Adult Drugs of Abuse:

Alcohol

The most used drug by adults. Legal in most areas and affordable.

All forms of alcohol are abused; Beer, scotch, gin, vodka, etc. Mouthwash, sterno, hair spray, and other forms of alcohol are used when no other alcohol is available.

Pilots in the former Soviet Union, who were alcoholics, were drinking the brake fluid out of their combat fighter’s brake system when no other alcohol was available!

You want to be concerned when the availability and consumption of alcohol becomes the focus of social, family, and professional activities. If the use of alcohol causes problems and those problems continue to re-occur as a result of alcohol, then alcohol is a problem for that person.

Marijuana

Marijuana is addictive. As regular use begins you will see agitation and “ill” moods, sometimes aggressiveness and irritability, sometimes a clear lack of motivation. The anti-motivational syndrome is particularly destructive in adults.

• Usually seen as a gateway drug to stronger illegal drug use in adult users.
• Distinct odor of burnt rope.
• Often laced with adulterants, such as formaldehyde, crushed pills, and any abusable powder-form drug.

Adult marijuana users, most often abuse other drugs, as well as marijuana. You might notice little round burn holes in upholstery, car seats and clothing.

Chronic users appear depressed, lack interests, and have poor diets. Effects on the brain are cumulative, and last far beyond the last use.

Methamphetamines

“Crystal, Ice, Crank, Meth, Speed, Foil, Foiling, Rails, Doing Rails”

Smoking and snorting are the most common forms of use. We see this more in rural areas now, however it is regularly abused in urban environments as well.

A powdery white or white rock form. It is also used by dissolving in beverages and drank. Mostly seen in young adults. Use of “diet” related amphetamine prescription drugs is mostly confined to adult women. Overall abuse appears to be on a decline.

Opiates/Narcotics

Lortab, Lorcet, Methadone, Codeine, Demoral, Opium, Methadone, Oxycontin. These are most often prescribed for an injury or condition for pain relief. They are very easily addictive and require more and more to achieve the original level of pain relief; this is called “tolerance.”

Side effects include euphoria, drowsiness, constipation, vomiting, dilated pupils, and respiratory depression. Withdrawal symptoms may begin as soon as a few hours after last use, and include restlessness, moodiness, insomnia, yawning, abdominal cramping, and diarrhea. Never alter a prescribed dosage or stop an opiod without the treating physician’s knowledge and advice.

Addictive use often involves buying these drugs on the street, which can be dangerous and is highly expensive.

Benzodiazepines

2 groups consume these. Low-dose prescribed benzodiazepine users and High-dose, non-prescribed users. We are concerned about the second group. While the prevalence of prescribed benzodiazepine use is in decline, the abuse of benzodiazepines has been rising for the last 20 years.

“Benzo’s” are commonly abused with alcohol and many alcoholics abuse this drug regularly. These drugs are very addictive, and create a high tolerance.

• Xanax
• Librium
• Valium
• Rohypol
• Ativan
• Centrex
• Halcion
• Dalmane
• Klonopin

Cocaine

A powerful central nervous system stimulant. It provides a heightened alertness, inhibits appetite and the need for sleep, and provides for intense feelings of pleasure.

In the Southeast, if it is a primary drug of choice it is almost always in the form of Crack. Cocaine is used in powder or rock form (crack), snorted, smoked or (seldom) injected.

“Wired” in appearance, a lot of energy, weight loss and decreased appetite. Quickly wears off, and is a quick and easy addiction. Expensive and dangerous to buy on the street.

Cocaine can cause heart problems, chest pain, respiratory failure, strokes, seizure and gastrointestinal complications. Mixing Cocaine and Alcohol is particularly toxic to the body and is the most common 2-drug combination that causes drug-related death.

Ecstasy

“XTC, beans, X, rolling, ‘trolling means taking acid and X together’, E”

A hypnotic-stimulant, “X” causes a trance-like state of mind. Dancing often accompanies use. In adults, use often accompanies sexual activity.

Use of glow sticks, glow necklaces and pacifiers are common. The pacifier is used to help with the tightened jaw and clenching associated with use of “X”. You may see a pacifier hanging from a mirror in a car, or glow sticks that have no real purpose.

Used at Rave parties, manufactured in many localities so purity is uneven, and often contains very harmful adulterants.

The “X” user craves water and sweats profusely. Recent research shows “X” can cause lifelong changes in the brain. Use is usually confined to younger adults and adolescents.