Highs and lows of Illegal drugs

Note: Eating glucose and sugar rich substances is known to counteract the effect of dagga.

Also known as Mandies, Buttons, Wwhites, Mx and Mandrakes. Mandrax is a sedative and hypnotic drug, which suppresses the central nervous system. Ninety percent of the world consumption of Mandrax use is found in South Africa. It was originally used as a sleeping tablet but was banned due to adverse side effects.

Effects: Small dose relieves tension; large dose produces staggering, blurred vision, impaired thinking, slurred speech, impaired perception of time and space, slowed reflexes and breathing, reduced sensitivity to pain.

Why you should avoid it:

Also known as Acid, 'A', Ccandy, Smarties, Trips, and Caps. LSD can also be found in the form of 'microdots', which are known for being extra-strong and 'heavy' as regards their effect as well. It also comes in liquid formm which is called Liquid A, which is normally a drop of liquid LSD sealed in a straw.

Effects: People's experiences of LSD tend to be very individual. Effects begin about 30-60 minutes after ingestion, and the ‘trip' can last for anything from 5 to 24 hours, although 8 - 12 hours is most common. Effects include a rush of thoughts, visual effects such as intensified colours, distorted shapes and sizes and slight movements in stationary objects. It can cause effects such a sweating, nervousness, jaw grinding, dilated pupils, increased heart rate and blood pressure. It can also cause Nausea, but this normally passes. Mixing or distortion of the senses can occur, as well as changes in sense of time and place. It significantly alters perception, mood, and psychological processes, and can impair motor coordination, judgement and skills. True hallucinations (seeing things that aren't really there) are rare, as LSD alters or distorts what already exists. The trip tends to get more intense after 2 to 4 hours. The experiences may be pleasurable or upsetting.

Why you should avoid it:

Note: Some people might experience much stronger effects than others, no one seems to now why.

Also known as “E”, Adam, Disco Biscuits, Love drug, XTC or X. The active ingredient is known as MDMA. It usually comes in the form of small pressed pills, but is also available as loose powder and sometimes in capsules. Only 20% of the time is Ecstasy tablets relatively pure. Other ingredients found include rat poison, pool chemicals, washing powder agents, ketamine, amphetamine and caffeine.

Effects: raised blood pressure (so anyone with high blood pressure or a heart condition should not take it), with a noticeable rise in body temperature, faster heartbeat, skin tinglgling, sudden sweating and dilated pupils. Some people may also experience unsteadiness, nausea and possibly vomiting, though these unpleasant effects usually pass quickly. Ecstasy can also open up your emotions: this can be positive but sometimes can cause panic and anxiety as a result.

Why you should avoid it:

Cocaine is also known as Snow, Candy, Big C, Charlie, Nose Candy, Coke and Shnaaf. Cocaine powder is usually crushed finely and snorted, or taken intravenously. Freebase cocaine is smoked from a pipe. Crack cocaine is also known as Rocks, Crystals, or Freebase. Crack is a crystal 'rock' that is formed by cooking the cocaine powder. It is normally smoked. Crack’s cheaper than cocaine and is instantaneously addictive both psychologically and physically.

Effects: When snorted, a feeling of well-being, mild rush and increase in body temperature is experienced within the first five minutes. The pleasure centres of your brain are stimulated, usually the very next thing you feel is the need for more. Users feel confident and a feeling of invincibility will ensue, depending on the amount of cocaine ingested. Insomnia, loss of appetite also follow.

Why you should avoid it:

Heroin is also known as Junk, Horse, China, Smack, Brown, Skag, H, Gear. Heroin is normally injected into a vein, a muscle, or subcutaneously (under the skin). If smoked or snorted, the effect is less intense and takes longer to come on. Wellcanol, which is basically the chemical version of Heroin, is also known as Pinks, Inxs or Welkies. It is a schedule 7 painkiller that is obtainable in tablet form and used for treating terminally ill cancer patients. Wellcanol is crushed, dissolved in water and injected intravenously. Physical and psychological dependency occurs rapidly, as well as tolerance, and addiction is almost inevitable.

Effects: The user may initially feel nauseous. A feeling of calm and warmth spreads through the body. Any troubles or pains seem very distant, and unimportant. At higher doses, the user slips into a dreamlike experience where you are not asleep or awake, but somewhere between the two states.

Why you should avoid it:

Note: We are told all drugs are bad so we think that they are all equally dangerous. They are not. Some, like Heroin and Wellconel, pose much more of a serious threat to your life and well being.

Includes: glues, benzene, petrol, thinners and other chemicals.It entails the abuse of volatile substances found in ordinary household products. It is highly addictive in a short period of time. Initially acts as a stimulant, then a depressant and causes irreparable brain damage within 4-8 weeks of use.

Effects: Vomiting, salivation, dizziness, slurred speech, confusion, clumsiness, aggressive behaviour, emotional outbursts, chronic health problems such as liver damage, kidney damage, chronic headaches and nervousness.

Why you should avoid it:

Also known as Mushies, Shrooms, Mexican Magic mushrooms. They are usually found as a small packet of dried vegetable matter, mainly grey in colour, with bluish and brownish bits, looking a bit like tree bark. Magic mushrooms have a distinctive smell and taste, which most people find unpleasant.

Effects: The effects usually lasts around six hours and are similar to LSD, but are often described as "more natural" and "organic". Visual and mental hallucinations occur. Visual distortions, especially seeing abstract patterns with eyes closed, and patterns in the arrangement of objects with eyes open. There can be regression to a childish or childlike state. There are often feelings of oneness with everything, melting into your surroundings, or union with the universe. Affection and feeling of unity with things such as trees and rocks. Loss of ego, looking at your self seemingly from outside. Sometimes intense introspection and self-examination occurs as well as profound relaxation and the lack of desire to move. Time may pass without you noticing it. Side effects include nausea during the early stages, and loss of co-ordination.

Why you should avoid it:

Speed is a stimulant also known as amphetamine, ice, crystal, crystal meth, bennies and uppers. It can be snorted, smoked, injected, or taken orally in tablet or capsule form, or by mixing it in liquid and drinking.

Effects: It floods the body with adrenaline, increases the amount of norepinephrine, dopamine, and seratonin. Speed wakes you up fast and keeps you going making you feel very confident and alert. At low doses, physical effects are rapid breathing, increased heart rate, dilated pupils, high blood pressure, increased body temperature and loss of appetite. Higher doses of speed may cause irritability, sweating, headaches, chest pains, and shortness of breath, confusion, anxiety and jaw tension.

Why you should avoid it:

Note: There is also another type of amphetamine: Methylamphetamine. In SA this is also known as tik-tik. In the USA, it’s known as Crystal Meth. A lot of people find the high and the crash from methylamphetamine to be too harsh.

Also known as Crystal Meth, straws or globes. It’s typically sold in straws and one straw could cost you between R40 and R60. The drug can be found in many forms, from a fine powder to larger crystals. It can be snorted, orally ingested, injected or smoked – smoking being the most common in South Africa.

Effects: After use you experience a rush for a few seconds, thereafter euphoria sets in. It keeps you awake and makes you feel active and energetic. It causes hunger loss. The negative effects are restlessness, anxiety and an inability to sleep.

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Image: Lieze Du Preez, Beeld

Source: The majority of the information used in this article was sourced from Ravesafe and Drugwise