Prohibited Drugs

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Eight types of drug Most performance-enhancing drugs banned by the World Anti Doping Agency's 2004 list of banned substances breaks down into eight categories. Click on one to jump to the description or scroll to browse them all. For reference, see also the drug dictionary . Stimulants | Narcotic analgesics | Cannabinoids | Anabolic agents | Peptide hormones | Beta-2 agonists | Masking agents | Glucocorticosteroids Stimulants WHAT ARE THEY? Stimulants refer to a group of drugs that boost alertness and physical activity by increasing heart and breathing rates and brain functions. By acting on the central nervous system, stimulants can stimulate the body both mentally and physically. EXAMPLES adrafinil, cocaine, modafinil , pemoline, selegiline WHY STIMULANTS ARE BANNED They may artificially stimulate the mind or body, thereby improving an athlete's performance and giving them an unfair advantage. WHY ATHLETES USE THEM To increase their ability to exercise at an optimal level, combat tiredness, suppress appetite. TYPE OF PROHIBITION In-competition EXCEPTIONS Cathine is prohibited only when its concentration in a urine sample is greater than five micrograms per millilitre. Both ephedrine and methylephedrine are prohibited only when their concentration in a urine sample is greater than 10 micrograms per millilitre. Narcotic analgesics WHAT ARE THEY? Narcotic analgesics usually take the form of painkillers that act on the brain and spinal cord to treat pain associated with painful stimuli. EXAMPLES buprenorphine, dextromoramide, heroin, morphine, pethidine WHY THEY ARE BANNED Narcotic analgesics could be used to reduce or eliminate the pain felt from an injury or illness. They could also be used to help an athlete train harder and for a longer period of time. The danger in this is that the drug could merely be masking the pain. As a result, athletes may have a false sense of security, and by continuing to train and compete, risk further health problems. WHY ATHLETES USE THEM To help reduce or eliminate the pain from a nagging injury, allowing them to continue in their training. Narcotic analgesics may also reduce anxiety, which may artificially enhance an athlete's performance. TYPE OF PROHIBITION In-competition EXCEPTIONS codeine, dextromethorphan, dextropropoxyphene, dihydrocodeine, diphenoxylate, ethylmorphine, pholcodine, propoxyphene, and tramadol Cannabinoids WHAT ARE THEY? Cannabinoids are psychoactive chemicals derived from the cannabis plant that cause a feeling of relaxation. EXAMPLES hashish, hashish oil, marijuana

description

Prohibited Drugs

Transcript of Prohibited Drugs

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Eight types of drugMost performance-enhancing drugs banned by the World Anti Doping Agency's 2004 list of banned substances breaks down into eight categories. Click on one to jump to the description or scroll to browse them all. For reference, see also the drug dictionary.

Stimulants | Narcotic analgesics | Cannabinoids | Anabolic agents | Peptide hormones | Beta-2 agonists | Masking agents | Glucocorticosteroids

StimulantsWHAT ARE THEY? Stimulants refer to a group of drugs that boost alertness and physical activity by increasing heart and breathing rates and brain functions. By acting on the central nervous system, stimulants can stimulate the body both mentally and physically.

EXAMPLES adrafinil, cocaine, modafinil, pemoline, selegiline

WHY STIMULANTS ARE BANNED They may artificially stimulate the mind or body, thereby improving an athlete's performance and giving them an unfair advantage.

WHY ATHLETES USE THEM To increase their ability to exercise at an optimal level, combat tiredness, suppress appetite.

TYPE OF PROHIBITION In-competition

EXCEPTIONS Cathine is prohibited only when its concentration in a urine sample is greater than five micrograms per millilitre. Both ephedrine and methylephedrine are prohibited only when their concentration in a urine sample is greater than 10 micrograms per millilitre.

Narcotic analgesicsWHAT ARE THEY? Narcotic analgesics usually take the form of painkillers that act on the brain and spinal cord to treat pain associated with painful stimuli.

EXAMPLES buprenorphine, dextromoramide, heroin, morphine, pethidine

WHY THEY ARE BANNED Narcotic analgesics could be used to reduce or eliminate the pain felt from an injury or illness. They could also be used to help an athlete train harder and for a longer period of time. The danger in this is that the drug could merely be masking the pain. As a result, athletes may have a false sense of security, and by continuing to train and compete, risk further health problems. 

WHY ATHLETES USE THEM To help reduce or eliminate the pain from a nagging injury, allowing them to continue in their training. Narcotic analgesics may also reduce anxiety, which may artificially enhance an athlete's performance.

TYPE OF PROHIBITION In-competition

EXCEPTIONS codeine, dextromethorphan, dextropropoxyphene, dihydrocodeine, diphenoxylate, ethylmorphine, pholcodine, propoxyphene, and tramadol

CannabinoidsWHAT ARE THEY? Cannabinoids are psychoactive chemicals derived from the cannabis plant that cause a feeling of relaxation.

EXAMPLES hashish, hashish oil, marijuana

WHY THEY ARE BANNED Marijuana is generally not considered performance enhancing, but is banned because its use is damaging to the image of sport. There are also safety factors involved as the use of marijuana could weaken the athlete's ability to perform, thereby compromising the safety of the athlete and other competitors.

WHY ATHLETES USE THEM To increase their recovery time after exercise, increase their heart rate, reduce their inhibitions.

TYPE OF PROHIBITION In-competition

EXCEPTIONS The WADA code requires each authority that adopts its list of banned substances to determine for themselves whether to ban cannabinoids. Where the rules of the drug testing authority specify, tests for the presence of cannabinoids are conducted.

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Anabolic agentsWHAT ARE THEY? Anabolic Androgenic Steroids (AAS) are synthetic versions of the hormone testosterone. Testosterone is a male sex hormone found in large quantities in most males and in some females. Anabolic Androgenic Steroids fall into one of two categories: 1) exogenous steroids are those substances that are not capable of being produced by the body naturally, and 2) endogenous steroids are those substances that are capable of being produced by the body naturally).

EXAMPLES exogenous steroids (drostanolone, metenolone and oxandrolone), endogenous steroids (androstenediol (andro), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and testosterone)

WHY THEY ARE BANNED Anabolic agents are prescribed for medical use only. Use of anabolic agents may enhance an athlete's performance, giving them an unfair advantage. Another possibility is serious medical side effects for the user.

WHY ATHLETES USE THEM To increase muscle size and strength, reduce the amount of time required to recover after exercise, and to train harder and for a longer period of time.

TYPE OF PROHIBITION In- and out-of-competition

EXCEPTIONS When an athlete tests positive for an endogenous substance, his/her sample is ruled to contain a prohibited substance where the concentration of the substance in the sample is greater than the amount normally found in humans. A sample will be ruled to not contain a prohibited substance when the athlete proves with evidence that the excess concentration of the endogenous substance in the sample is attributable to a pathological or physiological condition. Both exogenous and endogenous steroids, as well as their analogues (any substance derived from modifying the chemical structure of another substance while retaining a similar pharmacological effect) are prohibited.

Peptide hormonesWHAT ARE THEY? Peptide hormones are substances that are produced by glands in the body and that, after circulating through, blood can affect other organs and tissues to change bodily functions.

EXAMPLES erythropoietin, human growth hormones, insulin, corticotrophins

WHY THEY ARE BANNED Peptide hormones serve as messengers between different organs that stimulate various bodily functions such as growth, behaviour and sensitivity to pain. 

WHY ATHLETES USE THEM To stimulate the production of naturally occurring hormones, increase muscle growth and strength, and increase the production of red blood cells to improve the blood's ability to carry oxygen.

TYPE OF PROHIBITION In- and out-of-competition

EXCEPTIONS Chorionic gonadotrophin, and pituitary and synthetic gonadotrophins are prohibited in males only. Unless an athlete can demonstrate that the excess concentration of the substance was due to a physiological or pathological condition, his or her sample is ruled to contain a peptide hormone where the concentration exceeds the amount normally found in humans.

