Health Report - Subject: Narcotics
By Dani Hiller
This comprehensive guide to controlled substances and their abuse was created not with the intention to promote or even discourage drug usage, but to provide much needed information to those who might be using these substances in ignorance.
I. Downers
While all drugs are taken in hopes of provoking physical and mental changes in their users, there are many commonly distributed substances that do more to subdue a person than to produce a heightened change in their behavior. Drugs such as marijuana and alcohol, instead of bringing a person up and making them more active actually produce more lethargic results, which often leave their users passed out and unconscious as opposed to running around getting into trouble. These substances suppress the user�s synaptic waves, providing them with a less meaningful experience. For example, someone may smoke weed in hopes of having a mental spiritual journey and wake up hours later only to find out that they have slept through their high instead, or they may become fascinated with something completely nonsensical, such as a normally unentertaining television program, and forget about the reason for their high altogether.
Drugs such as these are often used socially, with the focus being on everyone having a good time, as opposed to one person trying to get as high as possible, as sometimes happens with drugs that have more of an impact. Because of this, many people may find themselves smoking more than they normally would or drinking regularly, because their friends are doing it, not necessarily because that was their whole plan for their day, leading to the general idea that this type of drug usage is peer-pressure related.
These drugs rarely have a dramatic affect overall on the person taking them, and the affects that are experienced are often short-lived, lasting for a night or an evening at the most. They are generally very easy to find and come cheap, with the noticeable exception of heroin, which shuts down the body�s functioning capabilities to the point where all the user can feel is the �cool� sensations of the drug, leaving them practically useless for anything else. Another serious affect of heroin is the malfunction of the renal system, which hinders the body�s ability to dispose of waste properly, making for some very unpleasant and non-cool experiences.
Many of the negative affects of taking these drugs are not readily noticed because they are accumulative and somewhat non-direct. For example, smoking pot is likely to result in eventual weight gain due to the increased appetites of its users, not because the plant itself actually makes people fat. People who drink on a semi-serious basis often find that they have gained facial weight or are constantly appearing bloated because the alcohol makes them more likely to retain water. People who smoke marijuana on a regular basis may feel as if they have strep throat or a cold, because the act of smoking out of metal pipes causes their throats to hurt.
Another thing to be considered is that those under the influence of these substances may be more likely to overanalyze things, turning a slightly suspicious person into a full-blown paranoia freak, or bringing someone who is slightly upset onto the brink of depression. Suffice to say, only healthy, happy people should attempt to use downers, and if they are healthy and happy already there may not be much of a point.
II. Stimulants or Uppers
The most commonly used stimulants are crystal meth, PCP, cocaine and exstacy. These drugs are more likely to have a dramatic affect on a person�s system and carry a higher potential for danger, as illustrated by coke and exstacy, which have both been known to kill first-time users. Generally this comes about through inappropriate use, an understandable circumstance, seeing as these drugs generally have different affects depending on the user and so called �safe� dosages may not always be easily calculated by those who are inexperienced.
Unlike downers, which are likely to make a person feel less capable of accomplishing things physically, uppers often have the opposite affect, causing their users to be hyperactive and energetic. This is why when people think of crystal meth users they often picture someone cleaning a house. These types of stimulants may very well cause a usually unmotivated person to pick up simply because they feel that they must have something to do.
Malnutrition is a frequent side affect of using stimulants because most of these drugs make the user feel distanced from any need to eat or take care of themselves. People have been known to become severely dehydrated on exstacy, simply because they were performing physical activities such as dancing for long periods of time and forgot to drink water. Meth and similar substance are also responsible for weakening the immune system, making their users more likely to become sick and less likely to take care of themselves because they are on the drug.
A feeling of invincibility is often experienced as well, which can lead to extremely dumb acts being committed by people who would ordinarily never consider such activities but end up doing something illegal because they were on coke or what-not and thought that they would never be caught or that it would be funny. Sometimes individuals even think that because they are on drugs nothing bad will happen to them, despite the fact that their altered perceptions are more likely to bring about unpleasant situations due to their lack of an ability to reason clearly or anticipate the consequences of their actions.
Sleep deprivation can be a major concern for those who are using meth because the substance generally removes their ability to fall asleep. At some point the drug always wears off, forcing the person to deal with the affects of staying up for an entire night or whatever period of time without sleeping. This may lead to cranky behavior and unpleasant physical sensations that would generally not be experienced with less system-ravaging drugs. Another thing to be considered is the fact that many people do not stop after a single day or night of using meth but instead choose to extend their trip for several days, which understandably brings about a much more unpleasant down period and can also cause the individual to have an unhealthy appearance. People using meth are sometimes known to become slightly self-involved, prioritizing their usage above all other activities, and they are far less likely to share their drug with friends, which furthers their self-imposed isolation and may lead to a deterioration of social skills.
