Be In The Know (Teens)
Just the Facts
Marijuana
Q. What’s the slang for marijuana?
A. Weed, Pot, Grass, Reefer, Ganja, Mary Jane, Blunt, Joint, Roach, Nail.
Q. Isn’t smoking marijuana less dangerous than smoking cigarettes?
A. No. It’s even worse. Five joints a day can be as harmful as 20 cigarettes a day.
Q. Can people become addicted to marijuana?
A. Yes. Research confirms you can become hooked on marijuana.
Q. Can marijuana be used as a medicine?
A. While the active ingredient in marijuana, THC, can be manufactured in a pill available by prescription to treat nausea and vomiting associated with certain cancer treatments, scientists say that more research needs to be done on its side effects and other potential medical uses.
Q. How can you tell if a friend is using marijuana?
A. Sometimes it’s tough to tell. But there are signs you can look for. If your friend has one or more of the following warning signs, he or she may be using marijuana:
Seeming dizzy and having trouble walking, having red, bloodshot eyes and smelly hair and clothes, having a hard time remembering things that just happened, acting silly for no apparent reason
Cocaine
Q. What’s the slang for cocaine?
A. Coke, Dust, Toot, Snow, Blow, Sneeze, Powder, Lines, Rock (Crack)
Q. Is cocaine really still a problem?
A. Yes. In 2006, more than 1.0 million people tried cocaine.
Q. Isn’t crack less addictive than cocaine because it doesn’t stay in your body very long?
A. No. Both cocaine and crack are powerfully addictive. The length of time it stays in your body doesn’t change that.
Q. Don’t some people use cocaine to feel good?
A. Any positive feelings are fleeting and often followed by some very bad feelings, like paranoia and intense cravings. Cocaine may give users a temporary illusion of power and energy, but it often leaves them unable to function emotionally, physically, and sexually.
Q. How can you tell if a friend is using cocaine?
A. Sometimes it’s tough to tell. But there are signs you can look for. If your friend has one or more of the following warning signs, he or she may be using cocaine or other illicit drugs:
- Red, bloodshot eyes
- A runny nose or frequent sniffing
- A change in groups of friends
- Acting withdrawn, depressed, tired, or careless about personal appearance
- Losing interest in school, family, or activities he or she used to enjoy
- Frequently needing money
Heroin
Q. What’s the slang for heroin?
A. Smack, Horse, Mud, Brown Sugar, Junk, Black Tar, Big H, Dope, Skag.
Q. Isn’t heroin a less dangerous drug if you snort or smoke it instead of injecting it?
A. No. Heroin is heroin. There is no safe way of ingesting it. You can still die from an overdose or become addicted by snorting or smoking it.
Q. Can withdrawal from heroin kill you?
A. Although it is seldom fatal, withdrawal from heroin produces drug cravings, restlessness, muscle and bone pain, insomnia, diarrhea, vomiting, and other symptoms that usually last about a week, but may last for many months.
Q. Will heroin use alter my brain?
A. Yes. Heroin enters the neurons or cells of the brain and changes the speed of the chemicals in the brain. It not only affects your brain physically, but also affects the way you think.
Q. How can I tell if a friend is using heroin?
A. Signs and symptoms of heroin use are:
- Euphoria
- Drowsiness
- Impaired mental functioning
- Slowed down respiration
- Constricted pupils
Signs of heroin overdose include:
- Shallow breathing
- Pinpoint pupils
- Clammy skin
- Convulsions
- Coma
Inhalants
Q. What’s the slang for inhalants?
A. Glue, Kick, Bang, Sniff, Huff, Poppers, Whippets, Texas Shoeshine
Q. Since inhalants are found in household products, aren’t they safe?
A. No. Even though household products that can be inhaled have legal, useful purposes, when they are used as inhalants they are harmful and dangerous. These products are not intended to be inhaled.
Q. Doesn’t it take many “huffs” before you’re in danger?
A. No. One “huff” can kill you. Or the 10th. Or the 100th. Every huff can be dangerous. Even if you have huffed before without experiencing a problem, there’s no way of knowing how the next huff will affect you.
