Serious health and personal risks are associated with use and abuse of alcohol and other drugs. These may include physical or mental impairment or death. There are both short and long term effects on cognition, memory retention, information processing, coordination, athletic and academic performance, and the ability to make critical decisions. Use and abuse of alcohol and other drugs may lead to conduct which causes injury, death, or damage to users or to the person or property of others. Resource: Alcohol and Other Drugs Risky Business, American College Health Association, Baltimore, MD,1996.
Depressants (Also called “downers”)
- Alcohol:
- Immediate effects: Muscle relaxation, depression, impaired motor control, impaired memory and judgment.
- Long-term effects: Dehydration, hangover, respiratory failure, obesity, impotence, psychosis, ulcers, malnutrition, liver and brain damage, death.
- Narcotics:
- Immediate effects: Euphoria, drowsiness, pain relief.
- Long-term effects: Respiratory and circulatory depression, dizziness, vomiting, sweating, dry mouth, lowered libido, lethargy, constipation, weight loss, temporary sterility, withdrawal sickness, stupor, death.
- Inhalants:
- Immediate effects: Lowered blood pressure, relaxation, feeling of heightened sexual arousal.
- Long-term effects: Headache, dizziness, accelerated heart rate, nausea, nasal irritation, hallucinations, liver, kidney, brain damage, death.
- GHB (Gamma-hydroxybutyrate) (“Grievous Bodily Harm”, “Liquid Ecstasy”, “Date Rape Drug”):
- Immediate effects: Relaxation, relieves anxiety, drowsiness, nausea, headache, loss of consciousness.
- Long-term effects: Breathing problems, loss of reflexes, seizures, coma, death.
- Rohypnol (“Roofies”, “Forget Me Pill”, “Date Rape Drug”):
- Immediate effects: Decreased blood pressure, drowsiness, visual disturbances, dizziness.
- Long-term effects: Urinary retention, gastrointestinal disturbances, amnesia.
Stimulants (Also called “uppers”)
- Cocaine:
- Immediate effects: Brief euphoria, increased energy, exhilaration.
- Long-term effects: Tremors, nasal bleeding, toxic psychosis, damage to nasal septum, death from overdose.
- Nicotine:
- Immediate effects: Relaxation, increased confidence, metabolism boost.
- Long-term effects: High blood pressure, emphysema, heart and lung disease, cancer, death.
- Caffeine:
- Immediate effects: Increased mental alertness, increased blood pressure and respiration.
- Long-term effects: Nervousness, insomnia, dehydration, stomach irritation.
- MDMA (“Ecstasy”, “XTC”, “Adam”, “Clarity”, “Lover’s Speed”):
- Immediate effects: Increase in heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, dehydration.
- Long-term effects: Hypertension, heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, depression.
- Methamphetamines:
- Immediate effects: Memory loss, aggression, psychotic behavior, increased physical activity.
- Long-term effects: Cardiac and neurological damage, seizures, permanent brain damage.
Hallucinogens / Psychedelics
- Cannabis:
- Immediate effects: Relaxation, altered senses, euphoria, increased heart rate, appetite.
- Long-term effects: Impaired driving, possible lung damage, reduced sperm count, damage from impure dose.
- LSD (“Acid”, “Boomers”, “Yellow Sunshine”):
- Immediate effects: Abnormal sensory perceptions, dilated pupils, increased heart rate, blood pressure, sleeplessness.
- Long-term effects: Numbness, tremors, depression, memory loss.
- Ketamine (“Special K”, “K”, “Vitamin K”, “Cat Valium”):
- Immediate effects: Impaired attention, learning, memory.
- Long-term effects: High blood pressure, depression, fatal respiratory problems.