Substances

Alcohol is a depressant drug, which means that it slows down how your body’s central nervous system works. It affects how the brain communicates with your body and how the brain works. This can change mood and behavior, and make it harder to think and move. Alcohol use by people under age 21 or drinking too much alcohol can lead to addiction and other dangers. Alcohol affects every organ in your body and can damage a developing fetus. Heavy use can increase risk of certain cancers, stroke, and liver disease. Some signs of alcohol use disorder include: being unable to stop once you start drinking, loss of interest in work or school, neglecting your responsibilities, impaired judgment, lack of interest in family and friends, and violent behavior.

Opioids are a group of drugs that can include prescription pain relievers like oxycodone (OxyContin®), hydrocodone (Vicodin®), codeine, morphine and fentanyl. The illegal drug heroin is also an opioid. Some of the effects of opioids include slowing down or stopping your breathing, euphoria, drowsiness, confusion, dry mouth, and nausea. Opioid pain relievers are generally safe when taken for a short time and as prescribed by a doctor, but they are sometimes misused. When misused, opioid pain relievers can lead to overdose and death. Regular use—even as prescribed by a doctor—can make a person dependent on them. It’s especially dangerous to inject the drugs using needles. Dirty or shared needles can spread diseases like Hepatitis C and HIV. Some signs of opioid abuse include: noticeable sleepiness, small pupils, confusion, nodding off, and slowed breathing. Other signs include: major mood changes, doctor shopping, becoming isolated, and sudden financial problems.

Stimulants make people more alert, increase their attention, and raise their blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing. Stimulants come in different forms, including amphetamines, cocaine (including crack), and methamphetamines. Prescription medications for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are often stimulants that can be helpful for those who need them, but harmful to those who don’t. When they are not taken as prescribed by a doctor they can lead to anger, paranoia, and even psychotic symptoms. Stimulant misuse can also cause dangerous high body temperature, lost sense of smell, irregular heartbeat, heart failure, and seizures. It can also damage the respiratory, cardiovascular, and central nervous systems. Using some stimulants such as cocaine can lead to overdose and death. Signs of stimulant abuse include quick mood changes. Signs for methamphetamine use can also include sores on the skin caused by scratching, and burnt lips or fingers from holding a hot pipe.

Marijuana is a plant-based drug containing a chemical called THC. Marijuana affects the way that the brain functions. It can change how the user feels, experiences what’s around them, and how their body functions. Signs of marijuana use include: red, bloodshot eyes, being hungrier than usual, and a sweet, smoky smell on clothes. In Massachusetts, non-medical use of marijuana is illegal for anyone under age 21.

Hallucinogens are illegal drugs that affect people’s thoughts, feelings, and how they experience what’s around them. They cause hallucinations, or feelings and images that seem real but aren’t real. Hallucinogens can be found in some plants and mushrooms (or their extracts) or can be human-made. Common hallucinogens include: MDMA (ecstasy), Ayahuasca, N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD, acid), peyote (mescaline), psilocybin (magic mushrooms) and phencyclidine (PCP). Serious health effects can include heart failure (from MDMA) and flashbacks (from LSD). Some signs of hallucinogens use include: dilated (big) pupils; changes in sense of sight, hearing, and/or touch; anxiety or paranoia; mood swings; strange behavior; and faintness.

Synthetic cannabinoids such as synthetic marijuana, K2, and spice are often sold in legal stores as “herbal incense” or “potpourri.” People who use these drugs tend to be younger. To hide their purpose and avoid Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rules, synthetic drugs are labeled “not for human consumption.” People who use synthetic cannabinoids sometimes end up in the emergency room with rapid heart rates, vomiting, and other side effects like major anxiety, paranoia, and confusion.

Cough medicines can contain substances that can make people sick when used in large amounts. Some over-the-counter cough and cold medicines contain active ingredients (like Dextromethorphan) that change mood and how people experience what’s around them. When misused, these substances can cause euphoria, paranoia, and hallucinations.

Tobacco is a green, leafy plant that can be smoked in cigarettes, cigars, mini-cigars and pipes. It an also be chewed (smokeless tobacco or chewing tobacco). Tobacco products contain nicotine, which makes them addictive. Nicotine is a chemical that speeds up the nervous system, makes the heart beat faster, and raises blood pressure. Nicotine can also be used without tobacco, like with vape pens and e-cigarettes. Smoking tobacco causes bad breath and stained teeth, and chewing tobacco can make teeth fall out and lead to mouth cancer. Tobacco use also increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, lung cancer, and all other cancers. Secondhand smoke (the smoke that comes from other people smoking tobacco) can also cause asthma, heart attack, stroke, lung cancer, and SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). Tobacco use is the top preventable cause of death in the United States.