The ASAP Family was founded over twenty years ago by Dr. David Lewis. Since then the ASAP Family has been dedicated to serving the Southern California community with quality chemical dependency treatment and mental health programs, as well as educational and preventative programs.
Hallucinogens, or psychedelics, are drugs that affect a person’s perception, sensations, thinking, self-awareness, and emotions. Hallucinogens include such drugs as LSD, mescaline, psilocybin, and DMT. Some hallucinogens come from natural sources, such as mescaline from the peyote cactus. Others, such as LSD, are synthetic or manufactured.
PCP is sometimes considered an hallucinogen because it has some of the same effects. however, it does not fit easily into any one drug category because it also can relieve pain or act as a stimulant.
What is LSD?
LSD is manufactured from lysergic acid which is found in ergot, a fungus that grows on rye and other grains.
LSD was discovered in 1938 and is one of the most potent mood-changing chemicals. It is odorless, colorless, and tasteless. LSD is old on the street in tablets, capsules, and occasionally in liquid from. It is usually taken by mouth, but sometimes injected. Often it is added to absorbent paper, such as blotter paper, and divided into small decorated squares, with each square representing one dose.
The average effective oral dose is from 30 to 50 micrograms, but the amount per dosage unit varies greatly. The effects of higher doses persist for 10 to 12 hours. Tolerance develops rapidly.
What are some other psychedelic drugs?
Psilocybin comes from certain mushrooms. It is sold in tablet or capsule from so people can swallow it. The mushrooms themselves, fresh or dried, may be eaten. DMT is another psychedelic drug that acts like LSD. Its effects begin almost immediately and lasts for 30-60 minutes.
What Are The Effects Of Psychedelics Like LSD?
The effects of psychedelics are unpredictable. It depends on the amount taken, the user’s personality, mood, and expectations, and the surrounding in which the drug is used. Usually the user feels the first effects of the drug 30-90 minutes after taking it. The physical effects include dilated pupils, higher body temperature, increased heart rate and blood pressure, sweating, loss of appetite, sleeplessness, dry mouth, and tremors.
Sensations and feelings change too. The user may feel several different emotions at once, or swing rapidly from one emotion to another. Sensations may seem to “cross over,” giving the user the feeling of “hearing” colors and “seeing” sounds. All of these changes can be frightening and can cause panic.
What Are “Bad Trips”?
Having a bad psychological reaction to LSD and similar drugs is common. The scary sensation may last a few minutes or several hours, and be mildly frightening or terrifying. The user may experience panic, confusion, suspiciousness, anxiety, feeling of helplessness, and loss of control. Sometimes taking a hallucinogen such as LSD can unmask mental or emotional problems that were previously unknown to the user.
Flashbacks, in which the person experience a drug’s effects without having to take the drug again, can occur.
What Are The Effects Of Heavy Use?
Research has shown some changes in the mental functions of heavy users of LSD, but they are not present in all cases. Heavy users sometime develop signs of organic brain damage, such as impaired memory and attention span, mental confusion, and difficulty with abstract thinking. These signs may be strong or they may be subtle. It is not yet known whether such mental changes are permanent, or if they disappear when LSD use is stopped
Snow, Flake, Blow, Crystal, Nose Candy, Rock, or Freebase, Cocaine has many names they change according to what’s in vogue. One thing that doesn’t change is the devastation caused by cocaine abuse.
WHAT IS COCAINE?
Cocaine is a drug extracted from the leaves of the coca plant (Erythroxlon coca) which grows in South America. In the late 1800’s medical science desperately searched for something to relieve the pain associated with surgery; something more than a swig of liquor. Cocaine was discovered and became widely used as an anesthetic. The virtues of this miracle drug quickly spread until there were thousands of products, including Coca-Cola, that had varying amounts of cocaine as an ingredient. No wonder people used patent medicines, they were getting high on cocaine; thousand died. The Harrison Narcotic Act was passed to prevent further abuse of cocaine.
Cocaine appears in several different forms. Cocaine hydrochloride (salt) is the most available from of the drug. It is usually sniffed or snorted into the nose, although some users inject it or smoke a form of the drug known as “freebase or crack.”
When cocaine is snorted, the effects begin within a few seconds, peak within fifteen to twenty minutes and disappear within an hour. Users describe the “high” As a pleasurable and intense feeling similar to sexual orgasm. The physical effects include dilated pupils and increase in blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate, and body temperature. The user may have a sense of well-being and feel more energetic or alert, and less hungry.
WHAT IS FREEBASE OR CRACK?
