duration of Action
Extremely short, seconds to minutes
Drug Effects
Lightheadedness, dizziness, flushing of face. relaxation of involuntary muscles
Overdose
Nausea, vomiting, lowered blood pressure and respiration, fainting, clamminess, circulatory collapse, death.
Physically Addictive?
No
Withdrawal Symptoms
None
 Miscellaneous

Name of Drug
Barbiturates

AKA
Phenobarbital, Amytal, Nembutal, Seconal, Tuinal
Classification
Sedative hypnotic
Method of Use
Oral
Duration of Action
Depending on type, 2-10 hours
Drug Effects
Similar to drunkenness from alcohol—euphoria, disinhibition, relief of anxiety, dizziness, sleepiness, insmonia, memory impairment, loss of judgment and coordination, slurred speech.
Overdose Effects
Respiratory depression, death.
Physically Addictive?
Extremely.
Withdrawal Symptoms
Tremors, elevated blood pressure and pulse, sweating, seizures. Withdrawal can be life-threatning and must be medically supervised.
Miscellaneous
NEVER mix with alcohol. The likelihood of fatal overdose is extremely high.

Name of Drug
Benzodiazepines

AKA
Numerous brand names—Valium, Librium, Xanax, Halcion, Ativan, Klonopin
Classification
Sedative Hypnotic, Minor Tranquilizer
Method of Use
Oral
Duration of Action
Depending on type, 2-8 hours
Drug Effects
Relief of anxiety, sedation, drowsiness, vertigo, dizziness, lethargy, staggering.
Overdose Effects
Oversedation, blackouts.
Physically Addictive?
Yes
Withdrawal Symptoms
Insomnia, anxiety, seizures, psychosis, confusion, paranoia, nightmares, hallucinations, nausea, ringing in ears.
Miscellaneous
Withdrawal symptoms may last for extended periods of times—weeks to a few months.

Name of Drug
Cathinone

AKA
Qat, Khat, Abyssinian Tea, African Tea
Classification
Stimulant, Hallucinogenic
Method of Use
Oral—Chewed
Duration of Action
?
Drug Effects
Euphoria, hallucinations, paranoia, anxiety. Increase in blood pressure, respiratory rate, talkitiveness, laughing.
Overdose Effects
?
Physically Addictive?
Not likely. Psychological dependence can develop.
Withdrawal Symptoms
No
Miscellaneous
Good anecdotal information on use and effects of Qat in Tony Horowitz’s excellent book "Baghdad Without a Map."
Qat is one of those drugs, like LSD, that really has no purpose other than to make the user lose contact with reality, with potentially serious effects. Qat is a shrub that grows in Yemen, Ethiopia, and other places around the red sea. Cathinone is the active ingredient that causes the high. Qat does not appear to have been successfully grown outside of that area, and the shrub has a very short shelf-life, so importing it on a large scale is impractical. Still, it is found in some ethnic Arab communities and among people who have traveled to the middle east.
Qat is chewed, often by people in groups in qat dens. It is used as a social lubricant, not unlike alcohol, and as the hallucinogenic effects take over, users begin long, laughing, senseless conversations, not unlike people using marijuana, but often more disconnected from reality.
Qat has much the same motivation-killing effects as marijuana, and chronic qat users seem to have little iniative. That effect may be more costly to the user and society than the physical effects of qat. Still, as qat does effect blood pressure and respiration, there is potential for damage to the heart, especially in susceptible people.

