Outlined below is information on some of the different drugs around today, including the effects and possible risks of taking such drugs. The aim is to provide you with a balanced account, enabling you to make a responsible choice when deciding what to put into your body.

AMPHETAMINES

Also known as... speed, amph, uppers, whizz, billy, sulph, go-faster, paste, meth, base.

What is it?

An amphetamine is a stimulant. That is, it makes you feel wide awake and full of energy. Base is a stronger version and as such the effects will be greater.

What are the effects?

• Your heart will beat faster than normal.

• You won't feel the need to sleep.

• You will lose your appetite.

• The effects can last for 8 hours. After this time you will come down, feeling exhausted and hungry. This may last for days.

• Anxiety and confusion will probably occur as you come down.

What are the risks?

Your body gets used to speed very quickly. This means you will quickly need to use more of the drug to get the same effects as before. This puts your body at increased risk since:

• You will pick up colds easier, as you will not be sleeping or eating properly.

• You will be lacking energy.

• You may develop high blood pressure or even have heart failure.

• If you are pregnant, speed can damage your baby.

METHAMPHETAMINE

Also known as… ice, meth, chalk, crystal, glass, crystal meth, speed.

What is it?

Methamphetamine is derived from amphetamine. However it stays in the system for longer and as such the symptoms are more severe. It is growing in popularity in Australia. It can be smoked, snorted, taken orally or injected. It takes the form of a powder or a rock.

What are the effects?

• The effects come on quickly and begin with an immediate rush.

• Your body temperature increases.

• You will have loss of appetite.

• You will not be able to sleep.

• The effects can last for up to 12 hours.

What are the risks?

• The risks are the same as amphetamines and you can become addicted, as you need more and more to achieve the same initial high.

• It can cause psychosis.

• You can have a stroke.

• It can cause malnutrition.

• You can die from an overdose.

ANABOLIC STEROIDS

Names include...stanozolol, anavar, sustanon 250, deca-durabolin, dianabol.

What is it?

Anabolic steroids are a stimulant. They may come in the form of a tablet which is swallowed or take the form of a liquid which can be injected. You may have heard about sports people using them. If caught using, their career will probably be over.

What are the effects?

Users may feel aggressive and full of energy. This allows people to exercise for longer. Steroids may help build muscle when combined with exercise.

What are the risks?

Can cause serious health problems.
For men: breast growth, possible sterility (preventing the user from having children), liver problems and even heart attack.
For women: voice deepens, facial hair grows, shrinking breasts and possibility of miscarriage or a stillbirth.
Injecting can put you at risk of HIV.

CANNABIS

Also known as... marijuana, blow, hash, ganja, weed, skunk, puff, draw, herb, shit, spliff, pot, cones, dope.

What is it?

Cannabis is a plant which can be smoked or eaten. Cannabis resin comes from the leaves of a cannabis plant and is formed into a block and is usually brown or black. The leaves themselves can also be smoked. This is known as grass. Skunk is much stronger than cannabis, and as such the effects can be more powerful.

What are the effects?

Initially, you may feel relaxed and giggly. However you may end up feeling anxious and paranoid (the feeling that people are talking about you and that the world has got it in for you). You can also feel sick (especially when mixed with alcohol). Cannabis can affect short term memory, so you won't remember what someone has just said to you. The effect of cannabis can be more severe when eaten and taken this way it is harder to control. Taking skunk can leave you confused about reality.

What are the risks?

There is no known long term damage to your health, despite the amount of studies that have been carried out. However, bear in mind cannabis is usually smoked and as such will have all the risks of smoking.

It is useful to know however that:

• You will not die from using cannabis.

• It will not cause mental illness (unless you have a predisposition for some forms of mental health problems).

• Taking cannabis does not mean a person will automatically end up taking more dangerous drugs.

• You will not get physically addicted to cannabis - although some people may find they can't (or won't) live without it.

COCAINE / CRACK

Also known as... coke, Charlie, C, snow, rocks, stones, wash, dust, flake, white lady.

What is it?