Beta-2 agonistsWHAT ARE THEY? Beta-2 agonists are drugs commonly used to treat asthma by relaxing the muscles that surround the airway and opening up the air passages.

EXAMPLES bambuterol hydrochloride, reproterol hydrochloride, tulobuterol hydrochloride

WHY THEY ARE BANNED They can provide the same advantages of a stimulant or, if administered into the bloodstream, have anabolic effects.

WHY ATHLETES USE THEM To increase their muscle size and reduce body fat. When taken orally or by injection, Beta-2 can have powerful stimulatory effects.

TYPE OF PROHIBITION In- and out-of-competition

EXCEPTIONS Formoterol, salubutamol, salmeterol and terbutaline are permitted by inhalation only to prevent and/or treat asthma and exercise-related respiratory problems. However, athletes need to provide a medical note in order to attain a therapeutic-use exemption.

Masking agentsWHAT ARE THEY? Masking agents are products that can potentially conceal the presence of a prohibited substance in urine or other samples.

EXAMPLES epitestosterone, dextran, diuretics, probenecid 

WHY THEY ARE BANNED Masking agents hide the presence of a banned substance in an athlete's urine or other sample, allowing them to cover up their use and gain an unfair competitive edge.

WHY ATHLETES USE THEM To conceal their use of a prohibited substance in the testing process.

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TYPE OF PROHIBITION In- and out-of-competition

EXCEPTIONS Diuretics (such as acetazolamide, mersalyl, and triamterene) are not prohibited, so long as the athlete's urine sample contains amounts that don't approach prohibited levels.

GlucocorticosteroidsWHAT ARE THEY? In conventional medicine, glucocorticosteroids are used mainly as anti-inflammatory drugs and to relieve pain. They are commonly used to treat asthma, hay fever, tissue inflammation and rheumatoid arthritis.

EXAMPLES dexamethasone, fluticasone, prednisone, triamcinolone acetonide and rofleponide

WHY THEY ARE BANNED When administered systemically (into the blood) glucocorticosteroids can produce a feeling of euphoria, potentially giving athletes an unfair advantage.

WHY ATHLETES USE THEM To mask pain felt from injury and illness.

TYPE OF PROHIBITION In-competition

EXCEPTIONS Glucocorticosteroids are prohibited when administered orally, rectally, or by intravenous or intramuscular administration. All other administrations require the athlete to provide a medical note in order to attain a therapeutic-use exemption.

Prohibition of drugsThe prohibition of drugs through sumptuary legislation or religious law is a common means of attempting to

prevent drug use.

While most drugs are legal to possess, many governments regulate the manufacture, distribution, marketing,

and sale of some drugs, for instance through a prescription system. Only certain drugs are banned with a

"blanket prohibition" against all use. However, a continuing problem remains in effect, as the prohibited drugs

continue to be available through illegal trade, see illegal drug trade, also known as the Black Market. The most

widely banned substances include psychoactive drugs, although blanket prohibition also extends to

some steroids and other drugs. Many governments do not criminalize the possession of a limited quantity of

certain drugs for personal use, while still prohibiting their sale or manufacture, or possession in large quantities.

Some laws set a specific volume of a particular drug, above which is considered ipso jure to be evidence of

trafficking or sale of the drug.[citation needed] The hypothesis that the prohibition of drugs generates violence is

consistent with research done over long time-series and cross-country facts.[1]

Islamic countries mostly prohibit the use of alcohol[citation needed]. Many non-Islamic governments levy a sin tax on

alcohol and tobacco products, and restrict alcohol and tobacco from sales or gifts to minors. Other common

restrictions include bans on outdoor drinking and indoor smoking. In the early 20th Century, many countries

had alcohol prohibition. These include The United States (1920–1933), Finland (1919–1932), Norway (1916–

1927), Canada (1901–1948), Iceland (1915–1922) and the Russian Empire/USSR (1914–1925).

History

The cultivation, use, and trade of psychoactive and other drugs has occurred since prior to civilization's

existence.[citation needed]Religious governments probably began to criminalize drugs' possession and trade in

the Middle Ages[citation needed], and such legislation has continued until the present day, by both religious and non-

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religious governments. In the 20th century, the United States led a major renewed surge in drug prohibition

called the "War on Drugs". Today's War on Drugs bears many similarities to earlier drug laws, particularly in the

motivation to prevent drug use.[vague]

Motivations claimed by supporters of drug prohibition laws across various societies and eras have

included religious observance, allegations of violence by racial minorities,[2] and public health concerns. Those

who are not proponents of anti-drug legislation characterize these motivations as religious intolerance, racism,

and public healthism.

Drug laws (early)

Perhaps the earliest recorded drug law is the prohibition of the use of alcohol under Islamic law (Sharia), which

is usually attributed to passages in the Qur'an dating from the 7th century. Like other Sharia laws, alcohol

prohibition is enforced by Mutaween, known today inSaudi Arabia as the Committee for the Propagation of

Virtue and the Prevention of Vice. Some Muslim scholars[who?] assert that this prohibition actually addresses

only the abuse of alcohol, but they do not have sufficient numbers or authority to override the familiar total

prohibition. Although Islamic law is often interpreted as prohibiting all intoxicants (not only alcohol), the ancient

practice of hashish smoking  has continued throughout the history of Islam, against varying degrees of

resistance. A major campaign against hashish-eatingSufis was conducted in Egypt in the 11th and 12th

centuries resulting among other things in the burning of fields of cannabis.

Though the prohibition of illegal drugs was established under Islamic law, particularly against the use of

hashish as a recreational drug, classical jurists of medieval Islamic jurisprudence accepted the use of hashish

for medicinal and therapeutic purposes, and agreed that its "medical use, even if it leads to mental

derangement, remains exempt" from punishment. In the 14th century, the Islamic scholar Az-Zarkashi spoke of

"the permissibility of its use for medical purposes if it is established that it is beneficial."[3]

Religious intolerance was a motivation for drug prohibition in Christian Europe. In Meso-America and South

America, peyote ( péyotl ) ,ololiúqui, toloáche, teonanácatl and other sacred plants of the Mexican culture were

prohibited as works of the devil. In Northern Europe, the Protestants were also responsible for passing drug

laws motivated by religious intolerance, according to Stephen Harrod Buhner. Buhner argues that the

1516 Reinheitsgebot, which stipulates that beer may only contain water, barley and hops was a "reflection of

Protestant irritation about 'drugs' and the Catholic Church".[4] Unlike the typical nut blends widely used at the

time (e.g. gruit), hops caused sedation and reduced libido. The exclusive use of hops had been compulsory in

France since 1268.[5]

Coffee almost followed the same fate as cannabis as its use spread from Ethiopia through the Middle East to

Europe. Coffee, regarded as a Muslim drink, was prohibited to Orthodox Christians in its native Ethiopia until as

late as 1889; it is now considered a national drink of Ethiopia for people of all faiths. In the Ottoman

Empire, Murad IV attempted to prohibit coffee drinking to Muslims as haraam, arguing that it was an intoxicant,

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but this ruling was overturned soon after his death in 1640.[6] The introduction of coffee in Europe from Muslim

Turkey prompted calls for it to be banned as the devil's work, although Pope Clement VIII sanctioned its use in

1600, declaring that it was "so delicious that it would be a pity to let the infidels have exclusive use of it." Its

early association in Europe with rebellious political activities led to its banning in England, among other places.

[7]

In late Qing Imperial China, opium imported by the British East India Company was vastly consumed by all

social classes in Southern China. Between 1821 and 1837, imports of the drug increased fivefold. The Chinese

government attempted to end this trade on public health grounds. The effort was initially successful, with the

destruction of all British opium stock in May 1839. However, to protect this trade, the British declared war on

China (First Opium War). China was defeated and the war ended with the Treaty of Nanking, which protected

foreign opium traders from Chinese law. A related American treaty promised to end the smuggling of opium by

Americans. It took until the next Opium War for the trade to be legalized.

