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Drugs / Poisoning (14)

Saturday, 21 January 2012 07:39

Mephedrone Users In The UK Are Ready To Try The Next Legal High, Despite The Risks

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Since mephedrone was made illegal in the UK in 2010, the street price of the drug has risen while the quality has degraded, which in turn may have reduced use of the drug. New research published online reveals that young people who continued to use mephedrone after it became illegal would switch to a new legal high if it were pure and rated highly by their friends or on the Internet. They would be less deterred by a lack of scientific research on the new drug.

Mephedrone is a synthetic stimulant - a 'designer drug' - that became widely used in the UK from 2008 to 2010. Its rise in popularity may have been caused by its legality and ready availability (typically sold online as 'plant food'), and also to the reduced purity of street cocaine and ecstasy during the same period. In 2010, because of its similarity to amphetamines and frenzied media reporting of the harmful effects of the drug, mephedrone was made illegal in the UK and scheduled as a Class B drug. The drug is still available through street dealers and online.

Research published online in the journal Addiction shows that after taking mephedrone, users showed impaired working memory as well as the typical stimulant drug effects of euphoria, self confidence and buzzing.

While intoxicated, they also experienced marked craving for mephedrone and typically binged on the drug, taking it repeatedly for an average of eight hours. When drug-free, this group showed higher levels of depression and poorer long term memory compared to controls using drugs other than mephedrone.

When asked what factors might influence them to try a new legal high, the same users said they would be drawn to a new drug that was pure and had few short-term or long-term harms. While they would be attracted by positive reports from friends and on the Internet, lack of scientific research on the drug and its legal status were less important factors.

Mephedrone has been the most publicized 'legal high' in recent years, but there are many new compounds currently emerging on Internet markets. In 2010, 41 new substances were detected in the EU, compared with 24 in 2009 and 13 in 2008. Of those 41 new substances, 15 are synthetic stimulants, just like mephedrone. One of these may become the new 'legal high' that current mephedrone users want.

Says lead researcher Tom Freeman of University College London, "Drug users today are attracted to new substances that are pure and have few adverse effects. Lack of scientific research on the effects and risks of new legal highs might explain why young people rely on subjective reports from friends or the Internet when deciding whether to try a new substance. Internet reports may be biased and offer an opportunity for drug vendors to promote their products. As well as encouraging new research, an important harm reduction strategy is for the media and advice websites such as FRANK to provide balanced and up-to-date information on these drugs."

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Tuesday, 28 June 2011 22:16

Alcohol Is Most Harmful Drug, Followed By Heroin And Crack

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Alcohol is the most damaging drug to the drinker and others overall, heroin and crack are the second and third most harmful, Professor David Nutt and colleagues wrote in the medical journal The Lancet today. When all factors related to self harm and harm to others are considered, alcohol comes out top. The authors explain that drugs, including tobacco products and alcohol are major contributors to damage to individuals as well as society as a whole.

The harms that are caused by drugs need to be comprehensively assessed so that policy makers can be properly advised regarding health, social care and policing, the authors write; not an easy undertaking because drugs can cause damage in so many different ways.

Professor Nutt and colleagues had previously tried to do this (Lancet 2007) by asking experts to give each drug a score according to nine criteria of harm, which included the drug's intrinsic harms as well as the social and health care burdens. The report triggered widespread debate and interest. However, there were doubts regarding the differential weights of each criterion used.

In this latest report, Nutt and colleagues say they have addressed these concerns by using a multicriteria decision analysis (MCDA) when reviewing drug harms. MCDA technologies have been effectively used to help decision making in areas where factors, features and characteristics are complex and often conflicting, as may be the case when deciding policy on nuclear waste disposal.

Nine criteria related to harm to an individual from a drug, while six looked at harm to others - both in the United Kingdom and other countries. The harms were gathered into five subgroups that covered social, psychological and physical harms. Scoring was done with points up to 100, with 100 being the most damaging and zero no damage. Weighting then compared the impact a score of 100 had on all the other criteria, thus identifying the 100-points-scoring-drugs which were more harmful than other 100-points-scoring-drugs.

