FACTS ABOUT HALLUCINOGENS, STEROIDS, SOLVENTS, GLUE & OTHER INHALANTS

The term "hallucinogens" refers to a class of drugs that have the effect of strongly changing the user's perceptions of reality. These drugs can make people hear or see things that aren't really there ("hallucinate"), change the way they feel time is passing, distort colours and sounds and make people feel their minds are separated from their bodies. A person using these drugs may find these feelings pleasant or exciting or threatening or disturbing. The response can vary each time. Drug induced confusion from using these drugs can result in accidents and even accidental deaths.

Psylocybin ("mushrooms") and mescaline are the most popular of the hallucinogens. LSD was a drug that was popular in the 1970's but has decreased in use since then. PCP is not typically used but it has been added to or substituted for other drugs, producing surprising effects for the user.

PSYLOCYBIN (magic mushrooms, shrooms, shroomies)

This drug usually comes in a form of dried mushrooms, which are swallowed. However, it also can come as a powder in capsules. The powder can be sniffed, smoked, injected or mixed with liquid, such as juice and swallowed.

Effects:

• the person may feel relaxed or tired, with a sensation of lightness or heaviness
• the person may experience a numbness, nausea, shivering or sweating

LSD (acid, blotter, cid, microdot, windowpane)

LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) is a white, odourless, crystalline powder made in illegal laboratories. The pure drug is almost invisible. To be sold on the streets, it is packaged in tablets, capsules, gelatin sheets or pieces of blotting paper, often with cartoon drawings on them. It is usually taken by mouth.

Short-term Effects:

• the person may feel numb, weak muscled; pupils are dilated
• the person's blood pressure, heart rate and temperature will increase
• the person's motor skills and coordination are impaired
• the person's perception of time and distance is greatly changed
• the person may experience fear, anxiety or depression or even severe panic and may require medical attention or supervision

Long-term Effects:

• regular, long term use may result in depression and anxiety
• the person may experience "flash backs" of the LSD experience without actually using the drug

OTHER HALLUCINOGENS:

• Mescaline is derived from "buttons" of the peyote cactus, which are chopped or ground and sold in capsules or prepared chemically
• MDA is a white to light-brown powder or sometimes an amber liquid that is ordinarily swallowed
• PCP comes in the form of a white or coloured crystal or powder or tablet. It is usually mixed with tobacco or marihuana and smoked. Effects can last as long as two weeks. Users can become violent.

FACTS ABOUT STEROIDS; SOLVENTS, GLUE AND OTHER INHALANTS

There are a number of other drugs which most young people do not use but they are still of concern because they are popular among particular groups of young people.

STEROIDS

The most common are the "anabolic steroids" which are a chemically made form of the male sex hormone, testosterone. Young people, particularly males, use steroids to help them perform better in athletics, increase their muscles and change their appearance.

Short-term Effects:

• the person may become aggressive, edgy, impatient and paranoid
• the person may experience mood swings
• the person may experience headaches, nosebleeds, stomach aches, acne, increased blood pressure and heart beat

Long-term Effects:

• females may become more masculine looking, including body hair; some have been unable to bear children
• males may experience breast development, decrease in the size of their testicles and sperm count
• long and heavy use of steroids can cause irreversible liver damage and hardening of the arteries that may end in a heart attack or stroke

SOLVENTS, GLUE AND OTHER INHALANTS

The use of glue and other solvents is more popular with younger teens (in grades seven and eight) than older youth. These drugs are readily available in the form of household and commercial products and include nail polish remover, lighter fluid, cleaning fluids, paint thinner, gasoline and model airplane cement. The users inhale fumes by holding a bag or cloth containing the substance over the face.

Short-term Effects:

• the person may experience a euphoric feeling, light-headedness, exhilaration and vivid fantasies
• the person may experience nausea, drooling, sneezing and coughing, poor muscular control

Long-term Effects:

• the person may experience thirst, weight loss, nosebleeds, fatigue
• the person may experience feelings of hostility and feelings of persecution
• "Sudden sniffing death" can follow strenuous exercise or undue stress after the person has inhaled deeply, caused by heart failure. Death by suffocation has occurred after users have become unconscious with a plastic bag over nose and mouth
• with some substances such as leaded gasoline there are signs of brain damage
• kidney and liver damage can also occur