In the northern provinces of Ningxia and Suiyuan in China, Chinese Muslim General Ma Fuxiang both

prohibited and engaged in the opium trade. It was hoped that Ma Fuxiang would have improved the situation,

since Chinese Muslims were well known for opposition to smoking opium.[8] Ma Fuxiang officially prohibited

opium and made it illegal in Ningxia, but the Guominjun reversed his policy, by 1933, people from every level of

society were abusing the drug, Ningxia was left in destitution.[9] In 1923, an officer of the Bank of

China fromBaotou found out that Ma Fuxiang was assisting the drug trade in opium which helped finance his

military expenses. He earned a sum of $2 million from taxing those sales in 1923. General Ma had been using

the Bank, a branch of the Government of China's exchequer, to arrange for silver curreny to be transported to

Baotou to use it to sponsor the trade.[10]

US prohibition of opium

The first law outright prohibiting the use of a specific drug in the United States was a San Francisco ordinance

which banned the smoking of opium in opium dens in 1875. The reason cited was "many women and young

girls, as well as young men of respectable family, were being induced to visit the Chinese opium-smoking dens,

where they were ruined morally and otherwise." This was followed by other laws throughout the country, and

federal laws which barred Chinese people from trafficking in opium. Though the laws affected the use and

distribution of opium by Chinese immigrants, no action was taken against the producers of such products

as laudanum, atincture of opium and alcohol, commonly taken as a panacea by white Americans. The

distinction between its use by white Americans and Chinese immigrants was thus based on the form in which it

was ingested: Chinese immigrants tended to smoke it, while it was often included in various kinds of generally

liquid medicines often (but not exclusively) used by people of European descent. The laws targeted opium

smoking, but not other methods of ingestion.[11] As a result of this discrepancy, some modern commentators

believe that these laws were possibly racist in origin and intent.

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The most important reason for the increase in opiate consumption during the 19th century was however the

prescribing and dispensing of legal opiates by physicians and pharmacist to women with "female problems"

(mostly to relieve painful menstruation). Between 150,000 and 200,000 opiate addicts lived in the United States

in the late 19th century and between two-thirds and three-quarters of these addicts were women.[12]

This was followed by the Harrison Act, passed in 1914, which required sellers of opiates and cocaine to get a

license. While originally intended to require paper trails of drug transactions[citation needed] between doctors, drug

stores, and patients, it soon became a prohibitive law. The law's wording was quite vague; it was originally

intended as a revenue tracking mechanism that required prescriptions for opiates. It became legal

precedent that any prescription for a narcotic given by a physician or pharmacist – even in the course of

medical treatment for addiction – constituted conspiracy to violate the Harrison Act. In 1919, the Supreme

Court ruled inDoremus that the Harrison Act was constitutional and in Webb that physicians could not prescribe

narcotics solely for maintenance.[12]In the decision Jin Fuey Moy v. United States, 254 U.S. 189 (1920) the

court upheld that it was a violation of the Harrison Act even if a physician provided prescription of a narcotic for

an addict, and thus subject to criminal prosecution. The initial proponents of the Harrison Act did not support

blanket prohibition of the drugs involved.[13] This is also true of the later Marijuana Tax Act in 1937. Soon,

however, licensing bodies did not issue licenses, effectively banning the drugs.

The American judicial system did not initially accept drug prohibition. Prosecutors argued that possessing drugs

was a tax violation, as no legal licenses to sell drugs were in existence; hence, a person possessing drugs

must have purchased them from an unlicensed source. After some wrangling, this was accepted as federal

jurisdiction under the interstate commerce clause of the U.S. Constitution.

Prohibition of alcohol

Main article: Prohibition

The prohibition of alcohol commenced in Finland in 1919 and in the United States in 1920.

Because alcohol was the most popular recreational drug in these countries, reactions to its prohibition were

very different than to the prohibition of other drugs, which were commonly perceived to be associated with

racial and ethnic minorities. Public pressure led to the repeal of alcohol prohibition in Finland in 1932, and in

the United States in 1933. Residents of many provinces of Canada also experienced alcohol prohibition for

similar periods of time in the first half of the 20th century.

In Sweden, a referendum in 1922 decided against an alcohol prohibition law (with 51% of the votes against and

49% for prohibition), but starting in 1914 (nationwide from 1917) and until 1955 Sweden employed an alcohol

rationing system with personal liquor ration books ("motbok").

Marijuana Tax Act

For more details on this topic, see Legal history of cannabis in the United States.

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Regulations and restrictions on the sale of Cannabis sativa as a drug began as early as 1860 as a part of

different local poisons laws. In the middle of the 1930s all member states in the United States had some

regulation of cannabis.[14][15] In 1936 the Federal Bureau of Narcotics (FBN) noticed an increase of reports of

people smoking marijuana, which further increased in 1937. The Bureau drafted a legislative plan for Congress,

seeking a new law and the head of the FBN, Harry J. Anslinger, ran a smear campaign against marijuana.

[16] During this particular time frame, the media was swarmed with propaganda regarding the effects of

marijuana. Harry J. Anslinger, a dominant leader in the prohibition against drugs, devised advertisements and

commercials to inform the public of the believed side effects of marijuana. Citizens who were high on marijuana

were crazy, insane, suicidal, had murderous intentions, etc. according to the propaganda.[17] Disregarding the

scientific research on the subject and the falsified claims, the Marihuana Tax Actpassed in 1937 quickly and

with little debate and no opposition in Congress. The American Medical Association (AMA) supported a federal

law, but recommended that marijuana to be added to the Harrison Narcotic Act.[18] The restrictions for Cannabis

was part of a broad international trend supported by the president.[19]

Counterculture and the War on Drugs

American drug law enforcement agents detain a man in 2005.

In response to rising drug use among young people and the counterculture movement, government efforts to

enforce prohibition were strengthened in many countries from the 1960s onward. Support at an international

level for the prohibition of psychoactive drug use has been a consistent feature of United States policy during

both Republican and Democratic administrations, to such an extent that US support for foreign governments

has often been contingent on their adherence to US drug policy.[citation needed] Major milestones in this campaign

include the introduction of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs in 1961, the Convention on Psychotropic

Substances in 1971 and the United Nations Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and

Psychotropic Substances in 1988. A few developing countries where consumption of the prohibited substances

has enjoyed longstanding cultural support, long resisted such outside pressure to pass legislation adhering to

these conventions — such as Nepal, which did not do so until 1976.[20][21]

In 1972, United States President Richard Nixon announced the commencement of the so-called "War on

Drugs." Later, President Reagan added the position of drug czar to the President's Executive Office.

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In 1973, New York State introduced mandatory minimum sentences of 15 years to life imprisonment for

possession of more than four ounces (113g) of a so-called hard drug, called the Rockefeller drug laws after

New York Governor and later Vice President Nelson Rockefeller. Similar laws were introduced across the

United States.

California's broader 'three strikes and you're out' policy adopted in 1994 was the first mandatory

sentencing policy to gain widespread publicity and was subsequently adopted in most United States

jurisdictions. This policy mandates life imprisonment for a third criminal conviction of any felony offense.

A similar 'three strikes' policy was introduced to the United Kingdom by the Conservative government in 1997.

This legislation enacted a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years for those convicted for a third time of a

drug trafficking offense involving a class A drug.

Large movements[quantify] have grown in numerous[quantify] countries proposing various policy changes such

as drug relegalization anddrug decriminalization. For instance, there is a movement for cannabis legalization in

Canada, as well as the Marijuana Party of Canada.

Various drug liberalization policies are often supported by proponents of liberalism and libertarianism.

Continued drug criminalization is more typically supported by proponents of conservatism. The latter may often

promote the more general notion of individualism, butsocial conservatives in particular continue to support drug

prohibition.

The former Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, the Drug Czar, John P. Walters has described

the drug problem in the United States as a "public health challenge", and he has publicly eschewed the notion

of a "war on drugs." He has supported additional resources for substance abuse treatment and has touted

random student drug testing as an effective prevention strategy. However, the actions of the Office of National

Drug Control Policy continue to belie the rhetoric of a shift away from primarily enforcement-based responses

to illegal drug use.[22]

[edit]Opium cultivation in Afghanistan

Main article: Opium production in Afghanistan

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A field of opium poppies growing inAfghanistan.

