Drugs I see or hear about that have been used often are: Ecstasy Marijuana Cocaine Ecstasy Description: Ecstasy is a popular name for MDMA, or 3,4- Methylene-Dioxy-Methamphetamine. Psychologists and therapists originally used ecstasy to treat patients. Most of the time it comes in the form of a pill. So far, 90 pills have been identified. Each pill had a different shape, color, and name. It could also come in a form of a capsule or as powder. Ecstasy is tasteless, so, it could be placed in your drink without you knowing. What are the effects? It takes 20-40 minutes for the user to feel the peak effects. The peak will last about 4-6 hours before it begins to wear off.

Positive short-term effects: Extreme mood lift Increased willingness to communicate Increase in energy Feelings of comfort and closeness to others Increased awareness & appreciation of music Urge to hug and kiss people Negative short-term effects: Nausea Chills Sweating Increased body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure Involuntary teeth clenching Muscle cramping

Negative long-term effects: Anxiety Paranoia Dehydration Depression Heart or/and kidney failure Memory loss Releases serotonin that is stored in your brain (might or might not restore)

MOST IMPORTANTLY: You could DIE! How do people get access to it? Now a days ecstasy are being made by teens/adults. When the ecstasy is made it will be given to teens and they will sell it to other teens. Some makers of ecstasy will often put a little amount of MDMA and a whole lot of other cheap drug in one pill. It will take them at least $2 (depending on the kind of drugs they buy) to make a pill and sell it for a higher amount. At raves, it is $50 though more commonly $20-$30. For a gram of pure ecstasy it will cost from $100-$250. Most commonly, ecstasy would be used or found at underground raves and dance clubs. Slang: Ecstasy, E, X, XTC Story: The Rave Marijuana What is Marijuana? Marijuana, or cannabis, comes from a plant. Growing or selling marijuana is illegal. It usually comes in a small package, looking like mixed herbs. It's sold for about $10-$20 a gram. Marijuana is usually smoked, although can be eaten. Joints are the most common method of smoking, but there are other ways, like pipes, bongs, and other creative tools. What are the effects? The effects depend on the strength and amount. Positive short-term: Relaxing and stimulating Happiness Talkative Laugh easily Negative short-term: Paranoia Anxiety Nausea (especially when taken with other substance) Impaired memory Increase heart rate Reddening and smaller eyes Dryness in the mouth Negative long-term: Laziness Memory loss What happens if I smoke/eat too much marijuana? Smoking/eating marijuana everyday may lead to heart and lung disease. It can also interfere with memory. Slang: Weed, Pot, Herb, Marijuana Cocaine What is cocaine? Cocaine is found in the leaves of the Erthroxylum coca plant. Besides chewing the leaves of the plant, there are other forms of using cocaine. Powder cocaine is usually snorted (inhaled) and freebase cocaine is smoked. What are the effects? Snorting or smoking cocaine produces a much stronger effect than chewing the leaves. Smoking freebase cocaine leads to a strong peak of about 3-5 minutes. As for snorting cocaine leads to a lower high with major effects lasting for about 30 minutes. The effects cocaine has on your body and mind depends on the dose and tolerance of the user. Positive short-term: Increases alertness and wakefulness Increases athletic performance Decrease fatigue Clearer thinking Increases concentration Increases energy Negative short/long-term: Rapid pulse Muscle twitching High blood pressure Cold sweats Nausea Anxiety Paranoia Depression Mood changes Sleeplessness Long-term use can cause: Nervousness Feelings of persecution Sleeplessness Loss of appetite Risk of HIV (if you use needles) Hepatitis Chronic cough DEATH Slang: Crack, Coke, Snow, Flake, Stardust Story: What had gone wrong? Why do teens use drugs? I think that teens are the ones using drugs because they think they have nowhere to turn to. When they are facing a situation with family, friends, school, work, etc. and their mind cannot handle it, they would do anything to get it out, so, often they would usually go for the drugs. Sometimes they would go for help to counselors, teachers, etc., but that does not often come up in their head or they think that no one could help them, no one could feel the way they do, and no one could understand them. Turning to drugs, make them happy, but not for long. When the good feelings go away in 30 mins. or 6 hours, the feelings of loneliness, fear, scared, mad, or however you were feeling before taking the drugs will still be there. They still come back to you, even worse. For more information: www.erowid.org www.streetdrugs.org www.dancesafe.org www.cascade.u-net.com/drugs.htm Story: The Rave Story: What Had Gone Wrong? Researched and Written by Rany A.

 

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