The authors wrote (in explanation of their model):

In scaling of the drugs, care is needed to ensure that each successive point on the scale represents equal increments of harm. Thus, if a drug is scored at 50, then it should be half as harmful as the drug that scored 100.

The nine harm-to-self categories of a drug were:

dependence
drug-related damage
drug-related impairment of mental functioning
drug-related mortality
drug-specific damage
drug-specific impairment of mental function
injury
loss of relationships
loss of tangibles

The harm-to-others categories of a drug were:

crime
decline in community cohesion
economic cost
environmental damage
family conflict
international damage

With the MCDA modeling method, alcohol came top as the most harmful drug overall. Below are some highlights of their findings:

Alcohol, overall harm score 72
Heroin, overall harm score 55
Crack, overall harm score 54
Crystal meth, overall harm score 33
Cocaine, overall harm score 27
Tobacco, overall harm score 26
Speed/amphetamines, overall harm score 23
Cannabis, overall harm score 20
GHB, overall harm score 18
Valium (benzodiazepines), overall harm score 15
Ketamine, overall harm score 15
Mephedrone, overall harm score 13
Butane, overall harm score 10
Khat, overall harm score 9
Ecstasy, overall harm score 9
Anabolic steroids, overall harm score 9
LSD, overall harm score 7
Buprenorphine, overall harm score 6
Mushrooms, overall harm score 5
The most harmful drugs to the individual are heroin, crack and crystal meth
The most harmful drugs to others are alcohol, heroin and crack

Not only is alcohol the most harmful drug overall, the authors write, but is nearly three times as harmful as tobacco or cocaine, according to the new ISCD MCDA modeling.

Mephedrone, which was recently a legal-high in the UK before it was re-categorized as a Class B controlled drug this year. Alcohol is over five-times as harmful as mephedrone.

Ecstasy is just one-eighth as harmful as alcohol, despite all its media attention and public concerns.

Professor Nutt said (direct quote, not found in article):

What a new classification system might look like would depend on what set of harms-to self or others-you are trying to reduce. But if you take overall harm, then alcohol, heroin and crack are clearly more harmful than all others so perhaps drugs with a score of 40 or more could be class A; 39 to 20 class B; 19-10 class C and 10 or under class D.

The MCDA procedure is an effective and powerful means for dealing with the complex issues related to drug misuse, the authors wrote.

They said:

The issue of the weightings is crucial since they affect the overall scores. The weighting process is necessarily based on judgment, so it is best done by a group of experts working to consensus.

(conclusion) Our findings lend support to previous work in the UK and the Netherlands, confirming that the present drug classification systems have little relation to the evidence of harm. They also accord with the conclusions of previous expert reports that aggressively targeting alcohol harms is a valid and necessary public health strategy.

In an associated Comment, also in The Lancet, Dr. Jan Van Amsterdam, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Netherlands, and Dr Wim van den Brink, Amsterdam Institute for Addiction Research, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Netherlands, wrote:

A major point not addressed in the study, because it was outside their scope, is polydrug use, which is highly prevalent among recreational drug users. Notably, the combined use of alcohol with other drugs often leads in a synergistic way to very serious adverse effects.

They also explain that consuming combinations of these drugs can significantly alter their adverse events and harm impacts. For example, magic mushrooms on their own have a very low incidence of adverse events, but individuals who consume mushrooms as well as alcohol have a much higher risk of accidents that result in death. Other examples of combinations mentioned include alcohol with cocaine, leading to cocaethylene - an extremely toxic compound, or alcohol with cannabis which can seriously affect an individual's ability to drive properly.

The Comment authors concluded:

Nutt and colleagues' ranking of the licit and illicit drugs is certainly not definitive, because the pattern of recreational drug use is dynamic: the popularity and availability of the drugs, and the pattern of polydrug use, might change within a decade. The ranking of the drugs. should therefore be repeated at least every 5-10 years. Finally, for the discussion about drug classification, it is intriguing to note that the two legal drugs assessed-alcohol and tobacco-score in the upper segment of the ranking scale, indicating that legal drugs cause at least as much harm as do illegal substances.

