DRUGS

AWARENESS
CAMPAIGN
WHAT IS DRUGS?
A DRUG IS ANY SUBSTANCE (WITH THE EXCEPTION OF FOOD AND WATER) WHICH, WHEN TAKEN INTO THE BODY,
ALTERS THE BODY'S FUNCTION EITHER PHYSICALLY AND/OR PSYCHOLOGICALLY. DRUGS MAY BE LEGAL (E.G.
ALCOHOL, CAFFEINE AND TOBACCO) OR ILLEGAL (E.G. CANNABIS, ECSTASY, COCAINE AND HEROIN).

 Typically, the drug is introduced into the body (the process of

administration), sometimes far from this target site. The drug
must move into the bloodstream (the process of absorption) and
be transported to the target sites where the drug is needed (the
process of distribution).
 Drugs can be categorised by the way in which they affect our
bodies: depressants — slow down the function of the central
nervous system. hallucinogens — affect your senses and change
the way you see, hear, taste, smell or feel things. stimulants —
speed up the function of the central nervous system.
 The term “illegal use of drugs” means the use of drugs, the
possession or distribution of which is unlawful under the Controlled
Substances Act
 Recreational drug use is the use of a psychoactive drug to induce
an altered state of consciousness either for pleasure or for some
other casual purpose or pastime by modifying the perceptions,
feelings, and emotions of the user. When a psychoactive drug
enters the user's body, it induces an intoxicating effect.
WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF
TAKING DRUGS?
 Drugshave different effects depending
on the drug itself, the person taking it
and their surroundings. Learn how
your body processes drugs and about
the short-term and long-term effects.
Taking drugs can affect not just your
physical and mental health, but your
whole life. Just one pill can kill.
DRUGS AFFECT YOUR WHOLE LIFE
 Drugs don’t just affect your physical body and health,
they can affect your mental health, your finances, your
relationships, your social life and your criminal record.
 Each drug causes different physical reactions,
depending on the type of drug. Some will make you
feel more awake, alert and energetic. Others will give
you a calm, relaxed feeling. Some alter your
perceptions and can cause hallucinations. Others may
make you feel numb.

 Long-term use and larger doses have negative effects

that can seriously harm your health, even cause death,
including disease risks from sharing needles, and
permanent damage to the brain and other organs.
DRUGS AFFECT YOUR BODY'S CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM.
THEY AFFECT HOW YOU THINK, FEEL AND BEHAVE. THE THREE
MAIN TYPES ARE DEPRESSANTS, HALLUCINOGENS AND
STIMULANTS:
 Depressants slow or 'depress' the function of the central nervous system.
They slow the messages going to and from your brain. In small quantities
depressants can cause a person to feel relaxed and less inhibited. In large
amounts they may cause vomiting, unconsciousness and death.
Depressants affect your concentration and coordination, and slow your
ability to respond to situations. It is important to not operate heavy
machinery while taking depressants. Alcohol, cannabis, GHB, opiates
(heroin, morphine, codeine) and benzodiazepines (minor tranquillisers) are
examples of depressants.
 Hallucinogens distort your sense of reality. You may see or hear things that
are not really there, or see things in a distorted way. Other effects can
include emotional and psychological euphoria, jaw clenching, panic,
paranoia, gastric upset and nausea. Ketamine, LSD, PCP, 'magic
mushrooms' and cannabis are examples of hallucinogens.
 Stimulants speed or 'stimulate' the central nervous system. They speed up
messaging to and from the brain, making you feel more alert and
confident. This can cause increased heart rate, blood pressure and body
temperature, reduced appetite, agitation and sleeplessness. In large
amounts stimulants may cause anxiety, panic, seizures, stomach cramps
and paranoia. Caffeine, nicotine, amphetamines (speed and Ice), cocaine
and ecstasy (MDMA) are examples of stimulants.
RISK FACTORS FOR DRUG-RELATED
HARM
 The effects of a drug, and how long they last, depend on a number of factors:
 the type and strength of drugs that you use
 how the drug was made -- substances manufactured in home labs may contain
bacteria, dangerous chemicals and other unsafe substances, and have an
unknown strength. Even one dose may cause an overdose that leads to brain
damage or death
 your physical characteristics (including height, weight, age, body fat and
metabolism)
 the dose that you take
 how often and for how long you have been using drugs
 how you ingest the drug (by inhalation, by injection or orally). Compared with
swallowing a drug, inhalation and injection are more likely to lead to overdose
and dependence. If you are injecting drugs, sharing injecting equipment will
increase your risk of contracting serious diseases such as hepatitis and HIV. It
will also increase your risk of serious infection
 your mental health, mood and environment (that is, whether you are in a secure,
happy place or an unsafe place) can affect the experience you have when taking
drugs. If you have a mental health condition, drugs may exacerbate or
complicate the symptoms of that condition
 whether you mix drugs, including alcohol. In particular, alcohol use may lead to
high risk behaviour (such as drink driving) which can result in the serious injury
or death of yourself or others.
PHYSICAL HARMS FROM DRUG USE
 Drug use can affect short- and long-term health
outcomes. Some of these health outcomes can be
serious, and possibly irreversible.
 Drug use can lead to risky or out of character
behaviour. When affected by drugs:

 You are more likely to have an accident (at home, in a

car, or wherever you are).
 You may be vulnerable to sexual assault or you may
engage in unprotected sex. Either of these could lead
to pregnancy and sexually transmitted infection.
 You could commit a sexual assault or other violent act.
 You may find it hard to sleep, think, reason, remember
and solve problems.
DRUG USE CAN ALSO RESULT IN
LONG-TERM HEALTH OUTCOMES THAT
INCLUDE:
 harm to organs and systems in your body, such as your throat,
stomach, lungs, liver, pancreas, heart, brain, nervous system
 cancer (such as lung cancer from inhaling drugs)
 infectious disease, from shared injecting equipment and increased
incidence of risk-taking behaviors
 harm to your baby, if you are pregnant
 acne, or skin lesions if the drug you are taking causes you to pick or
scratch at your skin
 needle marks and collapsed veins, if you inject regularly
 baldness
 male pattern hair growth in women, such as facial hair
 jaw and teeth issues due to clenching and grinding your teeth; or bad
breath, teeth cavities and gum disease
 mood swings and erratic behavior
 addiction
 psychosis (losing touch with reality)
 accidental overdose
 higher risk of mental illness, depression, suicide and death.