Resources for Family and Friend

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INFORMATION ABOUT DRUGS

Fentanyl

Fentanyl is the leading cause of overdose deaths in california today.

The open boarder is responsible for this INFLUX OF drugs. the amount illeagal immigrants crossing is astromonical. There is not enough law enforcment to control the problem

Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid analgesic that is similar to morphine but is 50 to 100 times more potent. It is a Schedule II prescription drug, and it is typically used to treat patients with severe pain or to manage pain after surgery. It is highly addictive.

The illegally used fentanyl most often associated with recent overdoses is made in labs. This synthetic fentanyl is sold illegally as a powder, dropped onto blotter paper, put in eye droppers and nasal sprays, or made into pills that look like other prescription opioids.⁷

Some drug dealers are mixing fentanyl with other drugs, such as heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and MDMA. This is because it takes very little to produce a high with fentanyl, making it a cheaper option. This is especially risky when people taking drugs don’t realize they might contain fentanyl as a cheap but dangerous additive. They might be taking stronger opioids than their bodies are used to and can be more likely

Like heroin, morphine, and other opioid drugs, fentanyl works by binding to the body’s opioid receptors, which are found in areas of the brain that control pain and emotions.⁸ After taking opioids many times, the brain adapts to the drug, diminishing its sensitivity, making it hard to feel pleasure from anything besides the drug. When people become addicted, drug seeking, and drug use take over their lives.

Fentanyl’s effects include:

extreme happiness
drowsiness
nausea
confusion

constipation
sedation
problems breathing
unconsciousness

A person can overdose on fentanyl. An overdose occurs when a drug produces serious adverse effects and life-threatening symptoms. When people overdose on fentanyl, their breathing can slow or stop. This can decrease the amount of oxygen that reaches the brain, a condition called hypoxia. Hypoxia can lead to a coma and permanent brain damage, and even death.

Fentanyl is addictive because of its potency. A person taking prescription fentanyl as instructed by a doctor can experience dependence, which is characterized by withdrawal symptoms when the drug is stopped. A person can be dependent on a substance without being addicted, but dependence can sometimes lead to addiction.

Addiction is the most severe form of a substance use disorder (SUD). SUDs are characterized by compulsive drug seeking and drug use that can be difficult to control, despite harmful consequences. When someone is addicted to drugs, they continue to use them even though they cause health problems or issues at work, school, or home. An SUD can range from mild to severe.

METHAMPHETAMINES:

Methamphetamines are widespread. People of all ages use Meth. This drug is easily produced and inexpensive to buy

Nonprescription stimulates like amphetamine and methamphetamine, known often as “speed”, “meth” and “crank” are dangerous for several reasons: unknown origin, unsafe and untested ingredients, etc. Illicit meth abusers, however, are more likely to have been addicted to other drugs before they turned to meth. In many cases, these individuals become tolerant to other drugs and that is why they start abusing a stronger drug like meth.

What is crystal methamphetamine? How is it abused? Crystal methamphetamine is a colorless, odorless form of d-methamphetamine, a powerful and highly addictive synthetic (man-made) stimulant. Crystal methamphetamine typically resembles small fragments of glass or shiny blue, white “rocks” of various sizes. Like powdered methamphetamine (another form of d-methamphetamine), crystal methamphetamine is abused because of the long-lasting euphoric effects it produces. Crystal methamphetamine, however, typically has a higher purity level and may produce even longer lasting and more intense physiological effects than the powdered form of the drug. Crystal methamphetamine typically is smoked using glass pipes similar to pipes used to smoke crack cocaine. Crystal methamphetamine also may be injected. A user who smokes or injects the drug immediately experiences an intense sensation followed by a high that may last 12 hours or more. Crystal methamphetamine is used by individuals of all ages and is increasingly gaining in popularity as a club drug. It is difficult to determine Who uses crystal methamphetamine? how many individuals in the United States use crystal methamphetamine because most illicit drug use surveys do not distinguish between crystal methamphetamine and powdered methamphetamine. Those surveys that do draw such a distinction reveal that use of crystal methamphetamine is prevalent. According to the University of Michigan’s Monitoring the Future Survey, nearly 5 percent of high school seniors in the United States used crystal methamphetamine at least once in their lifetime and 3 percent used the drug in the past year. Crystal methamphetamine use is associated with numerous serious physical problems. The drug can cause rapid heart rate, increased blood pressure, and damage to the small blood vessels in the brain—which can lead to stroke. Chronic use of the drug can result in inflammation of the heart lining. Overdoses can cause hyperthermia (elevated body temperature), convulsions, and death. Individuals who use crystal methamphetamine also may have episodes of violent behavior, paranoia, anxiety, confusion, and insomnia. The drug can produce psychotic symptoms that persist for months or years after an individual has stopped using the drug. What are the risks? Crystal methamphetamine users who inject the drug expose themselves to additional risks, including contracting HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), hepatitis B and C, and other blood-borne viruses. Chronic users who inject methamphetamine also risk scarred or collapsed veins, infections of the heart lining and valves, abscesses, pneumonia, tuberculosis, and liver or kidney disease. The most common names for crystal methamphetamine are ice and glass.

