Substance Use Information

• Composed of dried buds/flowers of the cannabis plant
• Contains THC, a chemical that alters perception
• Short-term effects: feelings of relaxation, paranoia, euphoria, slowed thinking and reaction time, confusion, impaired balance and coordination
• Long-term effects: memory loss, shortened attention span, colds, breathing problems, increased heart rate, apathy, weight gain, gynecomastia (males developing breasts), and smoking related cancers

• White powder stimulant extracted from coca plant leaves
• Short-term effects: energy bursts, increased heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing rate; increased body temperature, mental “clearness” while high, and fatigue and insomnia after the high
• Long-term effects: addiction, paranoia, violent behavior, aggression, depression, loss of interest in food or sex, destruction of nasal passages (if snorted), lung damaged (if smoked), stroke, heart attack, and death

• Manufactured drug that acts as both a stimulant and a hallucinogen
• Short-term effects: increased tactile sensitivity, empathic feelings, increased physical energy, paranoia, hallucinations, nausea, chills, dehydration, sweating, teeth clenching, muscle cramping, increased heart rate, blood pressure and blurred vision
• Long-term effects: damage to dopamine- and serotonin-releasing neurons, impaired memory and learning, hyperthermia, cardiac toxicity, renal failure, muscle breakdown, liver toxicity, depression and/or other mental health conditions, and death

• Manufactured substance that contains male sex hormones
• Short-term effects: increases muscle mass, strength and endurance, acne, water retention, high blood pressure, impaired judgment due to feelings of being invincible, mood swings, and other negative behavioral effects.
• Long-term effects: hypertension, high cholesterol, stunted growth, liver tumors and cancers, and heart damage. For males, side effects may include shrinking of the testicles and breast development. For females, side effects may include growth of facial hair, menstrual changes, and deepened voice.

• Opioids such as Vicodin, Oxycontin and codeine are usually prescribed to treat pain.
• Misuse of these drugs can depress breathing and cause physical dependence.

• Central nervous system (CNS) depressants—also called sedatives or tranquilizers—such as Valium, Xanax, Ambien and Lunesta are used to treat anxiety and sleep disorders.
• These drugs can be addictive if misused, and can slow heart rate and respiration, which can be fatal.

Prescription stimulants are indicated for many illnesses, including Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). This is a common medical illness with symptoms that may negatively impact multiple areas in students’ lives. Medications such as Adderall and Ritalin influence particular neurochemicals. The treatment should reduce the many symptoms of ADHD, including disorganization, impulsivity, restlessness, and inattention.

Some students who have not been prescribed stimulants choose to buy or take someone else’s medicine because they believe that taking “study drugs” can improve their study behavior and in turn improve their grades. These students may not be aware that the drugs do not perform for them in the way they do for a person with a diagnosis. There are serious dangers associated withe abusing prescription stimulants:

• Short-term: increased or irregular heart beat and respiratory rate, elevated blood pressure, nervousness, sleep difficulty, appetite loss, blurred vision, and risk of overdose
• Contraindications: adverse effect on some pre-existing medical conditions including heart conditions and/or adverse interactions with other drugs
• Other potential risks: sudden death, abuse potential, worsening mental illness, decreased growth and weight loss, and danger to fetus or breastfeeding infants

You can find more information on commonly abused prescription drugs, including adverse effects, the symptoms associated with withdrawal, and treatments for addiction at the National Institute on Drug Abuse.