1. Basic Facts About OxyContin
(http://alcoholism.about.com/mbiopage.htm)
A Highly Addictive Prescription Drug
Oxycontin is the time-release form of oxycodone, usually prescribed for chronic and
severe pain. Because it contains a larger amount of oxycodone, it has become one of
the most abused prescription drugs in the United States.
Street Names
Some of the street names for OxyContin include Oxy, O.C., killer and hillbilly heroin.
What is Oxycontin?
OxyContin is a semi synthetic opioid analgesic prescribed for chronic or long-lasting
pain. The active ingredient is oxycodone, which is also found in drugs like Percodan
and Tylox. OxyContin can contain between 10 and 160 milligrams of oxycodone in a
timed-release tablet, compared to five milligrams in Tylox.
How Is OxyContin Used?
Generally, OxyContin is prescribed to be taken twice a day, a benefit over other painrelieving medications that have to be taken several times a day.
2.
What Are the Effects of OxyContin?
Under prescribed dosage, OxyContin is an effective pain reliever, but when crushed
and snorted or injected, the drug produces a quick and powerful "high" that some
abusers compare to the feeling they get when doing heroin. The NIDA reports that in
some areas of the country, OxyContin abuse rates are actually higher than heroin
abuse.
Because OxyContin, like heroin and other opioids, is a central nervous system
depressant, and overdose can cause respiratory failure and death. Some symptoms of
OxyContin overdose include:
Slow breathing (respiratory depression)
SeizuresDizziness
Weakness
Loss of consciousness
Is OxyContin Addictive?
Coma
Confusion
Tiredness
Cold and clammy skin
Small pupils
Reduced vision
Nausea
Vomiting
Clouding of mental functions
Like all opioids, OxyContin is potentially highly addictive.
Even pain patients who use the drug as prescribed are advised not to suddenly stop
taking OxyContin, but gradually reduce the dosage to avoid withdrawal symptoms.
However, very few people who take OxyContin as prescribed ever become addicted to
the drug.
Abusers of the drug, who take higher than prescribed dosage, can develop a tolerance
for OxyContin which can cause them to take ever-increasing larger amounts to achieve
the same effect. They can become addicted or dependent on the drug quickly.
3.
OxyContin Withdrawal Symptoms
OxyContin withdrawal symptoms can include:
Tiredness or fatigue
Constant yawning
Hot/cold sweats
Heart palpitations
Joints and muscles ache
Nausea and vomiting
Uncontrollable coughing
Diarrhea
Insomnia
Watery eyes
Depression
Oxycontin withdrawal symptoms can begin as soon as six hours after the last dose
and can last up to one week. People who have gone through OxyContin withdrawal
compare the process to the intensity of heroin withdrawal.
A Highly Addictive Prescription Drug
Oxycontin is the time-release form of oxycodone, usually prescribed for chronic and
severe pain. Because it contains a larger amount of oxycodone, it has become one of
the most abused prescription drugs in the United States.
Street Names
Some of the street names for OxyContin include Oxy, O.C., killer and hillbilly heroin.
What is Oxycontin?
OxyContin is a semi synthetic opioid analgesic prescribed for chronic or long-lasting
pain. The active ingredient is oxycodone, which is also found in drugs like Percodan
and Tylox. OxyContin can contain between 10 and 160 milligrams of oxycodone in a
timed-release tablet, compared to five milligrams in Tylox.
How Is OxyContin Used?
Generally, OxyContin is prescribed to be taken twice a day, a benefit over other painrelieving medications that have to be taken several times a day.
4.
How Is OxyContin Abused?
OxyContin abusers either crush the tablet and ingest or snort it or they dilute it in water
and inject it. Crushing or diluting the tablet disarms the timed-release action of
the medication, but crushing OxyContin in this way can give the user a
potentially fatal dose.
What Are the Effects of OxyContin?
Under prescribed dosage, OxyContin is an effective pain reliever, but when crushed
and snorted or injected, the drug produces a quick and powerful "high" that some
abusers compare to the feeling they get when doing heroin. The NIDA reports that in
some areas of the country, OxyContin abuse rates are actually higher than heroin
abuse.
Because OxyContin, like heroin and other opioids, is a central nervous system
depressant, and overdose can cause respiratory failure and death. Some symptoms of
OxyContin overdose include:
Slow breathing (respiratory depression)
SeizuresDizziness
Weakness
Loss of consciousness
http://www.drugfree.org/drug-guide/dxm
5.
DXM
What are the street names/slang terms?
Dex, Robo, Skittles, Triple C, Tussin
What is DXM?
