Trying drugs in adolescence may come from a need to discover and express themselves.
For parents the suspicion of consumption can be terrifying, even if they themselves took drugs when they were young, they often feel that drugs consumed by young people today are more harmful than before.
Here we describe examples of the main drugs used by today's youth, the forms they may take, the various names under which they are known in the jargon of street and benefits sought by consumers.
- Some street drugs consumed by adolescents, cannabis still can be at the top of the list.
- The main active substance responsible for the effects of cannabis is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, commonly known as THC.
- Cannabis, which comes mainly in two forms, marijuana (presented in sheets) and hashish (dark oily paste), has several names in the language of youth, including pot, herb (or weed) husband, ganja or skunk.
- Cannabis is usually smoked as a cigarette (joint or spill) or in a pipe. It can also be consumed orally, for example in a cake or cookie.
Its effects
- Many people mistakenly believe that cannabis is a depressant just like alcohol or opiates, it is actually a modulator of central nervous system.
- The main effect sought by cannabis users is certain euphoria, characterized by a feeling of well-being, carefree and calm, increased sociability, a certain tendency to loquacity and hilarity. As disruptive, cannabis alters the perception of time and space.
- It can also enhance sensory perceptions, intensifying emotions, colors and sounds.
- Some consumers are more creative after taking cannabis.
- Following this phase that can last over an hour, a person will lose the energy.
2. Rave drugs (amphetamines, MDMA, GHB and ketamine)
Such kinds of drugs that we call rave drugs do not necessarily include pharmacological properties, but they have been popularized largely by the phenomenon of raves. Now, the contexts of these drugs have increased and, in recent decades, their attractiveness among people has considerable grown.
Amphetamines
Amphetamine, like its powerful derivative, methamphetamine, belongs to the category of major stimulants. It is a synthetic drug.
The names
Amphetamine and its derivatives are a whole string of names: speed, pill, amphet, crystal, ice and meth are common examples.
Its forms
- In general, amphetamine and methamphetamine may be taken orally (in pill form) or intranasal (in powder form).
- Some consumers prefer inject drugs, or smoking, particularly in the case of methamphetamine in crystal form, thus increasing the effects of the drug.
Its effects
- A loss of physical and mental fatigue
- A feeling of euphoria and invincibility
- A marked increase in self confidence.
- Loss of appetite is one of the notable effects of amphetamines, some also use it to promote weight loss.
MDMA (Ecstasy, E, X, or XTC)
MDMA is a hallucinogenic stimulant. Its chemical structure is related to amphetamine and mescaline.
Its forms
It is generally colored tablets, which are taken orally.
Its effects
- MDMA users sometimes seek stimulating effects similar to those of speed, but this is mainly due to its properties.
- In other words, MDMA gives the consumer very intensive tactile sensations, and the feeling of good understanding the feelings of other people.
- These properties ensure that consumers are eager to reach out to others, physically and psychologically, their feelings and emotions are increased tenfold. They say that Ecstasy is the drug of love!
- It should be noted that frequently presented as pills of ecstasy contain very little or no MDMA, it is cut with various substances, such as methamphetamine or CFP.
GHB
GHB is a synthetic drug that acts as central nervous system depressant. It has a reputation for being used as a date rape drug, although studies on this subject is inconclusive.
Its forms
It usually takes the form of a liquid with salty taste, but it is also presented in capsules or as white powder.
Its names
Ecstasy, liquid X, sometimes salty water.
Its effects
GHB can cause episodes of amnesia, especially when consumed with alcohol.
Ketamine
Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic, thus disrupting the central nervous system.
Its forms
It is most often consumed in powder form, intranasal.
Its names
In street parlance, is called Ke, Special K, and Vitamin K.
Its effects
This substance causes euphoria, a perceptual disturbance and decreased physical pain.
3. Cocaine and Its derivatives
One might think that cocaine is not popular among young people because of its high price (80 to 100 dollars a gram). However, its use has become commonplace. Adolescents are vulnerable because this drug is now part of the ordinary range of the small dealer or neighborhood playground.
Its forms
- Cocaine (coke, powder, sniff or snow) in the powder form is generally consumed intranasally, sometimes intravenously.
- As for the crack (rock, rock, or freebase), it is a purified form of cocaine, which is obtained by mixing it with an alkali (ammonia or baking soda).
- The crack, which is sold in the form of crystalline rocks, is smoked in a pipe.
- Some users smoke crack mixed with marijuana, as a joint, which is called a juicy.
Its effects
The effects of cocaine are similar to those of amphetamines:
- Euphoria
- Disinhibition
- Self-confidence
- Feeling of invincibility.
- The effects last about thirty minutes, after which the user feels the need to eat again.
- When the drug is used intravenously (injected) or intrapulmonary (smoke), the effect is much more intense and much shorter. Users can even feel orgasmic sensation in the first seconds after consumption. However, after a few minutes, euphoria gives way to great anxiety and the need to consume new is pressing.
4. LSD and similar
LSD and mushrooms
Many teens try hallucinogenic substances. Generally, they turn to LSD, synthetic drug which is often sold as blotter (square of paper, often decorated with a colored design, which was applied a drop of substance) or to the hallucinogenic mushrooms psilocybin, which grow in nature. These substances are consumed by oral.
The effects of LSD
- LSD is popular for its psychedelic effects and acts on the perception of reality and can cause hallucinations. The nature, intensity and duration of effects vary with dose, but also personality and user expectations.
- The subject may experience perceptual distortions (sound, colors, textures, emotions, passage of time, form objects, etc...
- A person may feel that inanimate objects are alive or they feel oneness with the universe, or a perfect harmony with the world around them. It is common for people who have taken LSD go quickly and seamlessly from one emotion to another.
- They may also have the feeling of a unique experience, special, almost mystical religion and have deep meaning to the most mundane thoughts.
- Some people may react badly to the effects of LSD and undergo intense feeling of fear, anxiety and paranoia. These states, characterized by panic attacks, are called bad trips (bad trips).
The effects of magic mushrooms
Hallucinogenic mushrooms, often called magic mushrooms or mush, have similar effects, but the experience is often less intense and less potentially troubling with LSD. Note however that on the black market the mushrooms that are sold to consumers do not always contain psilocybin.
Conclusion
Without claiming to have made a comprehensive picture of all existing drugs, we wanted to present here the main substances abused by young people. So if you hear certain words in the vocabulary of your child, you may be more inclined to lend an ear!
It is intentionally that we did not focus on the adverse effects that substances have on the user, in fact, this topic will be discussed in depth in another article.