From Hepatitis C: An In-Depth Guide
Information on street drugs
Drug patterns fluctuate considerably across Canada. The popularity of certain drugs and even how drugs are taken
varies over time in terms of preference, supply, quality and geography. The following table outlines some drugs that
are or have been popular as well as some of the ways in which these drugs have been taken. Local public health
units and harm reduction organizations may have early warning systems for drug trends and the I-Track series of
studies can provide a macro-level look at drug use in Canada.
Drug
How it is
Descriptionusually
High
taken
Risks
Cocaine
White
powder
Snorted; Stimulant – rush of
Some of the risks with these drugs come from the
injected; alertness, increased sex
drugs themselves (like overdose and addiction),
smoked; drive, feelings of importance, while other risks come from the way the drug is
swallowed; confidence, and energy
used (injected, snorted or smoked), and still others
inserted/ lasting 30–40 minutes
by the way people look at drug use (stigma and
absorbed
legal issues)
Crack
Rock form
of cocaine
Smoked;
injected
Heroin
White or
brown
powder
Injected; Depressant – general wellsmoked; being; rush of pleasure and
snorted; gratification; reduced hunger
swallowed; and sex drive; strong
inhaled
painkiller (including
physical/emotional pain)
Stimulant – same as cocaine,
but lasts 2–20 minutes
Oxycodone,Pills, tablets Injected; Depressant – painkiller
Oxycontin
swallowed
Morphine, Liquid; pills;
Hydrosuppositmorphone, ories
Dilaudid
Injected; Depressant – painkiller
swallowed;
inserted/
absorbed
Crystal
Meth
Smoked; Stimulant – rush of energy;
injected; restlessness; feeling excited
swallowed; or agitated
snorted;
inserted/
absorbed
Rock or
crystal;
powder
Physiological Risks
Overdose
The street-drug industry is not regulated and drug dealers and drug production operations have full control over the
potency of their chemicals. Many drugs are cut with other substances to add bulk or change the high. Drug analysis
has shown street drugs to be cut with products like dish detergent, ground glass, more potent drugs (PCP, LSD),
rat poison or baking soda. Crack is often cut with crystal meth. Without knowing the purity of a drug, it may be
difficult to gauge how much drug to take to reach the desired high. This can lead to accidental overdose.
Overdose is easier when different drugs are used at the same time.
A person's tolerance may be low after taking a break from drug use, either voluntarily, while in jail, or while in drug
treatment, or when trying a new drug for the first time. Also, a new dealer or other source might mix the product
differently. In cases like this, testing the drug in smaller doses to measure its effect before doing a full hit can reduce
the chances of overdose.
Poly-drug use is common amongst many drug users—either because they are looking for specific effects from the
drugs or the drugs have been cut with other substances. The health risk is that overdose is easier when different
drugs are used at the same time; the majority of cases where drug users overdose report two or more drugs in
their systems. This may happen because the drugs have different effects (uppers vs. downers) and last for different
amounts of time in the body. For example, people who died of cocaine overdose often have also been drinking
alcohol. Also taking heroin with another drug (like benzodiazepines, alcohol or crack) leads to more overdoses than
using one of those drugs alone.
Signs of Overdose
Drugs may have different signs or symptoms of overdose depending on whether they are stimulants (uppers) or
depressants (downers). Having one or two of the symptoms below can be dangerous, and more than two is a
major warning sign that overdose is imminent. Overdose does not mean the person will die, as long as they access
medical care quickly. For example, naloxone is a drug that can be used to counteract heroin or morphine overdose.
Signs of Overdose
Stimulant Overdose (uppers like cocaine and
crack)
Rapid and pounding heart rate
High body temperature
Blue lips
Pale skin
Foaming at the mouth
Puking
Seizures or twitching or body shakes
Chest pain
Loss of consciousness
Depressant Overdose (downers like heroin, oxycontin and
morphine)
Breathing slows or stops
Heart beat slows or stops
Seizures or twitching or body shakes
Puking
Blue lips or skin
Low body temperature
Mental confusion
Loss of consciousness
Dependence
There are two types of drug dependence or addiction: physical and psycological. Physical dependence occurs when
a drug changes chemicals in the brain or body so that a person's body cannot function without the drug.
Psychological dependence is a desire for the feelings the drug induces, like boosting confidence or masking
emotional pain. Any one drug can cause neither, either or both types of dependence. For example, alcohol
dependence can be psychological because it makes a person feel uninhibited, relaxed and free, and it can cause
physical dependence because stopping can lead to intense withdrawal symptoms in the body, like the shakes and
tremors.
Mental Health
Drug use can sometimes cause changes to mental health. Often, these changes can be temporary side effects of
the drugs themselves, like the paranoia sometimes associated with cannabis use. Drug use can also sometimes
bring underlying mental health concerns to the surface and cause disorders like anxiety, depression or
schizophrenia. People may require help and support to deal with their mental health concerns.
Risks associated with how drugs are taken
The way a drug is taken can create its own set of risks.
Ingestion – Ingestion is often the safest way to take drugs, thoughgastrointestinal side effects are possible.
Insertion – Inserting drugs in the anus or vagina can irritate the mucosal lining, which makes a person more
susceptible to STIs and HIV, and possibly Hep C during sex.
Snorting – Snorting drugs can lead to Hep C (through reusing someone else's equipment), erosion of nasal
passages, runny or drippy nose, nosebleeds and lung irritation.
Smoking – Smoking drugs introduces toxins to the lungs and can cause coughs, emphysema, and cancers,
but is generally less risky than injection. Broken or homemade crack pipes can cause burns, splits or cuts on
lips and inside the mouth, and lead to Hep C (through reusing someone else's equipment).
Injection – Risks associated with injection include blood-borne diseases like HIV and Hep C (from reusing
someone else's equipment), skin infections and abscesses, vein damage, heart valve infections (endocarditis),
chalk lung, blood clots, cotton fever and track marks.
Social Risks
Drug use has an impact beyond getting high and can affect the relationship a person has with family, friends and
community. Drug use is a stigmatized behaviour and can alienate people from their families. Disposing of drug
equipment in public places is a public nuisance that can expose people in the community to possible needlestick
injuries. Drug possession and drug trafficking are criminal offences and are a leading charge associated with
incarcerations today. Incarceration itself comes with a number of possible risks, including lowered employment
potential, less access to healthcare, increased isolation and disconnection from community, and exposure to the
violence that occurs in prisons. Balancing these risks with the benefits of getting high is a serious challenge for drug
users, especially when drug use is a normalized part of their social circle, they are dependent on a substance or if
they use drugs as a means to cope with other challenges in their lives. Often stigma is based more in people's
negative perceptions of drug users and less in their actual behaviour.
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possession of illegal drugs.
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