Cocaine is a stimulant. It is a white powder that is snorted up the nose. It can also be injected. Crack is cocaine formed into a rock, which is smoked.

What are the effects?

• Increased heart rate and blood pressure.

• A dry mouth.

• You won't feel hungry or tired.

• You may feel sick.

• You may become aggressive.

• The more you take, the greater the effects - both good and bad.

• Crack produces an immediate high which doesn't last for very long (about 10 minutes). A low (or crash) quickly follows.

• Coming down from a high will be an unpleasant experience. Feelings of exhaustion, hunger, anxiety, depression and paranoia will emerge. The more you take the worse this is.

What are the risks?

• Given that the high does not last long, it is easy to want more to obtain those feelings again. Also, coming down is unpleasant, so people take more and more to try to avoid it. This can lead to addiction, which can affect you physically and mentally.

• You can develop heart problems using cocaine a great deal.

• Damage to your nasal passages occurs through snorting cocaine.

• Smoking crack can lead to chest and lung problems and the development of bronchitis.

• Long term mental problems include depression and anxiety and something known as 'cocaine psychosis'.

• Once started on cocaine, it is very difficult to control.

• An overdose can kill.

ECSTASY

Also known as... E, Pills, Adam, Eve, Doves, Edward, XTC, Eccies, Hug Drug.

What is it?

Ecstasy is a stimulant, which gives you more energy and changes your mood. It comes in a tablet form. A variety of drugs are available which are sold as ecstasy and so the effects can vary to that listed below.

What are the effects?

The effects of ecstasy can be different each time. It will depend on your mood, where you are, who you are with and which drug you take. About 20 minutes after taking ecstasy, your mouth will feel dry and you will feel hot. Your heart beat speeds up and you will have no appetite. You may feel relaxed and in tune with other people. However, you may feel anxious. The effects can last between 3 to 6 hours.

What are the risks?

• Given that the content of each tablet will vary, so will the risks. You will become dehydrated since you won't feel thirsty. If clubbing, this can result in you collapsing. So make sure you drink plenty of non-alcoholic drink when dancing.

• Coming down after ecstasy may leave you feeling depressed, tired and hungry.

• Panic attacks and feelings of paranoia may arise. This may last for days.

• The more you use ecstasy, the more you need for the same effects. As such, coming down will be even worse.

• Ecstasy strains your heart, liver and kidneys.

• It is possible to die from taking ecstasy, however very few people have.

• It is unknown what will happen until you have taken the drug.

GHB

Also known as... GBH, fantasy, liquid E, liquid ecstasy. It is short for gamma-hydroxybutyrate.

What is it?

GHV is a liquid sold in small bottles or in capsules, which is swallowed. It is a depressant.

What are the effects?

GHB starts to work between 10 minutes to an hour after taking.  A small dose may make you feel happy or depressed, depending on your mood when you take it.  Taking a large amount can result in feeling sick and your muscles feeling numb.  The effects can last for a whole day.

What are the risks?

• You can collapse from taking GHB.

• It is also possible to have a fit. This can be especially dangerous if you are with friends who are unable to help you (either because they don't know how, or they're in a similar state as yourself).

• Overdosing can leave a person in a coma.

• Like many other drugs, the strength of GHB is unknown and as such so are the risks.

• You may lack energy afterwards, which can last for days.

HEROIN

Also known as... smack, gear, skag, brown, h, jack, harry, horse, junk, hammer.

What is it?

Heroin is a very strong painkiller. It usually comes in the form of a brown powder which can be smoked, snorted or injected. The pure powder is white. Heroin is a depressant.

What are the effects?

• People feel relaxed and worry-free.

• You may be sick or feel dizzy.

• You may become drowsy.

What are the risks?

• Heroin is highly addictive. Care is needed as people may find themselves using more and more, without realising and are then unable to stop.

• Overdosing can result in a coma and you can die.

• Users may not be aware of how strong the drug will be.

• Injecting heroin carries further risks. You can overdose this way and also sharing needles can lead to HIV and Hepatitis.

• It can take years to get over using heroin, once users have finally stopped.