Q. Can inhalants make me lose control?
A. Yes. Inhalants affect your brain and can cause you to suddenly engage in violent, or even deadly, behavior. You could hurt yourself or the people you love.
Q. How can I tell if a friend is using inhalants?
A. Sometimes it’s tough to tell. But there are signs you can look for. If your friend has one or more of the following warning signs, he or she may be using inhalants:
- Slurred speech
- Drunk, dizzy, or dazed appearance
- Unusual breath odor
- Chemical smell on clothing
- Paint stains on body or face
- Red eyes
- Runny nose
Club Drugs
Q. What’s the slang for club drugs?
A. Ecstasy: E, X, XTC. GHB: Liquid Ecstasy, Liquid X, Grievous Bodily Harm, Georgia Home Boy. Ketamine: K, Special K, Ket, Vitamin K, Kit Kat. Rohypnol: Roofies, R-2.
Q. If somebody slipped a club drug into your drink, wouldn’t you realize it immediately?
A. Probably not. Most club drugs are odorless and tasteless. Some are made into a powder form that makes it easier to slip into a drink and dissolve without a person’s knowledge.
Q. Are there any long term effects of taking Ecstasy?
A. Yes. Studies on both humans and animals have proven that regular use of Ecstasy produces long-lasting, perhaps permanent, damage to the brain’s ability to think and store memories.
Q. If you took a club drug at a rave, wouldn’t you just dance off all its effects?
A. Not necessarily. Some of Ecstasy’s effects, like confusion, depression, anxiety, paranoia, and sleep problems, have been reported to occur even weeks after the drug is taken.
Q. How can you tell if a friend is using club drugs?
A. Sometimes it’s tough to tell. But there are signs you can look for. If your friend had one or more of the following warning signs, he or she may be using club drugs:
- Problems remembering things they recently said or did
- Loss of coordination, dizziness, fainting
- Depression
- Confusion
- Sleep problems
- Chills or sweating
- Slurred speech
Hallucinogens
Q. What’s the slang for hallucinogens?
A. Lysergic acid diethylamide: LSD, Acid, Blotter. Psilocybin: Magic Mushrooms, Shrooms. Phencyclidine: PCP, Angel Dust, Boat, Ozone, Wack. Ecstasy: E, X, XTC.
Q. Do hallucinogens have long-term effects?
A. Yes. In addition to flashbacks, long-term effects may include decreased motivation, prolonged depression, anxiety, increased delusions and panic, and psychosis.
Q. Can I predict if I will have a “bad trip”?
A. There is no way to predict a “bad trip.” There is no consistency in hallucinogenic drugs, so each “trip” may differ depending on the drug’s strength and purity. The psychological effects of the hallucinogen also depend on the user’s frame of mind.
Q. How can I help someone through a “bad trip”?
A. Don’t try to handle this situation on your own – call 911 and a trusted adult immediately. While waiting, address the person by name, remind them who and where they are, talk to them calmly, make sure they’re safe, and don’t leave them alone.
Q. How can I tell if a friend is using hallucinogens?
A. Sometime it’s tough to tell. Different hallucinogens have different effects, depending on the dose and the user. If your friend has one or more of the following warning signs, he or she may be using hallucinogens:
- Distorted sense of sight, hearing, and touch
- Dilated pupils
- Anxiety or paranoia
- Mood swings
- Faintness
- Irrational behavior
Steroids
Q. What’s the slang for steroids?
A. Arnolds, Gym Candy, Pumpers, Stackers, Weight Trainers, Juice.
Q. Are steroids addictive?
A. Yes, they can be. Withdrawal symptoms include mood swings, suicidal thoughts or attempts, fatigue, restlessness, loss of appetite, and sleeplessness.
Q. How long do steroids stay in your system?
A. The length of time that steroids stay in the body varies. Injected steroids may be detected in the body for 3 to 4 months while the oral types may remain for 1 to 4 weeks.
