Illegal Drugs - Parent Booklet

28 glossary depressant drugs Reduce activity in the central nervous system. Examples include: Alcohol, GHB, Ketamine, Benzodiazepines, Opioids (e.g. Heroin). psychosis People affected by psychosis may experience hallucinations (e.g. seeing or hearing things that aren’t really there) delusions (strong beliefs that do not reflect reality), and paranoia (feeling extremely suspicious and frightened). If symptoms last for more than a fewdays, this could indicate that the person may have a more serious mental illness such as schizophrenia. comedown Just like getting a hangover from drinking alcohol, taking illegal drugs can lead to experiencing negative after-effects sometimes known as a ‘comedown’ or ‘crash’ which are the feelings experienced as the drug wears off. The type of effects experienced during this period depend on the type of drug(s) used. They might include feelings of depression, insomnia, extreme tiredness, irritability, and anxiety just to name a few and this can last anywhere froma fewhours to a day or so after initially taking the drug. This is different to withdrawal effects (a sign that a person is addicted). dependence People can also become physically and/or psychologically dependent on (addicted to) drugs, especially if they use regularly. They can develop tolerance, meaning that they need to take more of the drug to get the same effect. The lifestyle of many people who are drug dependent (addicted to a drug) is difficult and often stressful and can lead to: • Loss of jobs and problems finding work • Losing touch with friends, family, and loved ones • An inability to pay rent and bills, which can result in homelessness • Impaired physical health • Increased mental health problems • Involvement in crime addiction ) (