3: The Drugs
Prepared by J. Mabbutt & C. Maynard
NaMO
September 2008
3: The Drugs
Objectives
1.
During the session drug, types, classifications, street names & use
statistics will be overviewed
2.
Participants will be involved in an activity to explore why people use
different types of drugs
3.
At the end of the session, nurses & midwives will have a greater
understanding of the types of drugs & their use enabling an increase
in knowledge & confidence in practice
3: The Drugs
Drugs defined
A drug is:


“… any chemical substance which, when taken into the body alters
its function physically and psychologically”
“… any substance people consider to be a drug with the understanding
that this will change from culture to culture and from time to time”
–
WHO (1989); Krivanek (1982)
From Commonwealth Government /NCETA 2004 – GP Trainers Illicit Drug Issues CD Rom
3: The Drugs
Psychoactive Drugs (1)
Psychoactive drugs are generally defined as substances which alter:
– mood
– cognition (thoughts)
– behaviour
From Commonwealth Government /NCETA 2004 – GP Trainers Illicit Drug Issues CD Rom
3: The Drugs
Psychoactive Drugs (2)

Affect mental processes and behaviour

Affect thought processes and actions

Alter perceptions of reality

Change level of alertness, response time and perception of the world

Achieve effects by interacting with the Central Nervous System (CNS)
Carmichael (2001)
From Commonwealth Government /NCETA 2004 – GP Trainers Illicit Drug Issues CD Rom
3: The Drugs
Psychoactive Drug Use

Is a common activity

Is part of a range of human behaviours

Can be classified in many ways, including legal status, drug effects

Alters mood or consciousness, although there are other ways to achieve this:
e.g. skydiving, meditation, extreme (and non-extreme) sport, sex. Children,
for example, love to alter their consciousness by ‘spinning around’
From Commonwealth Government /NCETA 2004 – GP Trainers Illicit Drug Issues CD Rom
3: The Drugs
Drug Classifications

Psychoactive drugs may be classified according to their:
1. status
• legal
• chemical
• medical
• social
2. action and properties
• depressant
• stimulant
• hallucinogenic etc
From Commonwealth Government /NCETA 2004 – GP Trainers Illicit Drug Issues CD Rom
3: Classifying Psychoactive Drugs
Depressants
Stimulants
Alcohol
LSD, magic
Amphetamine
(methamphetamines mushrooms
/ ‘ice’)
Benzodiazepines
Barbiturates
Nicotine
Opioids (heroin,
Cocaine
morphine, methadone)
Solvents (glue / amyl Caffeine
or butyl nitrite)
GHB
Ecstasy (MDMA)#
Hallucinogens
Ecstasy (MDMA)#
PCP, Ketamine
Cannabis* (in high
doses)
Other (e.g.
nutmeg/mace, N2O,
Cannabis*
*Cannabis has unique properties –
CNS depressant but hallucinogenic effects at high doses.
#Ecstasy (MDMA) can also be hallucinogen and stimulant
From Commonwealth Government /NCETA 2004 – GP Trainers Illicit Drug Issues CD Rom
Cannabis
Cocaine
Ecstasy
Powder – Amphetamine/Methamphetamine
Base – Amphetamine/Methamphetamine
‘Ice/Crystal’ Methamphetamine
Pills – Methamphetamine
3: The Drugs
Dependence

‘Substance dependence’ is a condition characterised by a combination
of physical changes, psychological states and behaviours that gives
drug use greater priority over other activities.
Carmichael (2001, p. 30)
From Commonwealth Government /NCETA 2004 – GP Trainers Illicit Drug Issues CD Rom
3: The Drugs
Dependence diagnosing criteria

The two best known and used criteria come from the:
– Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric
Association DSM-IV TR (2000) and the
– World Health Organisation (WHO) International Classification
of Diseases 10th Edition (ICD-10 1993)

Both have a list criteria relating to dependence

If three or more of the criteria have occurred a 12 month period
the person meets the criteria for dependence
From Commonwealth Government /NCETA 2004 – GP Trainers Illicit Drug Issues CD Rom
3: Tolerance and withdrawal
Body
in
balance
Drug
has
effect
CEIDA Core Traning Manual
Body
adjusts
Increase
dose
needed
for effect
Sudden
cessation
of drug
causes
withdrawal
Body
in
balance
3: The Drugs
Tolerance, Dependence & Withdrawal
Tolerance

