Illegal Synthetic Drugs
Bath Salts
"Bath Salts"
“Bath Salts” is the name used for a group of substances that contain amphetamine-type properties (such as either methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) or mephedrone) in addition to substances that contain stimulant-type properties (such as pyrovalerone and methylone) and/or high levels of caffeine. These mixtures are commonly referred to as “bath salts” because they often look like sugar or regular bath salts; however, they definitely are not the common bath salts that are sold at the local aromatherapy or beauty product store. Because bath salts are a mixture of several drugs, there’s no way to know exactly what is in them – which can make them very dangerous, and even lethal in some cases. Users typically swallow (tablets), snort, smoke or inject bath salts, and experience effects similar to the kind of high users get using amphetamines.
Name |
Effects |
How to Tell if Someone has been Using |
“Bath Salts”
Street Names: Bath powder, drone, MCAT, vanilla sky, blue magic
Forms: Crystalline powder, capsules, tablets
Type: Stimulant and/or hallucinogen |
Shortness of breath, blurry vision, tremors, hyperthermia, excitement, extreme agitation, seizures, convulsions, hallucinations, psychosis, Rapid heartbeat, High blood pressure. |
- Unusual body odour
- Fever
- Profuse sweating
- Skin rashes/skin infections
- Irritation/bleeding of the nose, mouth or throat
- Muscle twitching
|
Sources: Healthy Canadians – “Bath Salts”
Ecstasy
Ecstasy
Known as the “rave drug,” ecstasy is a man-made drug that is produced in illegal labs and has similar components to amphetamines. MDMA is the abbreviation of its scientific name, and refers to the pure form of the drug. Ecstasy however, is usually MDMA that is cut (mixed) with other substances such as caffeine, meth, LSD and even soap or detergent. Someone who buys ecstasy pills never knows what they are really buying or ingesting. Though it can be found in the form of powder and capsules, ecstasy is usually a small tablet. These tablets may have different logos and colours.
Name |
How it Works |
Effects |
How to Tell if Someone has been Using |
Ecstasy
Street Names: E, XTC, X, Pill, Peanut, Ecstasy, Dove, Love Drug, M&M
Forms: Tablets with various logos and colours
Type: Stimulant and/or hallucinogen |
It is absorbed into the bloodstream and travels to the brain, where it causes the release several neurotransmitters (serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine) which produce the effects felt by the user. The effects of a single dose may last for three to six hours. |
Euphoria, increased alertness, teeth grinding and jaw pain, anxiety, nausea and vomiting, dehydration, heightening of emotions and sensory perceptions, loss of inhibitions, hallucinations, increased blood pressure and heart rate. |
- Muscle tension
- Involuntary teeth chattering
- Rapid blinking of eyes
- Dilated pupils
- Hyperthermia
- Confusion
|
Sources: Healthy Canadians – Ecstasy, RCMP Drug Identification Chart
GHB and Rohypnol
GHB and Rohypnol
Although, the media often refers to GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyrate) and rhohypnol as “date-rape” drugs, they are also used for recreational purposes.
GHB is a natural substance found in the human body in a very small quantity; however, GHB sold on the street is made in illegal laboratories and acts as a depressant on the central nervous system. It is taken orally, normally mixed in with beverages, most often alcohol. The effects can be felt as soon as 10 to 20 minutes after ingesting it and can last up to 4 hours.
Rohypnol is a very strong sedative that is illegal in North America, but used in some European countries to treat insomnia and anxiety.
Name |
How it Works |
Effects |
How to Tell if Someone has been Using |
GHB
Street Names: GH, Juice, Liquid Ecstasy, Date Rape Drug
Forms: Colourless, odorless liquid, capsule or powder
Type: Depressant
Rohypnol
Street Names:
Roofies, Rope, The forget pill
Forms: Tablet, powder
Type: Sedative
|
GHB enters your blood, travels to your brain and acts as a depressor. It causes your muscles to relax and in high doses, it can cause amnesia and you may lose your ability to move.
Rohypnol travels through the bloodstream and affects the brain by relaxing the muscles, causing amnesia and drowsiness. |
Dizziness, memory loss, confusion, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of consciousness, decreased heart rate |
- Drowsiness
- Unconsciousness (in and out)
- Slow movements
- Lowered body temperature
|
Sources: Healthy Canadians – GHB, Alberta Health Services - Rohypnol, RCMP Drug Identification Chart
Ketamine
Ketamine
Ketamine is part of the hallucinogen drug family, which means it affects people’s perception of reality. The drug creates a sense of detachment and dissociation as if one’s mind was separate from their body. While Ketamine is mostly used for recreational purposes, it has also been related to drug-induced sexual assault cases.
