Stimulants

What happens when an adolescent uses a stimulant?
Stimulants increase Central Nervous System activity which forces the release of chemicals that produce energy and pleasure (norepinephrine & dopamine).

What do stimulants look like?
Stimulants such as methamphetamine (crank) and cocaine are usually in the form of a white powder. Sometimes crank will have an off-white or light-brown color (heroin can look this way too). Often times crank and cocaine will be crystallized into a rock, looking similar to a small cut piece of Ivory soap. Crank and cocaine have a very strong chemical smell.

How are crank and cocaine used?
In the powder form, crank and cocaine can be sniffed,"snorted", through the nose or injected into a vein with a syringe. When it is crystallized, many users will smoke it on tin foil or in a glass pipe and even a light bulb. Crank can also be smoked in its powder form with out being crystalized.

What are the paraphernalia used with crank and cocaine?
· glass mirrors (used to handle powdered crank/cocaine)
· razor blades (used for chopping and " lining up" the powder on the mirror)
· small straws (used for snorting)
· rolled up dollar bills (used for snorting)
· hollowed out ink pens (used for snorting)
· semi-flatted spoons (used to mix the drug with water before injection)
· small pieces of cotton (used to filter the mixed drug and water before injection)
· syringe (used for injection)
· glass pipes
· aluminum foil (used to smoke crank)
· high powered butane lighters (used to smoke the crank or cocaine)

What are the street names for crank & cocaine?
Methamphetamine , most commonly referred to as "crank" on the street, also has other names: "speed","powder", "water", "ice", "tweak", "go", "go-fast"crystal meth" ,"meth", "crystal".

Cocaine is referred to as "coke", "blow","powder","cane", "crack" and "snow".

How do adolescents refer to others who are intoxicated on stimulants?
Adolescents refer to people who are intoxicated on stimulants as "tweaking", "spun", "dialed for sound" and "lit".

Stimulant use is very prevalent in the United States. "meth" laboratories are being shut down on a daily basses by the D.E.A., and local authorities; however, like filling a gopher hole, as soon, as you patch up one, another appears elsewhere. Methamphetamine cooks are enticed by the increasing demand on the street that leads to financial gains. $500.00 worth of chemicals can be converted into $20,000.00 worth of methamphetamine, yielding a profit better than any security on the New York Stock Exchange.

What are some of the other stimulants adolescents use?
Other stimulants such as Amphetamines come in the form of pills. Amphetamines were used in the 1920's for the treatment of depression and obesity. Some examples are Benzedrine, Biphetamine, Delcohese, Desoxyn, Dexedrine, Mediatric, Methedrine, and Ritalin.

Where do adolescents get amphetamines?
Amphetamines are purchased by adolescents from friends who are taking prescriptions such as Ritalin or Dexedrine. They also purchase products containing the chemical, Ephedrine. Ephedrine can be found in items such as "No Doz", "Mini Thins" which can be purchased in liquor or grocery stores "Ma-Huang"an herb sold in health food stores.

What are the street names for amphetamines?
Some of the street names for amphetamines are "speed" ,"uppers", "beans", "black beauties", "pep pills", "hearts", "splash", "truck drivers", "water", "wake up", and "wheels".

What are the effects of stimulants?
SHORT-TERM to LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF STIMULANTS
· feeling of well-being
· increased energy
· talkative, restless and excited
· loss of appetite
· blood pressure, heart rate and breathing increase
· pupils dilate
· increased acne
· mouth dries out
· aggressive and hostile
· repetitive behavior (spend two hours cleaning a room) referred to as "tweaking"
· mood swings
· malnutrition
· paranoia
· anxiety
· hallucinations
· psychosis
· weight loss
· soars on the face and arms
· damage to kidneys, lungs, blood vessels and liver
· premature aging
· pneumonia
· physical dependence and death

Tolerance, a symptom of chemical dependency, to stimulants occurs rapidly. Tolerance is when a drug user needs to take larger and larger amounts of a drug to experience the desired effect. This makes stimulant use an expensive habit in a short period of time. This is also a drug many females like to abuse, because one of the side effects is weight loss.

What are the general withdrawal symptoms of stimulant use?
Users who are withdrawing from stimulants experience increased appetite, weight gain, the need for long periods of sleep and extreme moodiness.

Are stimulants different today as compared to the 1960's?
Speed today is two and a half times stronger than it was in the 1960's & 1970's. This is over a 200% increase.

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