Q. What can I do to excel in sports if I don’t use steroids?
A. Focus on getting proper diet, rest, and good overall mental and physical health. These things are all factors in how your body is shaped and conditioned. Excelling in sports is achievable and done by millions of athletes without relying on steroids.
Q. How can I tell if a friend is abusing steroids?
A. Sometimes it’s hard to tell. But there are signs you can look for. If your friend has one or more of the following warning signs, he or she may be abusing steroids:
For Guys:
- Baldness
- Development of breasts
- Impotence
For Girls:
- Growth of facial hair
- Deepened voice
- Breast reduction
For Both:
- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin)
- Swelling of feet or ankles
- Aching joints
- Bad breath
- Mood swings
- Nervousness
- Trembling
Methamphetamine
Q. What’s the slang for methamphetamine?
A. Speed, Meth, Crystal, Crank, Tweak, Go-fast, Ice, Glass, Uppers, Black Beauties.
Q. Isn’t methamphetamine less harmful than crack, cocaine, or heroin?
A. Some users get hooked the first time they snort, smoke, or inject meth. Because it can be made from lethal ingredients like battery acid, drain cleaner, lantern fuel, and antifreeze, there is a greater chance of suffering a heart attack, stroke, or serious brain damage with this drug than with other drugs.
Q. Isn’t using methamphetamine like using diet pills?
A. No. Though it is easy to obtain, methamphetamine is dangerous. People who take meth can become paranoid, confused, and aggressive; they can die from overheating and convulsions. Over time, meth users risk brain damage and addiction.
Q. How can you tell if a friend is using meth?
A. It may not be easy to tell. But there are signs you can look for. Symptoms of methamphetamine use may include:
- Inability to sleep
- Increased sensitivity to noise
- Nervous physical activity, like scratching
- Irritability, dizziness, or confusion
- Extreme anorexia
- Tremors or even convulsions
- Increased heart rate, blood pressure, and risk of stroke
- Presence of inhaling paraphernalia, such as razor blades, mirrors, or straws
- Presence of injecting paraphernalia, such as syringes, heated spoons, or surgical tubing
Tobacco
Q. What’s the slang for tobacco?
A. Cigarettes: Smokes, Cigs, Butts. Smokeless Tobacco: Chew, Dip, Spit Tobacco, Snuff.
Q. Isn’t smoking sexy?
A. Only if you think bad breath, smelly hair, yellow fingers, and coughing are sexy. Advertisements often portray smoking as glamorous and sophisticated, but think carefully about who created these ads and why.
Q. Is smokeless tobacco safe?
A. No. Remember, “no smoke” doesn’t mean that smokeless tobacco is safe. Even a little smokeless tobacco has enough nicotine to get you addicted. Smokeless tobacco can lead to many types of health problems as well as cause cancer.
Q. Doesn’t smoking help you relax?
A. No. Smoking can actually increase feelings of stress and nervousness. Break the cycle: Use drug-free strategies to calm your nerves like exercise and talking to your friends.
Q. Do most teens smoke?
A. No. Out of every 100 teens, 87 do not use a tobacco product. Currently, the number of girls who smoke cigarettes slightly outnumbers the boys who smoke.
Q. How can you tell if a friend is using tobacco?
A. Sometimes it’s tough to tell. But here are signs you can look for. If your friend has one or more of the following signs, he or she may be regularly using tobacco:
- Wheezing
- Coughing
- Bad breath
- Smelly hair and clothes
- Yellow-stained teeth and fingers
- Frequent colds
- Decreased senses of smell and taste
- Difficulty keeping up with sports and athletic activities
- Bleeding gums (smokeless tobacco)
- Frequent mouth sores (smokeless tobacco)
HEALTH's New Cessation Campaign
A Providence ordinance banning the sale of certain flavored tobacco products were enacted earlier this month in an effort to prevent youth from smoking. The new law also prohibits retailers from accepting tobacco coupons and offering discounts on multipack tobacco products. Violators of the new law will be subject to fines.