Name |
How it Works |
Effects |
How to Tell if Someone has been Using |
Ketamine
Street Names: Special K, Vitamin K, Ket, Ketty
Forms: Liquid, powder, tablets
Type: Hallucinogen |
Ketamine travels through the bloodstream to the brain. There, it affects the neurotransmitter (brain chemical) glutamate, which impairs memory, learning, the perception of pain and responses to the environment. |
Drunken/dizzy feeling, confusion, memory loss, loss of coordination, inability to speak, decreased response to pain, confusion, nausea and vomiting.
Some people experience “near death” or “out-of-body” sensations, and this is referred to as “going through the k-hole”. |
- Insensitivity to pain
- Difficulty reasoning
- Coordination problems
- Slurred speech
|
Sources: Healthy Canadians - Ketamine, RCMP Drug Identification Chart
LSD and PCP
LSD and PCP
LSD and PCP - PCP (Phencyclidine) and LSD (Lysergic acid diethylamide) are both hallucinogen drugs. PCP is 100% made of chemical substances and is only produced in drug laboratories, while LSD is a semi-synthetic drug, as it derives from fungus (Healthy Canadians).
Name |
How it Works |
Effects |
How to Tell if Someone has been Using |
LSD (Acid)
Street Names: Acid, Acid Cap, Blotter, Micro, Microdots, Bull’s Eye
Forms: Tablets, blotting paper
Type: Hallucinogen |
LSD enters all tissues of the body including the brain. The effects of LSD are felt gradually within 30-60 minutes, peak within 2 to 4 hours and gradually diminish within 10-12 hours. |
Effects vary individually. They can range from a sense of joy/well-being to fear, panic aggression and severe anxiety. One can also experience “pseudo-hallucinations” (user is aware the hallucination is not real). |
- Excitable
- Wild-eyed
- Dilated pupils
- Hallucinations
|
PCP
Street Names: Horse, Angel Dust, TH, Peace Pill, Crazy Eddie, Killer Weed (when mixed with pot), Space Base (when mixed with crack)
Forms: Powder, tablets
Type: Hallucinogen |
PCP travels through the bloodstream to the brain, where it affects the neurotransmitters (brain chemicals) glutamate and dopamine. Glutamate affects memory, learning, and the perception of pain. |
Drowsiness, impaired coordination, blurred vision, distortion of time/space, detachment from the environment and reality and increased heart |
- Increased physical strength
- Increased breathing rates
- Insensitive to pain
- Completely confused
- Wild-eyed
|
Sources: Healthy Canadians – LSD, Healthy Canadians – PCP, RCMP Drug Identification Chart
Meth
Meth
Methamphetamines are a type of stimulant, which means it increases a user's energy level. There are legal and illegal types of amphetamines. An example of a legal methamphetamine is Ritalin, while Meth is an illegal type of methamphetamine (Parlons Drogue).
Name |
How it Works |
Effects |
How to Tell if Someone has been Using |
Meth (Methamphetamine)
Street Names: Crystal Meth, Ice, Crank, Speed, Chalk, Pep Pill
Forms: Powder, crystals, tablets
Type: Stimulant |
It travels to the brain through the bloodstream. Once in the brain, it causes the release of a chemical that is responsible for “pleasure”, which explains the “high” created by the drug. |
Euphoria, increased alertness of mind, excessively talkative, decreased appetite, dry mouth, teeth grinding, muscle shaking, paranoia, anxiety, hallucinations, difficulty sleeping and increased heart rate. |
- Increased breathing rate
- Dry mouth
- Dilated pupils
- Blurred vision
- Quickened vital signs
- Restlessness
- Tremors
- “Tweaking”
|
Sources:Healthy Canadians – Methamphetamine, RCMP Drug Identification Chart
"Spice"
"Spice"
“Spice” (also known as synthetic cannabinoids) does not contain any real marijuana. It refers to a mix of herbs sprayed with man-made compounds that mimic the effects of marijuana. Different mixes of "spice" exist, and the exact ingredients of these blends vary and are not indicated on the product wrapping.
Name |
Effects |
How to Tell if Someone has been Using |
“Spice”
Street Names: Synthetic Marijuana, Hayze Spice, Herb Dream, Herbal Potpourri, Krypto Buds, Cloud 9
Forms: mix of herbs sprayed with man-made compounds that mimic the effects of marijuana
Type: Hallucinogen |
Nausea and vomiting, dizziness, extreme anxiety, agitation and panic attacks, euphoria, unrealistic fears, altered sense of time and space, confusion, insomnia, short-term memory loss, increased heart rate convulsions, seizures, suicide. |
- Shortness of breath
- High blood pressure
- Chest pain
- Dry mouth
|
Sources:Healthy Canadians – “Spice”, RCMP Drug Identification Chart