In July 2000, the Taliban rulers of Afghanistan banned opium as "against Islam." After the Taliban was ousted,

opium cultivation resumed in more widespread areas and in greater yield. In April 2004,

Afghan interim president Hamid Karzai declared a jihad on drugs (after opium output reached a near-record

3,600 tonnes in 2003 — equivalent to three-quarters of world supply). Over the next two years, despite the

assistance of several hundreds of millions of dollars of foreign anti-drug support, Afghanistan raised opium

production to 6,100tonnes in 2006, produced on 407,000 acres (1,650 km2) of land, including nearly 30,000

acres (120 km2) of government land – a production estimated to exceed the global demand for opium by thirty

percent.[23]

]Honduras President calls for legalization

On February 22, 2008 Honduras President Manuel Zelaya called on the United States to legalize drugs, in

order, he said, to prevent the majority of violent murders occurring in Honduras. Honduras is used

by cocainesmugglers as a transiting point between Colombia and the US. Honduras, with a population of 7

million suffers an average of 8–10 murders a day, with an estimated 70% being as a result of this international

drug trade. The same problem is occurring in Guatemala,El Salvador, Costa Rica and Mexico, according to

Zelaya.[24]

Drug prohibition laws

The following individual drugs listed under their respective family groups (e.g., barbiturates, benzodiazepines,

opiates) are the most frequently sought after by drug users and as such are prohibited or otherwise heavily

regulated for use in many countries:

Among the Barbiturates, Pentobarbital (Nembutal), Secobarbital (Seconal), and Amobarbital (Amytal)

Among the Benzodiazepines, temazepam (Restoril; Normison; Euhypnos), flunitrazepam (Rohypnol;

Hypnor; Flunipam), andnimetazepam (Erimin)

Cannabis  products, e.g., marijuana, hashish, and hashish oil

Among the Dissociatives, phencyclidine (PCP), and ketamine are the most sought after.

Hallucinogens  such as LSD, mescaline, peyote, and psilocybin

Empathogen-entactogen  drugs like MDMA ("Ecstasy")

Among the Narcotics, it is opiates such as morphine and codeine, and opioids such

as hydrocodone (Vicodin; Hycodan),oxycodone (Percocet; Oxycontin), hydromorphone (Dilaudid),

and heroin

Sedatives  such as GHB and methaqualone (Quaalude)

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Stimulants  such

as cocaine, amphetamine (Adderall), Dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine), methamphetamine (Desoxyn)

,methcathinone, and methylphenidate (Ritalin).

The regulation of the above drugs varies in many countries. Alcohol possession and consumption by adults is

today widely banned only in Islamic countries and certain states of India. The United States, Finland, and

Canada banned alcohol in the early part of the 20th century; this was called Prohibition. Although alcohol

prohibition was repealed in the United States, there are still parts of the United States that do not allow

alcohol sales, even though alcohol possession may be legal. Bhutan is the only country in the world where

possession and use of tobacco is illegal. In some parts of the world, provisions are made for the use of

traditional sacraments likeAyahuasca, Iboga, and Peyote. In Gabon, Africa, iboga (Tabernanthe iboga) has

been declared a national treasure and is used in rites of the Bwiti religion. The active ingredient, ibogaine,[25] is

proposed as a treatment of opioid withdrawal and various substance use disorders.

In countries where alcohol and tobacco are legal, certain measures are frequently undertaken to discourage

use of these drugs. For example, packages of alcohol and tobacco sometimes communicate warnings directed

towards the consumer, communicating the potential risks of partaking in the use of the substance. These drugs

also frequently have special sin taxes associated with the purchase thereof, in order to recoup the losses

associated with public funding for the health problems the use causes in long-term users. Restrictions on

advertising also exist in many countries, and often a state holds a monopoly on manufacture, distribution,

marketing, and/or the sale of these drugs.

In the United States, there is considerable legal debate about the impact these laws have had on

Americans' civil rights. Critics claim that the War on Drugs has lowered the evidentiary burden required for a

legal search of a suspect's dwelling or vehicle, or to intercept a suspect's communications.[citation needed] However,

many of the searches that result in drug arrests are often "commission" to search a person or the person's

property.[clarification needed]

People who consent to a search, knowing full well that they possess contraband, generally consent because

they are ignorant of the fact that they have the right to decline permission to search.[citation needed] Under the laws

of most U.S. states, police are not required to disclose to suspects that they have the right to decline a search.

Even when a suspect does not give permission to search, police are often known[citation needed] to state in arrest

affidavits and even provide sworn testimony that the suspect consented to the search, secure in the knowledge

that a judge will normally weigh all questions of credibility in favour of law enforcement and against the

accused.[neutrality is disputed]

Similarly, in cases where the accused does not consent to a search, courts have generally held police to a very

low standard[according to whom?] of reasonable suspicion and/or probable cause in drug cases, essentially endorsing

"fishing expeditions" by stop-and-search highway interdiction police.[neutrality is disputed][citation needed]

Page 11: Prohibited Drugs

The sentencing statutes in the United States Code that cover controlled substances are notoriously intricate.

[neutrality is disputed] For example, a first-time offender convicted in a single proceeding for selling marijuana three

times, and found to have carried a gun on him all three times (even if it were not used) is subject to a minimum

sentence of 55 years in federal prison. U.S. v. Angelos, 345 F. Supp. 2d 1227 (D. Utah 2004).

Drug sentencing guidelines under state law in America are generally much less harsh than the federal

sentencing guidelines. The vast majority of drug felonies and almost all drug misdemeanors in the United

States are prosecuted at the state level. The federal government tends to prosecute only drug trafficking cases

involving large amounts of drugs, or cases, which have been referred to federal prosecutors by local district

attorneys seeking harsher sentences under the federal sentencing guidelines. In rare instances, some

defendants are prosecuted both federally and by the state for the same drug trafficking conduct. The United

States Supreme Court has ruled that a defendant does not face double jeopardy if he is convicted and

sentenced by both the state and federal government for the same underlying criminal conduct.

Sometimes, crimes not directly related to drug use and sale are prohibited. For example, the United States

recently brought charges against club owners for maintaining a place of business where a) Ecstasy is known to

be frequently consumed; b) paraphernaliaassociated with the use of Ecstasy is sold and/or widely tolerated

(such as glow sticks and pacifiers); and c) "chill-out rooms" are created, where Ecstasy users can cool down

(Ecstasy users in club settings tend to dance for extended periods of time, raising the user's blood

temperature).[citation needed] These are being challenged in court by organizations such as the American Civil

Liberties Union (ACLU) and Drug Policy Alliance.[citation needed]

Drug prohibition has created several legal dilemmas. For example many countries allow the use

of undercover law enforcement officers solely or primarily for the enforcement of laws against use of certain

drugs. Many of these officers are allegedly allowed to commit crimes if it is necessary to maintain the secrecy

of the investigation, or in order to collect adequate evidence for aconviction.[citation needed] Some people have

criticized this practice as failing to ensure equality under the law because it grants police officers the right to

commit crimes that no other citizen could commit without potential consequences.

Another legal dilemma is the creation of a legal loop hole allowing for the arbitrary arrest and prosecution of

anyone in several countries.[clarification needed] This is the result of several drugs such as Dimethyltryptamine, GHB

and morphine being illegal to possess but also inherently present in all humans as a result of endogenous

synthesis. Since some jurisdictions classify possession of drugs to include having the drug present in the blood

in any concentration, all residents of such countries are technically in possession of multiple illegal drugs at all

times.[citation needed]

The War on Drugs has stimulated the creation of international law enforcement agencies (such as Interpol),

mostly in Western countries. This has occurred because a large volume of illicit drugs come from Third-

World countries.

