Alternative Drugs

Presented by April Thompson, BS

Definition
Any product that is promoted as a street drug alternative is an unapproved new drug that violates the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Any substance used to avoid detection from authorities and drug testing.

Stimulants
Referred to as uppers, stimulants reverse the effects of fatigue on both mental and physical tasks.

Mephedrone & MDPV

(AKA Bath Salts)

Overview: Mephedrone is a synthetic stimulant that attacks the central nervous system. Street Names: Bilss, Blue Silk, Cloud Nine, Drone, Energy-1, Ivory Wave, Lunar Wave, Meow Meow, Ocean Burst, Pure Ivory, Purple Wave, Red Dove, Snow Leopard, Stardust, Vanilla Sky, White Dove, White Knight, White Lightening Looks Like: Mephedrone is a fine white, off-white, or slightly yellowcolored powder. "Bath salt" are sold in powder, tablet or capsule form in small plastic or foil packages of 200 and 500 milligrams under various brand names. Methods of Use: Sniffing/snorting, oral, smoked, intravenous

Mephedrone & MDPV

Presenting Symptoms
Agitation Insomnia Irritability Dizziness Depression Short-term memory loss Paranoia Delusions Suicidal thoughts Seizures Abnormal body odor Panic attacks Reduced motor control Decreased ability to think clearly Rashes

2C-E

Overview: 2C-E is classified as an analog controlled substance. 2C-E is a close, chemical cousin of 2C-B. Both drugs are synthetic psychedelics and are uncommon with a short history of human use. 2C-E is one of the more potent and longer lasting analogs of the 2C chemical family. Street Names: Europa Looks Like: 2C-E comes in the form of a white, powdery substance. Methods of Use: Snorting, intravenous, and oral.

2C-E
Presenting Symptoms
Nausea Vomiting Cold chills Trembling Tightness in of the jaw

Mephedrone and 2C-E

Paraphernalia
Razor blade Mirror (or any flat object) Spoon Lighter Syringe Plastic straws or rolled up paper Foil glass or metal smoking pipe misc. items such as pop can, bottle cap, broken light bulb

Khat
Overview: Khat is a flowering evergreen shrub that is abused for its stimulant-like effect. Street Names: Abyssinian Tea, African Salad, Catha, Chat, Kat, Oat Looks Like: Khat is usually just the leaves, twigs, and shoots of the Khat shrub. Methods of Use: It is typically chewed like tobacco, then retained in the cheek and chewed intermittently. Dried Khat leaves can be made into tea or a chewable paste, and it can also be smoked and sprinkled on food.

Khat
Presenting Symptoms
Manic behaviors Grandiose delusions Paranoia Hallucinations Hyperactivity Violent behaviors Suicidal ideations Loss of appetite Difficulty in breathing

Ya Ba

Overview: Ya Ba is a combination of methamphetamine and caffeine. Street Names: Crazy medicine and Nazi speed. Looks Like: Ya Ba comes as tablets that are generally no larger than a pencil eraser. They are brightly colored, usually reddish-orange or green. Ya Ba tablets typically bear one of a variety of logos; R and WY are common logos. The tablets sometimes are flavored like candy (grape, orange, or vanilla). Methods of Use: Ya Ba tablets typically are consumed orally. Another common method is called chasing the dragon . Ya Ba may also be administered by crushing the tablets into powder and then snorted or mixed with a solvent and injected.

Ya Ba
Presenting Symptoms
Violent behavior Paranoia Anxiety Confusion Insomnia Hyperthermia Convulsions

Ya Ba
Paraphernalia
Foil Lighter Glass pipes or bottles Razor blades Straws Mirror (or any flat object)

Cannabis
Cannabis contains chemicals called cannabinoids that are unique to the cannabis plant and are being used to develop synthetic strands.

Synthetic Marijuana
(K2/Spice)

Overview: K2 or "Spice" is a mixture of herbs and spices that is typically sprayed with a synthetic compound chemically similar to THC. Street Names: Bliss, Black Mamba, Bombay Blue, Fake Weed, Genie, Spice, Zohai Looks Like: K2 is typically sold in small, silvery plastic bags of dried leaves and marketed as incense that can be smoked. It is said to resemble potpourri. Methods of Use: K2 products are usually smoked in joints or pipes, but some users make it into a tea.

Synthetic Marijuana
Presenting Symptoms

Paranoia Panic attacks Giddiness

Salvia Divinorum
Overview: Salvia Divinorum is a perennial herb in the mint family. Street Names: Maria Pastora, SallyD, Salvia Looks Like: Spade-shaped variegated green leaves with hollow square stems, and white flowers with purple calyces. Salvia grows more than 3 feet high. Methods of use: chewed or smoked

Salvia Divinorum
Presenting Symptoms
Loss of coordination Dizziness Slurred speech Paranoia Uncontrollable laughter Hallucinations

Synthetic Marijuana & Salvia

Paraphernalia
Rolling papers Cigars to make a blunt Small plastic baggies and stash cans Deodorizers, incense, room deodorizers Pipes (metal, wooden, acrylic, glass, stone, plastic, or ceramic) Bongs Roach clips

Hallucinogens
The name for this class is not ideal since hallucinogens do not always produce hallucinations. These substances produce changes in perception, thought, and mood.

Ketamine
Overview: Ketamine is a short-acting anesthetic for use in humans and animals. It distorts perceptions of sight and sound . Street Names: Cat Tranquilizer, Cat Valium, Jet, K, Kit Kat, Purple, Special K, Special La Coke, Super Acid, Super K, Vitamin K Looks Like: Ketamine comes in a clear liquid and a white or off-white powder. Powdered ketamine (100 milligrams to 200 milligrams) typically is packaged in small glass vials, small plastic bags, and capsules as well as paper, glassine or aluminum foil folds. Methods of Use: Powdered ketamine is formed from pharmaceutical ketamine by evaporating the liquid using hot plates, warming trays or microwave ovens, a process that results in the formation of crystals, which are then ground into powder. Powdered ketamine can be snorted or smoked. Liquid ketamine is injected or mixed into drinks. Ketamine is often found in combination with MDMA, amphetamine, methamphetamine or cocaine.

Ketamine
Presenting Symptoms
Agitation Depression Unconsciousness Amnesia Involuntary rapid eye movement Dilated pupils Nausea Salivation Muscle tightening

Ketamine
Paraphernalia
Foil Lighter Razor blades Straws Mirror (or any flat object) Spoon Syringe glass or metal smoking pipe

Other Alternatives

 Cough syrups/suppressants (CCC, Triple C s, DXM) Psilocybin (Mushrooms, Shrooms) Inhalants (any common household product) Peyote

Questions?
April Thompson, BS Prevention Educator Southwest Florida Addiction Services A_thompson@swfas.org 239-931-9742