Dextromethorphan is a cough-suppressing ingredient found in a variety of over-thecounter cold and cough medications. Like PCP and Ketamine, dextromethorphan is a
dissociative anesthetic, meaning DXM effects can include hallucinations.
What does it look like?
Cough syrup and cough and cold tablets or gel caps that are available without a
prescription. Also, dextromethorphan can be purchased in a powder form, often
over the internet.
How is it used?
Swallowed.
6.
What are its short-term effects?
The effects of dextromethorphan abuse vary with the amount taken. Common DXM
effects can include confusion, dizziness, double or blurred vision, slurred speech,
impaired physical coordination, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, rapid
heartbeat, drowsiness, numbness of fingers and toes, and disorientation. DXM
abusers describe different “plateaus” ranging from mild distortions of color and
sound to visual hallucinations and “out-of-body,” dissociative, sensations, and loss of
motor control.
What are its long-term effects?
The abuse of cough medications including DXM can contain other ingredients, such as
acetaminophen, which can be very dangerous when taken in large quantities. For
example, large quantities of acetaminophen can damage the liver.
DXM is also
sometimes abused with other drugs or alcohol, which can increase the dangerous
physical effects.
What is its federal classification?
Not Applicable
Source: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
Ritalin (http://www.drugs.com/ritalin.html)
7.
What is Ritalin?
1. Ritalin is a central nervous system stimulant. It affects chemicals in
the brain and nerves that contribute to hyperactivity and impulse
control.
Ritalin is used to treat attention deficit disorder (ADD), attention deficit hyperactivity
disorder (ADHD), and narcolepsy. (sleeping disorder where you easily fall asleep
during the day)
8.
2. Ritalin will increase the brain's ability to inhibit itself. This allows the brain to
focus on the right thing at the right time, and to be less distracted, and less impulsive.
Ritalin will increase the "signal to noise ratio" in the brain.
Ritalin will also increase both gross motor co-ordination and fine motor control. For several
years the sales brochure for Ritalin simply had pictures of children's handwriting before
Ritalin, and with 10 mg of Ritalin in their system. The changes were dramatic, and physicians
wrote a lot of prescriptions for Ritalin.
3. Do not use this medication if you are allergic to Ritalin or if you have:
-Glaucoma (eye disease)
-a personal or family history of tics (muscle twitches) or Tourette's syndrome
-severe anxiety, tension, or agitation (Ritalin can make these symptoms worse).
Dexedrine, a stimulant drug available in tablet or sustained-release capsule form, is also
prescribed to help treat the following conditions:
-Narcolepsy (recurrent "sleep attacks")
-Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
9.
What is a Barbiturate? (Sleeping Pills)
The most common side effects of Barbiturates are light-headedness, dizziness,
drowsiness, and unsteadiness or clumsiness.
These symptoms are only considered problematic when they persist or interfere with
normal activities. Alarming adverse effects of Barbiturates include depression,
confusion, or unusual excitement. Further common Barbiturates side effects are bleeding sores on the lips, chest pain or
tightness in the chest, fever, muscle or joint pain, skin problems, such as rash, hives,
or red, thickened, or scaly skin, sore throat, sores or painful white spots in the mouth,
swollen eyelids, face, or lips and wheezing. Overdosing Barbiturates can result in symptoms such as difficulty thinking, slow
speech, sluggishness, incoordination, shallow breathing, faulty judgment, drowsiness
or coma, staggering and in serious cases coma and death. Bad side effects of
Barbiturates include respiratory depression, hypotension, fatigue, unusual excitement,
irritability, sedation, confusion, addiction and respiratory arrest which could cause
death. A Barbiturate high gives feelings of euphoria and relaxed contentment. The main risk
of Barbiturate poisoning abuse is respiratory depression. Psychological and physical
dependence may also develop with repeated use. Other effects of barbiturate
intoxication include ataxia, drowsiness, vertical and lateral nystagmus, slurred speech,
decreased anxiety and a loss of inhibitions.
-http://side-effects.owndoc.com/barbiturates-side-effects.php
10.
Jimi Hendrix
Date of Birth
27 November 1942, Seattle, Washington, USA
Date of Death
18 September 1970, Notting Hill, London,
England, UK (barbiturate overdose)
Birth Name
Johnny Allen Hendrix
5 Drug DON'Ts...
11.
DON'T change your medication dose or schedule
without talking with your doctor.
12.
DON'T use medication prescribed for someone else.
DON'T crush or break pills unless your doctor instructs you
to do so.
DON'T use medication that has passed its expiration date.
DON'T store your medications in locations that are either too
hot or too cold. For example, the bathroom cabinet may not
be the best place for your medication.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------DO: Read the warnings carefully and follow them!
DO: Take only the directed amount.