Dagga | Mandrax | LSD | Ecstasy | Cocaine/Crack | Heroin/Wellconal | Solvents/Inhalants | Magic Mushrooms | Speed | Tik-tik
Dagga
Also known as Dope, Cannabis, Ganja, Splif, Marijuana, Weed, Boom and Pot. THC is the active agent responsible for the high. Dagga is usually smoked in a rolled cigarette, bottle neck or “hubbly bubbly”. It can also be eaten in the form of ‘space cakes’. Dagga is the most widely used and popular drug in South Africa.
Effects: mild euphoria, occasional hallucinations, increased - but not necessarily realistic - perceptions, short-term memory loss, giggling, possible anxiety and paranoia. Physical effects are pulse and heart rate increase, thirst and appetite increase ("the munchies"), red eyes and dry mouth. It also causes forgetfulness and aggression in some users, especially if taken with alcohol.
Why you should avoid it:
it causes impairment of short-term memory and ability to concentrate.
demotivational syndrome – apathy and loss of interest in daily activities and goals.
Hormone change – low sperm count for boys, menstrual cycle changes in girls, both leading to infertility and birth defects in offspring
70% higher cancer forming agent than in cigarettes and 50% higher tar content.
Note: Eating glucose and sugar rich substances is known to counteract the effect of dagga.
Mandrax
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:
Overdose causes unconsciousness, coma and death.
The long-term effects include anaemia, impairment of liver function, chronic intoxication (headache, impaired vision, slurred speech) and depression.
Psychological dependence can occur with regular use, as can physical dependence. Withdrawal symptoms include restlessness, anxiety, insomnia, delirium, convulsions and even death.
LSD
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:
LSD can cause a severe anxiety reaction or ‘bad trip’. This can happen if you are worried, scared or upset about something before taking it, or if something frightening suddenly happens while you're tripping (like violence, a car crash or getting arrested). The feelings can grow in an overwhelming manner.
The effects of LSD on the brain can be permanent and lead to various long-term complications including the occurrence of flashbacks when the user suddenly goes on a trip again without the use of LSD.
Note: Some people might experience much stronger effects than others, no one seems to now why.
Ecstasy
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:
Dehydration or over hydration – leading to kidney failure or brain hemorrhage.
Confusion, dizziness and seizures.
Nausea, vomiting and headaches.
Hallucinations, depression, paranoia and insomnia.
Muscle cramping and heart attacks
Ecstasy evidently damages nerve fibers in the brain and reduces serotonin levels. Such damage is possibly permanent. In time, this may lead to disorders like depression and memory loss.
Cocaine/Crack
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:
Death through heart attacks, or seizures, is a very real danger.
Constricted veins and increased heart rate could result in burst blood vessels causing brain damage.
It also causes paranoia, nasal irritation and septum disintegration.
“Cocaine bugs” (a crawling, itching sensation as if insects are burrowing under the skin) is sometimes experienced.
Heroin/Wellconal
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:
Regular use will lead to severe physical addiction.
Heroin use often causes deterioration both physically and mentally.
Severe organ damage.
Hepatitis, septicemia, HIV/Aids when using infected or unclean needles.
Accidental overdose, coma and death can occur as the strength of the heroin used is often unknown.
Wellconal: Health risks include liver and kidney damage, abscesses at the injection sites and septicaemia often sets in and can result in terrible abscesses forming on the legs of the user. Death by overdose is a very real risk as well. Wellconal also collapses veins extremely easily and users soon find themselves shooting deep veins such as the groin and throat. It is unusual for a user to live longer than two to five years after becoming dependent. Users often slip into a coma and die even after having doses smaller than their usual.
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.
Solvents/Inhalants
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:
Abuse can cause permanent brain damage and suffocation
Magic Mushrooms
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:
Some depression and frustration with everyday life may occur in the days following the mushroom trip.
More than six grams can cause temporary loss of contact with reality.
Dehydration can occur.
Speed
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:
Very high doses result in blurred vision; dizziness; upset stomach; hyperthermia; paranoia; aggression; an irregular heartbeat; tremors and convulsions. Hyperthermia and convulsions can result in death.
Heavy use of speed can cause amphetamine psychosis, which results in symptoms of paranoia, anxiety and distortions of perception, fear of harassment, and hearing voices.
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.
Tik-tik
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.
why to avoid it:
The additives used to create the drug, such as talcum powder, baking powder, starch, glucose or quinine can be very poisonous.
Because users can’t regulate how much they are using, they can accidentally overdose.
Chronic abuse can lead to out-of-control rages, violence, anxiety, confusion, mood disturbances and insomnia.
The drug causes increased heart rate and blood pressure and can cause irreversible damage to blood vessels in the brain, producing strokes.
Other effects include respiratory problems and irregular heartbeat.
Image: Lieze Du Preez, Beeld
Source: The majority of the information used in this article was sourced from Ravesafe and Drugwise