These are street names for a from of cocaine that is processed using highly volatile solvents like Ether. The solvents dissolve the hydrochloride (salt) making the drug more suitable for smoking. Smoking freebase produces a shorter and more intense “high” than most other way of using the drug; smoking is the most direct way to get the drug to the brain. Because larger amounts of the drug are getting to the brain more quickly, smoking also increases the risks associated with using the drug.
These risks include confusion, slurred speech, anxiety, and serious psychological problems. The duration of the freebase high is very short.
To prevent the withdrawal symptoms, cocaine smokers find themselves using more and more of the drug to maintain the high.
Cannabis sativa, more commonly known as “pot,” “grass” or Marijuana,” is a very common drug which is the starting point for many substance abusers. For many years there has been a lot ofmisinformation about marijuana, but recent studies have proven that is dangerous as well as addicting.
What is Marijuana?
Marijuana is a plant which is dried, then rolled into cigarettes (“joints”) or put in to a pipe, and smoked. The main mind-altering ingredient in Marijuana is THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol), but more than 400 other chemical are also in the plant. The amount of THC, which is dependent upon how the plant was grown and the type of plant, will determine the strength of the marijuana. Marijuana can also be enhanced with common grasses and/or sprayed with PCP (angel dust) making the drug even stronger. Another common process is to press a plants leave and flowers into a resin call “hashish” or “hash,” which is five to ten times stronger than crude marijuana. Hash oil may be used on marijuana or even on regular cigarettes.
What are the Effects?
There is absolutely no scientific evidence that indicates that marijuana improves hearing, eyesight, nor skin sensitivity, as some people claim. Studies of marijuana’s mental effects who that the drug can impair reflexes, reduce short-term memory, alter sense of time, and reduce ability to do things which require coordination–driving a car, for instance. Marijuana interferes with learning by impairing thinking, reading comprehension, verbal, and mathematical skills. Some immediate physical symptoms of marijuana include; a faster heartbeat and pulse rate, bloodshot eyes, and a dry mouth and throat. A common psychological reaction to marijuana is the “acute panic anxiety reaction” which is the extreme fear of losing control. The chronic user is characterized as apathetic, lacking good judgment and introverted. Habitual marijuana use may result in the inability to design or implement plans. The habitual user is marked by fragmented thinking and fanciful ideas which makes it difficult to plan realistically for the future.
Are There Long-Term Effects?
Scientists believe that marijuana can be especially harmful to the lungs–even more so than cigarettes–because users inhale the unfiltered smoke deeply and hold it in their lungs as long as possible. The exposure of lung tissue to the damaging smoke is increased, increasing also the risk of emphysema and cancer. In fact, recent studies which examined human lung tissue that had been exposed to marijuana smoke over long periods of time showed cellular changes which proved to be precancerous. These studies indicate that long term marijuana smoking can cause lung cancer and other serious lung disease.
Studies of men and women who use marijuana have shown that it may influence levels of hormones relating to sexuality. Women start having irregular menstrual cycles; booth men and women may experience a temporary loss of fertility. Marijuana, then may be particularly harmful during adolescence, a time of rapid physical and sexual development. Research studies also suggest that the use of marijuana during pregnancy may result in premature babies and in low birth weights.
Is it Addicting?
A drug is physically addicting if the user becomes tolerant of the drug over time–making it necessary to increase the dosage to experience the same effects– and if the user experiences withdrawal symptoms after discontinuing use. There is conflicting evidence on whether or not marijuana has these effects. However, there is much evidence to show that using marijuana does lead to psychological dependency and has been associated with the loss of interest in all activities except those related to drug use. The lack of drive or incentive has been termed the motivational syndrome, resulting from personality changes that the chronic user undergoes.
Most frightening of all, most hard narcotics users will admit that their drug habit started with marijuana. Research shows that the earlier people start using drugs, the most likely they are to go on to experiment with other drugs. Not everyone who smokes marijuana will turn to other drugs, but the probabilities are extremely high.
What to Look For
Marijuana is a dried, green leafy substance with stalks and seeds that is usually packaged in a plastic bag. The amounts vary, but a common amount would be about one ounce (“a lid”). Cigarette papers (“Zig-Zag” is one brand), pipes or glass water pipes (“bongs”) are used to smoke marijuana. You may find marijuana stalks and seeds thrown away, as they are often discarded because they are difficult to smoke.
What Can I Do?
Marijuana is dangerous and can lead to more and more abuse! If you or a loved one are using marijuana, get help now, At the ASAP Family Treatment Programs, Inc., we treat all forms of substance abuse and include all members of the family. We can help with intense psychological-psychiatric counseling, group and individual therapy, and support groups. Make the call and make a difference. NOW.
