Drug misuse Flashcards
1
Q
Which drugs are classed as stimulants?
A
- Cocaine [charlie]
- Amphetamines [speed/whizz/billy]
2
Q
Notable info about cocaine:
A
- Most potent natural stimulant
- Extracted from leaves of coca plant
- First isolated in 1880s
- Formerly used in eye nose and throat surgery
3
Q
How is cocaine used?
A
- Snorted
- Coca leaves chewed or brewed
- Cocaine hydrochloride is snorted or injected
- Cocaine freebase or crack cocaine is smoked
4
Q
What are the rates of taking effect for cocaine?
A
- depends on dose and rate of entry to the brain
- smoking - almost immediate
- injecting - 15 to 30 secs
- snorting - 3 to 5 mins
- the effects of crack smoking are very intense but quickly over ( 15 mins)
5
Q
What are the effects of cocaine?
A
- stimulant and euphoriant
- increased alertness and energy
- increased confidence and impaired judgement
- lessens appetite and desire for sleep
- damage to nose and airways
- convulsions with respiratory failure
- cardiac arrhythmia’s and MI
- hypertension and CVA
- toxic confusion
- paranoid psychosis
6
Q
What are the withdrawal effects of cocaine?
A
- Depression
- Irritability
- Agitation
- Craving
- Hyperphagia
- Hypersomnia
7
Q
What is the general chemical for speed? How is it taken? How much does it generally cost? What are the effects?
A
- Generally amphetamine sulphate
- Sniffed, swallowed or injected
- Powder costs £10/g: ‘ice’ costs about £25/g
- Effects similar to cocaine but longer lasting
- Toxic confusion occasionally with convulsions and death
- Amphetamine psychosis in heavy chronic use
8
Q
Give some examples of opiates?
A
- Opium
- Morphine
- Heroin (diamorphine)
- Methadone
- Codeine and dihydrocodeine
9
Q
Is opium still smoked today?
A
- Opium is still smoked today
- The trade in opium was only regulated from the Hague Convention in 1911
- Previously regulation was resisted by UK
10
Q
Notable info about heroin?
A
- First synthesised from morphine in 1874
- Addictive potential unrecognised for years
- Available as diamorphine or as diamorphine hydrochloride
- May be presented as powder or as an almost tar like substance
- Purity varies from 1%- 98% with average of 35% in US
11
Q
Nicknames for heroin?
How is it taken?
Which is safest way to use heroin?
A
- Also known as H ,gear, smack or brown
- Taken by
- Snorting
- Smoking(chasing the dragon)
- Injection
- Smoking is safest, injecting the most dangerous method of use
12
Q
What are some of the physiological effects of heroin?
A
- Analgesia
- Drowsiness and sleep
- Mood change
- Resp. depression
- Cough reflex depression
- Decreased sympathetic outflow
- Pupillary constriction
- Sensitization of labrynth
- Lowered body temp
- Constipation
- Resp arrest with pulse
- Pinpoint pupils unreactive to light
- Bradycardia and hypotension
13
Q
What is the high from opiates?
A
Intense but transient feeling of pleasure
- “A rush”
- Almost orgasmic
- Physical and emotional anaesthetic
14
Q
What are the side effects of opiates?
A
- First time - nausea/vomiting and headache
- Medium term
- phlebitis
- Anorexia
- Constipation
- Longer term
- tolerance
- Withdrawal
- Social and health problems
15
Q
What are the symptoms of opiate withdrawal syndrome?
A
- craving
- insomnia
- yawning
- muscle pain and cramps
- increased salivary, nasal and lacrimal secretions
- dilated pupils
- piloerection (hence ‘cold turkey’)