Individual Drug InfoIndividual Drug InfoWinter 2014

Similar Properties Across Similar Properties Across DrugsDrugsWithdrawal (physical

dependence)Psychological dependenceTolerance

DifferencesDifferencesFormsAvailabilityDEA ScheduleEffects

◦Acute◦Chronic◦Overdose

Photo, originally taken by Thoric, available to use in the public domain

MethamphetamineMethamphetamine

MethamphetamineMethamphetamine Famous/notorious for laboratory production, short-

term dopamine effects & long-term effects Stimulant (blood pressure, heart rate, alertness) DEA: Schedule II substance (Desoxyn: ADD,

narcolepsy, weight control)

Methamphetamine acute Methamphetamine acute effectseffects Intense high/euphoria

◦ May last up to 12 hours (longer than cocaine)◦ Meth Inside and Out video describing effects

Energetic, talkative, excitable Insomnia Increased heart rate, blood pressure Sweating Dry mouth Jaw clenching Nausea, vomiting Comparison: meth vs cocaine,Brookhaven

National Laboratory, 2008Overdose DAWN: “stimulants including amphetamines and

methamphetamine” led to 93,562 emergency department visits in 2009

Methamphetamine chronic Methamphetamine chronic effectseffects Chronic users may experience hallucinations, rage,

paranoia, heart “meth mouth;” damage to dopamine-, serotonin-containing nerve cells◦ Crank Bugs (Meth Project)◦ Meth Mouth (Meth Project)◦ Ashley’s Story (Meth Project)◦ Research supports both brain damage as well as lack of

brain damage

Methamphetamine Methamphetamine Chronic EffectsChronic Effects

Before & After Photos

Before and After Photos

3 Years and 5 months after starting methMeth Awareness Prevention Project: http://www.mappsd.org/Faces%20of%20Meth.htm

Before and After

17 months after starting methMeth Awareness Prevention Project: http://www.mappsd.org/Faces%20of%20Meth.htm

Before and After

3 months laterMeth Awareness Prevention Project: http://www.mappsd.org/Faces%20of%20Meth.htm

LSDLSD

LSDLSD• Albert Hoffman: “Last Friday,

April 16,1943, I was forced to interrupt my work in the laboratory in the middle of the afternoon and proceed home, being affected by a remarkable restlessness, combined with a slight dizziness. At home I lay down and sank into a not unpleasant intoxicated-like condition, characterized by an extremely stimulated imagination. In a dreamlike state, with eyes closed (I found the daylight to be unpleasantly glaring), I perceived an uninterrupted stream of fantastic pictures, extraordinary shapes with intense, kaleidoscopic play of colors. After some two hours this condition faded away.”

LSDLSD• Schedule I hallucinogen synthesized in 1930s

• Manufacturing secretive: Nick Sand (National Geographic, 3:39)

• LSD acute effects• Visual hallucinations (images, color, light)• Altered perception of senses

• “Seeing sounds, hearing colors”• Color, size of objects

• Altered perception of time, depth• Potential anxiety/panic• Experiences can vary widely• Serotonin receptors may be excited or inhibited• LSD experimentation on British soldiers (YouTube.com)

Overdose◦ Thought to be rare, but some individuals may not respond

well, or may experience problems if drug is different than LSD◦ DAWN: 4,028 emergency department visits in 2009

LSDLSDChronic effects may involve

flashbacks◦Sudden onset of abnormal

perceptions◦Hallucinogen Persisting Perception

Disorder Visual images remain longer than in

consciousness Dr. Henry Abraham (Tufts University)

blog

MDMAMDMA3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine

MDMAMDMA• Molly, Ecstasy,

Thizz• Synthetic drug• Stimulant and

hallucinogenic properties

MDMAMDMAAcute effects:

◦ Euphoria◦ Feelings of empathy/warmth toward others◦ Jaw clenching◦ Increased heart rate, blood pressure, perceived energy◦ Common “rave” or similar environment can lead to excessive

physical activity, dehydration, increased body temperature◦ Blurred vision/involuntary eye movement◦ Effects will vary since formula is not standardized or

regulated◦ Effects will vary based on the synthetic nature of substance◦ MDMA-assisted therapy (Multidisciplinary Association for

Psychedelic Studies, video; 0-2:00; 14 subjects, per website)Overdose◦ DAWN: 17,865 emergency department visits in 2008

MDMAMDMA Chronic effects

◦ Depression◦ Anxiety◦ Sleep issues◦ Effects controversial, per Carl Hart, Columbia University (YouTube)◦ Well-circulated animal studies showing neuron damage