Write notes about numbers of tardies, absences, lost school work, inability to remember, obnoxious or belligerent attitude, change in dress or hair care, spaciness, tiredness, bronchial cough, runny eyes, stomach problems, etc. Check the names of other teachers of same student and ask them to document also.
Counseling
It is not your job to “fix” the student. You are not trained for “treatment”. The sooner you get the responsibility off your back and onto the back of the parent, the better chance the child has of getting professional help. As long as you keep the information confidential, you are an “enabler”. Young people doing drugs will lie to you about their parents and homelife and lie to the parents about you. The lies do no stop until about 3 months after they are in treatment. If you choose not to tell the parent there is a problem, you will be responsible for an overdose, etc.
Meeting With Parents
Unless you have proof of drugs the best conversation with parents should be carried on in the following manner: ” I want you to know that we care about you and your family. It is difficult raising a child in today’s society. Most families are having a problem and because we care so much we would like to discuss some things we see with your young man/lady”. Then provide the documentation and ask that they consider having the child evaluated. Parent may be in apathy or denial. It may take a while before they listen. Man single parent families feel helpless in trying to get the child to admit or enter into treatment. Let someone assist with intervention. Refer to ASAP Family Treatment of Chemical Dependency 1-800-FOR-ASAP, where they will receive information on Drug Education and Treatment available. Young counselors will work with youth to get them into treatment.If your school has not set drug policy on how to handle these areas, we urge you to encourage the district to obtain one as soon as possible for direction and protection.
Many times it is best if the meeting with the parent is also held with several teachers and the child so the child cannot lie himself out of the situation at home. Make sure the young person does not feel attacked. Make sure the child feels support, love but everyone must be firm that changes must occur or the consequences will take place.
Parents should be encouraged to get into a support group as quickly as possible so they can learn what “tough love” is and receive support from the group while they are in the tough love stage.
Ex-User Returning to the Classroom
In most cases they will fail (unless someone understands) because they are learning-disabled with comprehension problems, short term memory loss (inability to retain hard facts such as math), low self esteem because of their guilt, problems at home with adjustment and PEER PRESSURE to get back into the scene. REMEMBER that the “perfect straight kid” is not willing to be a friend. THIS CHILD IS LONELY.
Pot use is difficult to detect. But since virtually all poly-drug use (the use of several drugs at the same time) starts with chronic pot use, parents should be aware of the following signs of the marijuana-using youngster. However, experts point out kids may have only some symptoms, and some pot-using kids have none.
The most obvious sign is finding a pot pipe, marijuana rolling papers, a cellophane “baggy” of marijuana and/or drug paraphernalia (“bongs” etc.) for using or hiding pot. Don’t be reassured by your kid’s insistence that “Johnny must have left it here.” (Unfortunately, a classic symptom of the drug-abusing youngster is lying.)
Red eyes. Many youngsters take care of this with eye drops — which, in themselves, are a suspicious sign.
A distorted time sense. If you suspect your child is stoned, ask him to click his fingers when a minute is up. They’re likely to do this after 10 to 20 seconds. (Stoned drivers often think they’re driving slowly, carefully, when they may be speeding.)
A drop in school performance. Not necessarily from A’s to D’s, but from A’s and B’s to C’s for example.
Caring less about everything; school, sports, other extracurricular activities, hobbies the child used to enjoy.
A change from active, normally competitive interest to passivity and withdrawal.
General loss of appetite, yet craving for sweets (“the munchies”).
Estrangement from the family, inexplicable mood changes, irritability, hostility. Strongly inappropriate overreaction to mild criticism.
Impairment of short-term memory, judgment, capacity to reason and to think clearly.
A chronic cough, chest pains, depression, feeling of loneliness.
Feelings of paranoia. Fatigue and loss of vitality. “Flattened” speech and expression. Sleep disturbances. Menstrual irregularities.
Strange phone calls, secretiveness, vagueness about social activities. Friends who refuse to identify themselves or hang up when you answer the phone.
Less attention paid to cleanliness of body, hair, clothes.
Disappearance of money or items of value from the home.
Don’t spoil me. I know quite well that I ought not to have all I ask for. I’m only testing you.
Don’t be afraid to be firm with me. I prefer it. It lets me know where I stand.
Don’t use force with me. It teaches me that power is all that counts. I will respond more readily to being led.
Don’t be inconsistent. That confuses me and makes me try harder to getaway with everything I can.
Don’t make promises; you may not be able to keep them. That will discourage my trust in you. Don’t be too upset when I say “I hate you”. I don’t mean it, but I want you to feel sorry for what you have done to me.
