Intervention |

Drug Information

VIDEO

• FULL EPISODE | 45:03

  

  Amber

  Airdate: 07/27/2010

• FULL EPISODE | 44:23

  

  Joe

  Airdate: 10/09/2010

• FULL EPISODE | 44:09

  

  Richard

  Airdate: 05/10/2010

• BONUS SCENE | 1:48

  

  Extended Intervention: Andrew

• BONUS SCENE | 2:19

  

  Extended Intervention: Sean

• BONUS SCENE | 3:14

  

  Extended Intervention: Tiffany

• BONUS SCENE | 2:12

  

  Extended Intervention: Sarah P.

• BONUS SCENE | 1:38

  

  Extended Intervention: Terry

• BONUS SCENE | 1:48

  

  Extended Intervention: Alissa

• BONUS SCENE | 2:15

  

  Extended Intervention: Sandi

• BONUS SCENE | 3:11

  

  Extended Intervention: Nick

• BONUS SCENE | 2:04

  

  Extended Intervention: Kelly

• BONUS SCENE | 2:14

  

  Extended Intervention: Megan H.

• BONUS SCENE | 3:16

  

  Extended Intervention: Al

• BONUS SCENE | 2:36

  

  Extended Intervention: Cher

The series Intervention profiles people from every walk of life, whose dependence on drugs and alcohol or other compulsive behavior has brought them to a point of personal crisis and estranged them from their friends and loved ones.

From methamphetamines to PCP, each type of drug has a different effect on its user. Learn about addictive drugs and their side effects. Below is a list of addictive drugs and their side effects.

Amphetamines

Chemical, medical, or scientific name:

amphetamine, dextroamphetamine, and methamphetamine

Street names:

One of the most common names for amphetamines is speed; they are also known as uppers, bennies, and truck drivers.

Drug Classification:

Stimulant

The term amphetamine can apply to three drugs: amphetamine, dextroamphetamine, and methamphetamine. Amphetamines have been used to treat several disorders, including narcolepsy and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). It gets one of its street names from a popular story about its use—reportedly some truck drivers on long hauls took amphetamines to stay awake for the trip. Others have used the drugs to lose weight, and students have taken amphetamines as a study aid, helping them to stay up and cram for a test or finish a paper. It can be injected, swallowed, smoked, and snorted. (For more information specifically on methamphetamine, see separate listing.)Like many stimulants, amphetamines increases heart rate and blood pressure. They can increase a person’s metabolism and generate a feeling of alertness and increased energy. Amphetamines may also cause the user to become anxious or panicky.

Short-term effects:

Like many stimulants, amphetamines increases heart rate and blood pressure. They can increase a person’s metabolism and generate a feeling of alertness and increased energy. Amphetamines may also cause the user to become anxious or panicky.

Long-term effects:

This group of drugs is addictive, and users often build up a tolerance to them, requiring larger doses to achieve a high. These drugs can lead to weight loss and heart failure. For those who inject amphetamines, they have a higher risk of contracting hepatitis or HIV infection.

Mental effects:

Along with increased alertness and energy, the drug may cause feelings of restlessness, anxiousness, and aggressiveness. With extensive use, a person may experience psychiatric problems.

Physical effects:

With amphetamine use, there can be increased heart rate and rapid breathing. It can affect physical coordination and appetite.

Cocaine

Chemical, medical, or scientific name:

cocaine hydrochloride

Street names:

There are numerous slang terms for this drug, including blow, bump, C, coke, snow, and toot.

Drug Classification:

Stimulant

Cocaine has been around a long time. The leaves of the coca plant, from which cocaine is derived, were used by native peoples in South America more than 2,000 years ago. It later became used as a local anesthetic in 1880s. Around this time, it also found its way into many medications and other types of products. Because it is such a strong stimulant, cocaine use can wreck havoc on a person’s health, leading to a heart attack. In rare cases, the drug can bring on sudden death. One in five drug-related emergency department visits in 2004 were attributed to cocaine, according to a report from the Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN). It can be snorted, smoked, and injected.

Short-term effects:

Cocaine acts on the central nervous system, making the user often feel energized or euphoric. It may increase a user’s heart rate and blood pressure and can cause the heart to beat rapidly or irregularly.

Long-term effects:

With extensive use, cocaine may lead to erratic, delusional, or paranoid behavior as well as violent outbursts and psychiatric problems. The drug may cause breathing and neurological problems with long-term use. Since it suppresses appetite, a user may suffer from malnutrition. For those who inject the drug, they face the added risk of contracting hepatitis or an HIV infection. Frequently snorting the drug can cause nosebleeds as well as impair a person’s sense of smell. Cocaine is highly addictive with users needing increasing amounts of the drug to get high.

Mental effects:

Cocaine may increase a user’s level of alertness and confidence. He or she may feel euphoric for a time and then experience feelings of anxiety, restlessness, paranoid, or aggression while coming off the drug.

Physical effects:

Cocaine may increase a person’s blood pressure and heart rate and cause headaches and nausea. The drug has been known to induce heart attacks, strokes, seizures, and panic attacks.

Crack

Chemical, medical, or scientific name:

cocaine hydrochloride

Street names:

There are many street names for crack and cocaine; some are used interchangeably. Here are a few names specifically used for crack: 24-7, bad, basa, and nuggets.

Drug Classification:

Stimulant

Crack is a form of cocaine that has been altered to make it easier to smoke. The cocaine powder is made into clumps that are called rocks. In part because it’s inexpensive to make and cheap to buy, crack became hugely popular in the mid-1980s and the use of this drug is believed to have contributed to an increase in crime in some areas.

Short-term effects:

Like cocaine, a person may experience a high shortly after taking the drug. It may also cause feelings of agitation or anxiousness. It can increase a person’s body temperature, blood pressure, and heart rate. Using crack can lead to heart attacks and strokes.

Long-term effects:

Taking crack for a long time can cause physical and mental health problems. With extensive use, a person may become dependent on the drug and develop a tolerance to it. Crack can also cause heart problems and seizures as well as respiratory failure. Malnutrition may occur as the drug diminishes appetite.

Mental effects:

Crack may bring on a feeling of euphoria and increased energy. It may also cause anxiety. With extensive use, the drug may affect mood and increase irritability. Heavy users can suffer from paranoia and hallucinations.

Physical effects:

The drug can increase body temperature and heart rate and depress appetite. Over time, crack can become incredibly addictive, and users can develop a tolerance for the drug.

Information sources for Intervention Drug Information: Main sources- National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA); http://www.drugabuse.gov. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and SAMHSA’s National Clearhouse for Alcohol & Drug Information; http://ncadi.samhsa.gov/. Drug Abuse Warning Network; https://dawninfo.samhsa.gov/default.asp

Drug Facts from the Office of National Drug Control Policy; http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/drugfact/index.html

Additional Sources—Club Drug Information: National Institute on Drug Abuse “Club Drugs Aren’t ‘Fun Drugs’”; http://www.drugabuse.gov/Published_Articles/fundrugs.html

U.S. Department of Justice Information on MDMA; http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/concern/mdma.htm

Additional sources—Cocaine: U.S. Department of Justice Information on cocaine
http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/concern/cocaine.html

Additional sources—Heroin: U.S. Department of Justice Information on Heroin
http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/concern/heroin.html

Additional sources—LSD: U.S. Department of Justice LSD factsheet
http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/concern/lsd_factsheet.html

Additional sources—Methamphetamines: U.S. Department of Justice Information on Methamphetamines
http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/concern/meth.html

Additional sources—Pain killers: U.S. Department of Justice Information on Oxycontin
http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/concern/oxycontin.html