• Alcohol is a depressant drug made by fermenting sugars.
• Effects:
– In low to moderate amounts: relaxation, lowered inhibitions, euphoria,
increased sociability, decrease in good judgment. “The Buzz.”
– In larger amounts: dizziness, nausea, slurred speech, loss of control over
motor functions and behavior.
– Overdose: blackout (loss of memory), passing out (loss of consciousness),
coma and death are possible.
• Cautions:
– Competitive and/or rapid drinking (games,
shots, etc) can lead to overdose.
– Mixing alcohol with other substances can result
in medical emergencies.
– Drinking to intoxication will cause tolerance,
resulting in decreased ability to recognize one’s Standard Dose of Alcohol
intoxication level.
• Marijuana comes from a plant and consists of dried buds which
contain psychoactive compounds.
• Effects:
– Small quantities: relaxation, enhanced senses, euphoria.
– Larger quantities: nausea, mild hallucinations, anxiety, paranoia.
– Increases heart rate; slows reaction time; impairs driving ability. Reduces
sleep quality.
• Cautions:
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As a Schedule 1 Controlled Substance, can lead to arrest.
Interferes with memory formation needed for optimal academic work.
Can damage the lungs, particularly when the user also smokes tobacco.
Using more than once per week can lead to psychological dependence.
Costs to purchase marijuana can cause financial strain.
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Tobacco products are made from the tobacco plant and contain the
stimulant, nicotine.
Effects:
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Increases pulse rate and blood pressure.
Can cause dizziness and nausea.
Highly addictive, causing physical and psychological dependence.
Depression, irritability, restlessness, and anxiety are common withdrawal symptoms.
Cautions:
– Increases risk of cancer of the lungs, mouth, throat; heart disease.
– Can result in unpleasant odor of breath, clothes, living quarters.
– Daily tobacco use can cost $3500 per year in New York State.
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Want to quit?
– Free nicotine replacement therapy supplies are available through the NYS Quit Site
(nyssmokefree.com). Free Quit Kits and smoking cessation coaching are available in
the Center for Health Promotion.
• Ecstasy is 3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA), a
synthetic drug with stimulant and hallucinogenic properties.
• Effects:
– Can produce relaxation, euphoria, enhanced senses. User may feel
heightened feelings of empathy and emotional warmth toward others.
– Frequent or high doses can damage the nervous system.
– Depression and fatigue may be experienced after use (crash).
• Cautions:
– As a Schedule I controlled substance, possession can cause serious legal
consequences.
– Mixing with alcohol or other drugs increases risk of adverse reactions.
– Safety concern: user is less aware of surroundings; trusting of strangers.
– The effects of ecstasy are unpredictable.
• Cocaine is a powerful stimulant drug derived from from the
leaves of the coca plant.
• Effects:
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Stimulant, like speed but shorter acting.
Increase in heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing.
Feelings of confidence, euphoria, alertness.
After-effects include depression, agitation, anxiety, and paranoia.
High or frequent doses may cause seizure, stroke, heart attack.
• Cautions:
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Short acting, could lead to using too much or too often.
Repeated snorting can damage membranes of nose
Getting caught with it in your possession can result in prison sentence.
Highly addictive (physically and or psychologically).
ACID, TAB, CUBE
• LSD is a hallucinogenic or psychedelic drug.
• Effects:
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Altered perceptions; hallucinations possible.
Anxiety states, panic attacks can occur with use.
Long lasting perceptual disorder is possible, but not common.
Impairs judgment. LSD experiences are unpredictable, can be positive, or
scary.
• Having a bad trip?
– Take person to quiet environment where they feel comfortable.
– Call Public Safety for medical assistance. Remember that the IC Medical
Amnesty Policy covers all drugs, not just alcohol.
• Cautions:
– Can trigger underlying mental health conditions; can produce delusions,
paranoia, and schizophrenia-like symptoms in some users.
• GHB is a liquid synthetic drug that may consist of be three or more
chemicals.
• Effects:
– Acts as a nervous system depressant, similar to alcohol (but more
powerful); user may feel relaxed and sociable.
– At higher doses: dizziness, sleepiness, nausea, vomiting, muscle
spasms, loss of consciousness, loss of memory.
• Cautions:
– Combining with other drugs, particularly alcohol, can result in
medical emergencies.
– As little as two teaspoons of GHB can cause unconsciousness.
– GHB is colorless and tasteless. Can be used as a predatory drug
resulting in sexual assault and other violence.
• What is it? Mushrooms that contain psilocybin, a psychedelic
drug with effects similar to LSD
• Effects:
– At low doses, can produce feelings of relaxation similar to marijuana
– At high doses, produces hallucinations, altered perceptions.
• Cautions:
– Misidentification: mushrooms can be poisonous causing stomach pain,
vomiting, diarrhea, or even death.
– Impairs judgment and driving ability.
– Hallucinations can be scary; a bad trip can result in panic/anxiety.
– Possession can lead to serious legal consequences.
• Painkillers are opiate drugs prescribed medically for acute
and chronic pain and which can be abused non-medically.
• Effects:
– Reduced pain
– Slowed breathing; drowsiness; euphoria
• Cautions:
– Side effects include dizziness, nausea, vomiting.
– Mixing with alcohol can cause dangerous sedation levels, which
can be fatal.
– It is illegal to take someone else’s prescription drug, even once.
– Painkillers are highly addictive.
• Adderall, Ritalin, and Concerta are amphetamine-like
stimulants prescribed for attention deficit disorder and which can
be abused non-medically.
• Effects:
– Increased alertness, focus, concentration.
– Euphoria; increased confidence.
– Unpredictable side-effects including loss of appetite;
headache; difficulty sleeping.
• Cautions:
– Crash after use can be heavy (severe fatigue; insomnia).
– Adderall is a Type II Controlled Substance which may result in
dependence. Illegal use can result in a serious legal situation.
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Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS): Lower Level,
Hammond Health Center. ithaca.edu/sacl/counseling/
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Self-Help Groups (AA, NA, Al-Anon) meet in downtown Ithaca.
Pamphlets are available in the Center for Health Promotion.
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BASICS Program: A confidential, one-on-one consultation about
personal substance use, available at the Center for Health Promotion.
ithaca.edu/sacl/healthpromotion
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Online screening for substance abuse is FREE on the CAPS website.
ithaca.edu/sacl/counseling/onlinescreening/
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FWD (Fun Without Drinking): This student group meets every Friday
4:00-5:00pm in the Phillips Room of the Mueller Chapel building.
Connect with the group on Facebook!