Synthetics are currently Synthetics are currently popularpopular 2C-I, MDMA, bath salts, synthetic cannabis Lower price (think about economy’s influence) Drug popularity changes with time (synthetics were

popular in 1970s) Health-related issues will subsequently ebb and flow

as drugs move in and out of favor That acknowledged, some can be devastating:

Krokodil (CBS, 2013)

cannabiscannabis

CannabisCannabis Cannabis sativa

◦ Different subspecies/varietals used for clothing vs drug use

Active ingredient: THC DEA: Schedule I Despite state

regulations, marijuana still federally illegal

Medical cannabis Medical cannabis (12/13/13, source: procon.org)(12/13/13, source: procon.org)

Alaska (98) Montana (04)Arizona (10) Nevada (00)California (96) New Hampshire (13)Colorado (00) New Jersey (10)Connecticut (12) New Mexico (07)Delaware (11) Oregon (98)Hawaii (00) Rhode Island (06)Illinois (13) Vermont (04)Maine (99) Washington (98)Michigan (08) Washington, DC (10)

CannabisCannabisAcute effectsTHC acts on cannabinoid receptors, increases dopamine, serotoninIncreases appetiteEuphoria, may be followed by sedation/relaxationDizziness, lack of coordinationEyes glazed, redShort-term memory issuesASAP Science: Your Brain on Marijuana (via YouTube)Overdose Doesn’t generally doesn’t occur◦Large amount required◦Smoking a lot may induce sleepiness◦Eating too much may trigger nausea, vomiting◦Q13 News story, Michigan Mixing any chemical substances can potentially cause a problemDAWN: Over 400,000 emergency department visits, 2011

CannabisCannabisChronic effectsRespiratory distressMood swingsImpaired memory (potential hippocampus damage)Loss of motivation, sex drive2011 NIMH/NIDA study

◦Daily use may reduce brain receptor number

◦Receptors regenerated with cessation◦ Society of Nuclear Medicine. "Chronic marijuana smoking affects brain chemistry, molecular

imaging shows." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 13 June 2011. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110606131705.htm>.

HeroinHeroin

HeroinHeroinNarcoticSynthesized from morphine in late

1800’s◦ Morphine synthesized from opium poppy◦ Heroin 10x more powerful than morphine◦ Was thought to be less addictive◦ After many people became addicted,

heroin was outlawed in 1920’s◦ Drug Ads (wings.buffalo.edu)

Schedule I

Heroin AvailabilityHeroin AvailabilityDEA reports

most heroin in US comes from Mexico

At left, estimates of heroin production in Mexico, metric tons (USDOJ)

HeroinHeroinAcute effectsEuphoriaSlow, shallow respirationAnalgesiaSkin flushing/rednessStuporDry mouthNausea/vomitingOverdoseFrequently occurs when mixing with other substancesDAWN: 258,482 emergency department visits, 2011

Heroin: Chronic EffectsHeroin: Chronic EffectsRespiratory

problemsCollapsed veins

from injectionHigh rate of

injection use leads to increased disease transmission risk

MushroomsMushrooms

MushroomsMushrooms Psilocybin/psilocin are

two active psyhoacticve substances found in “magic mushrooms”

Couple dozen species Taken orally Recognized for centuriesProbably used in religious rites Hallucinogen Schedule I

MushroomsMushrooms Acute effects:

◦ Relaxation◦ Altered perception of reality◦ Altered perception of time◦ Sense of connection to others/universe◦ Visual hallucinations (images, color, light)◦ Potential for anxiety and subsequent panic, heart

rate & blood pressure increase Chronic effects:

◦ A “bad trip” may trigger fear◦ Hallucinogens may exacerbate mental illness

Being investigated as treatment for OCD, depression, smoking cessation◦ Johns Hopkins Psilocybin Cancer Project (via

YouTube, 0:30-4:03)

2C-I2C-I4-iodo-2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine

2C-I2C-I• 2,5-dimethoxy-4-

iodophenethylamine

• “Smiles”• Synthetic

substance• Usually inhaled or

taken orally; may also be taken via blotter paper

• Stimulant & hallucinogenic properties

• Schedule I

2C-I2C-I• Impacts dopamine &

serotonin• Onset of effects may

not be immediate, triggering overdose

• Little information on brain impact

• Additives, chemical changes make drug unpredictable, similar to bath salts

2C-I2C-IShort-term effects:Stimulant effects on heart rate, blood pressurePotential gastrointestinal effects (nausea, indigestion)At higher doses, hallucinogenic effectsVery little known about chronic effects