specific drug effects

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Drug abuse and drug overdose signs and symptoms can vary from one victim to another, even for the same drug. The scene, bystanders, and the victim may be your only sources for finding out if you are dealing with drug abuse and the substance involved. When questioning the victim and bystanders, ask if the victim has been taking any medications rather than using the word "drugs." This section has been organised by individual drug types showing what to look for with each drug if you suspect abuse.

Cannabis:
Lack of co-ordination, red eyes, dilated pupils, irrelevant giggling, butt ends of hand rolled cigarettes (joints) especially with card inserts, strong herbal type small of burning leaves, large cigarette papers. Torn rizzler papers and cigarette packets. Cigarette filters with no sign of tar in the filter. Rolled up pieces of cardboard which have been used as home made filters. Small blocks of cannabis usually found wrapped in silver paper or clingfilm depending on the regional preferance - similar to oxo cubes. Small plastic money bags containing dried out leaves, may also contain seeds. Small capsules of oil, about pill size. See the drug information section for futher infomation and pictures (here).

Solvents:
Look for empty tubes or cans, plastic bags with traces of glue in them, strong chemical smell, traces of substance on clothing and rashes around mouth. See the drug information section for futher infomation and pictures (here).

Nitrates:
Small, dark brown jars approximately 2.5 inches high, with labels such as tnt, liquid gold and hit. See the drug information section for futher infomation and pictures (here).

Amphetamines:
Folded wraps of paper, about 5cm x 5cm when unfolded. Powder may be white, greyish white or pink or yellow in colour. Tablets, needles, syringes. look out for large pupils, insomnia, loss of appetite and weight, depression and injecting equipment, talkativeness, inability to keep still, drinking at a fast rate, grinding of teeth and jaw. See the drug information section for futher infomation and pictures (here).

Ecstasy:
Lack of co-ordination, anxious or confused state with some mild hallucinogenic state. Enlarged pupils, increase in energy. paranoia and insomnia. Ecstasy is often associated with the dance/rave scene, look for excessive drinking of fluids, especially soft drinks during high and tablets of varying colours with emblems on them, for example doves. See the drug information section for futher infomation and pictures (here).

Cocaine:

Depression, nervousness, irritability, loss of appetite and weight. Up and down behaviour prolonged interspersed with long periods of sleep. Nose ulcers, convulsions, constant trips to toilet, look for folded wraps of paper containing white powder, similar to talcum powder. Mirror and razor blade used for chopping lumps of cocaine making it finer then snorting cocaine up the nose hence the mirror to make sure it is going up straight. Straw for sniffing / snorting, rolled up bank notes, needles and syringes, corners of polythene bags and traces of powder on flat surfaces. See the drug information section for futher infomation and pictures (here).

L.S.D. /Magic mushrooms:
Perceptual changes, especially to sight and sound, illusions, hallucinations, delusions, pupil dilation. Look for tablets and capsules but more commonly impregnation onto paper 'tabs', with cartoon characters or symbols on them; glazed eyes, over excitement and irrational behaviour, flashbacks and confusion note unusual comments or behaviour. See the drug information section for futher infomation and pictures (here).

Heroin:
White powder in it's purest form, but colour varies through pink, grey or brown when produced for street use. Can be taken orally, by sniffing, smoking or injected after being mixed with a liquid. Look for nausea and vomiting, red nose and constant rubbing of nose use of toilets for long periods of time and sluggish behaviour on return. Also look for injection marks and equipment such as used needles, burned pieces of silver paper or burned spoon and soot on front teeth. reduced rate of pulse and breathing, often has a lower skin temperature. The pupils are constricted, muscles are relaxed, and sweating is heavy. The victim is very sleepy and may go into a coma.See the drug information section for futher infomation and pictures (here).

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For information about other drugs, return to Drug Information Page.