"Drug harms in the UK: a multicriteria decision analysis"

Prof David J Nutt FMedSci a Corresponding AuthorEmail Address, Leslie A King PhD b, Lawrence D Phillips PhD

The Lancet, Early Online Publication, 1 November 2010
doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(10)61462-6

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Tuesday, 17 May 2011 20:29

Common causes of Poisoning

Written by

Overdose and poisoning is an almost daily occurrence for many Paramedics, drugs of abuse come in many forms which include:

· Illegal drugs such as cannabis, cocaine and narcotics

· Alcohol

· Prescription drugs

· Drugs bought over the counter

· Harmful chemicals found around the house

· Poisons from dangerous reptiles

· Poisons commonly found in the country and mistaken for food

According to Caroline (2007) toxicology emergencies fall into two categories, intentional and unintentional. In adult age groups it is more likely to be intentional. She carries on to say that whilst there are many drugs that are dangerous, they often produce similar effects. The syndrome like symptoms that of a poison is called a Toxidrome. The major toxidromes are produced by, stimulants, narcotics, cholinergics, anticholinergics, sympathomimetics and sedative hypnotics.

Toxidrome	Drug Example	Signs & Symptoms
Stimulant	Cocaine, Amphetamine	Restless Insomnia Tachycardia hyper-hypotension, Paranoia Convulsions Cardiac Arrest
Narcotic, Opiate, Opioid	Heroin, Morphine Tramadol	Hypotension decreased LOC Agitation Resp Depression Pin Point Pupils
Sympatthomimetic	Methamphetamine Amphetamine	Agitation Tachycardia Fits Hyperthermia
Sedative and Hypnotic	Diazepam Temazepam Zopiclone Phenobarbital	Decreased LOC Ataxia Slurred speech Hypotension
Cholinergic	Sarin Tabun	Dry flushed skin Increased salivation GI Upset Resp Depression
Anticholinergics	Atropine Buscopan Anti Histamines Anti Psychotics	Dry flushed skin Dilated Pupils Tachycardia Blurred vision

Within the authors scope of practice the most common toxidromes encountered are: Alcohol, Sedative Hypnotics and Narcotic based drugs.

Acute alcohol poisoning and acute alcohol withdrawal are medical emergencies. Severe alcohol ingestion will cause CNS depression and potentially death caused by airway occlusion respiratory depression and aspiration.

According to Toxbase (2011) the National Poisons Information Service Alcohol and pure Ethanol is rapidly absorbed from the GI tract. Adults absorb 80-90% of ingested alcohol within 1 hour and on average metabolise it at a rate of 100-125 mg/kg per hour (reducing blood concentrations by approximately 150-200 mg/L (3.26-4.35 mmol/L) per hour. Tolerant drinkers metabolise ethanol at higher rates and therefore blood concentrations fall more rapidly. Volume of distribution for ethanol is 0.4 - 0.6 L/kg

Alcohol is more dangerous when mixed with other drugs especially those which cause CNS depression.

Toxbase and Caroline (2007) suggest that all patients with severe alcohol poisoning should be taken to hospital. Assessment should follow the ABCDE approach and co ingestion of other drugs should be considered.

Toxbase (2011) suggest the following treatment:

1.	Ensure a clear airway and adequate ventilation, particularly in obtunded patients. Ventilation may be required for respiratory depression.
2.	Gut decontamination is unlikely to be of benefit since ethanol is rapidly absorbed and activated charcoal does not significantly reduce the rate of absorption.
3.	Observe for at least 4 hours if > 0.4 mL/kg body weight of absolute ethanol had been ingested in a child (< 10 years) (i.e. 1 mL/kg 40% spirit, 4 mL/kg 10% wine or 8 mL/kg 5% beer). Observe adults with features of moderate or severe toxicity for a minimum of 6 hours.
4.	Monitor pulse, blood pressure, cardiac rhythm, conscious level, respiratory rate and body temperature.
5.	Monitor blood glucose in all patients.
6.	Measure urea, electrolytes, creatinine kinase, LFTs, arterial blood gases and blood ethanol concentration in patients with features of moderate to severe toxicity and perform 12 lead ECG.
7.	Correct hypoglycaemia as quickly as possible. If the patient is awake give oral glucose followed by a carbohydrate meal. Adults: If the patient is drowsy or unconscious give up to 250 mL 10% or 125 mL 20% glucose IV rapidly (titrated to patient responsiveness). Continue an appropriate infusion to maintain consciousness and/or normal blood glucose. If hypoglycaemia persists 50 mL 50% glucose IV may be given but is irritant to veins and can cause skin necrosis in cases of extravasation. Children: Initially 5 mL/kg of 10% glucose IV repeated as necessary. Higher concentrations of glucose may be required for severe hypoglycaemia. Glucagon is rarely effective.
8.	Consider treating chronic alcohol abusers with intravenous thiamine (e.g. Pabrinex 10 mL over 30 mins) to protect against the onset of Wernicke’s encephalopathy. Intravenous thiamine MUST be administered before giving dextrose to chronic alcohol abusers.
9.	Correct hypotension by raising the foot of the bed and by giving an appropriate fluid challenge. Treat brady and tachyarrhythmias appropriately. Children failing to respond to an appropriate intravenous fluid bolus require early discussion with the local paediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Adults: If severe hypotension persists despite the above measures, then central venous pressure monitoring should be considered. Manage in a critical care area or involve the critical care outreach team. When hypotension is mainly due to decreased systemic vascular resistance, drugs with alpha-adrenergic activity such as noradrenaline or high dose dopamine (10-30 micrograms/kg/min) may be beneficial. The dose of vasopressor should be titrated against blood pressure. When hypotension is believed to be due to reduced cardiac output (e.g. where global hypokinesia is demonstrated on echocardiography) inotropic drugs such as dobutamine, or in severe cases adrenaline, may be beneficial. NOTE: Both negative inotropic and vasodilator actions may both be present, particularly in mixed overdoses.
	If severe hypotension further persists discuss with your local poisons information service: in the UK NPIS 0844 892 0111, in Ireland NPIC (01) 809 2566.

Sedative Hypnotics

Form a wide variety of drugs used to sedate patients reduce, anxiety and aid sleep. According to Caroline (2007) they are all a CNS depressant and the most commonly found group of drugs are the Benzodiazepine i.e. Diazepam and their derivatives such as the Zopiclone, Zolpidem.

Benzodiazepines act by stimulating the gamma amminobutyric acid pathway, resulting in sedation, reduced anxiety and relaxation of smooth muscle.

Patients will often exhibit altered levels of consciousness, confusion, slurred speech and ataxia.

ABCD Approach to assessment should be followed. Co ingestion of alcohol is common and close observation is required. Toxbase (2011) recommend the following for the treatment of Diazepam, but specific advice is available for all the Benzodiazepines:

1.	Maintain a clear airway and adequate ventilation if indicated.
2.	The benefit of gastric decontamination is uncertain. Consider activated charcoal (charcoal dose: 50 g for an adult, 1 g/kg for a child) in adults or children who have taken more than a potentially toxic amount within 1 hour, provided the airway can be protected.
3.	Patients who are asymptomatic at 4 hours are unlikely to develop severe toxicity.
4.	Monitor level of consciousness, respiratory rate, pulse oximetry and blood pressure in symptomatic patients.
5.	Consider arterial blood gas analysis in patients who have a reduced level of consciousness (GCS < 8; AVPU scale P or U) or have reduced oxygen saturations on pulse oximetry.
6.	Correct hypotension by raising the foot of the bed and by giving an appropriate fluid challenge. Treat brady and tachyarrhythmias appropriately. Children failing to respond to an appropriate intravenous fluid bolus require early discussion with the local paediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Adults: If severe hypotension persists despite the above measures, then central venous pressure monitoring should be considered. Manage in a critical care area or involve the critical care outreach team. When hypotension is mainly due to decreased systemic vascular resistance, drugs with alpha-adrenergic activity such as noradrenaline or high dose dopamine (10-30 micrograms/kg/min) may be beneficial. The dose of vasopressor should be titrated against blood pressure. When hypotension is believed to be due to reduced cardiac output (e.g. where global hypokinesia is demonstrated on echocardiography) inotropic drugs such as dobutamine, or in severe cases adrenaline, may be beneficial. NOTE: Both negative inotropic and vasodilator actions may both be present, particularly in mixed overdoses.