Cocaine, which is known at the �rich man�s drug�, can easily have negative affects on its users bank accounts, due to the fact that it is somewhat expensive, extremely addictive and lasts for a short period of time. Because the experience is known to be so exhilarating, people often find themselves literally blowing away money they may not have in an attempt to repeat it again and again, perhaps in hopes of avoiding the extremely unpleasant crash that follows usage. Unlike marijuana, which is merely habit forming, and meth, which is only psychologically addictive, cocaine users actually experience physical addiction and usually go through withdrawal symptoms when they stop using. Cocaine is also responsible for weight fluctuations, such as making a person appear overly thin when using and somewhat overweight after they stop. People who use cocaine in an attempt to speed up productivity for business purposes should be aware that the drug is more likely to drain their income than expand it and due to the violent mood swings it sometimes causes, it�s not exactly known to improve one�s social standing, despite the attractive image it may have achieved due to celebrity usage.
III. Hallucinogens
Drugs such as LSD and mushrooms, which are known to cause mind-altering experiences and outrageous hallucinations, were made popular during the 60�s and 70�s and are still being used in watered-down forms today. These substances supposedly provide the �ultimate drug experience� due to the fact that they completely dominate the user�s mind and physical sensations, making them literal �slaves to the drug� until the point where they finally come down, which is often hard to determine. Depending upon the potency and the dosage taken, acid may take anywhere from twelve hours to several days before it stops affecting the user�s actions and thought process. LSD has also been known to affect a dramatic change in the user�s personality, even after only the first time of using it. Long-term side affects may include odd twitches, sight or touch associations that provoke certain reactions or altered memory patterns. While the much talked about �acid flashbacks� rarely occur, the experience in and of itself is a changing one and a tripper can always be depended upon to act like an utter and complete idiot, at least for the duration of their trip.
Another thing to watch out for when using acid is bad trips, which occur when something unpleasant happens to the person while they are on acid which makes a lasting impression, or when someone takes the drug while they are feeling unhappy or otherwise distraught. This happens because all of the sensations that are felt while a person is on acid are extremely heightened and their thought process is intensified, which can cause trippers to make a huge deal out of something that is relatively insignificant or completely imaginary.
LSD is also hard to come by and it is impossible to gauge the purity or effectiveness of the substance until it is taken. A person who normally takes five hits and does just fine may be in for a surprising incident if they should happen upon really potent acid and take it unaware. People using acid should always be very mindful of their limits concerning dosage, seeing as it�s easy to propel oneself into a bad trip or premature insanity simply by taking too much of it at any one time.
People who overuse acid may have trouble operating within society, because it strips away the user�s basic ability to do everything from having a rational conversation to preparing food and eating, and securing transportation. LSD is one of the only substances that marks a person as certifiably insane based on usage alone. Rare cases have been reported of people perma-tripping themselves and never regaining sobriety. They are continuously forced to replay aspects of a trip gone wrong. At one point the mere act of selling someone LSD could bring about a manslaughter charge.
Mushrooms are a more natural alternative and are known for producing more intense visuals and hallucinations. They are also not as easy to find as the more mainstream drugs and the results are unpredictable, varying from person to person. They must be chewed, despite the fact that the taste is revolting, and sometimes users may become sick after taking them. Use is not very widespread and the long-term affects are not well known.
Conclusion: The Dumb things that People will do for a Rush
Huffing: it kills brain cells and is generally thought of as an activity that only idiots and desperate people would pursue. The affects probably last as long as an intake of helium.
Prescription Drugs: generally abused by people who either don�t have or don�t need a prescription. One can conclude that they�re supposed to make you feel good but often end up making their user look ill. Maybe they should take something for that.
Large Doses of Over-the-Counter Pills: While one can generally expect to feel really funny and obviously drugged out after taking ten pills of suedofed, chloroseadin, ect., if it was good for you there wouldn�t be all those warning labels. Expect to get sick and feel stupid when you tell your friends how you spent the night before.
Smoking crack: do you want to be known as a crack head? Is that going to look good on your resume? Even stoners have more self-respect than that.
Anything that makes your teeth fall out: this shouldn�t require an explanation.