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Drug Abuse
Drug abuse is the use of illicit drugs, or the abuse of prescription or over-the-counter drugs. The abuse of legitimate drugs (prescription or over-the-counter) can happen when people use the drugs in a manner or in quantities other than directed, or for purposes that are not legitimate. See also drug abuse first aid and drugabuse and dependence.
Marijuana
About 2 in 5 Americans have used marijuana (also called "grass," "pot," "reefer," "joint," "hashish," "cannabis," "weed," and "Mary Jane") at least once. Approximately 10% of the population uses it on a regular basis. Next to tobacco, and alcohol in some areas, marijuana is the most popular substance young people use regularly.
The source of marijuana is the hempplant (cannabis sativa). The active ingredients are THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) and other cannabinoids, which are found in the leaves and flowering shoots of the plant.
Hashish is a resinous substance, taken from the tops of female plants. It contains the highest concentration of THC.
The drug dose delivered from any particular preparation of marijuana varies greatly. The concentration ofTHC may vary as much as a hundred fold, due to diluting or contaminating materials.
The effects of marijuana may be felt from seconds to several minutes after inhaling the smoke (from a joint or a pipe), or within 30 - 60 minutes after ingestion (eating foods containing marijuana, such as "hash brownies").
Because the effects are felt almost immediately by the smoker, further inhalation can bestopped at any time to regulate the effect. In contrast, those eating marijuana experience effects that are slower to develop, cumulative (they add up), longer-lasting, and more variable, making unpleasant reactions more likely.
The primary effects of marijuana are behavioral, because the drug affects the central nervous system (CNS). Popular use of marijuana started because of its effects ofeuphoria (feeling of joy), relaxation, and increased visual, auditory (hearing), and taste perceptions that may occur with low-to-moderate doses. Most users also report an increase in their appetite ("the munchies").
Unpleasant effects that may occur include depersonalization (inability to distinguish oneself from others), changed body image, disorientation, and acute panic reactions or severeparanoia.
Phencyclidine
It is difficult to estimate the current use of phencyclidine (PCP, "angel dust") in the United States, because many individuals do not recognize that they have taken it. Other illicit substances (such as marijuana) can be laced with PCP without the user being aware of it.
A 1986 National Institute of Drug Abuse survey of high school seniors revealed that over 12% of thestudents had used hallucinogens (substances that cause hallucinations), and that many of these drugs probably contained PCP.
PCP use in the U.S. dates back to 1967 when it was sold as the "Peace Pill" in the Haight-Ashbury district of San Francisco. Its use never became very popular because it had a reputation for causing "bad trips."
PCP use grew during the mid-1970s, primarily because of differentpackaging (sprinkling on leaves that are smoked) and marketing strategies. During the 1980s it became the most commonly used hallucinogen, with the majority of users aged 15 - 25.
Although phencyclidine was initially developed by a pharmaceutical company searching for a new anesthetic, it was not suitable for human use because of its psychotropic (mind-altering) side effects.
PCP is no longermanufactured for legitimate, legal purposes. Unfortunately it can be made rather easily and without great expense by anyone with a knowledge of organic chemistry. This makes it a prime drug for the illicit drug industry. It is available illegally as a white, crystalline powder that can be dissolved in either alcohol or water.
PCP may be administered in different ways. How fast it affects the user...