7.	Supportive measures as indicated by the patient's clinical state.
8.	Flumazenil (Anexate), a benzodiazepine antagonist, is available but should rarely be required. It may be required in children who are naive to benzodiazepines or patients with COPD as an alternative to ventilation. Flumazenil has a short half-life (about an hour) and in this situation an infusion may therefore be required. Flumazenil should not normally be used in patients with a history of seizures, head injury, chronic benzodiazepine use, co-ingestion of a benzodiazepine and tricyclic antidepressant or other proconvulsant - Instructions for its use follow.

Narcotic Drugs

Narcotics, opiates and Opioids are used to treat pain. Opiate is a naturally occurring substance and Opioids synthetically manufactured drugs. According to Toxbase narcotics remain the most common cause of overdose and death reported to the service.

Narcotic Agents include:

· Morphine

· Heroin

· Codeine

· Oxycodone

· Tramadol

Classic presentation of narcotic overdose include; euphoria, pin point pupils, hypotension, respiratory depression, nausea and vomiting.

ABCD approach to care should be adopted because of the high risk of respiratory depression advanced life support measures may well be needed and hospital assessment will be required (Caroline 2007).

Toxbase (2011) Suggest the following management plan for an unconscious heroin overdose:

1. Give naloxone preferably intravenously (0.4 to 2 mg for an adult and 0.01 mg/kg body weight for children) if coma or respiratory depression is present. Repeat the dose if there is no response within two minutes. Naloxone is a competitive antagonist and large doses (4 mg) may be required in a seriously poisoned patient.

Intramuscular naloxone is an alternative in the event that IV access is not possible, or if the patient is threatening to self-discharge when it may help reduce the risk of respiratory arrest.

Nebulised naloxone has been successfully used in one case of methadone poisoning (Mycyk, 2003).

Failure of a definite opioid overdose to respond to large doses of naloxone suggests that another CNS depressant drug or brain damage is present.

2. Observe the patient carefully for recurrence of CNS and respiratory depression. The plasma half-life of naloxone is shorter than that of all opioid analgesics - REPEATED DOSES OF NALOXONE MAY BE REQUIRED.

Intravenous infusions of naloxone may be useful where repeated doses are required. An infusion of 60% of the initial dose per hour is a useful starting point. A solution containing 10 mg (25 vials) made up in 50 mL dextrose will produce a 200 micrograms/mL solution for infusion using an IV pump (dose adjusted to clinical response). Infusions are not a substitute for frequent review of the patient's clinical state.

3. All patients should be observed for at least 6 hours after the last dose of naloxone. Monitor BP, pulse, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation and conscious level at least every 15 minutes initially.

4. Do not delay establishing a clear airway, adequate ventilation and oxygenation if there is no response to naloxone.

5. Assisted ventilation with positive end-expiratory pressure may be necessary if pulmonary oedema is a complication.

6. Consider activated charcoal if a sustained release preparation has been ingested.

7. Other supportive measures as indicated by the patient's progress.

References

Caroline, N. (2007) Emergency Care in the Streets (6^th Edn) Jones and Bartlett, London.

http://www.toxbase.org (Accessed on the 23^rd April 2011)

Written by Patrick Vennard

NHS Ambulance Specialist Practitioner.

West Midlands Ambulance Service, Hereford Division

Published in Drugs / Poisoning

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Monday, 29 March 2010 08:18

Mephedrone

Written by Administrator

Scientific Names

2-Methylamino-1-p-tolylpropan-1-one

Generic Name

4 methylmethcathinone

Effects Of Mephedrone

Desired Effects:

Excitement, euphoria, alertness, feelings of stimulation, urge to talk and openness. Users often compare the effects similar to MDMA (found in Ecstasy) or Amphetamines (speed). One of the main features of mephedrone is the strong compulsion to re-dose. The effects last for around 2 to 3 hours when taken orally. After effects such as Insomnia may last for several hours.

Side-Effects:

Anxiety, Insomnia, Paranoia, poor concentration, short term memory loss, palpitations, dizzines & vertigo, pain & swelling in the nose & throat, blood circulation problems, rashes, uncomfortable changes in body temperature, abnormal body odour, nausea, tightened jaw muscles and teeth grinding, muscle twitching, Tolerance builds up quickly so the desire to take more & more increases.

