Intervention |

Drug Information

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  Brittany T.

  Airdate: 06/20/2011

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  Michael

  Airdate: 03/21/2011

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  Extended Intervention: Eric

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  Tiffany

  Airdate: 03/14/2011

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  Jamie

  Airdate: 03/07/2011

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  Extended Intervention: Gina

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  Benny

  Airdate: 02/07/2011

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  Extended Intervention: Kaila

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  Extended Intervention: Ryan

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  Extended Intervention: Dana

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  Extended Intervention: Jessica

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  Jimmy

  Airdate: 01/10/2011

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  Erin

  Airdate: 01/03/2011

• FULL EPISODE | 43:15

  

  Darick

  Airdate: 12/20/2010

• BONUS SCENE | 1:48

  

  Extended Intervention: Andrew

Marijuana

Chemical, medical, or scientific name:

The main chemical component of this substance is delta-9-tetrahydro-cannabinol (THC).

Street names:

Commonly called weed or pot, marijuana is also known as grass, herb, mary jane, and reefer.

Drug Classification:

Cannabinoid

According to a report from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug in the United States. It comes from a type of hemp plant known as Cannabis sativa. The plant is dried and usually smoked. There are several popular methods for smoking the drug. It can be made into cigarettes using rolling papers—these are commonly known as “joints.” Others remove the tobacco in cigars and replace with marijuana to create “blunts.” Pipes and water pipes called bongs are also used. Marijuana is sometimes ingested. It can be made into a tea or added to food.

Short-term effects:

Along with creating a feeling of improved well being or a high, marijuana causes increased heart rate and slowed response times as well as intensifying the user’s perception of sounds and colors. It may also affect a user’s sense of time, making him or her feel that time is moving slowly. Marijuana may also lead to increased hunger or thirst.

Long-term effects:

There are certain health risks with smoking any kind of substance, such as respiratory illnesses and infection. Studies show that marijuana smoke may be more hazardous than tobacco smoke. Smoking marijuana may lead to cancer of the respiratory tract and lungs.

Mental effects:

After initial euphoric high passes, a marijuana user may feel drowsy or depressed. There have been some cases of the drug causing feelings of anxiety or panic attacks. The drug can impair memory and affect learning capabilities. In high doses, a user may experience hallucinations or delusions.

Physical effects:

Marijuana can affect a person’s coordination and increase heart rate. Blood vessels in the eyes dilate, making them appear red. With frequent use, a person may suffer respiratory problems, such as a chronic cough or a respiratory infection.

Mescaline

Chemical, medical, or scientific name:

3, 4, 3-trimethoxyphenylethylamine

Street names:

The drug is often known by the name of its natural source, peyote. Other terms for this drug include buttons, cactus, and mesc.

Drug Classification:

Hallucinogen

Mescaline comes from a type of cactus called Lophophora williamsii. This cactus has been used historically by some of the native peoples of Mexico and the American Southwest as part of their religious ceremonies. The San Pedro cactus, Trichocerseus pachanoi, also reportedly contains mescaline and is found in the mountains of Peru. Like other hallucinogens, it can produce visions or an altered state of consciousness. Today the drug can be taken from the plant or produced in a lab. It is typically swallowed or smoked.

Short-term effects:

The drug alters the user’s mental state, causing a variety of hallucinations. Like other hallucinogens, mescaline’s effects can be pleasant or horrifying with some people having anxiety and thoughts of insanity or losing control. The drug also can raise body temperature, blood pressure, and heart rate. Loss of appetite and nausea are associated with mescaline use as are insomnia and weakness and tremors.

Long-term effects:

Like LSD, uses may experience hallucinogen persisting perception disorder (HPPD), commonly known as “flashbacks.” These flashbacks are a type of hallucination, not unlike those experienced in the initial use of the drug. They are often visual in nature.

Mental effects:

Mescaline distorts reality for the user in many ways. The user may see or hear things that aren’t real and may lose his or her sense of time and space. Feelings of anxiety and intense fear may also occur.

Physical effects:

The drug can impact heart and body functions, such as temperature and blood pressure. It can affect the muscles and nerves, creating a sensation of weakness and numbness.

Methamphetamine

Chemical, medical, or scientific name:

methamphetamine or methamphetamine hydrochloride

Street names:

Commonly called meth, the drug has numerous other street names, such as chalk, crank, speed, and tina. Methamphetamine hydrochloride is a crystallized version of the drug and has several street names, such as crystal, crystal meth, and ice.

Drug Classification:

Stimulant

A type of amphetamine, the stimulant methamphetamine is even more dangerous than related drugs because it is more powerful and has a greater impact on the central nervous system. Use of this drug has become widespread with more than 10 million Americans admitting to trying it once during their lifetime, according to the 2005 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. It can be injected, swallowed, snorted, and smoked.

Short-term effects:

Once taking the drug, the user experiences increased alertness as well as increased blood pressure and heart rate. It can also lead to loss of appetite, insomnia, and aggressive or psychotic behavior. If too large of a dose is taken at once, a person may have convulsions and a dramatic rise in body temperature, which can lead to death.

Long-term effects:

Using methamphetamines over an extensive period of time can affect a person’s verbal learning ability as well as damage the parts of brain related to feelings and memory. It may also lead to psychiatric problems, such as delusions, hallucinations, and paranoia, which may last long after the user has stopped taking the drug. If injected, the drug puts the user at greater risk of contracting hepatitis or HIV infection.

Mental effects:

A user may feel excited, energetic, or euphoric. The drug may also increase a person’s ability to pay attention and to focus. It may also cause mental and behavioral problems with frequent use.

Physical effects:

Methamphetamine can cause rapid breathing, changes in heartbeat rhythm and speed, and increased body temperature, or hyperthermia.

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