Ken Liska's 2008 New 8th edition Now on sale. - MARIJUANA, HALLUCINOGENS, STREET DRUGS

MARIJUANA
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) , the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, is found in the leaves and stems of the plant (Cannabis sativa), in the compressed resinous form called "Hashish", and in hash oil. All 3 of these forms are Schedule 1 controlled substances under federal and state law. Marijuana has a multitude of synonyms, including "pot" and MJ. Cigarettes rolled with marijuana are called "joints". Cigars are termed "blunts".
Marijuana is by far our most commonly used illicit drug. Recent data show an estimated 11.1 million Americans are current users (about 5.1% of the population ages 12 and older). In the USA, marijuana is now a $15-$20-billion-a-year industrry, third behind EXXON and General Motors.
PHARMACOLOGY. A marijuana "high" is a combination of sedation, tranquilization and mild hallucination, with mood changes involving mild euphoria, a relaxed dreamy reverie, a feeling of well being, heightened appreciation of sounds and colors, remembrance of pleasure, but perhaps also imperception of time and space, and a flattened affect. The pot smoker may or may not experience hunger, thirst, uncontrollable laughter, nausea, dizziness, and dryness of the mouth. Infrequently, panic reactions are seen. For much more on pot's actions on the heart, lungs, driving ability, amotivational syndrome, tolerance and burnout, see Chapter 16 in my book, "Drugs and the Human Body", Seventh Edition, Prentice Hall.
DETECTION IN THE BODY. Marijuana and its breakdown products (metabolites) are fat soluble and are stored in body fat long enough for their detection in the urine up to 10 days following the last dose. In heavy pot users, THC may be retained in the body for as long as 45 days after smoking.
Legalization of marijuana has long been promoted, unsuccessfully. Decriminalization (i.e., minor, inconsequential fines for possession or use) has been adopted by 11 states. Marijuana as medicine (e.g., in cancer chemotherapy patients) is discussed in my book, "Drugs and the Human Body".

LSD
The word HALLUCINOGEN is used to describe drugs or chemicals that can alter perception, thought and mood, creating illusions in the mind of the user. Lysergic acid diethylamide (known as LSD) is the most famous hallucinogen, but many others are well known: scopolamine, yage, harmala alkaloids, mescaline, psilocybin, PCP, and the hallucinogenic amphetamine derivatives MDA, MDM (ecstasy), and STP, among others. Hallucinogens are also sometimes termed psychedelics, psychotomimetics or dissociative drugs.
Hallucinogens act by disrupting interaction of nerve cells and the brain neurotransmitter SEROTONIN. Mood, sensory perception and muscle are controlled in part by serotonin. The power of LSD on the human brain is shown by the tiny dose that produces hallucinations: as little as 50 micrograms (a ug is one-millionth of a gram) is effective. That dose corresponds to 10- billionths of an avoirdupois pound. In the human LSD can produce radical visual disturbances involving colorful plastic, fantastic images. The user can feel stupified and then again clearly aware of his situation, noting effects as though he were a neutral observer standing outside hinself. Street sounds or noises can be translated into optical sensations. While some LSD "trips" are pleasant even blissful, others can be "bummers" with terrifying images full of dread, horror and panic. Such a trip is recounted in an actual case history in my book, "Drugs and the Human Body", Seventh Edition. There you will also find information on dosage forms, serotonin inhibition, use among young people, and the laws controlling LSD.

PCP
PCP (phencyclidine or phenylcyclohexylpiperidine) was marketed by Parke-Davis in 1963 as the anesthetic Sernyl. It produced such bizarre side effects (delirium, hallucinations) that human use was discontinued in favor of veterinary use. It soon hit the streets in $10 packets of a white powder weighing 1.5 g that could be rolled into 8 or 10 cigarets. One such cigaret is all that is needed to produce the dreamy spaced-out floating euphoria the user seeks. PCP is a dangerous drug. Users can show agitation, gross incoordination, inability to speak, sweating, loss of pain sensation, stupor, vomiting, an eyes-open coma, zombie walking, and life-threatening disorientation. Actually, the TASER was developed to shock PCP intoxicants into submission. For a case history and much more on PCP see my book "Drugs and the Human Body", Seventh Edition.

ADDITIONAL STREET DRUGS
DESIGNER DRUGS are created by unscrupulous chemists in clandestine labs. The drugs are chemically and pharmacologically closely related to famous legitimate drugs. For example, on the street there are at least 6 analogs of the prescription narcotic fentanyl (Sublimaze). Two of them, "China White" and MPTP, are exceptionally dangerous to the human.
ROHYPNOL is a benzodiazepine tranquilizer known as the "date rape drug". For $5 a hit it is sold as a small white tablet with no taste or color that can be dissolved in a drink. It produces a sleepy, relaxed drunk feeling that lasts 2-8 hours.
The synthetic HALLUCINOGENIC AMPHETAMINES include MDA, MDMA (XTC), MMDA, STP and TMA. For a photo of an MDA tablet and much more fascinating information see my book, "Drugs and the Human Body",
2004 7th Edition.
SOLVENTS AND INHALANTS are volatile chemicals that act as dangerous depressants and deliriants. Their use (called huffing) is by teenagers who seem to want to experience a semiconscious state of altered awareness. They call this "getting high". (Remember when we were kids and we held our breath and spun around until we were very dizzy?) Dozens of chemicals have been inhaled, including fingernail polish, nitrous oxide (the propellant in whipped cream aerosols), correction fluid, lighter fluid, and propane from backyard grills. More than a few huffers have died from asphyxiation. One sniffer said that when he inhaled gasoline, he "felt like he was floating through the air".Three young men in Los Angeles died after inhaling laughing gas (nitrous oxide).
GHB stands for gamma-hydroxybutyrate. Toxicologically, it is a poison capable of causing heart and lung problems. It, along with ecstasy, is used in nightclubs and "raves" where it causes giddiness and euphoria. When combined with alcohol, this drug - and so many others - can be deadly. For more on "gateway drugs", legalization, and data from The National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, see my book, "Drugs and the Human Body",2004 7th Edition.