Rock Around the Clock Methamphetamine, Cocaine, and the Club Scene.

Rock Around the Rock Around the ClockClock

Methamphetamine, Cocaine, Methamphetamine, Cocaine, and the Club Sceneand the Club Scene

Fewer people are abusing Fewer people are abusing prescription amphetamines, prescription amphetamines, but many home labs are producing but many home labs are producing methmeth

Only 1% of the population usesOnly 1% of the population uses 5% of high school seniors report use5% of high school seniors report use ER episodes have increased by 361% ER episodes have increased by 361%

between 1991 and 1994between 1991 and 1994 11stst used for asthma- Benzedrine inhaler used for asthma- Benzedrine inhaler Narcolepsy Narcolepsy Side effects- psychosis/ appetite suppressantSide effects- psychosis/ appetite suppressant Beneficial effects on hyperactive childrenBeneficial effects on hyperactive children

AmphetaminesAmphetamines

Acute toxicityAcute toxicity– Impairment of complex thought, panic, Impairment of complex thought, panic,

paranoia, aggression, hypersensitivityparanoia, aggression, hypersensitivity– Some risk of Parkinson’s disordersSome risk of Parkinson’s disorders

Chronic toxicityChronic toxicity– Paranoid psychosis, compulsivityParanoid psychosis, compulsivity

Dependence potentialDependence potential– Crash after the last dose/ depression/ energy Crash after the last dose/ depression/ energy

dropdrop– Feelings of worthlessness/ suicidal ideationFeelings of worthlessness/ suicidal ideation

It wasn’t always used It wasn’t always used illegallyillegally

Wartime usesWartime uses– Keep soldiers awake longer, tolerate Keep soldiers awake longer, tolerate

more pain more pain– Also seen as helpful in managing the demands Also seen as helpful in managing the demands

of a competitive lifestyle of a competitive lifestyle The 1960sThe 1960s

– Began using intravenously- Began using intravenously- speedspeed MethamphetaminesMethamphetamines

– First injected- for weight lossFirst injected- for weight loss– Used to help heroin addicts get off heroinUsed to help heroin addicts get off heroin– Flower children in San FranciscoFlower children in San Francisco

CrankCrank– As meth is less available, crank is developed- As meth is less available, crank is developed-

meth made in illicit home labsmeth made in illicit home labs– Crystal meth (Ice)- crystals of methamphetamine Crystal meth (Ice)- crystals of methamphetamine

hydrochloride- smokedhydrochloride- smoked

Methamphetamines-Methamphetamines-A Dopamine BlastA Dopamine Blast

Meth, like inhalants, is easy to get, Meth, like inhalants, is easy to get, easy to manufacture, very volatileeasy to manufacture, very volatile

The base ingredient, pseudoephedrine, The base ingredient, pseudoephedrine, has been regulated since 2006 by has been regulated since 2006 by keeping pharmacy logs, keeping them keeping pharmacy logs, keeping them behind the counterbehind the counter

Now more meth is coming Now more meth is coming in from Mexico- Mexican ice in from Mexico- Mexican ice is more potent than is more potent than homemade meth homemade meth

Effects of meth on the bodyEffects of meth on the body

Rapid, irregular heartbeat, increased blood Rapid, irregular heartbeat, increased blood pressure, possible strokepressure, possible stroke

Insomnia, convulsions, tremors, confusion, Insomnia, convulsions, tremors, confusion, anxietyanxiety

Aggressiveness, hyperactivityAggressiveness, hyperactivity Delusions of grandeur, paranoiaDelusions of grandeur, paranoia Kidney, lung, liver disordersKidney, lung, liver disorders Serious damage to neurons of the brain, Serious damage to neurons of the brain,

especially the striatum & frontal cortexespecially the striatum & frontal cortex

Brain damage can Brain damage can be permanentbe permanent

ApoptosisApoptosis- cell - cell death due to meth death due to meth useuse– Most problematic for Most problematic for

teens whose brains teens whose brains aren’t completely aren’t completely developeddeveloped

Cell death leads to Cell death leads to movement movement disorders, damage disorders, damage to frontal cortexto frontal cortex

The meth hookThe meth hook

Meth floods the brain with dopamineMeth floods the brain with dopamine It blocks reuptake of dopamine It blocks reuptake of dopamine It releases norepinephrine & serotoninIt releases norepinephrine & serotonin

– This causes the insomnia & hyperactivityThis causes the insomnia & hyperactivity Euphoria lasts 8 – 24 hoursEuphoria lasts 8 – 24 hours

– Compared to cocaine that only lasts 30 Compared to cocaine that only lasts 30 min.min.

