Drugs Of Abuse - Sunshine Coast Health Centre

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Drug Identifi cation Guide Are you interested in presenting addiction prevention information to a group? Drugs of Abuse PowerPoint presentation now available. For more info call Sunshine Coast Health Center at 1.866.487.9050 Drugs of Abuse: an Identifi cation Guide is a public service publication produced by Sunshine Coast Health Center. Sunshine Coast Health Center would like to acknowledge the support of Jack Hirose and Associates, Inc. for their fi nancial contribution to the cost of producing this guide. 4 Additional copies of this guide are available from: Sunshine Coast Health Center, Toll-free number: 1.866.487.9010 This publication is also available in digital format on the Sunshine Coast Health Center web site at: www.schc.ca SOURCES OF DATA Drug Enforcement Administration (2005). Drugs of Abuse. US Department of Justice. Health Canada (2000). Straight Facts About Drugs & Drug Abuse. Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada (H39-65/2000E). National Highway Traffi c Safety Administration (NHTSA) www.nhtsa.dot.gov National Institute on Drug Abuse (2006). NIDA InfoFacts. US Department of Health & Human Services www.drugabuse.gov Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (2004). Canadian Addiction Survey. California Highway Patrol www.chp.ca.gov Disclaimer This guide is intended to provide you, the reader, with information on drugs of abuse. Readers should be aware that this publication is not intended and should not be construed to be legal advice. Sunshine Coast Health Center is not responsible for any problems that may develop from the use or misuse of the information provided in this guide. Copyright © 2010 by Sunshine Coast Health Centre (2005) Ltd., Powell River, British Columbia V8A 4Z2 All rights reserved. This publication or any part thereof may not be reproduced in any form or by any means without the written permission of Sunshine Coast Health Center or the publisher of the Drugs of Abuse chart on page 6-7. Please consult the reference provided.
Why This Guide? “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Benjamin Franklin The key to eff ective prevention is knowledge. This guide is designed to inform families, employers, and educators not familiar with the vast array of abused drugs now commonplace in our communities. Some of these drugs, such as inhalants, can be found in any supermarket or hardware store. Prescription drugs have legitimate medical applications but are being increasingly diverted for illicit purposes. Other “hardcore” drugs, such as crack cocaine, are now commonplace in many schools, work sites, and homes across North America. When Drug Use Becomes Drug Dependence When drugs are used solely to create intensely pleasurable feelings, it is called drug abuse. Tolerance to the drugs’ eff ects occurs with long-term use, so users must take higher doses to achieve the same or similar eff ects as experienced initially. Prolonged drug abuse can also lead to physical dependence, psychological dependence, or both. Physical dependence means that the absence of the drug creates discomfort (withdrawal) until more of the drug is administered. Psychological dependence refers to a perceived “need” or “craving” for a drug. While physical dependence is typically treated in a few days, treatment for psychological dependence requires a much longer time frame. Drug Categories Explained The Controlled Drugs and Substances Act in Canada regulates four classes of drugs: hallucinogens, depressants, stimulants, and anabolic steroids. All controlled substances have the potential to be abused. With the exception of anabolic steroids, controlled substances are abused to alter mood, thought, and feeling through their eff ect on the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). Drugs are distinguished by their eff ect on the central nervous system (depressants or stimulants), by their primary ingredient (the poppy plant for opioids, testosterone for steroids), or how they are used (inhalants). Individual drugs within a class can have diff ering medical uses, eff ect duration, or methods of Sunshine Coast Health Center ingestion (oral, injected, smoked, or snorted). However, drugs within a particular class typically share similar eff ects, overdose risk, and withdrawal symptoms. Although considered a hallucinogen, the prevalence and unique features of cannabis warrant a separate section. Inhalants are abused drugs but, due to their widespread use for a number of legitimate purposes, are not controlled substances. Due to their abuse potential, however, a section is dedicated to inhalants. Families and educators may want to pay particular attention to inhalants since most inhalant abusers are youth. Prevalence of Drug Abuse in Canada A fi nal note on the prevalence of the drugs profi led in this guide is necessary. Of Canadians 15 years or older, a survey conducted in 2004 revealed that alcohol is, by far, the drug of choice with 79.3 percent report consuming alcohol in the past year. Of past-year drinkers, 17 percent are considered high-risk drinkers. According to the same survey, “cannabis is the most widely used illicit drug followed in order by LSD or hallucinogens, cocaine and crack, speed, and heroin.” Rates of past-year use of cannabis increased signifi cantly from 7.4 percent in 1994 to 14.1 percent in 2004, while cocaine and crack use more than doubled from 0.7 percent to 1.9 percent during the same period. Rates of past-year use for all other substances (including steroids and inhalants) remained below 1 percent. (source: Canadian Addiction Survey, 2004). In Canada, tobacco is the leading preventable cause of death. Exclusion from this guide is not intended to minimize its impact on the well-being of Canadians. Changes in this Edition In this 2010/11 edition of this guide, changes have been made to the marijuana section. Furthermore, information on barbiturates has been replaced with additional photographs of more commonly prescribed drugs. Photos of Canadian and US prescribed drugs are now distinguished by fl ags. Symbols have been placed next to certain prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications that should be taken with caution. These “Medication Alert” symbols are provided in the hallucinogens, depressants, and stimulants sections. 5
Page 1 and 2: Drugs of Abuse An Identifi cation G
Page 3: Table of Contents Why This Guide? .
Page 7 and 8: 3 STIMULANTS Stimulants (from the L
Page 9 and 10: (L) LSD caps contain bright-coloure
Page 11 and 12: commonly reported unpleasant eff ec
Page 13 and 14: prescribed include oxycodone, hydro
Page 15 and 16: An “8-ball” of heroin. collapsi
Page 17 and 18: a balloon fi lled with nitrous oxid
Page 19 and 20: Class 3 STIMULANTS Cocaine Big C, b
Page 21 and 22: “Meth mouth.” Source: Christoph
Page 23 and 24: Class 5 CANNABIS Marijuana Aunt Mar
Page 25 and 26: Drug Paraphernalia Drug paraphernal
Page 27 and 28: panic. You need to know four basic

Drugs Of Abuse - Sunshine Coast Health Centre

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