Alcohol
People forget that alcohol is a very powerful drug. It works by stopping parts of your brain from working. This usually makes people feel more relaxed, talkative and happy, but it can also make some people rude and aggressive. Alcohol reduces inhibitions and makes people more likely to do things they wouldn’t do if they were sober. They may take silly risks, have accidents, get into fights or have their property stolen. A small amount of alcohol makes people relaxed , but bigger amounts can make them fall over, throw up, and pass out. Although some people think this is funny, it is very dangerous and many young people are taken to hospital, and some die, from drinking too much alcohol.
Cannabis
It is still illegal to use cannabis. Cannabis generally relaxes people, but in stronger doses can cause hallucinations and anxiety. Although some adults use cannabis with few bad effects research has shown that it is much more harmful to young people and may cause serious harm to the brain. Cannabis can make people very forgetful and careless, and like alcohol, it can lead to accidents. Cannabis smoke contains far more tar than tobacco smoke and may cause cancer.
Solvents, Gasses and Aerosols
Breathing in the fumes from these can make people feel drunk and sometimes see things. It is also very dangerous. As well as all the risks of alcohol, solvents can also cause sudden death due to heart failure and can catch fire or explode.
Ecstasy
is thought of as a dance-club drug where it gives people energy, but it may also make people become relaxed. It comes as a tablet. The effects vary a lot from one person to another, and a lot on your mood, who you are with and where you are.
Magic Mushrooms and LSD
both change the way people see things. Like ecstasy the effects depend a lot on where you are, who you are with and how you are feeling. Sometimes the feelings may be pleasant, other times it may be frightening. Magic mushrooms can be dangerous because of the risk of eating a poisonous variety.
Cocaine
is a powder which is sniffed up the nose. It makes people feel full of energy and confidence for a while. When it wears off they may feel low, and so want to take some more. Although it gives a boost in the short term, regular use soon leads to depression, sleep problems and bad nerves. Sniffing cocaine can badly damage the nose and cause heart problems.
Amphetamines
have similar effects to cocaine but last longer.
Crack
is a form of cocaine which is smoked. It has a much more powerful effect.
Heroin
is a powder that can be smoked or injected. It makes people feel very relaxed and calm at first. The big problem is that they find they need more and more to get the good feeling, and then they need it just to stop feeling very ill; this is called addiction.
Addiction
Some drugs like heroin and alcohol make people ill if they suddenly stop taking them. This is called physical addiction. But often people use drugs because they have come to depend on them and can’t cope without them; this is also a form of addiction and it can happen with
any drug.