– Increased concentration, alertness, energy, Increased concentration, alertness, energy, decrease in appetite & need for sleepdecrease in appetite & need for sleep

Meth destroys the body- this is Meth destroys the body- this is 10 years of one woman’s life10 years of one woman’s life

Cocaine- Cocaine- “Gift of the Gods”“Gift of the Gods”

People in Peru chew the leaves for energy People in Peru chew the leaves for energy while working at high altitudes while working at high altitudes– Also used in religious ceremonies, medicineAlso used in religious ceremonies, medicine

Pizarro brought the coca extract back to Pizarro brought the coca extract back to Europe Europe

Freud believed it was a healthful elixirFreud believed it was a healthful elixir Others believed it would cure morphine Others believed it would cure morphine

addiction addiction Added to original Classic Coke as a tonicAdded to original Classic Coke as a tonic

Crack, the poor sisterCrack, the poor sister Cocaine is extracted from the leaf in a Cocaine is extracted from the leaf in a

freebase form, treated to become the freebase form, treated to become the powder that’s smuggled into USpowder that’s smuggled into US– Cut with other substances, this is snortedCut with other substances, this is snorted

Can be converted to crack by treatment with Can be converted to crack by treatment with a base (ammonia) which releases the a base (ammonia) which releases the freebase- crackfreebase- crack– This can be smoked to give a quicker high than This can be smoked to give a quicker high than

snorting cocainesnorting cocaine Freebasing is dangerous- explodes when Freebasing is dangerous- explodes when

ether is being lighted during extraction ether is being lighted during extraction (Richard Pryor)(Richard Pryor)

Cocaine effects on brainCocaine effects on brain

High is so intense High is so intense addiction can be addiction can be established after established after one bingeone binge

Releases dopamine Releases dopamine in ventral tegmental in ventral tegmental area (VTA)area (VTA)

Causes dopamine to Causes dopamine to the reward center in the reward center in nucleus accumbensnucleus accumbens

Also blocks reuptake Also blocks reuptake to provide ongoing to provide ongoing highhigh

Addiction is a a multipronged Addiction is a a multipronged risk with cocaine risk with cocaine

Increasing usage necessary to Increasing usage necessary to avoid withdrawal- depression, craving avoid withdrawal- depression, craving

ParanoiaParanoia AggressionAggression Risk of heart attack or stroke or Risk of heart attack or stroke or

aneurysmaneurysm Cortex & memory Cortex & memory

impaired impaired– Results in poor Results in poor

judgmentjudgment

Compulsion Compulsion to use to use

1980s we saw crack babies as 1980s we saw crack babies as mothers were using during pregnancymothers were using during pregnancy– These children had behavior problems, These children had behavior problems,

learning problems, ADHD, impulsivitylearning problems, ADHD, impulsivity Women in inner cities use crack more Women in inner cities use crack more

than any other illegal drugthan any other illegal drug– Associated with other risky behaviors- Associated with other risky behaviors-

unsafe sex, prostitution for drugs, crime, unsafe sex, prostitution for drugs, crime, homelessness, HIVhomelessness, HIV

The Club SceneThe Club Scene

Raves have upped the demand for Raves have upped the demand for MDMA (Ecstasy) ketamine, GHB, MDMA (Ecstasy) ketamine, GHB, Rohypnol Rohypnol– Drugs are considered dancing & sexual Drugs are considered dancing & sexual

enhancers- minimize pain from long danceenhancers- minimize pain from long dance– Ecstasy was first used by therapists in 1970s to Ecstasy was first used by therapists in 1970s to

reduce sexual inhibitionsreduce sexual inhibitions– It produces euphoria, energy, heightened It produces euphoria, energy, heightened

sensations, enhanced sexual desire, feelings of sensations, enhanced sexual desire, feelings of intimacyintimacy

Drug use + overcrowding, poor ventilation Drug use + overcrowding, poor ventilation combine to produce riskscombine to produce risks