KETAMINE

Also known as... special k, K, CK.

What is it?

Ketamine is an hallucinogenic and is also a painkiller. It can be snorted or injected. It also comes in tablet form.

What are the effects?

The effects kick in seconds after it is taken. Initially your body feels numb and you will hallucinate (seeing things that aren't really there). Some believe their hallucinations to be real. The effects can vary depending on mood and where you are at the time.

What are the risks?

As a painkiller the user may not feel anything if they were to hurt themselves. This lack of feeling can lead to injury. You may have difficulty talking and believe you are unable to move. You also may feel sick after taking Ketamine. There is a risk of developing breathing and heart problems if a lot is used.

LSD

Also known as... acid, tabs, trips, blotters, microdots.

What is it?

LSD is an hallucinogenic drug (you see things you wouldn't normally) which comes in the form of a small square of paper, with a picture on it.

What are the effects?

How strong the tab will be is unknown - until you take it. Effects appear between 20 minutes to two hours after taking it. You will experience a trip which can last up to 24 hours. Trips can be good and bad. The mood you are in at the time may influence this. Everything you see, hear and touch will appear different to normal. Familiar things you may not recognise (including your friends). This change may be enjoyable or dreadful.

What are the risks?

Sometimes flashbacks occur. This is where you experience the trip again, as though what occurred is actually happening now. Flashbacks may occur weeks after you take acid. Anxiety and depression may develop the day after, but will not last. There is no known damage to the brain from taking LSD.

MAGIC MUSHROOMS

Also known as... mushies.

What is it?

Like LSD, magic mushrooms are an hallucinogenic drug.  They  are mushrooms, which are eaten raw, dried or cooked.

What are the effects?

• You may hallucinate. That is, you see or hear things that are not really there.

• You may feel very relaxed.

• Like other hallucinogenic drugs the experience will depend on the user's mood and where they are at the time.

• The trip can be a bad one and as such a terrible experience for the user.

• The trip lasts about 4 hours.

What are the risks?

You can develop stomach cramps, sickness and diarrhoea.  You can die if you take the wrong type. Some mushroom can look like mushies but are in fact poisonous.  So if you feel ill, make your way to a hospital as soon as you can.

POPPERS

Also known as...alkyl nitrates, amyl, rush, TNT, Liquid Gold, Kix.

What is it?

Poppers are a stimulant.  It is a liquid chemical which is sniffed.

What are the effects?

• Blood flows faster through the heart and brain, since it enlarges the veins and arteries.

• This causes an immediate rush making you feel full of energy, after which you may feel light headed.

• Dizziness and headaches may occur.

• You may feel sick.

What are the risks?

• You may collapse after taking poppers.

• You will probably have a headache afterwards.

• If you drink the liquid, you can die.

SOLVENTS

Includes... aerosols such as hairspray and deodorants, glues, gases (including lighter fuels), paints, thinners, correcting fluids.

What is it?

Solvents are depressants, which slow down brain activity. They are sniffed by the user.

What are the effects?

After inhaling, the user may experience dizziness, giggling and become dreamy. It is possible they will hallucinate (seeing or hearing things that are not there). The effects last between 15 to 45 minutes.

What are the risks?

In the UK one person every week dies from solvent abuse.  You can die instantly and it can be your first time. Apart from death, sickness and blackouts can occur. The user can suffocate if the user inhales from a plastic bag. The brain, liver and kidneys can be damaged from long-term use.

MIXING DRUGS

Unfortunately there is no way to predict what will happen if you mix drugs.  This includes mixing drugs with alcohol.

Here are some examples of what can happen:

• Mixing stimulants (such as speed, poppers, ecstasy and cocaine) will put an even greater strain on the heart than they do alone.

• Taking speed or ecstasy with anti-depressants can kill as it sends your blood pressure rocketing.

• Ecstasy combined with alcohol will increase dehydration and risk of collapse.

• Mixing cannabis with ecstasy will probably make you feel more anxious and paranoid. Cannabis will not relieve the effects of ecstasy.

• Mixing GHB with other drugs, including alcohol can kill.