Drugs and what they do

Amphetamines

Amphetamines are a group of stimulant drugs that work by affecting the amount of dopamine and
serotonin in the brain. They generally create a feeling of euphoria, mental focus and resilience against
physical fatigue. They have been used medically as an appetite suppressant, to treat ADHD in adults and
children, and by the military in the Second World War. The most common street name for
Amphetamines is “speed” because of the increased energy that users display. This made it extremely
popular amongst young people in the 1970s at discos and then again in the 90s in the subsequent rave
music culture.
It was originally widely available in America as Benzedrine, an inhalant medicine available without
prescription, until its use was controlled by the FDA in 1965. Previous to this, the German military during
WW2 used it recreationally and strategically, Adolph Hitler was daily injected with a compound of
Amphetamines and vitamins.

AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome): A condition characterized by a defect

in the body's natural immunity to diseases. Individuals who suffer from it are at risk for
severe illnesses that are usually not a threat to anyone whose immune system is
working properly. [8]
Addiction: A chronic, relapsing disease characterized by compulsive drug-seeking and
abuse and by long-lasting chemical changes in the brain. [1]
Adrenal glands: Glands, located above each, kidney that secretes hormones, e.g.,
adrenaline. [3]
Amyl nitrite: A yellowish oily volatile liquid used in certain diagnostic procedures and
prescribed to some patients for heart pain. Illegally diverted ampoules of amyl nitrite are
called "poppers" or "snappers" on the street. [9]
Anabolic effects: Drug-induced growth or thickening of the body's no reproductive tract
tissues-including skeletal muscle, bones, the larynx, and vocal cords-and decrease in
body fat. [2]
Analgesics: A group of medications that reduce pain. [2]
Anesthetic: An agent that causes insensitivity to pain and is used for surgeries and
other medical procedures. [6]
Androgenic effects: A drug's effects upon the growth of the male reproductive tract and
the development of male secondary sexual characteristics. [2]
A plastic anemia: A disorder that occurs when the bone marrow produces too few of all
three types of blood cells: red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. [9]
Axon terminal: The structure at the end of an axon that produces and releases
chemicals (neurotransmitters) to transmit the neuron's message across the synapse. [5]
Axon: The fiber-like extension of a neuron by which the cell carries information to target
cells. [5]
B
Barbiturates / Benzodiazepines

