Current Drug Trends in Carroll CountySubstance Abuse Prevention Office

Bureau of Prevention, Wellness and RecoveryCarroll County Health Department

Carol Mullen410-876-4802

carol.mullen@maryland.gov

Why Do People Take Drugs?To Feel Good

Most abused drugs produce intense feelings of pleasure. This initial sensation of euphoria is followed by other effects, which differ with the type of drug used.

To Feel BetterSome people who suffer from social anxiety, stress-related disorders, and depression begin abusing drugs in an attempt to lessen feelings of distress.

To Do BetterThe increasing pressure that some individuals feel to chemically enhance or improve their athletic or cognitive performance can play a role in initial experimentation and continued drug use.

Curiosity and ‘Because Others are Doing It’

Adolescents are particularly vulnerable because of the strong influence of peer pressure

www.drugabuse.gov

Warning Signs of Possible Substance Use

• Loss of interest in activities • Disrespect for family values• Withdrawal from responsibilities• Increase/decrease in appetite• Increase/decrease in sleep• Disappearance of money/valuables• Always needing money • Coming home late/missing curfew• Constant excuses for behavior• Spending too much time alone• Lying, cheating stealing• Missing school/work

• Sleeping or nodding off• Defiant of authority/violent outbursts• Reduced memory/attention span• Changes in friends, peer group• Glassy or red eyes• Mood swings• Smell of alcohol or marijuana on breath or

body/slurred speech/pinpoint pupils• Overreacts to criticism: acts rebellious• Unhappy or depressed• Sloppy appearance/poor self images• No concerns about futures/lack of motivation

...chronic, relapsing brain disease characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences.

www.drugabuse.govwww.drugabuse.gov

Overdose Data

State

2012 799

2013 858

2014 1039

Carroll County

2012 29

2013 24

2014 38

Total Number of Drug and Alcohol Related Deaths

Source: Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

Alcohol Youth who begin drinking before age 15 are five times more likely to develop an abuse or dependence later in life than those who begin at or after age 21

Alcohol is the drug of choice among America’s adolescents, used by more young people than tobacco or illicit drugs.http://www.cdc.gov

K2 Spice-Synthetic Drug

K2 Spice-Synthetic Drug• A blend of herbs and plant material sprayed with one or

more synthetic chemicals• When smoked, the synthetic chemicals impair judgment and

may scramble the brain – permanently• Sold in small packets and labeled ‘herbal incense’ or

‘potpourri’ and generally marked ‘Not for Human Consumption’

• Common brands: Down 2 earth, Scooby Snax, Climaxxx, Purple Chronic, Purple Haze, Visionary Quest, Space Cadet, Flight Risk, Black Rooster, Kush, Blue Dream, Bizarro

K2 Spice-Synthetic DrugTests show that even the same brand of synthetic

marijuana may have different chemicals – in different amounts – at different times.

Synthetic marijuana is very powerful and can be 100 times more potent than THC in marijuana, so even a small increase in dose can have much more powerful side effects.

Since these are unregulated drugs, there is no way to know how big a dose you are getting.

Prescription Pain Medications-Opioids• Opioids are prescription

medications to reduce pain.• Dependence and addiction are

potential risks when taking prescription opioids

Prescription OpioidsCommonly abused prescription narcotics

• Percocet, OxyContin, Oxycodone, Vicodin, Hydrocodone, Codeine, Demerol, Tramadol, Dilaudid

Short-term Effects• Sleepiness• Confusion• Nausea• Constipation• Breathing Problems

Prescription Drug Misuse/Abuse• Taking a drug without a prescription

• Sharing Medications61% of Carroll County Residents reported they know someone who has misused prescription opioids• Taking in a way other than prescribed

• Higher dose• Crushing/snorting• Parachuting

• Taking for a reason other than prescribed: to get high88% believe that it is somewhat or very easy to get Rx opioids from friends or family to get high

Maryland Public Opinion Survey

Data

State

2012 311

2013 316

2014 330

Carroll County

2012 17

2013 12

2014 15

Number of Prescription Opioid-Related Deaths

Source: Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

Prescription Opioid Users Who Switch to Heroin

Build a tolerance to prescription opioids and seek a better high

Heroin is more available than prescription opioids as law enforcement agencies have worked to reduce access to non-medical use of prescription drugs

Heroin is cheaper

Prescription opioids act on the same receptors as heroin and can be highly addictive

HeroinExtremely Addictive opioid processed from morphine, which naturally occurs in poppy plants• Street Names

• Boy, Dope, Big H, Black Tar, Hell Dust, Smack, Thunder, China White• Method of Use

• Injected, smoked, or snorted• High purity heroin is usually snorted or smoked

• May be more appealing to new users – eliminates stigma associated with needle use

• Impure heroin dissolved and injected• Injection is most reported method in treatment

Effects • Abusers report feeling a ‘rush’• Pain suppression• Warm flushing of the skin• Pinpoint (constricted) pupils• Dry mouth• Heavy feeling in the extremities• Nausea, vomiting, severe itching• Constipation• Drowsiness, clouded mental function, nodding off• Slowed heart rate, slowed respiration, at times life-threatening

Data

State

2012 392

2013 464

2014 578

Carroll County

2012 13

2013 14

2014 16

Number of Heroin-Related Deaths

*Source: Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

Heroin-Fentanyl MixHeroin laced with fentanyl, a potent painkillerFentanyl is a synthetic opioid painkillerCan be medical grade (patches used for cancer patients), or ‘cooked’ in

an illicit labKilling users, sometimes within minutesAccording to Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene 58

individuals from Maryland died in 2013 from overdoses from the heroin-fentanyl mixture, 4 deaths in 2014-Carroll County.

Fentanyl is 80 times more powerful than morphine and hundreds of times more potent than heroin (CDC)

Users can mistake for regular heroin

Opioid Withdrawal Signs

• Restlessness• Muscle and bone pain• Insomnia• Diarrhea/Abdominal cramps• Vomiting• Cold flashes/chills

• Altered feeling of pain• Involuntary leg movement• Intense craving for the drug• Body shakes• Slow and shallow breathing• Seek Professional help to Detox

When someone is addicted to opioids and stops using it, he/she may experience

Opioid OverdoseWhat to look for:• Difficult breathing-Death Rattle

• Labored exhale that may sound like snoring

• Clammy Skin• Lips, finger or face turning

blue• Vomiting• Limp body-not responsive

What to do:• Call 911• Stay with the person• Give Naloxone (Narcan)