Recognizing drugs and their effects

Drugs, which include alcohol and cannabis, are ‘psychoactive’ substances. Once absorbed, these substances alter one or more functions of the body and central nervous system. They can affect:

Thoughts
Emotions
Behaviour
Mood
Multiple organs

Drugs can be:

Natural
Synthetic (composed of chemical molecules produced in a lab)

It is important to know that street drugs can be mixed with products that are hazardous to health or other drugs. There is no way of knowing what these drugs contain regardless of their shape, colour or origin.

There is so much information circulating about drugs. This information is sometimes accurate, but it can also be far from the truth.

Effects of drugs

Law of effect

Everyone is different. Each person’s body and mental state, the product he or she uses and the context in which it is used influence the overall experience. These elements combine to form the ‘law of effect’.

The law of effect is the result of a combination of 3 factors:

The individual
The context in which he or she consumes
The product or substance being consumed

Each of these 3 factors is linked to different characteristics.

Each time a characteristic associated with one of the factors is modified, the effect of the drug on that person also changes.

Characteristics of the factors of the law of effect

Here are some examples of characteristics associated with the factors of the law of effect:

Factors	Characteristics
Substance	Quantity E.g., 1 glass of champagne, 1 case of 12 beers Frequency of consumption E.g., every day, on special occasions Quality or purity of product E.g., ecstasy cut with methamphetamine Speed of consumption E.g., 1 glass of wine with a meal, 5 shooters in an hour Method of consumption E.g., smoked, injected Combination of products E.g., cannabis and alcohol, medication and MDMA
Individual	Age You are more susceptible to the effects of alcohol and drugs if you use them before you reach adulthood Gender The effects of some drugs, alcohol for example, are stronger in women than in men Height and weight The less you weigh the more you will be affected by a given amount of drugs Physical condition You are more sensitive to drugs if you have an illness such as diabetes or are tired, sick with a cold or suffering from gastroenteritis, etc. State of mind, mood Drugs generally intensify any emotions (sadness, depression, etc.) you may feel prior to taking them
Context	Place E.g., restaurant, bedroom Atmosphere E.g., dance party, crying after a breakup Time of day E.g., in the morning before going to school or at work Relationships with others E.g., with friends you want to impress Conflicts E.g., when you are mad at someone

List of drugs and their effects

Drugs are classified according to their effect on the central nervous system. They are divided into 3 categories:

Disruptive substances/Hallucinogens
Depressants
Stimulants

Hallucinogens

These drugs typically cause disorientation (distorted sense of space and time). They also affect the senses (sight and touch, for example), which alters perception.

Depressants

These drugs typically impact the central nervous system, numbing the brain and slowing the body. Some of these drugs can also alter perception.

Stimulants

These drugs typically cause excitement and restlessness.