Heroin Overview

Heroin is a powerfully addictive derivative of the prescription painkiller morphine. Heroin is an extremely addictive substance and can often lead to life long effects on the user. Heroin is usually taken intravenously by needle, but can also be inhaled, or smoked. In fact many users believe that snorting heroin is less likely to result in becoming an addict, but this is a mistaken belief.

Heroin makes users feel euphoric, makes everyday worries disappear, and is also a potent painkiller. The thing that makes heroin an especially addictive drug is that the user needs to take it just feel “normal” again. The high that heroin users seek becomes more and more difficult to obtain as their tolerance increases.

Heroin Side Effects

• Addiction
• Collapsed veins
• Exposure to infectious diseases such as AIDS and Hepatitis
• Pneumonia and other respiratory difficulties
• Risk of accidental overdose and death

Heroin Addiction

Heroin is an extremely addictive drug as pointed out above. Tolerance to heroin can begin to increase in as little as three days of use. The painful withdrawal from heroin also contributes to the users addiction. They know how difficult the withdrawal will be so continue to use heroin in order to avoid the withdrawal symptoms. The symptoms of withdrawal from heroin include, cramps, chills, fever, abdominal pain, muscle spasms, anxiety, severe depression, aching joints, insomnia, itching, and muscle spasms. Heroin addiction is so powerful that many users will chase the drug to the exclusion of everything else in their life. They will become disinterested in other activities. Many heroin addicts also have extensive legal troubles that are due to them committing crimes in order to support the cost of their habit.

Heroin Treatment

Admission to an inpatient facility is recommended for someone who is seeking to quit using heroin. The reason for this is that hospitals can help the addict with the painful withdrawal symptoms. This is often done by giving methadone. Methadone is a longer acting opioid which allows the addict to avoid withdrawal. The methadone dose is then tapered to the lowest dose the patient can stand. Addicts often stay on methadone for months or years to avoid relapsing into heroin addiction. Intensive group therapy and twelve step programs are also recommended for a heroin addict to kick the habit.

Heroin Links

If you would like more information about heroin use, prevention, or side effects please feel free to visit the following sites:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heroin http://www.vistabay.com/blog/?p=17 http://www.heroindrugtreatment.com/

Overview

Lysergic acid diethylamide, more commonly known as LSD, is a psychedelic drug that is taken orally and causes the user to experience vivid hallucinations. It was discovered by Swiss chemist, Albert Hofmann in the 1930’s. It was originally used as a treatment for various psychiatric disorders, but it quickly became an illicit drugs when the hallucinogenic effects became more widely known.

When a user ingest LSD they refer to it as a “trip”. The trip can cause the user to see patterns of light, lose their sense of time, feel sensations on the body, can alter awareness of the user, and can cause emotional instability. Many users claim that by using LSD they are able to achieve higher plains of being or the ability to understand complex problems. The duration of the “trip” can last from anywhere between three and twelve hours and it is dependant of the dose that was ingested. Users can also have what is known as a bad trip where they become fearful, anxious, and in some cases terrified of objects or ideas that are not real.

LSD Side Effects

• Dilated Pupils
• Increased Body Temperature
• Sweating
• Loss of Appetite
• Tremors
• Increased heart rate and blood pressure

LSD Addiction

LSD is not chemically addictive, but many users will develop a tolerance for the drug over time. This will result in the user needing to take higher doses of LSD to achieve the high.

LSD Treatment

The main treatment for LSD is social support and twelve step programs. Many users use less frequently as they age and quit altogether without many of the harmful side effects associated with quitting more addictive substances.

LSD Links

If you would like to know more about LSD use, treatment, or side effects please feel free to visit the following web sites:

http://www.clearhavencenter.com/substance-abuse-treatment-resources/signs-of-LSD-use.php

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LSD

http://www.theantidrug.com/drug_info/drug_info_lsd.asp

Overview

Phencyclidine, more commonly known as PCP, is a dissociative anesthetic agent that was initially used as an anesthetic for surgery in the 1950’s. By 1965 the drug was no longer used in a medical setting. It did, however, live on as an illegal narcotic.

PCP is a white powder in its purest form, but can be almost any shade of brown depending on what it was mixed with before being sold. PCP can also be made into tablets or pills. PCP can be smoked, inhaled, or ingested orally. PCP can also be a liquid. Another common method if ingesting PCP is for the user to dip a cigarette into the liquid PCP and smoke the cigarette. This is often called a sherm.

The effects of PCP are reported to be euphoria, visual hallucinations, numbness, and feelings of detachment. Users may react in unpredictable ways based on their delusions and they often feel less pain due to the anesthetic property of the drug. This is likely where the reports of super human strength come from. The user is not physically stronger, but due to the PCP they no longer feel pain so they can be difficult to subdue.

Side Effects

The side effects of PCP can be broken down into two basic section; physical and psychological. The Physical side effects include:

• Increased, blood pressure, pulse, and respiration rate

• Rapid uncontrollable eye movement

• Seizures

• Memory Loss

The psychological side effects include:

• Suicidal ideation

• Delusions

• Self Mutilation

• Acts of violence

• Psychosis

• Depression

PCP Addiction

PCP is considered an addictive drug due to the fact that intense psychological cravings prompt the user to seek more and more of the drug to achieve the same high they reached using lower doses when they first began using PCP. PCP addicts will often have a multitude of legal issues resulting from their uncontrollable behavior while using PCP.

PCP Treatment

PCP treatment is complicated due to the vast differences in the behaviors that are exhibited by the user. Some PCP users can become psychotic and they will need to be treated with antipsychotic medication for this condition. It can last from several days to a couple of months.

Treatment for a user who has recently ingested PCP will involve soothing the patient and making them feel safe. Inpatient treatment may be required, but is not always necessary. Cognitive behavioral therapy in conjunction with family support and a twelve step program have been proven to be an effective way to help a PCP addict become clean.

PCP Links

If you would like more information on PCP use, prevention, or side effects please feel free to visit the following web sites:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phencyclidine

http://www.drugfree.org/Portal/Drug_Guide/PCP

http://www.nida.nih.gov/Infofacts/hallucinogens.html