Page 12: Prohibited Drugs

[edit]Social control

In Hallucinations: Behavior, Experience, and Theory (1975), senior US government researchers Louis Jolyon

West and Ronald K. Siegelexplain how drug prohibition can be used for selective social control:

“The role of drugs in the exercise of political control is also coming under increasing discussion. Control can be through prohibition or supply. The total or even partial prohibition of drugs gives the government considerable leverage for other types of control. An example would be the selective application of drug laws… against selected components of the population such as members of certain minority groups or political organizations[26] ”

Academic Noam Chomsky argues that Drug laws are currently, and have historically, been used by the state to

oppress sections of society it opposes:[27]

“Very commonly substances are criminalized because they're associated with what's called the dangerous classes, poor people, or working people. So for example in England in the 19th century, there was a period when gin was criminalized and whiskey wasn't, because gin is what poor people drink. ”

[edit]Penalties

[edit]United States

Main article: Drug policy of the United States

Drug possession is the crime of having one or more illegal drugs in one's possession, either for personal use,

distribution, sale or otherwise. Illegal drugs fall into different categories and sentences vary depending on the

amount, type of drug, circumstances, and jurisdiction.

In the U.S., the penalty for illegal drug possession and sale can vary from a small fine to a prison sentence. In

some states, marijuana possession is considered to be a petty offense, with the penalty being comparable to

that of a speeding violation. In some municipalities, possessing a small quantity of marijuana in one's own

home is not punishable at all. Generally, however, drug possession is an arrestable offense, although first-time

offenders rarely serve jail time.

Federal law makes even possession of soft drugs, such as cannabis, illegal, though some local governments

have laws contradicting federal laws.

In the U.S., the War on Drugs is thought to be contributing to a prison overcrowding problem. In 1996,

59.6%[28] of prisoners were drug-related criminals. The U.S. population grew by about +25% from 1980 to 2000.

In that same 20 year time period, the U.S. prison population tripled, making the U.S. the world leader in both

percentage and absolute number of citizens incarcerated. The United States has 5% of the worlds population,

but 25% of the prisoners.[29]

[edit]Australia

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This section does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this section byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.(June 2006)

There is a movement in Australia to make some substances decriminalized, particularly cannabis, making the

possession of such a non-convictable offense in most states (however, the definition of what constitutes

possession can differ between states).

As a result of the decriminalization, the punishments for drug use and drug dealing in Australia are typically

very small, with many convicted small-time drug dealers not having to spend any time in jail.

There is an associated anti-drug culture amongst a significant number of Australians. Law enforcement targets

drugs, particularly in the party scene.

[edit]The Netherlands

Main article: Drug policy of the Netherlands

In the Netherlands, cannabis and other "soft" drugs are partly decriminalised in small quantities. The Dutch

government treats the problem as more of a public health issue than a criminal issue. Contrary to popular

belief, cannabis is still illegal, mostly to satisfy the country's agreements with the United Nations. Coffee

shops that sell cannabis to people 18 or above are tolerated in some cities, and pay taxes like any other

business for their cannabis and hashish sales, although distribution is a grey area that the authorities would

rather not go into as it is not decriminalised. Many "coffee shops" are found in Amsterdam and cater mainly to

the large tourist trade; the local consumption rate is far lower than in the US.[citation needed] Each coffee shop will,

from 2012, operate like a private club with some 1,000 to 1,500 members. In order to qualify for a membership

card, applicants must be adult Dutch citizens, membership will only be allowed in one club.[30]

Netherlands has the highest antidrug related public expenditure per capita of all countries in EU (139 EUR per

capita, 2004).[citation needed]

Similarly to the rest of the European Union member states and American democracies, controlled drugs are

illegal in the Netherlands. Nevertheless, illegal drugs are consumed worldwide, causing concern in the

international community. According to the United Nations Drug Control Programme, results in the 2001 World

Drug Report estimate "that the extent of drug abuse in the world involves about 180 million people, which

represents 3% of the global population. The majority of drug users (80%) used cannabis, followed by

amphetamine-type stimulants such as methamphetamine, amphetamine and substances of the ecstasy group

(16%), cocaine (8%), heroin (5%) and other opiates (2%)".[citation needed]

The administrative bodies responsible for enforcing the drug policies include the Ministry of Health, Welfare and

Sport, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, and the Ministry of Finance.

Local authorities also shape local policy, within the national framework. The prohibition policy is heavily

Page 14: Prohibited Drugs

influenced by the international community (through the United Nations), especially the neighboring states of

France and Germany, which pressure the kingdom to be more strict, for they are directly affected through the

illegal trafficking of narcotics coming from the Netherlands.[citation needed]

Legally, possession, manufacturing, trafficking, importation and exportation are forbidden. Nonetheless, it is not

an offense to use drugs (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 2003). There are different penalties involved when

breaking the law, which may include a monetary fine, imprisonment, or both. To apply the law, the government

differentiates between "soft" and "hard" drugs. Soft drugs are considered to produce less harm to both the

individual and society, these being used mainly for folk medicine and recreational purposes. This category

encompasses cannabis (nederwiet), hashish and some fungi. Hard drugs are considered to cause considerable

personal harm through addiction and physical detriment, as well as nuisance to society, by increasing crime

and deteriorating families. Cocaine, heroin, etc. belong to this category.[citation needed]

Along with these two categories, there is a pyramid of priority when it comes to prosecution by law enforcement

agencies.

1. The handling and trade of hard drugs is on the zenith, being a joint target not only by the Netherlands,

but also by the international community. This can be punished by maximum sentences of twelve years

of imprisonment and/or a fine of up to€45.000.[citation needed]

2. The second priority is given to the production and trade of soft drugs. Deviation from the AHOJ-G

criteria for coffee shops may result in up to four years of imprisonment and/or a fine of €45.000.

3. The third priority focuses on hard drug users. Instead of labelling the users of hard drugs as

"criminals", the state aims to rehabilitate users and prevent others from becoming addicted. However,

disturbance to society cased by the consumption of hard drugs can result in one year of prison and/or

a €11.250 fine. Lastly, individuals possessing more than five grams for personal consumption, or

disturbing the public, can go to prison for one month and/or be fined €2.250.[citation needed]

There are varying rules within these categories, for example the amount possessed, the role played in the

transaction and the intent of the goods.[citation needed]

Regarding coffee shops, the line between law and practice thins. A coffee shop is a heavily controlled business

establishment where individuals can purchase a personal dose of soft drugs in the form of joints, pastry, drinks

and packages. In theory illegal, these shops must abide by governmental and local regulations, as well as meet

the AHOJ-G criteria, an acronym for: No Advertising, Hard drugs, Nuisance of any kind, Jongeren (minors

under 18), and a limit of five grams per transaction. Additionally, the maximum stock at any time is five hundred

grams. Local governments may impose additional rules, such as closing times, zoning (coffee shops may not

be close to schools), and parking restrictions. The rationale behind coffee shops is to keep citizens away from

the hard drugs scene, bringing them to a safe, social, and regulated environment.[citation needed]

Page 15: Prohibited Drugs

When analysing the Dutch model, both disadvantages and advantages can be drawn when comparing the

results with other countries. On a moral argument, tolerating soft drugs can be seen as the defeat of the

government against hedonism. Additionally, decades of growing and perfecting cannabis and hashish has

resulted in increased levels of the main active hallucinogenic constituenttetrahydrocannabinol (THC), as levels

have doubled, making the derived products more powerful, and therefore requiring less to achieve the desired

effect.[citation needed]

The coffee shop will lose its license if it caught selling to minors. Though there was a slight increase of use at

the beginning, the rates balanced out some years later. The presence of coffee shops does not translate in

public urge for experimentation. In fact, most people that did not consume drugs before the enhancement of the

policy continue not to use them.[citation needed]

When compared to other countries, Dutch drug consumption falls in the European average at six per cent

regular use (twenty-one per cent at some point in life) and considerably lower than the Anglo-Saxon countries

headed by the United States with an eight per cent recurring use (thirty-four at some point in life). Experts have

come to the conclusion that the policies applied do not play a striking role in these statistics, though there is

debate over this issue (CEDRO, 2004).