Name of Drug
Cocaine

AKA
Coke, Crack, Nose Candy, Snow, Rich Man’s Aspirin
Classification
Stimulant
Method of Use
Snorted, smoked, intravenous
Duration of Action
Very short, few minutes to less than 1 hour
Drug Effects
Increase in alertness, mood, wakefulness, concentration, restlessness, blood pressure, temperature, pulse. Decrease in sleep and appetite. Euphoria, hallucinations, paranoia..
Overdose Effects
Agitation, hostility, hallucinations, convulsion. Death from heart attack or stroke.
Physically Addictive?
Very
Withdrawal Symptoms
Cravings, irratibility, apathy, depression, suicidal ideation, loss of sex drive, insomnia.
Miscellaneous
Death from heart attack or stroke can occur even in standard doses, especially when smoked.
Anyone who reads the paper or watches the news should have no problem understanding that cocaine is a very dangerous and damaging drug. Numerous celebrities have had their lives torn apart, or even ended, by cocaine. In some cases, like baseball player Darryl Strawberry, its effects have happened over several progressing years, while in others, like basketball player Len Bias, who died after smoking crack presumably for the first time, the effects have been immediate and final.
Cocaine in its several forms crosses socioeconomic and racial lines like no other illicit drug. Executives, athletes, and actors snort cocaine off mirrors through $100 bills while derelicts smoke crack, an inexpensive mixture of cocaine, baking soda, and water, through homemade glass pipes. For both the result is often the same—a downward spiral that can either end in treatment or death.

Cocaine is extremely physically and psychologically addictive. In fact, it is one of the most difficult addictions to treat, as to the cocaine user, the intensity of the high is immense. The drug attacks the pleasure centers of the brain, stimulaing them to an extreme. Then after the effect has worn off (which happens very quickly), the user needs more to keep extreme cravings from taking over. Even after the cocaine is totally out of the system, the psychological effects are remembered, and relapse triggers are many. Addicts often complain of cravings after several years of abstinence, and relapse rates are extremely high.
Unfortunately, cocaine has been presented as a status symbol. In fact, it is a debilitating drug that will work more than anything else in reducing one of great status to a derelict if it doesn’t kill him first.

Name of Drug
MDMA

AKA
Ecstacy, MDA, STP, X
Classification
Hallucinogenic Stimulant, Designer Drug
Method of Use
Oral, inhaled, IV
Duration of Action
6-8 hours
Drug Effects
At low dose, similar to amphetamines. At high doses, similar to LSD. Increased blood pressure, pulse, respiration, dilated pupils.
Overdose Effects
Gross hyperactivity and hyperexcitibility.
Physically Addictive?
Yes
Withdrawal Symptoms
Hyperactivity, hyperexcitibility, tremors, convulsions, death.
Miscellaneous

Name of Drug
Fentanyl

AKA
China White, MPPP
Classification
Opiate Analgesic, Depressant, Designer Drug
Method of Use
Intravenous
Duration of Action
2 hours
Drug Effects
Rapid and intense pain relief, euphoria, brain damage, symptoms similar to Parkinson’s disease.
Overdose Effects
Death due to respiratory collapse.
Physically Addictive?
Yes
Withdrawal Symptoms
Appears to be similar to heroin.
Miscellaneous

Name of Drug
Heroin

AKA
H, Horse, Smack, Lady
Classification
Opiate analgesic, depressant
Method of Use
Intravenous, Snorted, Smoked
Duration of Action
4 to 6 hours
Drug Effects
Euphoria, pain relief, decreased respiration, staggering, "fade to black" effect—"the nod."
Overdose Effects
Cold, clammy skin, respiratory depression, rapid pulse, circulatory collapse, coma, death.
Physically Addictive?
Yes
Withdrawal Symptoms
1-3 weeks, similar to bad case of flu. Withdrawal is not life threatening.
Miscellaneous

Name of Drug
Inhalants, Solvents, Aerosols

AKA
Huffing, Glad Rag, Airplane Glue, any number of household substances
Classification
Hallucinogenic
Method of Use
Sniffed (often concentrated in paper bag or on washcloth)
Duration of Action
15-45 minutes, depending on product
Drug Effects
Confusion, disorientation, nausea, vomiting, immediate buzz.
Overdose Effects
Heart failure, loss of consciousness. Irreversible liver, kidney, bone marrow damage.
Physically Addictive?
Not likely
Withdrawal Symptoms
Mild if any.
Miscellaneous
Death can occur with any use, even without overdose.