Risks

Almost nothing is known about the long term effects of the drug due to the short history of its use. However, there has been reports of vasoconstriction (narrowing of blood vessels) with repeated dosing, including moderate to severe symptoms of tingling and numbness in the extremities, headache, light-headedness and unusual skin discoloration. Currently two deaths of young people nation wide have been linked to mephedrone, but toxicology reports have yet to be concluded. Mixing drugs like mephedrone & Ketamine or mephedrone with Amphetamines increase the risks.

How does Mephedrone work?

Synthetic Stimulant, euphoriant, empathogen - it belongs to the chemical class of cathinones.

Legal status of Mephedrone

Mephedrone is not yet classified under The Misuse of Drugs Act although the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs are scheduled to provide a report by the end of March 2010. It is an offence to sell it for human consumption and is currently being sold as plant food, however it needs to be stressed that mephedrone is not plant food. People should not attempt to inhale or digest plant food that is sold in garden centres or found in homes / sheds etc. Between 2007 and 2009 it was used increasingly in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, associated with several deaths, and then controlled in some countries as a result. Mephedrone is illegal in Germany, Israel, Norway, and Sweden. Because of the similarity in names, it is sometimes confused with 'Methedrone' (4-methoxymethcathinone) or 'Methylone' (bk-MDMA). Also not to be confused with 'Methadone' (synthetic Opioid).

How Is Mephedrone Taken?

Mephedrone is most commonly sold as a white powder or crystal form or Capsules containing the powder. It can also be found in pill form.

Paraphernalia

If the drug is snorted - a razor blade will be used to chop it in to lines on a hard level surface such as a mirror or a sheet of glass or a tile.

Medical uses of Mephedrone

None.

Where does it come from?

Mephedrone comes from a compound of cathinone, which is a Class C drug. Mephedrone is made in Chinese laboratories and imported legally to the UK where it is often marketed as plant food.

source : http://www.dan247.org.uk

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Sunday, 16 November 2008 21:26

Crystal Meth

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Crystal Meth : Methylamphetamine (commonly referred to as methamphetamine) is one of a group of stimulant drugs called amphetamines that act on the brain and nervous system. Like cocaine and amphetamines, methylamphetamine has stimulant properties but is much longer acting. The crystalline form – sometimes called ‘Ice’ – like ‘crack cocaine’ can be easily smoked and can rapidly lead to high blood levels. It’s also long-acting compared to crack so it’s an extremely powerful and addictive stimulant.

Slang: Street names for drugs can vary around the country. Ice, glass, Tina and Christine, yaba.

The effects

It can bring on a feeling of exhilaration and produces increased arousal and activity levels.
People feel more awake and it suppresses appetite.
Smoking the purer crystalline form (also known as 'crystal meth' or 'ice') produces a very intense 'rush' similar to that produced by crack cocaine but longer-lasting - between 4 and 12 hours.

Chances of getting hooked

Extended use can lead to psychological and physical dependence. Injecting the drug intravenously or smoking it is highly addictive.

The greater potency of the 'ice' form, particularly when smoked, makes it a more dangerous drug than other forms of methylamphetamine.

The law

Methamphetamine - often referred to as crystal meth - was reclassified as a Class A drug on 18th January 2007. It is illegal to have, give away or sell. As a Class A drug, possession can get you up to seven years in jail and/or an unlimited fine. Supplying someone else, even your friends, can get you life imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine.

Appearance and use

Illicit methylamphetamine is produced in tablet, powder, or crystalline forms. These products are taken orally, snorted or injected but, unlike amphetamine, methylamphetamine can also be smoked.

The tablet form is sometimes referred to as 'yaba' and the crystalline smokeable form often referred to as ‘ice’.

Cost

Prices can vary from region to region. The prices given here are an average of street prices reported from 20 different parts of England.

A half a gram of crystal meth is £25 and £15 for one hit on the street.

Purity

There is limited information in the UK on purity at present.