[edit]Indonesia

This section does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this section byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.(June 2006)

Indonesia carries a maximum penalty of death for drug dealing, and a maximum of 15 years prison for drug

use.

In 2004, Australian citizen Schappelle Corby was convicted of smuggling 4.4 kilograms of cannabis in to Bali, a

crime that carried a maximum penalty of death. Her trial reached the verdict of guilty with a punishment of 20

years imprisonment. Corby claimed to be an unwitting drug mule.

Australian citizens known as the "Bali Nine" were caught smuggling heroin, and each face the death penalty.

In August 2005, Australian model Michelle Leslie was arrested with two Ecstasy pills. She pleaded guilty to

possession and in November 2005 was sentenced to 3 months imprisonment, which she was deemed to have

already served, and was released from prison immediately upon her admission of guilt on the charge of

possession.

[edit]Methods of law enforcement

This section does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this section byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.(February 2010)

Page 16: Prohibited Drugs

Because the possession of drugs is a victimless crime that can be committed in privacy, the enforcement of

prohibitionist laws requires methods of law enforcement to inspect even private property. In societies with

strong property laws or individual rights, this may present a risk for conflicts or violations of rights.

Disrupting the market relies on eradication, interdiction and domestic law enforcement efforts.

Dareton police search the vehicle of a suspected drug smuggler in Wentworth, in the state of New South Wales, Australia,

near the border with Victoria

Through cooperation with governments such as those of Colombia, Mexico andAfghanistan, coca (the plant

source for cocaine) and poppy (the plant source for opium and heroin) are eradicated by the United States and

other allies such as the United Kingdom, so that the crops cannot be processed into narcotics. Eradication can

be accomplished by aerial spraying or manual eradication. However, the eradication is only temporary as the

harvest fields can usually be replanted after a certain amount of time. The government of Colombian

President Álvaro Uribe has resisted criticism of aerial spraying of coca and poppy and has seen major

reductions in both crops according to the United Nations Office of Crime and Drugs (See also Plan Colombia).

In 2003, over 1,300 square kilometers of mature coca were sprayed and eradicated in Colombia, where at the

start of the year, approximately 1,450 square kilometers had been planted. This strategic accomplishment

prevented the production over 500 tonnes of cocaine, sufficient to supply all the cocaine users in both US and

Europe for one year. Further, it eliminated upward of $100 million of illicit income in Colombia. No effect on

prices or availability in the marketplace has been noted, and the actual number of acres of coca planted seems

to have actually increased, largely shifting to more remote areas or into neighboring countries. Aerial spraying

also has the unintended consequence of destroying legitimate crop fields in the process.

Interdiction is carried out primarily by aerial and naval armed forces patrolling known trafficking zones. From

South America to the United States most drugs traverse either the Caribbean Sea or the Eastern Pacific,

usually in "go-fast" boats that carry drug cargos and engines and little else.

Investigation on drug trafficking often begins with the recording of unusually frequent deaths by overdose,

monitoring financial flows of suspected traffickers, or by finding concrete elements while inspecting for other

purposes. For example, a person pulled over for traffic violations may have illicit drugs in his or her vehicle,

Page 17: Prohibited Drugs

thus leading to an arrest and/or investigation of the source of the materials. The United States federal

government has placed a premium on disrupting the large drug trafficking organizations that move narcotics

into and around the United States, while state and local law enforcement focus on disrupting street-level drug

dealing gangs.

[edit]Drug control strategy

Present drug control efforts utilize several techniques in the attempt to achieve their goal of eliminating illegal

drug use:

Disrupting the market for drugs

Prevention efforts that rely on community activism, public information campaigns to educate the public on

the potential dangers of drug use

Law-enforcement efforts against elements of the supply chain, through surveillance and undercover work

Providing effective and targeted substance abuse treatment to dependent users

[edit]Alternatives to prohibition

It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Arguments for and against drug prohibition. (Discuss) Proposed since February 2010.

On February 11, 2009 a document called Drugs and democracy in Latin America: Towards a paradigm

shift was signed by several Latin American political figures, intellectuals, writers and journalists as

commissioners of the Latin American Initiative on Drugs and Democracy. The document questioned the war on

drugs and points out its failures. It also indicates that prohibition has come with an extensive social cost,

especially to the countries that take part in the production of illicit drugs. Although controversial, the document

does not endorse either the production or consumption of drugs but recommends for both a new and an

alternative approach. The document argues that drug production and consumption has become a

social taboo that inhibits the public debate because of its relationship to crime and as consequence it confines

consumers to a small circle where they become more vulnerable to the actions of organized crime. The authors

also demand for a close review to the prohibitive strategies of the United States and the study of the

advantages and limits of the damage reduction strategy followed by the European Union. The proposal uses

three paradigms as an alternative:

The treatment of consumption as a problem of public health.

The reduction of consumption through the dissemination of information and prevention.

A new focus towards organized crime.

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The document favors the European policies towards drug consumption since according to the authors it is more

humane and efficient. The signers of this document are: Fernando Henrique Cardoso, Ernesto Zedillo, Cesar

Gaviria, Paulo Coelho, Enrique Santos, Mario Vargas Llosa, Moisés Naím, Tomas Eloy Martinez [31]

Two years later in mid-2011, the core of the Initiative and its commission were extended and endorsed in a

report issued by the Global Commission on Drug Policy. Joining the three former presidents of Colombia, Brazil

and Mexico and Nobel Prize for Literature winner Llosa on the Global Commission were former U.S. Secretary

of State George P. Schultz and Federal Reserve chair Paul Volcker;Carlos Fuentes, Mexican writer and public

intellectual; John C. Whitehead, formerly of Goldman Sachs; and Kofi Annan, former Secretary-General of

the United Nations.[32]

[edit]See also

Arguments for and against drug prohibition

Drug liberalization

Demand reduction

Harm reduction

Prohibitionism

Drug policy of the Soviet Union

US specific:

School district drug policies

Drug Policy Alliance

DrugWarRant

Gary Webb

Marijuana Policy Project

National Organization for the Re

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Page 19: Prohibited Drugs

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Top 10 Drugs and their   Effects by Jamie Frater, September 27, 2007

Drug abuse is a very common problem in most countries so it seemed like a good topic

for a list. This is a list of ten of the most abused drugs and the effects they have on

people.

10Heroin

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Heroin is an opiate processed directly from the extracts of the opium poppy. It was

originally created to help cure people of addiction to morphine. Upon crossing the blood-

brain barrier, which occurs soon after introduction of the drug into the bloodstream,

heroin is converted into morphine, which mimics the action of endorphins, creating a

sense of well-being; the characteristic euphoria has been described as an “orgasm”

centered in the gut. One of the most common methods of heroin use is via intravenous

injection.

For the last 4 months, my partner and I have been recreationally using heroin. H became our weekend ritual. Lighting candles, playing music, brie and wine and grapes, reading tarot and finally fucking… for hours on end, the most intense beautiful technicolor sex. Each time we did it we got closer to each other. And each time we did it, we wanted to do it again, and again. We tried saying we’d only do it once every two weeks, but that lasted 6 days. We have rules about how much we do in one night, how late we stay up and so on. So far the rules have kept us safe from addiction. Unless you consider the nagging i-don’t-wanna-go-a-weekend-or-have-sex-without-it feelings. We’ve never run out, although, once we were down to our last little bit and I left the vial open on the night stand. I was reaching for the lube when I heard the most sickening sound, the vial falling over. Turns out, I was mistaken, I had remembered to put the cap back on. But in those few seconds of uncertainty, my girl and I shot each other a look we had never seen before.. Fear.

9Cocaine

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Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca

plant. It is both a stimulant of the central nervous system and an appetite suppressant,

giving rise to what has been described as a euphoric sense of happiness and increased

energy. It is most often used recreationally for this effect. Cocaine is a potent central

nervous system stimulant. Its effects can last from 20 minutes to several hours,

depending upon the dosage of cocaine taken, purity, and method of administration. The

initial signs of stimulation are hyperactivity, restlessness, increased blood pressure,

increased heart rate and euphoria. The euphoria is sometimes followed by feelings of

discomfort and depression and a craving to experience the drug again. Sexual interest

and pleasure can be amplified. Side effects can include twitching, paranoia, and

impotence, which usually increases with frequent usage.