Name of Drug
Lysergic Acid Diethylamide

AKA
LSD, Acid, Blotter, Microdots, Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds
Classification
Hallucinogenic
Method of Use
Orally
Duration of Action
10-12 hours
Drug Effects
Visual hallucinations, altered concept of time, sweating, chills, headache, nausea.
Overdose Effects
Not known to be fatal. Many deaths due to accidents under influence.
Physically Addictive?
No
Withdrawal Symptoms
None
Miscellaneous
Flashbacks can occur weeks to months after last dose, where user relives the experience of past, usually bad, experiences..

Name of Drug
Marijuana
AKA
Pot, Hashish, Weed, Cannibis, Doobie, Chiva, Joint, Reefer, Sinsimella
Classification
Hallucinogenic
Method of Use
Usually smoked, can be eaten
Duration of Action
Several Hours
Drug Effects
Mild euphoria, relaxation, time alteration, visual and auditory perception changes, loss of coordination, anxiety, paranoia, increased pulse, increased appetite. Long term use results in demotivation, burnout, memory loss, lung cancer, chronic bronchitis, immune system changes, hormonal changes.
Overdose Effects
Not likely to be fatal if no other drugs are involved.
Physically Addictive?
Debatable, but evidence is showing may be. Extremely long half-life, so withdrawal symptoms are very gradual, rather than intense as in most drugs.
Withdrawal Symptoms
Insomnia, decreased appetite, weight loss, irritability, tremors, REM rebound in sleep (intense dreams)
Miscellaneous
Marijuana is the most commonly abused illicit drug in America, and thanks to an active lobby, also the one that has the best chance of eventually being legalized. Already several states have passed laws allowing medicinal use of smoked marijuana for cancer, AIDS, glaucoma, and other ailments. Some of them, most notably California, have then reexamined their laws because of abuses by users taking advantage of relaxed possession laws and greater availability.

The marijuana lobby makes the obviously questionable claim that "Nobody has ever died from marijuana use," and contrasts that with tobacco-related deaths. In fact, lung cancer rates in marijuana smokers are quite high, and emphysema, bronchitis, and other respiratory ailments are also well-represented among users. In addition, there have been many accidents, automobile and otherwise, in which users have been injured or killed or which have resulted in injury or death to others.
In addition, marijuana severely taxes the immune system and interacts with several medications. Cancer and AIDS patients, their immune systems already severely taxed, are being placed in greater danger from marijuana use. Of course, since marijuana is often prescribed when it is clear the patient is imminently terminal, such may not be of any great concern.
Marijuana has cost this society a great deal in lost productivity, far more than any tax revenue could ever make up. Memory loss, lack of motivation, and a generally lax attitude toward life are expected results from marijuana use, and most pot smokers fail to live up to any potential. These people end up being supported by our welfare rolls or wind up as part of our working poor, taking menial jobs because of an inability to pursue any education or any other advancement.
Marijuana stays in the system longer than any other drug of abuse. The half-life (i.e. the amount of time it takes for the body to metabolize half the drug ingested) is in excess of 72 hours, and in chronic users it may take weeks to months before it is no longer detectable in drug tests. Because of the long half-life, it is possible for seemingly casual users to maintain a physical addiction, smoking only a few times per week. In fact, such is the reason that marijuana is falsely reported as nonaddictive.
Modern marijuana is far more potent than it was 30 years ago. Better growing techniques, selective cultivation, and a change in harvesting techniques has raised the average THC (tetrahydrocannibinol—the active ingredient in marijuana) content from less than 1% in 1974 to as high as 17% today. The result is a more potent addiction, a greater chance for accidents and other problems resulting from use, and a greater cost to our society.