The risks

The drug can cause a rapid heart rate and a rise in blood pressure. The higher the dose, the greater these effects.
Other acute effects include agitation, paranoia, confusion and violence.
Methylamphetamine-induced psychosis has been widely reported in countries where there’s epidemic use. Psychosis is a serious mental state where you lose touch with a sense of reality. There is some evidence of long-term brain changes that may gradually improve after sustained abstinence.
In cases of overdose – stroke, and lung, kidney and gastrointestinal damage can develop, and coma and death can occur.
Methylamphetamine use can be associated with injecting and with sharing of paraphernalia with attendant risks of HIV and hepatitis virus infections.
Using the drug may also increase libido and risky sexual behaviour thereby increasing further the risk of blood borne virus transmission in some.

Source : http://www.talktofrank.com

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Tuesday, 01 April 2008 14:44

Strawberry quick

Written by Administrator

Have you heard about this new drug, Strawberry quick, well it's actually a hoax originating from the US... read on.

This is a new drug known as 'strawberry quick'.

There is a very scary thing going on in the schools right now that we all need to be aware of.

There is a type of crystal meth going around that looks like strawberry pop rocks (the candy that sizzles and 'pops' in your mouth). It also smells like strawberry and it is being handed out to kids in school yards. They are calling it strawberry meth or strawberry quick.

Kids are ingesting this thinking that it is candy and being rushed off to the hospital in dire condition. It also comes in chocolate, peanut butter, cola, cherry, grape and orange.

Please instruct your children not to accept candy from strangers and even not to accept candy that looks like this from a friend (who may have been given it and believe it is candy) and to take
any that they may have to a teacher, principal, etc. immediately.

Pass this email on to as many people as you can (even if they don't have kids) so that we can raise awareness and hopefully prevent any tragedies from occurring.

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Wednesday, 10 October 2007 13:27

Heroin All about it.

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What Is Heroin
Heroin is one of a group of drugs which are derived from the Opium Poppy which are collectively know as Opiates. Other examples are Codeine and Morphine, which are commercially produced as painkillers. Heroin is derived from Morphine which is a white powder in it pure form, on the street it is more of a brown coloured powder, due to the additives added. It has been know for powdered milk, talc, curry powder, washing powder and other substances to be mixed with pure Heroin to increase the volume. Synthetic (man made) opiates are called Opioids these are also produced as painkillers such as Pethidine, Methadone and Diconal.
How Is Heroin Taken
A drug addict will often start taking Heroin by smoking the drug this is commonly called "Tooting". The user will place the Heroin onto silver foil and warm it up from underneath with a lighter or candle. As the Heroin melts it turns into a ball of fluid, which will roll along the silver foil, leaving a trail of black residue (lines on the silver foil, see picture left). Once it gets to this stage it gives off fumes which are inhaled using a ball point pen with the centre removed or a silver foil rolled up into a tube, or a similar implement. After a short period of use addicts will find themselves doing more and more lines in a day due to more of the drug being required to have the same effect. Once this starts happening and more drugs are required the addicts find themselves spending more and more money. Often the next step is to start injecting as this will hit the spot much faster and less of the drug is required.
Injecting Heroin
Injecting Heroin is like a ritual for the user. Once the Heroin is purchased the preparation starts. Firstly everything will be put out on display and placed in order. The kit includes, Heroin, syringe with needle, spoon, lighter or candle, cigarette filter, belt, citric acid and water. The Heroin is put onto the spoon with citric acid, the right amount of water will then be mixed with the Heroin and citric acid, (the citric acid is used to breakdown the Heroin so it can be injected). At the same time the spoon is held over the heat source so all the three substances are mixed together. Once mixed, a cigarette filter will be placed onto the spoon, the solution will then be drawn up the syringe through the filter, this is to filter out any impurities. It is now ready to be injected into a vein usually in the arm. The belt or similar implement such as a shoe lace is tied tightly around the arm to stop the blood flow, this will cause the veins to stand out for easier injection. After long periods of use the veins will become damaged and other areas of the body are used for injecting into. Other places used are in the groin area, behind the knees or in serious cases in the neck. It has been know for addicts veins to collapse.
Effects Of Heroin
Short term effects of Heroin:-
Sedation / Drowsiness (known as gouching) Euphoria (the feeling of well being) Reduced Anxiety No feeling of pain (analgesia) Serious effects:- AIDS due to sharing needles Skin infection from injecting Collapsed veins due to injecting Poisoning due to additives added to the drugs by dealers Liver damage Rotten teeth due to "tooting"
Overdose
Addicts usually don't intend to overdose. The reasons for overdosing are few but can be very serious and has in the past resulted in death. If an addict has been restricted from taking the drug for a long period of time, for example, due to imprisonment. The addict could overdose if they were to use the same amount of the drug they were taking before they had the long spell of not using. Another reason for overdosing is due to the strength of Heroin. Some dealers will mix other substances with the Heroin making it weaker. If a pure bag of Heroin was taken, this could amount to a serious overdose.
What To Look For
Sleep pattern will change dramatically (usually lack of sleep during the night) Staying in the bedroom away from others who don't use the drug Not mixing with others Not going out with usual friends to the pub etc. Silver foil will start to disappear Lack of money Hyper and more energy than usual Personal items (stereo's, games machines, computers etc.) get sold to feed the addiction Money starts to disappear Dramatic weight loss Looking pale and gaunt in the face (no colour) Eye pupils very small, with little reaction Don't keep personal hygiene up to standard Loss of interest in cooked meals / depressed appetite Eating lots of sweet foods like chocolate bars and yoghurts Lies (a drug addict will tell blatant lies to try and cover his tracks) In trouble with the law Parents often mistake the effects of Heroin use with alcohol use (but no smell of alcohol would be present)