The cocaine arrived and we agreed to use it at a time that translated to three and a half

hours after I arrived. It cost $60 for what I was told was an eighth of a gram. This

seemed rather expensive, but I was assured that it was ‘high quality product.’ I took the

line up my left nostril. After about ninety seconds, I felt my heartbeat increase. It was

definitely kicking in. I began to worry a bit, as I could feel my heart pounding and my

pulse increasing. I finally felt as if it had reached a plateau. My heartbeat became level,

albeit still very high. Many people say that one feels euphoria – being invincible and/or

the desire to clean the house. I did not feel either of these (and I did remember to think

about these things). For me, the positive effects of cocaine came directly from knowing

that I had reached a plateau and I was going to be fine. I felt invigorated, yet also very

comfortable.

Page 22: Prohibited Drugs

One of the best treatment for drug addiction is to consult with cocaine rehab centers for

recovery.

8Methamphetamine

Methamphetamime, popularly shortened to meth or ice, is a psychostimulant and

sympathomimetic drug. Methamphetamine enters the brain and triggers a cascading

release of norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin. Since it stimulates the mesolimbic

reward pathway, causing euphoria and excitement, it is prone to abuse and addiction.

Users may become obsessed or perform repetitive tasks such as cleaning, hand-

washing, or assembling and disassembling objects. Withdrawal is characterized by

excessive sleeping, eating and depression-like symptoms, often accompanied by

anxiety and drug-craving.

We first smoked meth on New Year’s Eve because we heard it was great for sex. I had

to work the next day and so saved some to smoke before work in the morning. When I

got home another g was waiting for me and I smoked every day but one until I finally

quit three months later. For three weeks we smoked meth with little consequence, then

my skin became fragile and in addition to breaking out, started to swell. I was really

worried because I was constantly thirsty and drinking water, but I rarely urinated. Then

my kidneys started hurting. I had lost twenty pounds in two months and my husband

had lost thirty, and we’d read somewhere that rapid weight loss can cause kidney

failure. I slept every three or four days for an hour or so and woke feeling rested. I was

Page 23: Prohibited Drugs

an hour late for work everyday. My husband wrecked the truck three times. One day I

forgot to feed my son. Everything was either the highest of highs or the lowest of lows,

no in between existed anymore. We were banned from the sauna at our apartment

complex because no one else could use it. Our sweat smelled so strongly of ammonia it

burned the eyes, it was caustic, and it burned our skin too. My husband and I haven’t

done any drugs at all for four weeks, and things are slowly going back to normal. But I

still want it. I can’t sleep tonight because I want it. I wrote this in all honesty mostly to

help myself, to remind myself why I don’t want it. And still I want it.

7Crack Cocaine

Crack cocaine, often nicknamed “crack”, is believed to have been created and made

popular during the early 1980s . Because of the dangers for manufacturers of using

ether to produce pure freebase cocaine, producers began to omit the step of removing

the freebase precipitate from the ammonia mixture. Typically, filtration processes are

also omitted. Baking soda is now most often used as a base rather than ammonia for

reasons of lowered odor and toxicity; however, any weak base can be used to make

crack cocaine. When commonly “cooked” the ratio is 1:1 to 2:3 parts

cocaine/bicarbonate.

Page 24: Prohibited Drugs

As I held the smoke in for a ten count and exhaled, I thought I felt nothing except a little

excitement that was neither bad nor pleasurable. The complete rush some writers have

called a ‘whole-body orgasm’ hit me shortly after and I distinctly remember demanding

‘more’ as soon as the realization of heaven-on-earth came. Some people say that the

effects of smoking crack lasts 10-15 minutes. For me, it was just a shortest instant of

gratification. Everything afterwards was just a great increase in energy and confidence

geared towards obtaining more of the drug.

6LSD

Lysergic acid diethylamide, LSD, LSD-25, or acid, is a semisynthetic psychedelic drug

of the tryptamine family. Arguably the most regarded of all psychedelics, it is considered

mainly as a recreational drug, an entheogen, and a tool in use to supplement various

types of exercises for transcendence including in meditation, psychonautics, and illegal

psychedelic psychotherapy whether self administered or not. LSD’s psychological

effects (colloquially called a “trip”) vary greatly from person to person, depending on

factors such as previous experiences, state of mind and environment, as well as dose

strength. They also vary from one trip to another, and even as time passes during a

single trip. An LSD trip can have long term psychoemotional effects; some users cite the

LSD experience as causing significant changes in their personality and life perspective.

Widely different effects emerge based on what Leary called set and setting; the “set”

being the general mindset of the user, and the “setting” being the physical and social

environment in which the drug’s effects are experienced.

Page 25: Prohibited Drugs

About ten years ago I bought my third trip from a guy in my home town Norwich (UK) It

was a ‘Strawberry’ and I was told it had been double dipped. The guy had a reputation

for selling good acid so I happily gave him my cash. I took the single LSD tab in the late

morning in a positive state of mind with no worries or anxieties. I began to come up on

the acid towards the lunch time. It was to be the first and last time I’d ever trip alone.

Outside it was a glorious sunny day but I was happy enough in my temporary sanctuary

to even think about going outside. The LSD rush started blazing up my spine and racing

through my guts, I felt a little uneasy with it but had enough mind to allow myself to just

go with it and wait until the rush plateaued. I was having a wonderful time, watching

floral Escher type patterns breathing over my skin. I vaguely recall deciding to go

downstairs again for some reason then the next thing I recall was awakening on the

floor of the dining room alone. The first thing I noticed was that there were blowflies

buzzing around a bowl of catfood on the kitchen floor. I remember feeling perplexed as

to why both flies had two bright neon after images in red and blue. Somehow I

navigated myself through Norwich during the busy lunchtime shoppers and begun to

head in the direction of the city’s central park ‘Chapelfield gardens’. If you could imagine

for a moment being surrounded by people in a busy place where their heads had been

removed and replaced by Squids and Octopus you might begin to accurately picture the

scene confronting me in the park. Everyone had tentacles smothering their faces and

dangling down their necks like fleshy snake beards, even the women and children were

not exempt from this disfiguration. In retrospect, it was the worst day of my entire life, It

was the closest I can imagine to having full blown psychosis.

5Ecstasy

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Ecstasy (MDMA) is a semisynthetic psychedelic entactogen of the phenethylamine

family that is much less visual with more stimulant like effects than most all other

common “trip” producing psychedelics. It is considered mainly a recreational drug that’s

often used with sex and associated with club drugs, as an entheogen, and a tool in use

to supplement various types of practices for transcendence including in meditation,

psychonautics, and illicit psychedelic psychotherapy whether self administered or not.

The primary effects of MDMA include an increased awareness of the senses, feelings of

openness, euphoria, empathy, love,happiness, heightened self-awareness, feeling of

mental clarity and an increased appreciation of music and movement. Tactile

sensations are enhanced for some users, making physical contact with others more

pleasurable. Other side effects, such as jaw clenching and elevated pulse, are common.

Sitting comfortably in our cosy living room, Café del Mar and similar CDs playing in the

background, we began at 8 pm. I swallowed one white tablet with water. Over the next

hour nothing much happened except that I found myself talking quite openly and

confidently with the others, moving very easily into interesting conversations. This was a

little unusual for me as I am normally quite shy and overly self-conscious in social

situations and it takes me a while to loosen up. The next thing I experienced was a

striking shift in my visual perception. I don’t mean a hallucination or a distortion, but a

wonderful step up in the aesthetic quality. For a moment it was like being in one of

those nostalgic TV ads where the world looks all gold and sepia. ‘Everything’s gone

amber!’ I blurted. But then I found that my vision was becoming beautifully enhanced. It

made my normal visual experience seem like cheap, fuzzy CCTV footage in

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comparison. Now I was seeing the world anew in sharp, lush, top-quality Technicolor! I

also began to move in time to the music. The music! Oh, the music! Wow! It sounded so

good, so organic! The uplifted state stayed with me and took a long time to fade — at

least a couple of weeks. It had unleashed in me a rush of joy that was still accessible

when I focused on it weeks later.