Negative effectsNegative effects

Depression, insomnia, anxiety, agitation, Depression, insomnia, anxiety, agitation, cravings, impulsivenesscravings, impulsiveness

Hyperthermia, increased body temperatureHyperthermia, increased body temperature– Results in drinking lots of water, throwing off Results in drinking lots of water, throwing off

electrolyte balance, causing organs to swell, electrolyte balance, causing organs to swell, skull puts pressure on brain stem, leading to skull puts pressure on brain stem, leading to comacoma

Kidney/ liver failureKidney/ liver failure Muscle tension, nausea, teeth grinding, Muscle tension, nausea, teeth grinding,

hypertension, perspiration, loss of appetite, hypertension, perspiration, loss of appetite, headache, heart fluttersheadache, heart flutters

Responsible for most ER visits of all club Responsible for most ER visits of all club drugsdrugs

MDMA is a derivative of MDMA is a derivative of methamphetaminemethamphetamine

It is neurotoxic, causing neuron It is neurotoxic, causing neuron degenerationdegeneration– Causes rapid release of serotonin, which can Causes rapid release of serotonin, which can

damage nerve endingsdamage nerve endings Monkey studies show damage in brain after Monkey studies show damage in brain after

4 days of exposure- still evident 7 years 4 days of exposure- still evident 7 years laterlater

One night’s use kills dopamine producing One night’s use kills dopamine producing cells- increased risk of Parkinson’s diseasecells- increased risk of Parkinson’s disease

Ecstasy users report long term memory Ecstasy users report long term memory problemsproblems

Rats exposed in utero show learning Rats exposed in utero show learning deficiencies all their adult livesdeficiencies all their adult lives

The hug drugThe hug drug

Ecstasy was first introduced in the 1970s Ecstasy was first introduced in the 1970s for therapy clients who were inhibited.for therapy clients who were inhibited.

E overstimulates serotonin to produce E overstimulates serotonin to produce euphoria, emotional trust, empathy.euphoria, emotional trust, empathy.

It leads users to act more overtly sexual.It leads users to act more overtly sexual. Users say the drug allows them to be Users say the drug allows them to be

themselves, without inhibitions of society.themselves, without inhibitions of society. Speed aspect allows them to dance all Speed aspect allows them to dance all

night, with no concern for their feet, pain, night, with no concern for their feet, pain, etc.etc.

The hug drugThe hug drug

Produces a strong oral fixation, so users Produces a strong oral fixation, so users suck lollipops or pacifierssuck lollipops or pacifiers

Clubs sell bottled water for up to Clubs sell bottled water for up to $10/bottle$10/bottle

Uses up serotonin faster than brain can Uses up serotonin faster than brain can replenish it. Users go into deep depression replenish it. Users go into deep depression for days.for days.

Long term use results in memory loss, Long term use results in memory loss, mood swings, confusion, disintegration of mood swings, confusion, disintegration of brain tissue as severe as in Alzheimer’s.brain tissue as severe as in Alzheimer’s.

GHB GHB

GHBGHB- depressant, the liquid form - depressant, the liquid form used as date rape drugused as date rape drug– Has been used for insomnia, depression, Has been used for insomnia, depression,

anxiety, withdrawal from opiates/alcoholanxiety, withdrawal from opiates/alcohol– Effects- euphoria, relaxation, disinhibition, Effects- euphoria, relaxation, disinhibition,

increased sensualityincreased sensuality– Negative effects- drowsiness, nausea, Negative effects- drowsiness, nausea,

seizures, seizures, respiratory depression, respiratory depression, amnesia, OD, comaamnesia, OD, coma

– Used in poisonings, date rape, fatalitiesUsed in poisonings, date rape, fatalities

Ketamine (Special K)Ketamine (Special K)& Rohypnol& Rohypnol

KetamineKetamine- horse tranquilizer, produces - horse tranquilizer, produces dissociative states, hallucinationsdissociative states, hallucinations

RohypnolRohypnol- legal tranquilizer outside US, - legal tranquilizer outside US, produces muscle relaxation, sedationproduces muscle relaxation, sedation– Negative Effects- loss of muscle control, loss of Negative Effects- loss of muscle control, loss of

consciousness, amnesiaconsciousness, amnesia