Occurs when more of the drug is needed to produce the initial effect
Dependence

The need to keep taking a drug to feel physically and or mentally OK –
Dependence requires a high level of tolerance
Withdrawal

The effects on the body and mind of a person who suddenly stops
taking a drug, after becoming dependent on it
3: The Drugs
How people use drugs – Activity
•
Break into two groups
•
Both groups list:
•
All the ways drugs can get into the body
•
Why this method may be used for a certain drug
•
Each group has 5 minutes before they report back
to the whole group and this is written up on the board
Approved name of drug
Street name
Price in NSW, 2004-5 *
Alcohol
Grog, piss, booze, sauce
Amphetamines
Speed, goey, whiz, uppers, oxblood,
point, crystal, crystal meth, ice,
shabu
Benzodiazepines
benzos, rowies, moggies, downers,
sleepers, tummies, series, pills
Cannabis
marijuana, grass, pot, shit, ganja,
mull, hash, durry, green, dope, cone
Leaf- Ounce (28 g) $150
Head- Ounce (28 g) $200
Hydroponic- (28 g) $250
Hash/resin- Deal (1g ) $50
Cocaine
Snow, coke
1 gram $150–$300
Ecstasy
E, eccies, XTC, fantasy, GBH, liquid
ecstasy, good speed
1 tablet/capsule $30–$70
Heroin/opioids
Hammer, H, shit, smack, horse,
harry, white, skag, junk
1 taste/cap (0.1–0.3 g) $50
Full gram $200–$500
1 weight gram $90–$500
3: Appendix 6: Street names of drugs
* Adapted from the Illicit Drug Data Report. 2004–05 Australian Crime Commission
* Adapted from the Illicit Drug Data Report. 2004–05 Australian Crime Commission
Approved name of drug
Street name
Price in NSW, 2004-5 *
Ketamine
Special K
Varied across States:
ACT – $65 S.A. – $200
Lysergic acid diethylamide
(LSD)
Acid, blotter, trips, wangers, tabs, dots
$10 to $25 per tab
Methylene
Dioxyamphetamine (MDA)
Adam
1 tablet/capsule $30-$70
Methylene
Dioxymethamphetamine
(MDMA)
Ecstasy, Utopia, E, XTC
1 tablet/capsule $30-$70
Phencyclidine (PCP)
Angel dust
PMA
Dr Death
Psilocybin
Magic mushrooms, gold tops
Solvents
glue, tol, toluene, bute, nitrus, amyls,
petrol, super, aerosol paint-chroming
3: Appendix 6: Street names of drugs
* Adapted from the Illicit Drug Data Report. 2004–05 Australian Crime Commission
3: Percentage of all deaths
attributable to Tobacco, Alcohol
and Illicit drugs, in Australia 2003
12
10
8
Tobacco
Deaths
Alcohol
Deaths
Illicit Drug
Deaths
6
4
2
0
Tobacco
Alcohol
Illicits
3: Percentage of Drug related
deaths attributable to Tobacco,
Alcohol & Illicit drugs, Australia 2003
80
70
60
Tobacco
Deaths
Alcohol
Deaths
Illicit Drug
Deaths
50
40
30
20
10
0
Tobacco
Alcohol
Illicits
3: Percentage of Tobacco related deaths
in Australia 2003 by condition
45
40
Lung cancer
35
COPD
30
25
IHD
20
Stroke
15
Oesphag
cancer
Other
10
5
0
Tobacco
3: Percentage of Alcohol related
deaths in Australia 2003 by condition
30
Abuse
25
Suicide / Self
inflict
Road accid
20
15
Oesophag
cancer
Breast cancer
10
5
Other
0
Alcohol
3: Percentage of Illicit drug related
deaths in Australia 2003 by condition
50
45
40
Heroin poly
Drug
Hep C
35
30
25
Suicide self
inflict
Hep B
20
15
10
Other
5
0
Illicit