This is the first item on our list that is a prescription medicine. There is a vast range of
medicines that fall in to the category of “downers” This being the street name which has
passed into general usage. Barbiturates have been around since the 19th century,
derived from Barbituric acid, there have been hundreds of derivatives over the years. In
psychiatry and psychiatric hospitals it was frequently used to sedate violent or disturbed
patients. They are a Hypnotic, and Anxiolytic, which is often used to make a patient
unconscious before the true anesthesia is administered. They engender, in the abuser,
feelings of calm and relaxation, physically and mentally, which creates a high level of
dependency.
Barbiturates have largely been replaced by Benzodiazepines. A newer range of
sedatives that was first introduced in the 1950’s as Librium. Valium soon followed with
Mogadon Ativan, Frisium, and Temazepam. Safer than Barbiturates, Benzo’s soon
gained popularity and the sedative culture as it was known was born. The withdrawal
from Benzo dependency is extremely disturbing for the patient and recognizably bad for
the doctor to witness. It has been said that it is worse than withdrawal from Opiates.
Benzene: A volatile liquid solvent found in gasoline. [9]
Bind: The attaching of a neurotransmitter or other chemical to a receptor. The neurotransmitter is said
to "bind" to the receptor. [5]
Brainstem: The major route by which the forebrain sends information to, and receives information from,
the spinal cord and peripheral nerves. [5]
Butane: A substance found in lighter fluid. [9]
Butyl nitrite: An illegal substance that is often packaged and sold in small bottles; also referred to as
"poppers." [9]
C
Cannabis
The most popular of all recreational drugs, Cannabis, or Marijuana, Grass, Hemp,
Weed, Pot, Hash, Dope or a variety of regional names has been cultivated for
thousands of years. Derived in various forms from the Cannabis plants Cannabis Indica
or Cannabis Sativa, it is native to central Asia but its cultivation and use is global. It is a
Psychoactive and a Psychedelic. It can be smoked as leaves or flower buds, it can be
ground down to isolate the crystallized sap and then pressed into a solid, or the resin
extracted by collection via contact with the sticky plant parts.
The effects are fairly immediate, a slightly drunken but euphoric sensation, it can be
mild or strong according to the method of delivery and the strength and quantity of the
dose. It is not generally debilitating unless as with anything else it is taken to excess,
and it can cause some mental confusion that is mostly temporary.
Cannabinoid receptor: The receptor in the brain that recognizes anandamide and THC, the active
ingredient in marijuana. [5]
Cannabinoid: Chemicals that help control mental and physical processes when produced naturally by the
body and that produce intoxication and other effects when absorbed from marijuana. [1]
Carcinogen: Any substance that causes cancer. [1]
Cardiovascular system: The heart and blood vessels. [2]
Cell body (or soma): The central structure of a neuron, which contains the cell nucleus. The cell body
contains the molecular machinery that regulates the activity of the neuron. [5]
Central nervous system: The brain and spinal cord. [5]
Cerebellum: A portion of the brain that helps regulate posture, balance, and
coordination. [5]
Cerebral cortex: Region of the brain responsible for cognitive functions including
reasoning, mood, and perception of stimuli. [4]
Cerebral hemispheres: The two specialized halves of the brain. The left hemisphere is specialized for
speech, writing, language, and calculation; the right hemisphere is specialized for spatial abilities, face
recognition in vision, and some aspects of music perception and production. [5]
Cerebrum: The upper part of the brain consisting of the left and right hemispheres. [5]
Chloroform: A colorless volatile liquid used as a medical anesthetic gas. [9]
Chronic: Refers to a disease or condition that persists over a long period of time. [5]
Coca: The plant, Erythroxylon, from which cocaine is derived. Also refers to the leaves of this plant. [6]
Cocaethylene: A substance created in the body when cocaine and alcohol are used together; chemically
similar to cocaine. [6]
Cocaine
Cocaine, derived from the Coca plant, has been used in one form or another for over a
thousand years. Originating from South America, it has been chewed as a leaf by the
Peruvian Indians for centuries. It is a powerful stimulant, appetite suppressant and
anesthetic. In the Victorian era, many freely available medicines contained Cocaine for
use with babies and children particularly when they were teething.
For the first twenty years of its production Coca Cola contained Cocaine but the laws
controlling it in the early 1900’s prohibited its inclusion. It has generally through its social
usage been a rich mans drug, although the use of Crack Cocaine, a modified version of
the original powdered form is prepared as a “Rock” or “Stone” and smoked in pipes, has
brought its usage down to street level.
Crack: "Slang" term for a smokeable form of cocaine. [6]
Craving: A powerful, often uncontrollable desire for drugs. [3]
Cyclohexyl nitrite: A chemical found in substances marketed as room deodorizers. [9]
D
Dendrite: The specialized branches that extend from a neuron's cell body and function
to receive messages from other neurons. [5]
Depressants: Drugs that relieve anxiety and produce sleep. Depressants include
barbiturates, benzodiazepines, and alcohol. [3]
Dopamine: A brain chemical, classified as a neurotransmitter, found in regions of the
brain that regulate movement, emotion, motivation, and pleasure. [1]
Drug: A chemical compound or substance that can alter the structure and function of the
body. Psychoactive drugs affect the function of the brain, and some of these may be
illegal to use and possess. [5]
Drug abuse: The use of illegal drugs or the inappropriate use of legal drugs. The
repeated use of drugs to produce pleasure, to alleviate stress, or to alter or avoid reality
(or all three). [5]
E
Emphysema: A lung disease in which tissue deterioration results in increased air
retention and reduced exchange of gases. The result is difficult breathing and shortness
of breath. It is often caused by smoking. [3]
Endogenous: Something produced by the brain or body. [5]
Ether: A volatile liquid with a characteristic odor. Used as a medical anesthetic gas. [9]
Euphoria: A feeling of well-being or elation. [9]
Ecstasy
Closely linked to the use of Amphetamines (from which it is derived), Ecstasy, or
MDMA, was originally used as a Psycho therapeutic drug. It is a Psychedelic drug that
produces euphoria and a feeling of well being, decreased levels of fear and anxiety and
a physical stimulant and sensational effect in users. It is illegal in most countries and is
one of the most widely used illicit drugs in the world.
It is taken orally or sniffed as a powder. Users can have bad reactions to the drug and in
the early years of its use as a recreational drug there were many instances of first time
users dying without having administered an overdose. When users are exerting
themselves heavily, there is a real risk of dehydration and death or illness resulting from
it. Many of the “back street” MDMA factories use unclean processes and poor
pharmacological techniques, and are a great danger to the people that make the drug
as well as to the users.