Name of Drug
Mescaline

AKA
Peyote
Classification
Hallucinogenic
Method of Use
Oral, Smoked, IV
Duration of Action
12 hours
Drug Effects
Hallucinations, especially color and spatial perception, increase in blood pressure, respiration, and pulse, dilated pupils.
Overdose Effects

Physically Addictive?
Not likely.
Withdrawal Symptoms
Mild if any.
Miscellaneous

Name of Drug

Opiate Analgesics

AKA
Codeine, Morphine, Demerol, Dilaudid, 222’s, Tylenol-3
Classification
Opiate Analgesic, Depressant
Method of Use
Oral, Intravenous, Intramuscular
Duration of Action
3-4 Hours
Drug Effects
Pain relief, drowsiness, euphoria, suppression of cough, decreased respiration, staggering.
Overdose Effects
Cold, clammy skin, respiratory supression, rapid pulse, circulatory collapse, coma, death.
Physically Addictive?
Yes.
Withdrawal Symptoms
Severe case of flu.
Miscellaneous

Name of Drug
Phencyclidine

AKA
PCP, Angel Dust, Peace Pill, Killer Joint (when mixed with Marijuana)
Classification
Hallucinogenic, Animal Tranquilizer
Method of Use
Smoked (often mixed with Marijuana), Oral, IV
Duration of Action
4-6 hours or more
Drug Effects
Aggressive behavior, detachment from reality, image distortion, anxiety, psychosis, stupor, muscle rigidity, stupor.
Overdose Effects
Convulsions, coma.
Physically Addictive?
Yes
Withdrawal Symptoms
Violent behavior, muscle rigidity, convulsions, coma, psychosis, suicidal and homicidal ideation.
Miscellaneous
Call it the "Peace Pill," but PCP can and does cause a great deal of violent behavior.

Name of Drug
Psilocybin

AKA
Mushrooms, Shrooms, Magic Mushrooms
Classification
Hallucinogenic
Method of Use
Oral, eaten
Duration of Action
2-4 hours
Drug Effects
Relaxation, hallucinations, time and space distortions. Not as intense as LSD.
Overdose Effects
Not as problematic as the considerable danger of misidentifying mushrooms and eating toxic ones.
Physically Addictive?
No
Withdrawal Symptoms
None
Miscellaneous

Name of Drug
Rohypnol

AKA
Flunitrazepam, Date-Rape Drug, Forget-Me Drug
Classification
Sedative Hypnotic, Minor Tranquilizer, Benzodiazepine
Method of Use
Oral
Duration of Action
8-12 hours
Drug Effects
Similar to Valium, but far more potent. Extreme disinhibition, similar to drunkenness. Drowsiness, headaches, nightmares, staggering. Can result in aggression, blackouts.
Overdose Effects
Again, similar to Valium, but far more potent. Alcohol and other sedatives greatly increase effect.
Physically Addictive?
Yes. Withdrawal is severe and must be medically supervised.
Withdrawal Symptoms
Seizures may occur. MUST BE MEDICALLY SUPERVISED.
Miscellaneous
Because of extreme potency and ability to produce blackouts, Rohypnol is not approved for use in the United States.
Use is often unintenional, as Rohypnol is often slipped into a woman’s drink without her knowledge prior to a date rape.

Name of Drug
Steroids

AKA
Anabolic Steroids
Classification
Hormones
Method of Use
Oral or Intramuscular Injection
Duration of Action
Several Weeks
Drug Effects
Mood disturbances, depression, suicidal ideation, anger, violence, homicidal tendencies—"roid rage." Sexual dysfunction, stunting of growth, development of facial hair and baldness in women. Liver cancer, heart attacks, strokes.
Overdose Effects
Physically Addictive?
No
Withdrawal Symptoms
Psychological problems connected with distorted body image. Users often switch to amphetamines after stopping steroids.
Miscellaneous
Not often thought of as a drug of abuse, in that it is not used to alter perceptions of reality in the way that other licit and illicit drugs are. However, since many teens and young adults are using them and are naive about their consequences, steroid use should be considered as no different than any other drug use.

Good general descriptions:
http://www.drugtest.freeserve.co.uk/DbyDentry.htm