Illegal and Illicit Drug

Use

What Makes a Drug Illegal?

Illegal Drugs

• Schedule I and II drugs• Possession of these drugs is

a felony offense under federal law

Illicit Drugs

• Drugs that are taken outside their regulated or medically prescribed use

• Illicit drug use is illegal

Categories of Drugs

HallucinogensStimulants

Depressants

HallucinogensLSD

MarijuanaPCP (also a stimulant)

Psilocybin

LSD“Acid”

How Taken Ingested, contact

Duration of Effect 6-10 hrs

Effects chills, anxiety, restlessness, tightness in muscles of face and throat, queasy stomach, tingling in the extremities, drowsiness, dilated pupils, rapid pulse, elevation in temp and blood pressure

colors are more vivid, sounds are louder, depth perception is confused, sensory crossover

effects are unpredictableWithdrawal None noted

Long-Term Health Problems prolonged psychotic reactions, worsening of pre-existing psychiatric illness, severe depression, and/or flashbacks

Psilocybin“Mushrooms”

How Taken Smoked, Injested, Injected

Duration of Effect 3-6hrs

Effects Yawning, restlessness, chills, weakness in the legs, stomach discomfort, nausea

Heightened visual imagery, sense of wanting to laugh

Withdrawal Fatigue

Long-Term Health Problems Psychotic reactionsExacerbations of pre-existing mental illness

PCP“Angel Dust”

How Taken Ingested, smoked, snorted, injected

Duration of Effect 8 hrs

Effects Loss of pain sensation, slurred speech, numbness, depression, muscle rigidity, lack of coordination, combative behavior, distorted mental images, hallucinations

Withdrawal Depression, anxiety, irritability, excessive sleep, craving for PCP

Long-Term Health Effects Auditory and visual hallucinations, flashbacks, possible spasms in arteries of brain

MarijuanaHow Taken Ingested, smoked, inhaled

Duration of Effect 2-4 hrs

Effects euphoria, relaxed inhibitions, increased appetite, and disorientation, dry mouth, dizziness, heightened visual and auditory awareness, concentration, learning, perception, and fine muscle skills are impaired

Withdrawal Insomnia, hyperactivity, decreased appetite, nausea, diarrhea, restlessness, irritability, depression, anxiety, salivation, sweating ,tremors

Long-Term Health Problems Lung disease, weakened immune system, impairment of memory, schizophrenia, mental illness

StimulantsAmphetamines

CocaineMDMA

AmphetaminesHow Taken Injected, smoked, snorted,

injestedDuration Effect 2-8 hours

Physical Danger High

Addiction Potential High

Commonly Abused Amphetamines

Amphetamine Adderall, Speed

Methamphetamine Meth

Dextromethamphetamine Ice

Methylphenidate Ritalin

CocaineHow Taken: Powder: Crack: Freebase:

Ingested, snorted, injected, appliedSmoked, injectedSmoked

Duration of Effect 1-2 hours

Effects increased alertness, excitation, feeling of confidence and well-being, increased pulse rate, increased bp, insomnia, loss of appetite

Withdrawal Fatigue, depression, apathy, irritability, disorientation, lethargy, muscular aches, abdominal pain, chills, tremors, exhaustion, decreased consciousness

Long-Term Health Effects Severe depression, irritability, chest congestion, paranoia, loss of sexual desire, memory lapses, chronic cough, violent behavior, suicide attempts, seizures, stomach ulcers, damage to intestines, cocaine nose, pulmonary edema, inflammation of the heart, rupture of the aorta, myocardial fibrosis, heart attack, spastic jerks

Cocaine• 2-3% of women who give birth have used cocaine during their

pregnancy• Cocaine babies are born prematurely, jittery, cranky, and

sensitive to stimuli. Some have strokes before they are born and use can cause separation of the placenta from the uterus, which cuts of the babies blood supply

• Cocaine paranoia has led people to bleed to death in the attempt to escape an imagined infestation

• When rats and monkeys are trained to press a lever to deliver an intravenous dose of cocaine, they press it up to 300x to get a single injection. If they are given free access, they take it until they collapse into convulsions.

MDMA“Ecstasy”

How Taken Ingested, snorted, injected

Duration of Effect 3-6 hrs

Effects increases levels of serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, elevated mood with a feeling of euphoria, intimacy, closeness to others, loss of appetite, rapid heart rate, teeth grinding, dilated pupils, sweating, sudden death

Withdrawal Tired, uncaring, miserable, increase in stress, muscular aches, abdominal pain, chills, tremors, deep depression, lack of energy, suicidal feelings

Long-Term Health Effects Panic attacks, paranoid psychotic symptoms, irreversible effect on brain functioning, destroy nerve terminal that releases serotonin

DepressantsOpiates

GHBFlunitrazepam

OpiatesHow Taken Ingested, smoked, snorted, injected

Duration of Effect 2-6 hrs

Effects Euphoria, physical, mental relaxation, drowsiness, respiratory depression, constricted pupils, dull facial appearance, ptosis (drooping of upper eyelid), nausea, vasodilation, slurred speech, impaired attention, impaired memory, nod, mental dullness, impaired judgement, impaired social function, overall confusion, itching, skin rash

Withdrawal Flu-like symptoms, watery eyes, runny nose, yawning, sweating, loss of sppetite, tremors, panic, muscle cramp, restless legs, nausea, vomiting diarrhea, fever, chills, extreme insomnia, dysphoria

Long-Term Health Effects Impotence, constipation, risk of potency and purity, risky behaviors of drug addiction

Commonly Abused Opiates

OpiumHeroin

Oxycodone (Oxycontin)Fetanyl

Morphine

GHB“Liquid Ecstasy”

How Taken Ingested

Duration of Effect 2-6 hrs

Effects CNS depression, extreme slowing of the heart, and slow, deep respiration, blurred vision, dizziness, stumbling, respiratory failure, coma, and death, Burning of the lips, abnormally low body temperature, nausea and vomiting

Withdrawal Dizziness, drowsiness, headache, vomiting, incontinence, trouble breathing, temporary amnesia, seizures, uncontrollable shaking

Long-Term Effects Not enough long-term studies

Flunitrazepan“Roofies”

How Taken Ingested, snorted

Duration of Effect 6-12hrs

Effects Decreased blood pressure, memory impairment, drowsiness, visual disturbances, dizziness, confusion, severe intoxication, sedation, memory loss

Withdrawal Headache, muscle pain, extreme anxiety, tension, restlessness, confusion, irritability, numbness in limbs, feeling of loss of identity, hallucinations, deliriums, seizures, shock, heart failure

Long-Term Health Effects Impaired mental functioning, depression, physical dependence

Schedule I vs. Schedule II Substances

Schedule I

• High abuse potential with no accepted medical use.

• May not be prescribed• Ex.: Heroin, marijuana,

LSD

Schedule II• High abuse potential

but also an accepted medical use

• May be prescribed with stringent regulations

• Ex.: Morphine, cocaine, amphetamines, and barbituates

Legal Issues1st Offense for manufacturing, selling, distributing, giving or possessing with

the intent to manufacture, sell, give or distribute (Va. Code Ann. at 18.2-248 and 18.2-11) Schedule I and II drugs, and transporting into Virginia one

or more ounces of cocaine and five or more pounds of marijuana with intent to sell or distribute: not less than five years nor more than 40 years;

fine not more than $500,000.

Possession of a schedule I or II drug: not less than one year nor more than 10 years; or, in some cases, up to 12 months and fine of $2,500. Class 5

Felony.