F
Fluorinated hydrocarbons: Gases or liquids commonly found in refrigerants, fire
extinguishers, solvents, and anesthetics. Freon is one class of fluorinated
hydrocarbons. [9]
Forebrain: The largest division of the brain, which includes the cerebral cortex and basal
ganglia. It is credited with the highest intellectual functions. [5]
Frontal lobe: One of the four divisions of each cerebral hemisphere. The frontal lobe is
important for controlling movement and associating the functions of other cortical areas.
[5]
H
Hallucinations: Perceptions of something (such as a visual image or a sound) that does
not really exist. Hallucinations usually arise from a disorder of the nervous system or in
response to drugs (such as LSD). [9]
Hallucinogens: A diverse group of drugs that alter perceptions, thoughts, and feelings.
Hallucinogenic drugs include LSD, mescaline, MDMA (ecstasy), PCP, and psilocybin
(magic mushrooms). [5]
Halothane: Medical anesthetic gas. [9]
Hepatitis: Inflammation of the liver. [9]
Heroin
Perhaps the most insidious of all drugs, Heroin, or Diamorphine is a derivative of
Morphine, an opiate, first used as an alternative to Morphine as it was thought to be less
addictive. The name Heroin, is a Trade name for Diamorphine and was used by the
Bayer pharmaceutical company in the mid 1800’s. It is an extremely powerful painkiller
and users experience exhilaration, euphoria and a sense of well being. It can be
smoked, sniffed or injected.
The withdrawal effects of Heroin are pretty dreadful, and it is virtually impossible to
impart to a non-user how bad it really is. The symptoms of withdrawal are physical pain,
nausea, stomach cramps and diarrhea, shaking twitching and a very strong craving for
the soothing effects of the drug. Very few people can cope with withdrawal and this
drives people to commit crimes to fund their next drug purchase.
Hexane: A hydrocarbon volatile liquid found in glue or gasoline. [9]
Hippocampus: An area of the brain crucial for learning and memory. [1]
HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus): The virus that causes AIDS (Acquired
Immunodeficiency Syndrome). [8]
Hormone: A chemical substance formed in glands in the body and carried in the blood
to organs and tissues, where it influences function, structure, and behavior. [2]
Hypothalamus: The part of the brain that controls many bodily functions, including
feeding, drinking, and the release of many hormones. [5]
I
Ingestion: The act of taking in food or other material into the body through the mouth. [5]
Inhalant: Any drug administered by breathing in its vapors. Inhalants commonly are
organic solvents, such as glue and paint thinner, or anesthetic gases, such as ether and
nitrous oxide. [5]
Inhalation: The act of administering a drug or combination of drugs by nasal or oral
respiration. Also, the act of drawing air or other substances into the lungs. Nicotine in
tobacco smoke enters the body by inhalation. [5]
Injection: A method of administering a substance such as a drug into the skin,
subcutaneous tissue, muscle, blood vessels, or body cavities, usually by means of a
needle. [5]
L
Limbic system: A set of brain structures that generates our feelings, emotions, and
motivations. It is also important in learning and memory. [5]
LSD
LSD (Lysergic Acid Diethylamide) is possibly the most powerful hallucinogenic drug
known. It was discovered in 1938 by Albert Hoffman a Swiss chemist, whose actual
purpose was to find a cure for the common cold. It has had a checkered history to say
the least. Iconic public figures have, in the past, advocated its use: Hunter S Thompson,
The Beatles, and Timothy Leary being notable advocates.
After 1-2 hours of ingesting the drug, visual awareness is heightened, sounds become
enhanced, emotions and physical sensations are altered. The user’s sense of self and
its interaction with people or objects, their concept of reality is generally brought to
question. Strange visual stimuli, that may or may not be comforting or frightening
overwhelm the user, there is a real risk of irrational fear taking over, paranoia, confusion
or panic. Equally, some people have apparently wonderful experiences with none of
these symptoms.
ceptor. [5]

