Intervention |

Drug Information

VIDEO

• FULL EPISODE | 42:12

  

  Brittany T.

  Airdate: 06/20/2011

• FULL EPISODE | 41:18

  

  Michael

  Airdate: 03/21/2011

• BONUS SCENE | 2:19

  

  Extended Intervention: Eric

• FULL EPISODE | 40:55

  

  Tiffany

  Airdate: 03/14/2011

• FULL EPISODE | 41:43

  

  Jamie

  Airdate: 03/07/2011

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  Extended Intervention: Gina

• FULL EPISODE | 43:04

  

  Benny

  Airdate: 02/07/2011

• BONUS SCENE | 2:42

  

  Extended Intervention: Kaila

• BONUS SCENE | 2:01

  

  Extended Intervention: Ryan

• BONUS SCENE | 3:12

  

  Extended Intervention: Dana

• BONUS SCENE | 2:48

  

  Extended Intervention: Jessica

• FULL EPISODE | 44:13

  

  Jimmy

  Airdate: 01/10/2011

• FULL EPISODE | 44:10

  

  Erin

  Airdate: 01/03/2011

• FULL EPISODE | 43:15

  

  Darick

  Airdate: 12/20/2010

• BONUS SCENE | 1:48

  

  Extended Intervention: Andrew

PCP

Chemical, medical, or scientific name:

phencyclidine

Street names:

Often called angel dust, this drug is also known as hog, peace, supergrass, and zoot.

Drug Classification:

Dissociative anesthetic

While PCP was created to be used as an anesthetic during surgery, it was never approved for use in humans. Reportedly the side effects were too severe—instead it became a veterinary drug. It called a dissociative drug because it creates a detached, “out of body” type of feeling in the user. He or she feels separate from what is going on around him or her. PCP first became popular in the 1960s as a pill, but it is now found in many forms and can be injected, swallowed, snorted, or smoked. It is sometimes mixed with other drugs, such as marijuana.

Short-term effects:

The drug affects motor function as well as heart rate and blood pressure. PCP is especially dangerous because the possible adverse reactions, which are impossible to predict. Violent or aggressive behavior, panic, and delusions as well as depression or suicidal feelings may occur. It can produce a sense of incredible strength as well as alter a user’s sense of reality.

Long-term effects:

Extensive PCP users can experience memory loss and impaired thinking and speech.

Mental effects:

PCP impacts the human mind in a number of ways. Along with its ability to separate the user from reality, it can bring on feelings of aggression and depression. It may also distort the user’s sense of self as well as his or her sense of time and space.

Physical effects:

Depending on the dose, effects range from changes in heart rate and blood pressure and elevated body temperature to blurred vision and cardiac and respiratory problems. There have also been reports of muscle contractions—ones so strong as to cause injury. In high doses, the drug may cause convulsions, coma, and even death.

Prescription Pain Relievers

Chemical, medical, or scientific name:

morphine, codeine, hydrocodone bitartrate, and oxycodone among others

Drug Classification:

Opioids

When used properly, this class of morphine- and opium-related drugs effectively helps reduce and eliminate pain in patients suffering from a variety of ailments and health problems. They, however, can be dangerous when taken without medical supervision. These drugs have become popular with people obtaining them for recreational purposes. This is a large-scale problem with about 1.5 million people having a dependence on or abuse of these pain relievers, according to the 2005 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

Short-term effects:

Besides their abilities at blocking pain, these drugs can bring on a feeling of euphoria, or a high. They may also make the user drowsy, nauseous, or constipated. While these medications are safe for their prescribed short-term use, they can depress breathing function if taken in a too large of a dose. This can result in death in some cases, especially when these drugs are used in combination with others.

Long-term effects:

Extensive abuse of these medications over a long period can lead to dependence. A person can experience intense withdrawal from these drugs once they are stopped, which is marked by physical pain, vomiting, sudden chills, and other symptoms. They can be physical addictive and a tolerance to these medications can develop, requiring larger doses of the drug to its initial effects.

Mental effects:

Users often experience a feeling of improved well being or a high when using prescription pain relievers. This happens because the drugs affect parts of the brain related to pleasure.

Physical effects:

These prescription narcotics provide pain relief, but they can also cause drowsiness, nausea, and in large doses, breathing problems.

Psilocybin

Chemical, medical, or scientific name:

phosphorylated 4-hydroxydimethyltryptamine

Street names:

This drug is largely known by its delivery system—magic mushrooms or shrooms.

Drug Classification:

Hallucinogen

Psilocybin is found naturally in several mushroom species found in parts of the United States, Mexico, and South America. Native peoples in some of these areas have used the drug in religious ceremonies and practices for hundreds of years. Considered a milder hallucinogen than LSD, the effect of taking these mushrooms varies as the level of the active chemical differs depending on the type of mushroom. While the main chemical in these mushrooms can be created synthetically, most users ingested a dried version of the mushroom.

Short-term effects:

The high from psilocybin leads to altered sensory perceptions. The senses of sight, sound, taste, and touch may become magnified or distorted by the drug as well as bring on changes in mood. This altered state can be a pleasant sensation or an extremely painful one; some users report having attacks of anxiety and paranoia. Because some mushrooms are extremely toxic and it is often difficult to identify the correct types of these fungi, users face the added risk of accidental poisoning.

Long-term effects:

Like mescaline and LSD, users may experience hallucinogen persisting perception disorder (HPPD), commonly known as “flashbacks.” These flashbacks are a type of momentary hallucination and are most commonly visual in nature.

Mental effects:

Like other hallucinogens, this drug distorts sensory perceptions and may enhance or change emotional states. Along with its reality-altering properties, psilocybin has induced bouts of increased anxiety and mental confusion in some users. Some reports indicate that people with mental conditions, such as schizophrenia, should avoid the drug as they may have an especially adverse reaction.

Physical effects:

Taking psilocybin may cause nausea, dizziness, and sweating.

Rohypnol

Chemical, medical, or scientific name:

flunitrazepam

Street names:

Often referred as roofies, this drug is also known as the forget-me pill and rope.

Drug Classification:

Depressant

Called a “date rape” drug, Rohypnol has a history of being used in sexual assaults. Along with its sedative capabilities, it can cause memory loss, leaving the user without any recollection what took place while under its influence. It is also taken recreationally to relax, to reduce anxiety, and to feel intoxicated. It is usually swallowed or snorted.

Short-term effects:

Rohypnol lowers a user’s inhibitions and anxiety level as well as decreases his or her blood pressure and pulse. The drug may slow a person’s breathing, leading to respiratory problems—or even death.

Long-term effects:

If taken for long periods of time, users may become dependent on the drug. Like other sedatives, it may have a lasting effect on brain functioning with extensive use.

Mental effects:

Rohypnol can reduce anxiety and can have a hypnotic effect in which the user is partly or fully conscious as well as cause amnesia while under the drug’s influence.

Physical effects:

Like GHB, Rohypnol depresses the central nervous system. It can cause death when mixed with alcohol or other drugs.

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