“I messed up my entire life
because I got high”
-Lyrics from “The Good Times” by Afroman
Facts: Marijuana is the most commonly abused illicit drug in the
United States. However, slightly over half of surveyed college
students reported NEVER using marijuana.
Methods Of Consumption: Smoking in hand-rolled cigarettes,
cigars, pipes, or water bongs.
Can be eaten in food or seeped in teas.
Side Effects: Increased heart rate and appetite, dry
mouth and throat, red eyes, delayed reaction time,
impaired coordination and balance, anxiety, diminished
short-term memory
Long-Term Effects: Increased risk for lung cancer and upper
respiratory infections
“Now I'm losing touch with reality
and I'm almost out of blow.”
-Lyrics from “Cocaine” by Jackson Browne
Facts: Cocaine is a highly addictive Central
Nervous System stimulant. Less than 10% of
college students surveyed reported using cocaine.
Methods Of Consumption: Snorted through the
nose, smoked, or injected. Cocaine comes in a
white powder form and an off-white chunky
material
Side Effects: Increased temperature, heart rate and blood pressure,
constricted blood vessels, feelings of restlessness, irritability, and anxiety
Long-Term Effects: Acute respiratory problems, such as coughing,
shortness of breath, and severe chest pains with
lung trauma and bleeding
“Let the X destroy your spinal cord...”
-Lyrics from “Drug Ballad” by Eminem
Facts: Ecstasy has psychedelic and stimulant effects, it started out on
the “club scene” in what is referred to as raves. Slightly over 10% of
surveyed college students reported using ecstasy in their lifetime.
Methods Of Consumption: Pill form,
comes in many colors with shapes stamped
on them.
Side Effects: Anxiety, sleeplessness, paranoia,
confusion, muscle tension, involuntary teeth
clenching, nausea, blurred vision, tremors,
rapid eye movement, sweating or chills
Long-Term Effects: Dehydration, hyperthermia, heart or kidney
failure, and brain damage
“Doing crystal meth will lift you up until you
break- It won't stop, I won't come down…”
-Lyrics from “Semi-Charmed Kinda Life” by Third-Eye Blind
Facts: Crystal Meth is a highly addictive stimulant.
Only 5% of high school seniors surveyed reported
using Crystal Meth in their lifetime.
Methods Of Consumption: Smoked in a glass pipe or another similar
device, such as a light bulb.
The drug can also be injected or snorted.
Side Effects: Erratic behavior, panic, rapid heart rate, increased blood
pressure, loss of appetite, paranoia,
anxiety, confusion, and insomnia
Long-Term Effects: Malnutrition, tooth decay, seizures,
inflammation of the heart lining, and psychotic symptoms that can last
months or years
“Under the bridge downtown, is where
I drew some blood… I gave my life away”
-Lyrics from “Under The Bridge” by Red Hot Chili Peppers
Facts: Heroin is a highly addictive drug. Though more common in the
general population, only 1% of surveyed college students reported
ever using heroin.
Methods Of Consumption: Heroin can be
injected, smoked, or snorted
Side Effects: Dry mouth, flushing of the skin,
feeling of heavy extremities, and an alternating
sensation of wakefulness and drowsiness
Long-Term Effects: Respiratory failure,
pneumonia, overdose, collapsed vein, impaired
mental functioning
“Nothin’ Compares To These
Blue and Yellow Purple Pills…”
-Lyrics from “Purple Pills” by D-12
Facts: Prescription pills are increasingly being abused. Some
of the pills abused are downers and some are stimulants. The rates of
prescription pill abuse are hard to estimate at this time.
Methods Of Consumption: Pill form
Side Effects:
Depressants- Slow brain function, sluggishness, slowed pulse and
breathing, fatigue, slurred speech, fever, weight gain, depression.
Stimulants- Increased blood pressure, heart rate,
blood sugar, and breathing, nervousness, hostility,
irregular heartbeat.
Antidepressants- Insomnia, agitation, tremors,
hallucinations, aggression, mania, paranoia.
“Purple Haze All Around,
Don’t Know If I’m Comin’ Up Or Down…”
-Lyrics from “Purple Haze” by Jimi Hendrix
Facts: LSD was highly popular in the 1960’s and has since declined in
popularity. Approximately 8% of high school seniors surveyed
reported using LSD at some point
Methods Of Consumption: LSD is commonly sold on blotting
squares with designs on them or small tablets called microdots.
Side Effects: Increased body temperature, sweating or chills,
dry mouth, sleeplessness, tremors, vivid hallucinations, and
loss of appetite
Long-Term Effects: Distorted perception of time,
disoriented perception of shapes, colors, sounds, and
sense of touch, severe depression or psychosis can occur,
as well as, flashbacks of the trip
“I Thought I Could Leave, But Couldn’t Get
Out The Door.”
-Lyrics from “Amazing” by Aerosmith
Many people are unsure if their drug use is considered “abuse” or
“addiction.” Addiction is usually identified if two or more of these
symptoms are present:
Loss of Control over the use of the drug
Continued use despite adverse consequences
Compulsive use
Craving when the drug is withheld
If you or a friend are struggling with drug abuse or addiction please
contact ECU Student Health Services (252)328-6841 or
ECU Counseling Center (252)328-6661