Opioids are a class of drugs made from opium. They include illegal drugs such as heroin, as well as prescribed painkillers, OxyContin, and Vicodin. Also, Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid 50–100 times more potent than Morphine.
Description -Heroin may be a powdery or crumbly substance, ranging all the way from off-white to dark brown; it also can take the form of a sticky black substance (“black tar” heroin). The drug can be snorted, injected into a vein, or smoked (often heated on aluminum foil and inhaled through a straw). Users may dissolve it by burning it in a spoon before injecting it. Opioids work by reducing the perception of pain and stimulating the brain’s “reward center,” producing a feeling of euphoria.
Signs of use - drowsiness, head drops a lot, mental confusion, nausea, constipation, confusion, depression, lack of interest in school or work activities, decreased attention to personal hygiene.
Paraphernalia – (My personal experience) I had found an empty Bic pen on the floor and asked Kyle, our son, what it was. His response, “Oh, I was bored while I was studying, so I took it apart and was just playing around with it." I believed him. I never knew you could snort heroin. I thought it could only be injected with a needle. Yes, I remember looking at the pen holder, but there was nothing inside it. Months later, I found rubber bands on the floor. That’s when my mother’s heart thought, is he shooting heroin? But because of my son's trauma having a breakdown a few months later, and my husband and I still dealing with our daughter’s exodus, and Kyle falling down a cliff, I forgot to talk to Kyle about it.
When we returned home from our trip to Canada after Kyle had overdosed, I walked up to his room and found aluminum foil with a black sticky tar stuck to it and rubber bands on the floor. (I never saw syringes or small glass or metal pipes, dirty spoons, or vials. If a lighter is found and the person doesn’t smoke, this could also be a hint there’s a problem. A person injecting also needs some device to cause the veins to enlarge, so there may be belts or rubber tubing found in the area where they are using the heroin.
Health problems: heart rate and breathing may slow down. Could stop breathing altogether, which can, of course, lead to death. (This is how our son passed away.) Symptoms of overdose may include pinpoint pupils, unconsciousness, and/or respiratory depression.
| There's' enough drug paraphernalia to make your head spin around a few times. |
Synthetics Drugs:
Bath salts - man-made—powerful, addictive stimulants that alter perception and give euphoric qualities. Description - white or brown clumpy crystalline powder. The drug is snorted, swallowed, smoked, or injected to create energized hallucinatory feelings. Signs of use - agitation, panic attacks, paranoia, psychotic and violent behavior. Health problems - heart problems, extreme thirst, headaches, hyperthermia (a temperature of 104 F (40 C) or higher is life-threatening. Confusion, nausea or vomiting, and rapid breathing are some symptoms. Kidney failure or death could occur.
Flakka (gravel) - man-made and more powerful than bath salts. Description- white or pink foul-smelling crystal, is eaten, snorted, injected, or vaporized in an e-cigarette. Signs of use: hyperstimulation, hallucinations, paranoia, the delusion of superhuman strength, episodes of mania, bizarre behavior (trying to make love to a fire hydrant). Anger sometimes is easily triggered, so violence occurs or self-harm. Health problems: muscle cramps or spasms, heart issues, heart attacks, and death. Paraphernalia – same as heroin.
MDMA (ecstasy, Molly) is a psychoactive drug with amphetamine-like and hallucinogenic properties. “Although MDMA is usually not classified with “synthetics,” an analysis by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency found that 87 percent of drugs sold as MDMA were actually bath salts or contaminated with bath salts.” Health problems: similar to synthetic drugs, bath salts, and Flakka.
R241-NBOMe (N-bomb, Smiles or 25I) - synthetic drug, a phenethylamine. Description - comes in microdoses, drops of the drug dried on absorbent paper, a powder (loose or in capsules), and a liquid. Signs of use: delirium, hallucinations, agitation, and violence Health problems: seizures, rapid or irregular heartbeat, extremely high blood pressure, hyperthermia, heart attack, and death.
Synthetic Marijuana (Spice, K2, Spike) - Description: is a mixture of dried plant materials(sometimes dried oregano and basil) that have been sprayed with addictive synthetic chemical additives. The spice contains no marijuana or tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active ingredient in marijuana, and spice is not a “natural” product. (Looks similar to marijuana – beige, cream red, or brown.) Signs of use: Hallucinations, vomiting, confusion, anxiety, paranoia, rapid heart rate, reduced blood flow to the heart, so the body doesn’t receive enough oxygen, heart attack, psychotic and violent behavior, anxiety, tremors, seizures, high blood pressure, loss of consciousness or death. Paraphernalia: small pipes, cigarette papers, matches, or lighters. Health issues: psychotic symptoms such as paranoia and hallucinations, kidney failure and heart attacks, and various other heart conditions.
Some excellent sites to find more information: (But there are tons of info, do your research.)
If you wish to write a personal message to me or share and experience, my email is tbboivin8@gmail.com. I will respond in a couple of days.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Hello, thank you for leaving a comment.