Drugs

 

Drugs are substances that affect the way that your brain works. They can impact how you feel and behave, your senses and understanding. Thus, making them unpredictable and dangerous, especially for young people. 

The effects of drugs differ for everyone, and it also depends on the type of drug. There are treatment options and support available to help individuals with minimising and eliminating their drug usage. 

Amphetamines 

Amphetamines are a type of drug that stimulate the release of dopamine into synapses in the brain and reduce the brain’s ability to break down dopamine. 

Effects 

Amphetamines can affect users in a variety of ways. Some of the common effects that amphetamines can cause include: 

• Dilated pupils 

• Increased alertness, energy, motor and speech activity 

• Increased self-confidence and concentration 

• Euphoria 

• Reduced appetite 

• Jaw clenching/ grinding 

• Increased aggression 

• Tremors 

• Paranoia 

• Anxiety/ panic attacks 

• Psychosis 

• Increased body temperatures, heart rate and perspiration 

• Sleeping difficulties. 

Potential harms of amphetamine usage 

Amphetamines can also harm people differently. People who use amphetamines may experience the following long and short-term harm to their wellbeing. 

• Weight loss and malnutrition 

• Depression 

• Chronic sleep disorders 

• Vein problems/ blood borne infections (which can be caused by IV use) 

• Dependence 

• Poor cognitive function  

• Seizures 

• Menstrual problems for females (painful or irregular/ absent periods) 

• Psychosis 

• Chronic acne 

• Damage to teeth and jaw. 

In rare instances, amphetamines can cause a brain aneurism or heart attack in some individuals. 

Health risks 

Serotonin depletion 

If a person uses amphetamines, or any other stimulant, and they don’t sleep for more than a few days, they’re at a higher risk of experiencing a drug-induced psychosis. 

Continuous use of stimulants can lead to a depletion of serotonin. Serotonin is an important chemical that our brain produces to control aggressive impulses from the amygdala in our brain (the survival ‘fight or flight’ response). Serotonin depletion is dangerous as it can lead to increasingly aggressive behaviour, and even suicide or homicide. 

Thermal overload 

Thermal (temperature) overload occurs when the body gets too hot. Amphetamines can cause thermal overload due to disruptions in normal thermoregulatory mechanisms in someone’s body, causing it to increase. They can affect the chemicals in the brain that controls how the body functions. When your body reaches temperatures over 40ºC, the proteins in your body disintegrate and the organs experience severe damage. Signs of thermal overload include jerking body movements (this can look like an infant going into a convulsion when they have an extremely high fever).  

Kidney damage 

Kidney damage is often a symptom of temperature overload. Even if you drink enough water to cool down, the kidneys aren’t able to process the fluid and this causes the body to develop urine retention, thus causing it to drown in fluids.  

It’s important for people to be aware of the symptoms of kidney damage because of severe amphetamine usage. This can help people to understand what to do to help someone experiencing this and reduce deaths.  

Key messages for people who use amphetamines 

The only way to completely avoid harm, caused by amphetamines, is to not use them. Other key messages to remember about amphetamines: 

• Smoking methamphetamines can be highly addictive and should be avoided 

• Avoid mixing amphetamines with other drugs (i.e. alcohol, cannabis and especially benzos) 

• Avoid amphetamines if there’s a pre-existing mental health issue (or family history) 

• Avoid the ‘binge/crash’ cycle. 

For those who inject amphetamines, they should always use new needles, rotate injecting sites, mix up with plenty of sterile water, always wash their hands and clean the injecting site before use and dispose of all injecting equipment, safely.  

Opiates 

Opiates include prescription medications (i.e. codeine, morphine and oxycodone) and heroin. In Australia, most opiate use is the abuse of prescription medication, however heroin is also an issue. 

Effects 

Some of the common effects of opiate usage include: 

• Central nervous system depression 

• Constricted pupils 

• Euphoria 

• Analgesia 

• Sedation  

• Nausea. 

Potential harm of opiate usage 

Opiates can harm users in different ways. This includes overdose, particularly when mixing depressants like alcohol and benzos. Additionally, using opiates can cause vein problems, blood borne infections (from IV usage), dependence and constipation. People can also experience lifestyle issues related to dependence, for instance poor nutrition, poor hygiene, homelessness etc.  

