NCJ Number
65222
Date Published
1979
Length
6 pages
Annotation
THE DIFFERENT EFFECTS OF DRUGS AND THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF DRUG ABUSERS ARE OUTLINED IN THIS POLICE TRAINING KEY.
Abstract
DRUG ABUSERS INCLUDE THE UNKNOWING USERS WHO USE LEGALLY PRESCRIBED DRUGS TO HELP COPE WITH THEIR LIVES; DRUG EXPERIMENTERS, PRIMARILY ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS; COUNTER-CULTURE USERS WHO USE DRUGS AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THEIR LIFE-STYLE; AND HARD-CORE DRUG ADDICTS WHO SPEND MOST OF THEIR TIME ACQUIRING AND USING DRUGS. DEPRESSANTS ARE A CLASS OF DRUGS THAT DEPRESS THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM, HAVE A HIGH ABUSE POTENTIAL WITH BOTH PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DEPENDENCE, AND, IF TAKEN EXCESSIVELY, PRODUCE EFFECTS RESEMBLING THOSE PRODUCED BY ALCOHOL. THE FAMILY MEDICINE CABINET, ILLEGAL PRESCRIPTION, ILLICIT MARKETS, OR DRUG STORE THEFTS MAY BE SOURCES OF SUPPLY. CHLORAL HYDRATE AND BARBITURATES ARE INCLUDED IN THIS CLASS. STIMULANTS ARE THE MOST FREQUENTLY ABUSED CLASS OF DRUGS AND ARE USED TO PRODUCE SELF-CONFIDENCE AND EUPHORIA. EXTREMELY ADDICTIVE, THESE DRUGS, WHICH INCLUDE COCAINE AND THE AMPHETAMINES, CAN CAUSE PARANOIA WITH AUDITORY AND VISUAL HALLUCINATIONS, DIZZINESS, VOMITING AND CRAMPS, AND, IN SOME CASES, CARDIOVASCULAR COLLAPSE AND DEATH. STREET AMPHETAMINE ABUSERS MAY INJECT LARGE AMOUNTS OF METHAMPHETAMINE INTRAVENOUSLY; REACTIONS CAN INCLUDE BIZARRE BEHAVIOR AND MEDICAL COMPLICATIONS. MARIHUANA, CLASSIFIED TECHNICALLY AS A HALLUCINOGEN, VARIES IN ITS EFFECTS DEPENDING ON THE USER, AMOUNT USED, AND THE SETTING. EUPHORIA, INCREASED SELF-CONFIDENCE, AND INTELLECTUAL AND MOTOR COORDINATION IMPAIRMENT MAY RESULT, DEPENDING ON THE DOSAGE. APPROXIMATELY 43 MILLION AMERICANS HAVE TRIED THE DRUG AND 16 MILLION ARE CURRENT USERS. RECENT STUDIES INDICATE IT MAY BE HARMFUL TO THE LUNGS, THE BODY'S IMMUNE RESPONSE, AND BASIC CELL METABOLISM. QUESTIONS, ANSWERS, AND A RESOURCE PUBLICATION ARE INCLUDED. (AOP)