M
Marijuana: A drug, usually smoked but can be eaten, that is made from the leaves of the
cannabis plant. The main psychoactive ingredient is THC. [5]
Medication: A drug that is used to treat an illness or disease according to established
medical guidelines. [5]
Metabolism: The processes by which the body breaks things down or alters them so
they can be eliminated. [5]
Methamphetamine: A commonly abused, potent stimulant drug that is part of a larger
family of amphetamines. [5]
Methylphenidate (Ritalin®): Methylphenidate is a central nervous system stimulant. It
has effects similar to, but more potent than, caffeine and less potent than
amphetamines. It has a notably calming and "focusing" effect on those with ADHD,
particularly children. [7]
Musculoskeletal system: The muscles, bones, tendons, and ligaments. [2]
Myelin: Fatty material that surrounds and insulates axons of most neurons. [9]
N
Neuron (nerve cell): A unique type of cell found in the brain and body that is specialized
to process and transmit information. [5]
Neurotransmission: The process that occurs when a neuron releases neurotransmitters
to communicate with another neuron across the synapse. [5]
Neurotransmitter: A chemical produced by neurons to carry messages to other neurons.
[5]
Nicotine: The addictive drug in tobacco. Nicotine activates a specific type of
acetylcholine receptor. [5]
Nitrites: A special class of inhalants that act primarily to dilate blood vessels and relax
the muscles. Whereas other inhalants are used to alter mood, nitrites are used primarily
as sexual enhancers. (See also amyl nitrite and butyl nitrite). [9]
Nitrous oxide: Medical anesthetic gas, especially used in dentistry. Also called "laughing
gas." Found in whipped cream dispensers and gas cylinders. [9]
Noradrenaline: A chemical neurotransmitter that is made in the brain and can affect the
heart.[ [9]
Nucleus: A cluster or group of nerve cells that is dedicated to performing its own special
function(s). Nuclei are found in all parts of the brain but are called cortical fields in the
cerebral cortex. [5]
Nucleus accumbens: A part of the brain reward system, located in the limbic system,
that processes information related to motivation and reward. Virtually all drugs of abuse
act on the nucleus accumbens to reinforce drug taking. [5]
O
Occipital lobe: The lobe of the cerebral cortex at the back of the head that includes the
visual cortex. [5]
Opium

An age old drug, Opium has influenced the economy of nations, caused wars, inspired
poets and brought the ruin of many. Derived from the collected sap of the Opium Poppy
(Papaver Somniferum), it has been cultivated since Neolithic times. Used as a food
source, the seeds have no narcotic effect but are used as spice, they have a mild nutty
flavor. In contrast, the sap, collected from immature seed pods, has extremely powerful
narcotic qualities. The plants are native to Greece and China, and were grown in
Egyptian, Roman and Minoan civilizations. The sap is a highly addictive painkiller which
can be smoked or eaten, and when dissolved in alcohol (commonly known as
laudanum) it can be drunk.
Laudanum’s biggest clam to fame was its use by the romantic poets. Many of the Pre-
Raphaelites (Among them Lord Byron, Shelly and others) were know to indulge. The
image of the romantic poet, pale, morose, drunk on absinthe and laudanum is a
common one. It was, in the Victorian era, freely available and somewhat cheaper than
gin and became a working class tipple. It was liberally prescribed to children that were
teething. Opium dens were popular in most 19th century cities. Patrons would lie on
their side with long wooden pipes, the bowl upturned over a smoking ball of opium.

P
Parietal lobe: One of the four subdivisions of the cerebral cortex; it is involved in
sensory processes, attention, and language. [5]
Physical dependence: An adaptive physiological state that occurs with regular drug use
and results in a withdrawal syndrome when drug use is stopped; usually occurs with
tolerance. [3]
Polyneuropathy: Permanent change or malfunction of nerves. Sudden sniffing death - A
type of death that can occur when inhaled fumes fill up the cells in the lungs with
poisonous chemicals, leaving no room for the oxygen needed to breathe. This lack of
oxygen can lead to suffocation, respiratory failure, and death. [9]
Polyneuropathy: A drug that distorts perception, thought, and feeling. This term is
typically used to refer to drugs with actions like those of LSD. [5]
Psychoactive: Having a specific effect on the mind. [1]
Psychedelic Mushrooms
For millennia, Psychedelic or hallucinogenic mushrooms have figured in society, culture
and religion. There are more than 180 species of mushrooms which contain the
psychedelics Psilocybin or Psilocin. They have a long history of use in Mexico and tribal
societies and are currently one of the most popular and commonly available natural
psychedelics. Psilocybin and Psilocin are the psychoactive ingredients responsible for
the hallucinatory state or “trip” the user experiences some twenty minutes after
consuming the mushrooms. The effect of which is similar to that of LSD but shorter lived
and will be outlined in the LSD section.
Some of these “Magic Mushrooms”, are actually more poisonous than they are
hallucinogenic, great care must be taken to pick the correct types. In fact it is a rule of
thumb with users that you should never pick them without being accompanied by
someone who has picked them before. In the United Kingdom, taking or possessing
‘shrooms, is legal, but preparing them including drying them or selling them is an
offense under the misuse of drugs act. The Netherlands, in recent years, has made the
possession of Magic Mushrooms totally illegal, which may surprise people who are
aware of its relaxed laws on Cannabis. Magic Mushrooms can be dried, eaten fresh,
cooked or boiled into a “tea”.
Psychoactive drug: A drug that changes the way the brain works. [5]