Health risks 

Opiates are highly addictive. To get around building a tolerance, some people can start to inject, thus, increasing the addictive nature of the drug and health risks. Overdoses are more common with opiate usage as well as infections and vein damage. 

Opiates can also be distributed in powder form, and the fillers used in this powder can be dangerous. People often think that in this form, the drugs are often cut with glucose, however, they can be cut with talcum powder, bicarbonate soda, Epsom salts and other dangerous additives. 

When people who use opiates decide to quit, they’re at increased risk of relapsing. The immediate withdrawal effects of opiates can last 3-10 days, but the protracted withdrawals can last up to 6 months, until their endorphin levels return to normal. 

Key messages for people who use opiates 

Like all drugs, the only way to completely avoid the harms of opiates is to not use. If you’re going to use, consider the following: 

• Use routes of administration, other than IV 

• Always test a small amount, prior to use 

• Use with other people present. 

For injectors: 

• Always use new needles 

• Rotate injecting sites 

• Mix up with plenty of sterile water 

• Always wash hands and clean injecting site before use 

• Dispose of all injecting equipment safely. 

No one plans to become addicted. If you are using opiates, don’t hesitate to phone for an ambulance in the event of an overdose.  

Cannabis 

Cannabis is recognised as one of the most prevalent drugs of dependence. It has a reputation of not being addictive and at the start, that may be true. Though, 10% of people who try cannabis will develop a dependence to it at some point in their lives. 

Cannabis is also known as marijuana, weed, pot or dope. There are approximately 60 psychoactive chemicals present in cannabis, the most prominent being Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).  

How does THC work? 

THC binds two primary receptor sites: CB-1 (central nervous system) and CB-2 (immune system). The CB-1 receptors are the primary site of activity and are thought to affect emotions, pain, memory and motor skills. 

THC increases dopamine activity, which has been linked dependence and psychosis. 

Effects 

The effects of any drug, including cannabis, vary. Typically, cannabis can cause the following to users: 

• Mild euphoria 

• Red eyes 

• Relaxation 

• Altered perceptions 

• Increased or decreased speech activity 

• Laughter 

• Increased appetite 

• Dry mouth 

• Impaired motor skills 

• Anxiety 

• Paranoia 

• Mild sedation 

• Hallucinations (in high doses) 

• Nausea (in high doses) 

• Dizziness and vertigo. 

Potential harm of cannabis usage 

Cannabis has the potential to cause the following harm to users: 

• Lung damage 

• Dependence 

• Decreased motivation levels 

• Educational underachievement 

• Short term memory deficits 

• Difficulty concentrating 

• Personality changes 

• Mental health issues, including psychosis, depression or schizophrenia 

• During pregnancy – it can result in lower birth weight for the baby. 

Cancer 

About 66 carcinogens exist in tobacco and five naturally occur in marijuana. The exact Benzopyrene that causes cancer in tobacco smokers also causes cancer in cannabis smokers. Thus, if you mix cannabis with tobacco, it increases your risk of developing cancer. 

People typically breathe cannabis smoke in harder and hold it much longer than tobacco smoke. As a result, this increases the density of tar and carcinogens within the lungs and body. One marijuana cigarette can equal 7-10 tobacco cigarettes. 

If you’re determined to keep smoking cannabis, it’s not recommended that you mix it with tobacco. 

Mental health 

There are a range of mental health risks associated with cannabis however, a smoker will not necessarily develop these side effects.  

The most common side effect is paranoia; causing people to lose contact with reality. People will usually experience simple paranoia, which exaggerates how they perceive colours, tastes, sounds and other experiences. It can also exaggerate negative feelings of anxiety, fear, stress, low self-esteem and self-consciousness. 

Brain function 

Another side effect of cannabis usage is short-term memory problems and impaired brain function. 

Our brains produce chemicals to support our moods and emotions. It also produces chemicals to support other functions within our body. When people use substances, it can change the way we feel and inadvertently change how the chemicals cause our body to function. Drugs can be dangerous as they change how the body is meant to perform other jobs like breathing, maintaining heart rate and kidney function as well as controlling our temperature. 

Our brain produces a chemical called acetylcholine, which is important for our mood and short-term memory. Acetylcholine doesn’t react well with stress, and it disrupts the electrical signals in our brain, which isn’t good for chemical balances. If you’re in a highly anxious situation, you tend to be more clumsy, forgetful and drop things. THC in cannabis works similarly and disrupts acetylcholine levels in our brain. 

