ISSUES
: Drugs
Chapter 1: Drug issues
2
Other risks
Cannabis smoke contains 50
per cent more tar than high-tar
cigarettes, which puts users at an
increased risk of lung cancer and
other respiratory diseases.
Cocaine
Crack/Bazooka/Blanche/
Cake/Coke/Lady
What is it?
Cocaine is a fine white or off-white
powder that acts as a powerful
stimulant. It is extracted from the
leaves of the coca plant. On the street,
it can be diluted or ‘cut’ with other
substances to increase the quantity.
Crack is cocaine that has been further
processed with ammonia or sodium
bicarbonate (baking soda) and looks
like small flakes or rocks.
How is it taken?
Cocaine is usually sniffed/snorted or
injected, whereas crack is smoked.
How does it affect users?
Cocaine can make users feel
exhilarated
and
euphoric.
Furthermore, users often experience
a temporary increase in alertness and
energy levels and delayed hunger and
fatigue.
What are the risks associated with
cocaine use?
Short-term effects include loss
of appetite, faster breathing and
increasedbody temperature and heart
rate. Users may behave
bizarrely,
erratically
and sometimes
violently.
Excessive doses of cocaine may
lead to convulsions, seizures, stroke,
cerebral haemorrhage or heart failure.
Long-term users of cocaine risk a
number of health problems, some of
them depending on how they take
the drug. Sniffing cocaine severely
damages nose tissue; smoking can
cause respiratory problems; whilst
injection can lead to abscesses
and infectious diseases. Other
risks, regardless of how the drug is
taken, include strong psychological
dependence, malnutrition, weight
loss, disorientation, apathy and a
state similar to paranoid psychosis.
Other risks
Mixing cocaine with alcohol is a
dangerous cocktail and can greatly
increase the chances of sudden
death.
Ecstasy
E/Snackies/New Yorkers
What is it?
Ecstasy is a psychoactive stimulant,
usually made in illegal laboratories. In
fact, the term ‘ecstasy’ has evolved
and no longer refers to a single
substance but a range of substances
similar in effect on users. Frequently,
any tablet with a logo is now referred to
as ‘ecstasy’ regardless of its chemical
makeup.
While the drug is usually distributed
as a tablet, it can also be a powder
or capsule. Tablets can have many
different shapes and sizes.
How is it taken?
It is usually swallowed but can also be
snorted or injected.
How does it affect users?
Ecstasy can heighten users’ empathy
levels and induce a feeling of
closeness to people around them.
It can also make users feel more
sociable and energetic.
What are the risks associated with
ecstasy use?
In the short term, ecstasy can make
the body ignore distress signals
such as dehydration, dizziness and
exhaustion and it can interfere with the
body’s ability to regulate temperature.
Furthermore, ecstasy can severely
damage organs such as the liver
and the kidneys. Use can lead to
convulsions and heart failure.
Large doses of ecstasy also cause
restlessness, anxiety and severe
hallucinations.
Long-term ecstasy use can damage
certain parts of the brain, resulting in
serious depression and memory loss.
Other risks
Tablets or pills that are sold as
‘ecstasy’ may contain other potentially
dangerous substances which can
vary widely in strength and effects
Heroin
Smack/H/Horse/Junk/Harry/
White lady
What is it?
Heroin is an addictive drug with
pain-killing properties processed
from morphine, a naturally
occurring substance from the
opium poppy plant. Pure heroin
is a white powder. Street heroin is
usually brownish white because it
is diluted or ‘cut’ with impurities,
meaning each dose is different.
How is it taken?
It is usually injected but can also
be snorted, smoked or inhaled.
