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CANNABIS kanep Also known as: Blow, Dope, Draw, Ganga, Gear, Grass, Hash, Marijuana, Pot, Skunk, Weed.
What does it look like? It comes from the dried flowers or leaves of the cannabis (or marijuana) plant. The most common form is hash, which comes in small brown blocks. It is usually smoked in a hand-rolled cigarette called a joint, reefer or spliff. It can also be taken in food or drink.
What does the law say? Cannabis is a Class B drug.
How much does it cost? £100 to £140 an ounce. It is normally pure cannabis (although its strength varies according to where it comes from) but dealers are beginning to mix it with other substances to increase their profits.
What are the ups? Cannabis is a mild depressant, which means it makes you feel relaxed, talkative and friendly. This lasts between one and two hours.
What are the downs? You can feel worried, and lose your concentration and short-term memory. It leaves you hungry and tired, and with a dry mouth and fast heartbeat. Strong batches of cannabis can make you feel paranoid and even give you hallucinations.
What’s the damage? It can make you feel very confused and forgetful. There are also all the dangers associated with smoking, such as bronchitis and lung cancer. It is possible to become mentally dependent on cannabis.
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ADDICTION This is when you become so dependent on a drug that you are doing yourself, and possibly other people, a lot of harm.
CLASS A DRUGS If you are caught in possession of a Class A drug the maximum penalty is seven years in prison and an unlimited fine. If you are caught supplying a Class A drug you could be sentenced for up to life in prison and given an unlimited fine.
CLASS B DRUGS If you are caught in possession of a Class B drug you can be given up to five years in prison and an unlimited fine. For supplying, the maximum sentence is up to 14 years in prison and an unlimited fine.
TOLERANCE This is when your body becomes so used to a drug that it needs more and more of it to get the same effect.
WITHDRAWAL EFFECTS These are what happen when a drug your body has got used to is suddenly taken away. Your body demands to be given the drug, and reacts in an unpleasant way (vomiting, sweating, cramps and shaking) when it doesn’t get it. This lasts until your body becomes used to not having its regular dose of the drug.
DEPENDENCE This is the need for a drug that builds after taking it again and again. There are two types of dependency: Physical dependence - this is when you get to the point where you have to take the drug to avoid the physical pain of the withdrawal effects.
Psychological/ mental dependence - this is when your mind needs the excitement, pleasure or escape from reality that the drug gives you. It is more common and more difficult to break than physical
dependence
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COKAINE Also known as: Charge, Charlie, Chaz, Coke, Draw, Snow, Toot.
What does it look like? Cocaine is a white powder chemically extracted from the coca bush that grows up in the mountains of South America. Most cocaine comes from Colombia. It is chopped up into fines lines using a razor blade and then snorted up the nose. Sometimes it is injected.
What does the law say? Cocaine is a Class A drug.
How much does it cost? £50 to £80 a gram. But you can never be sure what you’re getting. Cocaine is very expensive and so dealers push up their profits by mixing it with anything else that is white and powdery.
What are the ups? Cocaine is a stimulant. You feel a rush of excitement, a sense of well-being and confidence. You feel as if you notice more clearly the things that are happening around you. If you feel hungry or tired, or are in pain, it will gradually ease.
What are the downs? Later, you feel tired and depressed, then anxious or panicky. The high lasts for just 30 minutes or so, and one line of cocaine soon needs to be followed by another. A lot of doses make you restless and paranoid, and you might even have hallucinations. Very large doses can be fatal.
What’s the damage? When you are a regular user of cocaine you become very dependent on its effects. You can be mentally dependent on the drug, and have to take bigger doses and more often to get the same effect from it. You feel constantly restless and sick, can’t sleep properly and you lose weight. Repeated sniffing damages your nostrils. Too many doses can lead to breathing problems or even heart failure. If you inject it with a needle that’s already been used by somebody else, you run the risk of catching diseases such as HIV, which can lead to Aids
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that is SPEED
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(Also known as Fantasy, Grievous Bodily Harm, Liquid E, or Liquid X).
WHAT IS GHB?
Gammahydroxybutyrate is an anaesthetic drug with sedative properties. It is a central nervous system depressant. GHB was initially developed in the United States for use as a pre-medication sedative prior to surgery. GHB is a colourless, odourless liquid with a salty taste and usually comes in small vials or bottles. It has also been seen in powder and capsule form. It is most commonly taken orally, although there have been reports of injection. Recent media articles have reported that GHB appears in a bright blue liquid form ("blue nitro"), however it is important to note that this is not always the case. The manufacturer can add a simple food dye (of any colour) to GHB to alter the colour.
WHO USES GHB?
Aside from its medical applications, GHB has been used by bodybuilders to stimulate growth hormone release. The other major user group are patrons of dance parties and nightclub scenes. GHB has also been referred to as a "date-rape" drug. This is because it can be added to a drink without leaving any visible trace.
SHORT TERM EFFECTS
Like many other illicit drugs the effects of GHB on a person may depend on:
how it is taken
whether it is used with other drugs (such as alcohol)
the amount taken
the way it is taken
the person's general health.
The average dose is 5ml - 15ml. It can take from 5 to 20 minutes after ingestion for the effects to become noticeable. Effects may last for as little as 2 hours or as long as 20 hours.
As GHB is most commonly found in a liquid form, it is almost impossible to accurately gauge the strength or purity of a dose. This is because more dealers are experimenting with their own "backyard" recipes.
Commonly reported effects of low to moderate doses include:
euphoria
relaxation
calmness
drowsiness
dizziness
increased sociability
decreased inhibitions (which may produce feelings of sexual arousal or increased libido)
enhanced sense of touch
HIGH DOSES
There appears to be a narrow margin between a desired dose and a potential overdose. The effects of a high dose include:
rapid or intense drowsiness
muscle tension or spasms
impairment of movement and speech
disorientation
vomiting
convulsions
coma
respiratory collapse
LONG TERM EFFECTS
Little is known of the long term effects of GHB use. As GHB is similar to the effects of sedative drugs, it is possible that one may become physically or psychologically dependent. There is also the potential for tolerance to develop over a period of time to achieve the same (or any) effects as first experienced.
GHB USE WITH OTHER DRUGS
Combining GHB with other depressant drugs like prescription medications or alcohol can slow down the body's central nervous system and be dangerous. The adverse effects of one drug may be greatly increased by the other.
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tuntud anf
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A selection of illicit amphetamine
sulphate powders. The drug may
appear in a variety of colours and
textures. It is easily produced and
readily availably at street level. It
presents a serious and growing
threat
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