Healthy Living

 

 

 

 

 

 

Drugs - Ecstasy, Crystal Meth, Cocaine and Marijuana

 

 

Using illegal drugs, like marijuana, cocaine, ecstasy and crystal meth can be very harmful to you and your baby. Just about everything a pregnant woman puts into her body is passed onto her unborn child through her blood and the placenta. So, it is important that pregnant women always be careful about what they put into their bodies and talk to their doctors about any substance they are taking or thinking of taking.

What is a Drug?

A drug is any substance that can alter the mood, state of mind, or state of being of the user. Alcohol is considered a drug. Drugs classified according to their psychological effects are divided into three categories: stimulants, depressants and hallucinogens.

For more information about drug terms visit the website below:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/articles/health_medicine/illegal_drugs/


Effects of Drug Use on Mothers, Babies and Children

Using drugs during pregnancy makes it more likely that women will have placental abruption, miscarriages, premature babies and babies with low birth weights. It also increases the chances of having a stillborn baby or having a baby die from (SIDS) or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.


Using drugs during pregnancy is also associated with lots of physical, social, behavioural, emotional, and mental health problems in children. These problems can affect children’s entire lives by making it harder to learn, grow, and develop healthy, happy relationships. Even though we don’t really know why or how these problems happen, it is clear that drug use during pregnancy can be seriously harmful to children’s overall health, happiness and well being.


Risks of Drug Use during Pregnancy

  • Greater risk of birth defects including congenital heart disease, and defects of the genitals, kidneys, and brain.
  • Babies can be born addicted to drugs like meth and cocaine and suffer from withdrawal symptoms including tremors, sleeplessness, muscle spasms, and difficulties feeding.
  • Babies born to mothers who use cocaine during pregnancy may also have a smaller heads and slower growth rates.
  • Marijuana use during pregnancy is associated with increased fearfulness in children, poorer movement skills, and inability to play for shorter length of play.

The chart below lists the names of commonly used illegal drugs and describes their effects, what they look like, and what they feel like.

 

Drug Name

& What’s In It

What the Drug Looks

& Feels Like

Effects on Users

Ecstasy  is also called “E” or Adams. This drug is supposed to be MDMA, but it usually is not! What is sold as “E” is actually a mixture of drugs & highly toxic chemicals including PMA which can be deadly even in low doses. Ecstasy is so dangerous because you never know what’s in it.

Ecstasy comes as a tablet or capsule that is swallowed, or in powder form that is snorted. If the Ecstasy you have is actually MDMA, which it usually is not, it can make you hallucinate and feel “good” and very close to people.  It can increase your interest in sex. Methamphetamine is commonly found in what is sold as ecstasy.

Ecstasy can cause: faster heartbeat, rise in blood pressure & body temperature, sweating, nausea, dehydration & jaw clenching. It isn’t known how long the damage caused might last, or if it may be permanent.

Crystal Meth is also called ice, glass, tina. Methamphetamine hydrochloride is a powerful, addictive, synthetic stimulant or upper that effects the central nervous system.

Meth comes in clear, chunky crystals & is heated & smoked. Meth causes an intense rush that produces an intense pleasure that lasts for only a few minutes. The speedy high can last for up to 12 hours.

Harmful to your overall health. Affects your heart rate, energy level, sleeping patterns, memory & mental health.

Cocaine is also called snow, powder, or blow.
Cocaine is a very addictive stimulant.

Cocaine is a white powder that can be snorted or smoked. Crack is a form of cocaine that is smoked.  Cocaine makes people feel more alert, confident & energetic.

Same as above.

Marijuana is also called cannabis, weed, pot, or reefer. Marijuana is a mood altering, depressant, hallucinogen.

Marijuana is usually rolled into joints and smoked.  It causes the brain to produce more dopamine, a chemical linked to the feelings of euphoria. Smoking it can make you feel tired, hungry & paranoid.

Marijuana use can affect your energy, speech, memory, judgment, motivation & your ability to learn & think.

 

Important Facts about Ecstasy, Crystal Meth, Cocaine and Marijuana

 

Ecstasy

  • Ecstasy can cause dehydration and overheating when it’s taken during activities that are high energy, such as all-night dancing.
  • Ecstasy increases body temperature, blood pressure and heart rate, which can lead to kidney or heart failure, strokes and seizures, and even death. Ecstasy may also cause jaundice and liver damage.
  • As with all illegal street drugs, the purity and strength of ecstasy can never be 100% known. When you take ecstasy, you don't know what you're taking, or how it will affect you.
  • The RCMP says that some of the drugs seized at parties or dances that were sold as ecstasy were, in fact, crystal meth. As well, the police say that some dealers give out "free samples" at parties or in the dance scene, in hopes of hooking new customers.
  • After the first effects of the drug have worn off, users may also feel confused, irritable, anxious, paranoid, depressed, or have trouble remembering or sleeping.
  • For the past 10 years, use of ecstasy has been rising both in Quebec and in the rest of Canada.