Don’t make me feel smaller than I am. I will make up for it by behaving like a “big shot”. Don’t do things for me that I can do for myself. It makes me feel like a baby, and I may continue to put you in my service.
Don’t let my “bad habits” get me a lot of your attention. It only encourages me to continue them.
Don’t correct me in front of people. I’ll take much more notice if you talk quietly with me in private.
Don’t try to discuss my behavior in the heat of a conflict. For some reason my hearing is not very good at this time and my cooperation is even worse. It is all right to take the action required, but let’s not talk about it until later.
Don’t try to preach to me. You’d be surprised how well I know that’s right and wrong. Don’t make me feel that my mistakes are sins. I have to learn to make mistakes without feeling that I am no good.
Don’t nag. If you do, I shall have to protect myself by appearing deaf.
Don’t demand explanations for my wrong behavior. I really don’t know why I did it.
Don’t tax my honesty too much. I am easily frightened into telling lies.
Don’t protect me from consequences. I need to learn from experience.
Don’t take too much notice of my small ailments. I may learn to enjoy poor health if it get me much attention.
Don’t answer “SILLY” or meaningless questions. I just want you to keep busy with me.
Don’t ever suggest that you are perfect or infallible. It gives me too much to live up to.
Don’t worry about the little amount of time we spend together. It is HOW we spend it that counts.
Don’t let my fears arouse your anxiety. Then I will become more afraid. Show me courage.
Don’t forget that I can’t thrive without lots of understanding and encouragement, but I don’t need to tell you that, do I?
REMEMBER THAT I LEARN MORE FROM A MODEL THAN A CRITIC!!!
The illegal drug industry ranks in size with Mobil Oil as our second largest business — only Exxon is larger.
Cocaine is now the leading cash flow drug a 26-32 billion a year.
The U.S. Spends almost as much money on marijuana — 18-26 billion a year — as its spends on import oil. Marijuana is California’s largest cash crop.
The drug paraphernalia business was a 3 billion a year industry in 1979.
This year, among American high school seniors, one in 11 is a daily user of marijuana.
Today’s cultivated marijuana has an average potency of 4% THC — the major psychoactive ingredient — as compared to the marijuana of the 60′s which had an average potency of .25% THC. Today’s marijuana is 10 to 15 times stronger than that of the 60′s.
More Useful Statistics
THC remains in the fatty tissues of body cells, especially in the brain and the reproductive organs. Even a week after marijuana joint is smoked, 30-50% of the THC is still in the body in active form. It takes 3 to 6 weeks to eliminate all THC from the body. More frequent use means that the user is never drug-free, in fact, there is a gradual accumulation of the drug in the fatty tissues of the body.
There are over 7,000 published scientific and medical studies documenting the damage that marijuana does to the various systems of the body. Not one study give marijuana a clean bill of health.
Marijuana is a complex material containing 421 chemicals, 60 of which are found only in marijuana.
Five typical marijuana cigarettes have the same cancer-causing capability as 112 tobacco cigarettes. Marijuana tar has more carcinogens than tobacco tar, and the smoke is inhaled more deeply, further aggravating the lungs and the respiratory system.
Reaction time for the motor skills, such as driving, is reduced by 41% after smoking one joint and by 63% after smoking 2 joints.
Marijuana use reduces or alters the fundamental cellular defense against disease. White blood cell count is reduced 41% from normal levels with regular use of the drug.
THC has been found to interfere with the transmission of brain messages; EEG’s of regular users exhibit abnormal brain wave patterns.
DRUGS AND ALCOHOL IN THE WORKPLACE
10% of all workers have an alcohol problem
6% of all workers have a drug problem
5,000 work related fatalities yearly are due to drugs and alcohol
1 million work related serious injuries are due to drugs and alcohol yearly
Cost to industries due to alcohol abuse is $77 billion per year
Cost to industries due to drug abuse is $27 billion per year
Lost productivity due to drugs and alcohol is $44 billion per year
Alcohol and Drug Abusers:
are late 3 times more than other employees
are 2 1/2 times more likely to leave work early, take time oft, be absent
use 3 times more sick days
have 4 times as many on the job accidents
use 8 times as many hospital days
Assisting an employee who has a drug problem is more cost effective than hiring a new employee. The firing/hiring process is expensive and there is no guarantee that the new employee will not suffer a similar problem.
60% of all employees can be successfully rehabilitated if they seek treatment. This reduces the absentee rate from 8% down to 3%.
Chemical dependency treatment and mental health programs: ASAP Family