Rx METHADONE

Probably the most commonly known drug prescribed for medication assisted treatment (MAT) is methadone.

MAT medications include, but are not limited to, acamprosate, disulfiram, buprenorphine and naltrexone.

Methadone is part of a category called opioids. It was created by German doctors during World War II. When it arrived in the United States, it was used to treat people with extreme pain. Today, doctors may use it as part of your treatment for an addiction to heroin or narcotic painkillers. It works a lot like morphine does. You can take it as a tablet, a powder, or a liquid. It must be prescribed by a doctor. People who take it illegally often inject it, which exposes them to diseases like HIV.

What Does It Do?

Methadone changes the way your brain and nervous system respond to pain so that you feel relief. Its effects are slower than those of other strong painkillers like morphine. It blocks the high you get from drugs like codeine, heroin, hydrocodone, morphine, and oxycodone.

Your doctor may prescribe methadone if you’re in a lot of pain from an injury, surgery, or chronic illness.

Uses and Side Effects

While there’s no set amount of time, you’ll take methadone to treat an addiction, experts say it should be at least a year, and maybe more than that. The doctor will carefully track your body’s response to it and adjust your treatment. When it’s time to stop taking it, he’ll help you stop slowly to prevent withdrawal.

With short-term use, you may notice:

Restlessness
Nausea or vomiting
Slow breathing
Itchy skin

Heavy sweating
Constipation
Sexual problems

Some side effects are more serious. Call the doctor if you:

Have trouble breathing or can only take shallow breaths
Feel lightheaded or faint
Get hives or a rash

Have swollen lips, tongue, throat, or face
Have chest pain or a rapid heartbeat
Have hallucinations or feel confused

If you use the drug for a long time, it might lead to lung and breathing problems. It can also change a woman’s menstrual cycle. If you get pregnant, talk to your doctor about changing your dose. It can cause complications.

Drugs than can affect methadone include:

Other narcotics
Drugs that make you sleepy or slow your breathing
Drugs that change your serotonin level

You can become dependent on it. Your brain may begin to rely on the pain relief it brings.

Even though the effects are milder than other opioids, your body can still adapt to it. This means that you’ll need to take more to feel the same relief from pain or withdrawal symptoms, which can lead to abuse and addiction. Your doctor will call this tolerance.

No two people react the same to methadone. Your doctor calculates the dose that’s right for you. Changing it can lead to dangerous side effects or an overdose.

Overdose symptoms can include:

In some cases, overdose can be fatal. It’s important to be honest with your doctor about your methadone use.

Slow breathing
Slow heart rate
Severe drowsiness
Weak muscles

Cold, clammy skin
Small pupils
Fainting

Rx BENZODIAZEPINES (Such as Valium, Xanax, Lorazepam, Klonopin, Librium, to name just a few).

Often used to treat a variety of conditions, from insomnia, anxiety, and seizure disorders. Dependency is easily developed even when taken as directed by a physician.

Attempting to stop taking these medications may put a person at serious risk of seizures or psychotic episodes. Other kinds of sedatives, tranquilizers and hypnotics should be discontinued under a doctor’s care. Campobello can provide a safe detox for these substances.

If medications are needed, there are numerous non-Benzodiazepines for the treatment of anxiety disorders. You should talk to your doctor about these.

Rx Stimulants

Prescription amphetamines include Rx drugs like:

Adderall
Dexedrine
DextroStat
Desoxyn

These might be useful in treatment for attention deficient disorders (ADHD) and narcolepsy. In and of themselves stimulated are often habit forming and can lead to a variety of health concerns.

SYNTHETIC “CLUB DRUGS like MDMA (Molly), Bath Salts, Cannabinoids (K2/Spice) are a few of the drugs that can cause serious mental health issues, rapid heart rate, vomiting, erratic and violent behavior, and suicidal thoughts.