SAC Substance awareness coordinator

Alcohol Effects

Overconsumption and intoxication are generally recognized through slurred or incoherent speech, poor balance and clumsiness, delayed reflexes, stomach pains, vomiting or nausea, loss of consciousness or blacking-out, redness of the face during or after periods of consumption

 

Marijuana Effects

Compulsive eating, bloodshot red eyes that are squinty (they may have trouble keeping them open), dry mouth, excessive and uncontrollable laughter, forgetfulness, short term memory loss, extreme lethargy, delayed motor skills, occasional paranoia, hallucinations, laziness, lack of motivation, stupidity, sickly sweet smell on body, hair, and clothes, and strong mood changes and behaviors when the person is "high". Slang names include weed, pot

 

Prescription Drug Effects

Three different classes of prescriptions are most susceptible to abuse:

Stimulants: most commonly prescribed for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder -- Ritalin, Adderall, Vyvanse

Opiates: most often prescribed to treat severe or chronic pain – Oxycontin, hydrocodone, vicodin,

Tranquilizers / sedatives: frequently prescribed to treat anxiety disorders or sleep disorders – Xanax, Valium,

 

Ecstasy (MDMA) - Club Drugs Effects

Hyper-Alertness, Sweating, Dry mouth (thirsty), Increased heart rate, Fatigue, Jaw-clenching, Hyperthermia (cold when they shouldn't be), Agitation, Increased emotional responses (more empathetic than individual would normally be). Do not ignore signs of excessive agitation, as this can be serious and life-threatening. "Stacking"--which is when users take multiple doses--can result in stroke, seizures, and other extreme and life-threatening reactions to this drug.

 

Other club drugs: GHB, Rohypnol, ketamine, methamphetamineSlang: Clarity, crystal, decadence, G, X, Herbal Bliss, wafers, exotically, gum, Shabu, love drug; MDA (herbal form) also known as Cloud Nine, herbal X, Rave Energy, Herbal Bliss, XTC

 

Molly—slang for ―molecular—refers to the pure crystalline powder form of the club drug ecstasy.Molly, which is usually purchased in capsules, has seen a surge in interest in the past few years, being celebrated frequently by popular music artists.

 

Depressants (Tranquilizers and Barbiturates) Effects

Decreased inhibition, slowed motor coordination, lethargy, relaxed muscles, staggering gait, poor judgment, slow, uncertain reflexes, disorientation, and slurred speech.

Depressants (including Xanax, Valium, GHB): Contracted pupils; drunk-like; difficulty concentrating; clumsiness; poor judgment; slurred speech; sleepiness.

 

Heroin Effects

Chemically induced euphoria. "Nodding," which is a dreamlike state, near sleep, drifting off for minutes or hours. For long-time abusers, heroin may act like a stimulant and they can do a normal daily routine; however, for others, it leaves them completely powerless to do anything.

 

Cocaine Effects

Impaired thinking, confused, anxious, depressed, short tempered, panic attacks, suspiciousness, dilated pupils, sleeplessness, loss of appetite, decreased sexual drive, restlessness, irritability, very talkative, scratching, hallucinations, paranoia.

 

Methamphetamine Effects

"Wired"--sleeplessness for days and weeks at a time, total loss of appetite, extreme weight loss, dilated pupils, excited, talkative, deluded sense of power, paranoia, depression, loss of control, nervousness, unusual sweating, shaking, anxiety, hallucinations, aggression, violence, dizziness, mood changes, blurred vision, mental confusion, agitation.

 

LSD (Acid) Effects

Dilated pupils, skin discoloration, loss of coordination, false sense of power, euphoria, distortion of time and space, hallucinations, confusion, paranoia, nausea, vomiting, loss of control, anxiety, panic, helplessness, and self destructive behavior.

 

Inhalant Effects

Short-lasting euphoria, giggling, silliness, dizziness. Then come the headaches and full-blown "faintings" or going unconscious. Long-term Use: Short-term memory loss, emotional instability, impairment of reasoning, slurred speech, clumsy staggering gait, eye flutter, tremors, hearing loss, loss of sense of smell, and escalating stages of brain atrophy. Sometimes these serious long-term effects are reversible with body detoxification and nutritional therapy; sometimes the brain damage is irreversible or only partially reversible.

 

 

Education Awareness:

Synthetic Drugs

The Governor’s Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (GCADA) has launched a statewide awareness campaign,

“Addiction Does Not Discriminate” to help fight drug abuse by showing that no one is immune to the

deadly drug problem. This program provides New Jersey residents with information on preventing abuse, recognizing

those at risk, and finding treatment. Please go to http://www.knowaddiction.nj.gov/

Since April 2015, there have been approximately 400

overdoses involving synthetics along East Coast between

Alabama to New York. The current brand associated

with this outbreak of overdoses is “K2” (pictured below).

This is a popular brand that is available both online

and at local convenient stores. Lab analysis is pending

to determine the cause of the overdoses.

In New Jersey, it is illegal to possess, sell, offer to sell, or

manufacture synthetic drugs. Between April 15th and

April 19th, there have been approximately 25 non-fatal

overdoses in the area of Newark Penn Station in Newark,

NJ.

Synthetic drugs have become popular among drug users

due to the availability of these drugs through the Internet

and over the counter at convenience stores, smoke

shops, and gas stations. Synthetic drugs are chemically

designed to imitate the effects of drugs such as LSD,

methamphetamines, and Ecstasy. The most common

forms of synthetic drugs are in powder, crystal, liquid,

or leafy green vegetation. This diverse appearance

allows distributors to package the drugs as

bath salts or herbal air fresheners marked “not for

human consumption.” The most common ingredient

in these drugs are versions of cathinone, which can

have severe mental and physical effects on users.

An additional consideration for school administrators

and parole officers is that synthetic drugs are not

detected by standard urine toxicology screening. In

order to verify suspected synthetic drug usage, contact

your local laboratory or Poison Control center for

the preferred method of patient testing.

The photo above shows the popular synthetic drug brand called

K2. The current batch of K2 has been associated with approximately

400 non-fatal overdoses along the East Costs during

the month of April.

Indicat ions & Physical Ef fects

 Di zziness

 High blood pressure

 Red eyes/di lated pupi ls

 Nausea

 Vomi t ing

 Sei zures

 Paranoia

 Anxiety

 Depression

 Nose bleeds

 Chest pains

Drug Ident i f iers

 Marked as bath sal ts or ai r

f r e s h e n e r s “ N o t f o r h uma n

c o n s u mp t i o n ”

Long Term Heal th Risks

 Breathing problems

 Cogni t ive impai rment

 Psychosis

Recommendat ions

 Contact pol ice and emergency

services via 9-1-1.

 Wear viny l or non- latex gloves

when handl ing possible synthet -

ic drugs and throw the gloves

away af ter use.

 Thoroughl y wash hands af ter

removing gloves and before eat -

ing, dr inking, or smoking to prevent

potent ial ingest ion of drug

par t icles.

Repor t ing

Repor t al l incidents of overdose or

exposure to NJ Poison Cont rol at

1-800-222-1222.

Fact Sheet

Created by the NJ ROIC Drug Monitoring Initiative: 4/20/15

The photo above shows different synthetic drug products

marketed as “not for human consumption.” The multiple

distribution platforms allows to circumvent US drug scheduling

standards.