Crystal Meth

  • BC has the worst crystal meth problem in all of Canada.
  • The number of deaths related to methamphetamine has jumped from 3 in 2000 to 33 in 2004. Most of those deaths have been drug overdoses or car accidents in which the driver was high on meth.
  • The World Health Organization has said that meth is the 2nd most popular drug in the world (marijuana is #1).
  • Some crimes are linked to the increased use of methamphetamines. Car theft, fraud and sex assault are all fuelled by the adrenaline rush from crystal meth.
  • Some people make meth with ingredients from batteries, cleaning fluids and antifreeze, which are poisonous. Taking methamphetamine that was made with toxic chemicals has seriously harmed some people.
  • Addiction to meth can happen quickly so that people usually use it for longer term and at higher doses.
  • Some effects of long-term use are: (1) Repetitive behaviours, like picking at your skin and pulling at your hair; (2) Ongoing sleep problems; (3) Gum and teeth disease (meth mouth); (4) Malnutrition, infections, needle sores, and skin problems; (4) Mood swings and seizures; (5) Organ and blood vessel damage; (6) Psychosis, characterized by hallucinations and paranoid delusions.

Cocaine

  • When you use cocaine, you just don't know what you're getting because there are a lot of substances that look like white powder and testing kits are not accurate.
  • The faster the cocaine gets to the brain the more addictive it is. A person can overdose on even a small amount of cocaine. Cocaine can cause a heart attack or stroke, even in young, healthy people.
  • Snorting cocaine can cause sinus infections, loss of smell and nose bleeds. It can damage tissues in the nose forever and cause holes in the wall between the nostrils.
  • Using cocaine while breast feeding can make the baby sick.
  • Cocaine use is linked with risk-taking and violence. It is also linked to problems with thinking, judgment, increased chance of getting hurt, and getting a sexually transmitted disease.

Marijuana

  • There are at least 400 chemicals in marijuana.
  • The effects of marijuana last for several hours. But the THC (the main active ingredient) is stored in your fat cells and can stay in your body for days or weeks! This doesn’t mean that you would be high for weeks, but you would test positive on a drug test for THC weeks after you smoked marijuana.
  • Marijuana is the most commonly used illegal drug in Canada.
  • Research shows that you have a greater chance of having a car crash when you drive after using marijuana. After alcohol, marijuana is the 2nd most common drug found in dead and injured drivers.
  • Mixing marijuana and booze is more dangerous than using each drug separately. Mixing even small amounts of marijuana and booze can make it dangerous to drive. Many impaired drivers test positive for marijuana and booze together.
  • 3% of Grade 7 students have tried marijuana in the past year.

For more information on substances visit the following websites:

ActNow BC
http://www.actnowbc.ca/EN/pregnant_women/pregnancy_and_street_drugs/

CBC.ca: Facts on Crystal Meth
http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/darkcrystal/facts.html

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
http://www.camh.net/About_Addiction_Mental_Health/index.html

Canadian Health Network
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/chn-rcs/saa-toxicomanie-eng.php?rd=substance_toxico_eng

 

 

Sources:
CBC.ca: Facts on Crystal Meth. http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/darkcrystal/facts.html
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health: About Cocaine.
http://www.camh.net/About_Addiction_Mental_Health/Drug_and_Addiction_Information/about_cocaine.html
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health: About Marijuana.
http://www.camh.net/About_Addiction_Mental_Health/Drug_and_Addiction_Information/about_marijuana.html
Canadian Health Network
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/chn-rcs/saa-toxicomanie-eng.php?rd=substance_toxico_eng
HeretoHelp.bc.ca: Cannabis Fact Sheet
http://carbc.ca/portals/0/resources/FS%20Cannabis.pdf
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health: About Ecstasy.
http://www.camh.net/About_Addiction_Mental_Health/Drug_and_Addiction_Information/ecstasy_dyk.html
NSWHealth: Ecstasy.
http://carbc.ca/portals/0/resources/nsw_ecstasy.pdf
Baby’s Best Chance: Parents’ Handbook of Pregnancy and Baby Care 6th edition (2005).
Province of British Columbia: Ministry of Health.
BC Health Guide:
http://www.healthlinkbc.ca/kbase/frame/tn737/tn7379/frame.htm
Ecstasy and pregnancy. Ecstacy.org.
http://ecstasy.org/info/pregnancy.html
Maternal substance use during pregnancy and developmental outcome at age three.
Science direct.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=
B6W5J-43C5FPV-2&_user=1007916&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=
C000050229&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=1007916&md5=a65284d2833cc8499658381f6501b1cc
Using Illegal Street Drugs during Pregnancy. American Pregnancy Association.
http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancyhealth/illegaldrugs.html
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Healthfile #46, October 2001
http://www.bchealthguide.org/healthfiles/hfile46.stm
Premature Infant
http://www.bchealthguide.org/kbase/topic/special/tn5684/sec1.htm
Miscarriage.
http://www.bchealthguide.org/kbase/topic/mini/hw44090/overview.htm
About kids health.com. Premature Babies: Who is at Risk for Long-Term Effects.
http://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/PrematureBabies/Who-is-at-Risk-
For-Long-Term-Effects.aspx?
articleID=7748&categoryID=PI-nh5-01
Merriam-Webster Word Central:
Definition of Psychology.
http://www.wordcentral.com/cgi-bin/student?book=Student&va=psychology
Definition of Impair.
http://www.wordcentral.com/cgi-bin/student?book=Student&va=impair
Definition of Central Nervous System.
http://www.wordcentral.com/cgi-bin/student?book=Student&va=central%20nervous%20system
Youth and Drugs, 1991.
WebMD. Understanding Stillbirth – the Basics.
http://www.webmd.com/baby/guide/understanding-stillbirth-basics