4Opium

Opium is a resinous narcotic formed from the latex released by lacerating (or “scoring”)

the immature seed pods of opium poppies (Papaver somniferum). It contains up to 16%

morphine, an opiate alkaloid, which is most frequently processed chemically to produce

heroin for the illegal drug trade. Opium has gradually been superseded by a variety of

purified, semi-synthetic, and synthetic opioids with progressively stronger effect, and by

other general anesthesia. This process began in 1817, when Friedrich Wilhelm Adam

Sertürner reported the isolation of pure morphine from opium after at least thirteen

years of research and a nearly disastrous trial on himself and three boys.

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I remember that what I smoked was much easier to smoke than marijuana. There was

no burning in my throat nor in my lungs. I took a very large, smooth hit. Smoking it like

marijuana, I held it in for about 10 or 15 seconds and let it out. It didn’t taste like

marijuana, I remember the taste being rather faint. It actually tasted and smelled like

incense. I was very surprised to suddenly find myself on the floor, in the dark, with a

crowd of people surrounding me. Apparently I had fainted and fallen to the ground, but I

hadn’t noticed. The high itself is rather hard to describe. It was much more intense than

marijuana. It felt heavy, like my whole body was being impacted… but it also felt very

clear and refined at the same time. As I made my way towards the bathroom the drug

began to kick in again. My steps kind of faded away and it felt like I was just floating

over to the bathroom. The scary thing was though, that I was having trouble seeing. My

vision was fading. Distinct figures melted into shadows and everything had a sparkle to

it. All of a sudden, everything felt really good. I couldn’t stop smiling. Everything was

profound in a very positive way, especially the music since it resonated everywhere. It

was a very abstruse experience. I imagine that I was coming down at this point, an hour

had surely past by because the band was building a climax to end their first set. I went

along with the crowd and made my way outside. The fresh air was wonderful. The cool

air seemed to wrap around my body. A slight breeze on the back of my neck sent chills

that rapidly multiplied throughout my body.

3Marijuana

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Cannabis, known as marijuana in its herbal form, is a psychoactive product of the plant

Cannabis sativa. Humans have been consuming cannabis since prehistory, although in

the 20th century there was a rise in its use for recreational, religious or spiritual, and

medicinal purposes. It is estimated that about four percent of the world’s adult

population use cannabis annually. It has psychoactive and physiological effects when

consumed, usually by smoking or ingestion. The minimum amount of THC required to

have a perceptible psychoactive effect is about 10 micrograms per kilogram of body

weight. The state of intoxication due to cannabis consumption is colloquially known as a

“high”; it is the state where mental and physical facilities are noticeably altered due to

the consumption of cannabis. Each user experiences a different high, and the nature of

it may vary upon factors such as potency, dose, chemical composition, method of

consumption and set and setting.

After taking that first hit, and not feeling the effects within a minute (holding it in for a

minute, and then waiting a little bit after exhaling) I decided, well I better hit this again,

harder if I can. I took just as large of a hit, and again held it in for longer than a minute. I

let my brother know I was really starting to feel something now and I don’t think I liked it

all. It snuck up on me really bad, and I still had no idea what to expect. I wanted him to

be quiet. Laying down was not helping, so I got back up. I went back to the garage and

tried to explain to everyone ‘I am totally fucked up. This is scary!’ I was rationalizing

everything tremendously, but it was SO intense! And it was only getting more intense

faster! I didn’t know what to expect, I was sinking within myself, accelerating downward

like into the depths of my own oblivion. I was a novice, I had no idea what to expect,

and the world had become out of synch, the talking of my brothers, his friend, all

ridiculous and extremely annoying. I became amazingly irritable and wanted them to

leave me alone or not talk in my presence. They did not understand or appreciate my

fear, and they began to get loud again. I ran upstairs to my parents bed and laid down

with some wistful hope that I could wait out this storm.

2Psilocybin Mushrooms

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Psilocybin mushrooms (also called psilocybian mushrooms) are fungi that contain the

psychedelic substances psilocybin and psilocin, and occasionally other psychoactive

tryptamines. There are multiple colloquial terms for psilocybin mushrooms, the most

common being magic mushrooms or ‘shrooms. When psilocybin is ingested, it is broken

down to produce psilocin, which is responsible for the hallucinogenic effects. The

intoxicating effects of psilocybin-containing mushrooms typically last anywhere from 3 to

7 hours depending on dosage, preparation method and personal metabolism. The

experience is typically inwardly oriented, with strong visual and auditory components.

Visions and revelations may be experienced, and the effect can range from exhilarating

to distressing. There can be also a total absence of effects, even with large doses.

I had acquired about 8 grams of dried mushrooms and some liquid psilocybin equivalent

to another 5 grams of powdered mushrooms. I swallowed the liquid first, on an empty

stomach of course. I could feel a slight sensation after about 10-15 minutes. Then I

added the powder to some water in a mug and swallowed that also. I then sat by the

camp fire, listening to the wind in the trees while I contemplated what was about to

happen. After about 45-50 minutes I heard a ‘voice’ calling to me. It wasn’t audible in

the normal sense – it came from inside my own mind! Then I was gone – out of this

world. I escaped into what I perceived to be the outer boundaries of my mind or my

imagination. This placed presented itself as a natural forest with low light. Here I met the

owner of the aforementioned voice – the Mushroom Goddess. She took the form of a

white, strapless, ankle-length dress, standing side-on from me. For about the next two

hours I dialoged with her, becoming totally bewitched by her charm, her wit, her

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intelligence, her knowledge, her unconditional affection for me and her seemingly

infinite perspective. I have come to think of her as my other-worldly girlfriend.

1PCP

PCP (Phencyclidine) is a dissociative drug formerly used as an anesthetic agent,

exhibiting hallucinogenic and neurotoxic effects. It is commonly known as Angel Dust,

but is also known as Wet, Sherm, Sherman Hemsley, Rocket Fuel, Ashy Larry,

Shermans Tank, Wack, Halk Hogan, Ozone, HannaH, Hog, Manitoba Shlimbo, and

Embalming Fluid, among other names. Although the primary psychoactive effects of the

drug only last hours, total elimination from the body is prolonged, typically extending

over weeks. PCP is consumed in a recreational manner by drug users, mainly in the

United States, where the demand is met by illegal production. It comes in both powder

and liquid forms (PCP base dissolved most often in ether), but typically it is sprayed

onto leafy material such as marijuana, mint, oregano, parsley or Ginger Leaves, and

smoked. PCP has potent effects on the nervous system altering perceptual functions

(hallucinations, delusional ideas, delirium or confused thinking), motor functions

(unsteady gait, loss of coordination, and disrupted eye movement or nystagmus), and

autonomic nervous system regulation (rapid heart rate, altered temperature regulation).

The drug has been known to alter mood states in an unpredictable fashion causing

some individuals to become detached and others to become animated.

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When I was taking the drug, I used very small amounts. The effect was incredibly

pleasant and social, so much so that me and my friends all used it instead of booze for

almost a year. I couldn’t dance for shit on the stuff (I’d get stumbly and actually fell on

my ass on the dancefloor once) but the physical sensations and mental pictures were

really fun. It is quite different from any psychedelic visuals or even Ketamine visuals…

more like rolling through old film footage. To be honest, I liked it more than my

experiences on Ketamine. PCP can make one nearly impervious to pain at high doses.

Because of this, PCP can make things seem like a good idea that otherwise wouldn’t

(leading to the stories of people leaping out of windows, etc.) I experienced very

confusing physical reality when really high on it, like being unable to discern the

difference between walking up stairs and down them, or standing still and walking. This

could lead to very unusual behaviour