Loss of concentration and motivation 

Another side effect of using cannabis can be loss of concentration and motivation. Known as ‘Amotivational Syndrome,’ it can mean people feel reduced drive, passion and ability to follow through with things.  

Drugs pretend to be the chemicals we naturally produce in our brains; so, they accept them. Though, when the brain is exposed to too much of a chemical, it loses concentration causing it to only focus on breaking down the drug. The brain will do this for about 6-8 hours, until the drug wears off and the person starts feeling symptoms of withdrawal. 

Key messages for people who use cannabis 

Again, the only way to avoid harm associated with cannabis use is to not use it. However, some other things to remember with cannabis use is: 

• Taking cannabis orally or by vaporiser is likely to be safer than smoking it 

• Plastic bongs can release toxic chemicals into the smoke when heated 

• Mixing cannabis with tobacco increases the number of harmful carcinogens  

• People with a family history of mental health problems should avoid cannabis 

• Early onset of heavy cannabis use is correlated with poor educational outcomes, increased risk of dependence and increased risk of mental health problems. 

Treatment 

If you’ve decided that you would like to decrease or cease your use of alcohol or another drug, there are many options available to help you through this process. These options include detox, rehabilitation, one-on-one counselling, pharmacotherapy and self-help.  

Below, we explain some of these treatment options in greater detail. 

Detox 

Detoxification (also known as detox) is a process where someone withdraws from a drug. This can be inpatient detox (in a hospital or other centre) or ambulatory (home) detox. Where there is a risk of medical complications, inpatient detox is generally recommended and can often involve prescribed medications to manage withdrawal symptoms. 

Medical complications are generally considered in people withdrawing from benzodiazepines (e.g. Valium, Serapax, Temazepam, Xanex, Mogadon, Klonopin, etc.) or alcohol. 

Women who are pregnant and considering detoxing from alcohol or other drugs should always seek professional medical advice before beginning to withdraw. 

Rehabilitation 

People must have detoxed prior to entering rehab – most rehabs require proof of this (a letter from your GP can suffice). 

Rehabs assist in teaching people new skills in a highly structured environment. It can be a long process (generally 3 to 12 months). 

There are various models of rehabilitation. For instance, 12-step programs like Alcoholics Anonymous, Therapeutic Communities, and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy are the primary models. 

Counselling 

Counselling can be a suitable option for people who aren’t sure what they want to do or how they want to do it. It can assist in clarifying options and identifying goals. Counselling is a good ‘first point of call,’ as a counsellor can assist you to plan next steps. It’s also recommended after detox and/or rehab are completed to stay on track and prevent relapse. 

AA / NA 

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA) is a self-help group, based on the belief that abstinence is the only effective strategy. It follows the ‘12 Steps’ from ‘The Big Book.’ Groups are facilitated by other people who are recovering, and it involves sponsors to help you through the process. 

It’s firmly based on the disease model of addiction and requires belief in a higher power of some kind (not necessarily the traditional God).  

Pharmacotherapy 

There are many prescription drugs which can assist you to withdraw from alcohol and other drugs. 

The most well-known example is the use of nicotine patches to quit smoking tobacco. 

For opiates 

A more controversial pharmacotherapy option is that of methadone / buprenorphine (Subutex / Suboxone) treatments for opiate dependence. This substitutes illicit opiates for a licit, long-acting oral opiate. 

The idea is that this creates stability, which allows people to address other areas of life (e.g. housing, physical health, mental health, relationships, etc). People generally begin withdrawing from methadone after at least one year of treatment – however some people will remain on opiate treatment long term. 

This is a controversial option to some as it is seen as “trading one addiction for another.” 

For alcohol 

Pharmacotherapy is now extending to the treatment of alcohol dependence. 

• Campral (acamprosate) – reduces cravings 

• Revia (naltrexone) – blocks “reward” effects and reduces cravings 

• Antabuse (disulfiram) – causes physical discomfort when alcohol is consumed – is less commonly prescribed 

• Valium – helps to manage side effects of withdrawing from alcohol. 

Support to manage use of drugs and alcohol.  

Anglicare Southern Queensland provides a range of programs to support individuals work towards their goals, minimise use and prevent relapse. If you require support to manage your use of alcohol or other drugs, please visit: https://www.betterrelationships.org.au/services/counselling/alcohol-drug/.