Why Is Heroin Addictive It's not just Heroin that is addictive, other Opiates are just as addictive. After a short period of use taking Heroin or other Opiates, it changes the way the nerve cells in the brain work. These cells rely on the drugs for them to function and end up being dependent on it. When a regular user stops taking the drug the nerve cells become very active and start craving for the drug, which causes withdrawal symptoms, which is commonly known as COLD TURKEY.
Treatment
There is no magical cure for an addict to stop the habit. Unfortunately some people say an addict will come off Heroin once they are ready, this could be after 12 years or more. A couple of common treatments are Methadone & Naltrexone.
Methadone:- This is a commonly used method to stop the use of Heroin, it is usually in a liquid form and is taken orally. Unfortunately Methadone is just as addictive as Heroin. Addicts are weaned off over a matter of months, then in some cases offered Naltrexone whilst getting counselling.
Naltrexone:- This is a blocker and stops any effect Heroin has on the user. Before Naltrexone is administered the user must be clear of Opiates and Opioids for at least 7 - 10 days. A urine test is normally carried out to ensure the body is clean. The addict must be under supervision for at least an hour to ensure there are no side effects. Naltrexone is taken in tablet form daily, also counselling would be given to get the addict back into society. Most establishments offering the above treatment would do random drugs test on known addicts.
Implants:- This is done under a local anaesthetic and involves an implant of Naltrexone, which is released into the body slowly.

Cold Turkey
Cold turkey is a common name for a drug addict who is going through the withdrawal symptoms to try and kick the addiction, also know as detoxification or detox. This usually occurs between 8 and 24 hours after the last intake of the drug. There are a lot of symptoms as the body starts to get all it's feelings back, after the long term drug abuse. Most addicts will have similar symptoms, such as diarrhoea, aches and pains, cramps in the stomach, vomiting, sweats and cold chills. The person who is having the withdrawal symptoms may feel that they are dying (and in a lot of cases go straight back on Heroin after a couple of days). Those who manage to carry on will have the symptoms for between 4 to 8 days. Unfortunately still not much help is available at this stage the only thing to do is take painkillers and diarrhoea tablets which may help a little.
What Next
After the cold turkey stage the battle is still on. This is just the start of the recovery period. The next step is to get the brain sorted out, as the craving is still there and the addict still wants their fix. At this stage counselling and blockers are usually needed to help the addict through the everyday tasks they have to contend with. The main thing to try and do is keep the addict occupied. Addicts at this stage are often unemployed, possibly homeless with nothing to do. Get them to seek employment, there is also a lot of college courses for young and old, anything will do to keep their brains occupied. Try and encourage them to take up some form of hobby or other interests. One of the worst things they can do is hang around with other users as they will go straight back into using again, and the whole process starts from the beginning.