 |
|
 |
|
|
|
Every day, we hear a lot about drugs. The names of different substances are all through the news. But can you tell what is an illegal drug without knowing the name, just by knowing what it does? The blind test on this page will gauge how much you know about different substances. Read each description, then write out what you think it is. Don't assume anything. There may be some surprises.
| 1. This substance is a green, brown or gray mixture. Using it can lead to feelings of contentment or feelings of anxiety or paranoia. Some people become dependent on this substance. It goes by a variety of street names. The main active chemical in this substance helps relieve the nausea and vomiting caused by certain cancer treatments. It can also help AIDS patients eat more to keep up their weight. It is now illegal in most places, but some doctors would like it to become a legal substance so they can give it to patients. | 2. This substance is consumed mainly as a liquid. It can improve your mood, and fight drowsiness, fatigue and boredom. But it can also raise blood pressure and, in large amounts, increase the risk of irregular heartbeats. Babies whose mothers consume this substance and breast-feed, can be jittery or have abnormal heart rhythms. More than 80 percent of adults in the U.S. use this substance. People who consume a lot every day and then try to quit can develop headaches, become depressed, anxious or tired. | 3. More than 434,000 people die each year because of this substance. More than 46 million adults and nearly 3 million children and teenagers use it. Each day, more than 3,000 children start to use it. Although there has recently been debate about whether this substance is addictive, the U.S. government believes it to be and scientific studies conclude that it can cause heart disease, lung cancer, emphysema and oral cancers. It increases the heart rate and blood pressure and stimulates the gastrointestinal tract. It can also cause skin to wrinkle and give the user bad breath |
| 4. This liquid substance depresses brain activities, tranquilizes users and can slow down behavior governed by the brain, such as how a person acts and moves. It can affect a person's ability to learn and remember new information, numb normal inhibitions and unleash aggressive behavior. It can also change the way nutrients are absorbed, stored and used, thus stunting growth in young people who consume it. In 1992, 2,691 deaths of young people on streets and highways were attributed to this substance. About 15 million people in the United States are addicted to it. | 5. These substances are found in practically every household. They can be absorbed through the lungs and distributed rapidly to the brain and other organs. Most leave the body through the lungs. Low levels of exposure often make users giddy. Longer exposures can sedate users, as if they had a large number of alcoholic drinks. Users can pass out and risk seizures. Some of these substances may cause heartbeat irregularities which, in turn, can lead to death. These substances affect coordination, dissolve cell membranes and inter all cells of the body. Long term users often lose weight, have nosebleeds or mouth sores and are irritable or depressed. Liver and kidney damage can occur, along with loss of motor coordination and reasoning ability. Some types of these substances also suppress their production of blood cells. | 6. This considered highly addictive, but doctors use it sometimes to help patients. For example, it can be used as an anesthetic in eye surgery. Abusers can consume this substance in a number of ways. They can inject, smoke, or snort it. Heavy users can suffer from high blood pressure, hallucinations, sleeplessness, nervousness, violent behavior. An overdose can lead to heart problems, tremors, convulsions and death. |
| 7. This substance has been legal in Europe as an anesthetic and, in a limited way in the U.S., to treat narcolepsy, a sleeping disorder. Bodybuilders were the first to use the substance illegally. They could buy it in health food stores and use it instead of steroids to build up their bulk. It is now popular in some nightclubs among young people and among ravers, who like its anesthetic qualities at the all-night parties called "raves." It can cause nausea and vomiting, breathing problems, seizures and comas. It has been blamed for several deaths. | 8. This substance increases levels of serotonin and endorphins, chemicals that make people feel good. It also contains phenylethylamine (PEA), a stimulant that raises blood pressure and heart rate and has been said to create a feeling very much like falling in love. It may also give you a mental boost and ease anxiety. It has been blamed for a variety of medical problems, from acne and headaches, to insomnia, kidney stones and high blood cholesterol. Recent medical studies dispute some of those connections. This substance can also trigger migraine headaches in people who are prone to them and can contribute to obesity. This substance contains large amounts of theobromine, which acts like caffeine. Most users - 90 percent- of this substance are women. It comes in powdered form, solid blocks, and bars. | 9. This substance is a hallucinogen. It was first popular in the 1960's in its crystalline form, known as angel dust. Now it is commonly used in a liquid form, drenched over mint or parsley leaves and sold in glassine bags. Users often smoke it in cigarettes. Sometimes they mix it with other substances like marijuana to increase their high. This substance alters moods and, when swallowed, can cause reactions ranging from a trance to aggressive behavior. It causes the user to lose coordination. It can also cause convulsions. |
| 10. Visits to hospitals for emergencies caused by this substance have risen, which means this substance has become more popular. Kurt Cobain, the leader of the band Nirvana, was a user. He killed himself in 1994, at the age of 27. Years ago, the common way to use this substance was to inject it into a vein. Now, many users prefer to heat it, either as a powder or as a resin, on a piece of silver foil. As the substance liquifies and evaporates, its smoke is inhaled through a straw. Some people call this procedure "chasing the dragon." This substance can cause pulmonary and liver problems. Users who inject this substance are also vulnerable to HIV infection from contaminated needles. | See how you did Answers |