R
Receptor: A large molecule that recognizes specific chemicals (normally
neurotransmitters, hormones, and similar endogenous substances) and transmits the
message carried by the chemical into the cell on which the receptor resides. [5]
Relapse: In drug abuse, relapse is the resumption of drug use after trying to stop taking
drugs. Relapse is a common occurrence in many chronic disorders, including addiction,
that require behavioral adjustments to treat effectively. [5]
Reuptake: The process by which neurotransmitters are removed from the synapse by
being "pumped" through transporters back into the axon terminals that first released
them. [5]
Reuptake pump (transporter): The large molecule that actually transports
neurotransmitter molecules back into the axon terminals that released them. [5]
Reward: The process that reinforces behavior. It is mediated at least in part by the
release of dopamine into the nucleus accumbens. Human subjects report that reward is
associated with feelings of pleasure. [5]
Reward system (or brain reward system): A brain circuit that, when activated, reinforces
behaviors. The circuit includes the dopamine-containing neurons of the ventral
tegmental area, the nucleus accumbens, and part of the prefrontal cortex. The
activation of this circuit causes feelings of pleasure. [5]
Route of administration: The way a drug is put into the body. Drugs can enter the body
by eating, drinking, inhaling, injecting, snorting, smoking, or absorbing a drug through
mucous membranes. [5]
Rush: A surge of pleasure that rapidly follows administration of some drugs. [3]
S
Serotonin: A neurotransmitter that regulates many functions, including mood, appetite,
and sensory perception. [5]
Sex hormones: Hormones that are found in higher quantities in one sex than in the
other. Male sex hormones are the androgens, which include testosterone; and the
female sex hormones are the estrogens and progesterone. [2]
Solvents
Solvents are an extremely distasteful class of abusive substances. Readily available
from hardware stores, solvent abuse was popularized in the late seventies as the drug
of choice of the Punk Rock scene. The industrio-chemical nature of solvents, especially
solvent glue, was a strong representation of the Punk vision. Other solvent inhalants
include aerosols, nail varnish, gas lighter fuel and petrol.
The general availability of these products makes them popular among poor or destitute
children around the world. For the equivalent of 10 cents, a street kid in Casablanca,
Morocco, can buy a small tube of bicycle inner tube repair glue, enough to take him out
of the world that he inhabits and into a feeling of contentment and warmth. This is a
familiar story all over the world and is indicative of the depravity that generally
associates itself with solvent abusers. Often the glue is inhaled from a plastic bag,
sometimes over the head, it is not difficult to imagine how often an unconscious user
has died of suffocation in this process.

Stimulants: A class of drugs that elevates mood, increases feelings of well-being, and
increases energy and alertness. These drugs produce euphoria and are powerfully
rewarding. Stimulants include cocaine, Methamphetamine, and methylphenidate
(Ritalin). [5]
Synapse: The site where presynaptic and postsynaptic neurons communicate with each
other. [5]
Synaptic space (or synaptic cleft): The intercellular space between the presynaptic and
postsynaptic neurons. [5]
T
Temporal lobe: The lobe of the cerebral cortex at the side of the head that hears and
interprets music and language. [5]
Tetrahydrocannabinol: See THC.
Thalamus: Located deep within the brain, the thalamus is the key relay station for
sensory information flowing into the brain, filtering out important messages from the
mass of signals entering the brain. [5]
THC: Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol; the main active ingredient in marijuana, which acts
on the brain to produce its effects. [1]
Tobacco: A plant widely cultivated for its leaves, which are used primarily for smoking;
the tabacum species is the major source of tobacco products. [3]
Tolerance: A condition in which higher doses of a drug are required to produce the
same effect as during initial use; often leads to physical dependence. [3]
Toluene: A light colorless liquid solvent found in many commonly abused inhalants,
including airplane glue, paint sprays, and paint and nail polish removers. [9]
Transporter: A light colorless liquid solvent found in many commonly abused inhalants,
including airplane glue, paint sprays, and paint and nail polish removers.[ [5]
Trichloroethylene: A liquid used as a solvent and in medicine as an anesthetic and
analgesic. Found in cleaning fluid and correction fluid. [9]
V
Ventral tegmental area (VTA): The group of dopamine-containing neurons that make up
a key part of the brain reward system. These neurons extend axons to the nucleus
accumbens and the prefrontal cortex. [5]
Vertigo: The sensation of dizziness. [6]
Vesicle: A membranous sac within an axon terminal that stores and releases
neurotransmitter. [5]
W
Withdrawal: Symptoms that occur after chronic use of a drug is reduced or stopped. [2]