The ABC of Drugs

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Here is a brief, factual tour of commonly used drugs – their active ingredients as well as methods of use, risks, prevalence (frequency of use), origin, and history.

and sleep-inducing purposes; their consumed cannabis at least once in Origins and history: the coca bush international non-proprietary names their lives. 6.8 percent of the same age has been cultivated in South America Drugs – ABCs often end in -azepam: Diazepam, group have consumed it within the for a good 5,000 years. Its leaves may Lorazepam and Oxazepam. Trade names past twelve months – or one out of three only have been used for ritual activities include Valium, Librium, Rohypnol, people have experimented with cannabis. initially. When impoverishment set in with Tavor, and Praxiten. Risks: restricted physical and mental the Spanish conquest, large sections Form of consumption: as tablets capacity, coupled with self-overestimation; of the population used the plant to stave or injected intraveneously. inability to drive. If consumed heavily off hunger and cold, and to increase Effect: anxiolytic, relaxing, soothing. and regularly: psychological dependency, their productivity. The active ingredient Risks: memory disorders, impaired passivity. was isolated around 1860 and used reactions, and perception – consequently: Origins and history: its home is initially as a local anesthetic and anti- Alcohol driving impairment; addictive if taken probably the Middle East and Central depressant. Cocaine epidemic Active ingredient: ethyl alcohol long-term without medical supervision. Asia. Used in folk medicine (to among artists and intellectuals in (ethanol) Origins and history: traces of benzodia reduce the pain of neuralgia, migraine, the 1920s; renaissance in the Form of consumption: drunk in various zepines occur in human and animal and seizure disorders), but also in 1970s and since the early 1990s as forms and mixtures with very diverse blood as well as certain plants. They were all cultural circles as an intoxicant. First a ‘performance drug’. alcohol contents between 2 percent (fer- discovered more or less by accident mentioned in 2700 BC in a Chinese Synonyms: coke, snow, blow; crack mented mare’s milk, ‘kumis’) and in the USA in 1957. The first medicine book of medicines. Its was used as a and rocks (for crack). 95 percent (corn schnapps, ‘Everclear’). in this group came onto the market in remedy with euphorizing effect that Descent: “If you wanna get down, down Effect: white paper 'The real truth about 1960 under the name Librium, and Valium began in 19th century Europe. on the ground, Cocaine” – JJ Cale (1976). drugs and their effects on the body', page 5. followed in 1963. It was not until the Synonyms: dope, ganja, bud, grass, Prevalence: in the countries of the 1980s that their addictive potential was weed, hash, pot, piece, shit, spliff. Crack cocaine hydrochloride European Union, consumption among recognized; a study of this group of Queen of Pot: physicians prescribed mixed with alkalis  Cocaine people over 15 is 12.5 liters of pure substances in 2008 nevertheless foretold cannabis for Queen Victoria (1819–1901) is smoked. First appeared in 1983/84 alcohol annually – which is twice as high that “they will still be prescribed for to treat period pains. on the West Coast of the USA. as the global average. many years to come.” Risks: the EU and WHO list more Synonyms: tranks, benzos, vals; rosh Cocaine crystal-like ‘Designer Drugs’ than 40 recognized alcohol related and roofies for rohypnol. powder made from the leaves of Amphetamines (‘speed’) and diseases, alcohol also “plays a role in Sleepless: “My wife doesn’t let me take the coca bush Methamphetamine (‘ecstasy’) numerous other health problems, Valium,” said benzodiazepine’s inventor Leo Active ingredient: Cocaine Active ingredients: these structurally such as injuries and fatalities on the Sternbach to The New Yorker. Form of consumption: sniffed, similar and synthetically produced roads.” In the countries of the EU, intraveneously injected, and smoked designer drugs belong to the substance 10.8 percent of all deaths in 2004 in the Cannabis genus of (crack). category of beta-phenylalkylamines age group between 15 and 64 were the hemp plant Effect: stimulates the central nervous (beta-phenethylamines). a result of alcohol consumption. Another Active ingredient: system strongly by suppressing the Form of consumption: usually 3.3 percent of this age group died Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) re-uptake of noradrenaline, dopamine, and swallowed, more seldom sniffed, taken as the result of other people’s alcohol Form of consumption: usually serotonin in synaptic vesicles. Immedi- intraveneously, or even smoked consumption. smoked, mixed with tobacco in cigarettes, ately effective, euphorigenic, stress-redu (methamphetamine). Origins and history: Since prehistoric as blunts (larger) or joints (smaller), cing. Loss of inhibition coupled with Effect: as an analeptic it provides a lift times people have crafted drinks containing A drug’s effect or with special hashish pipes. The effect increased energy and creativity. and produces wakefulness, vitality, and the potable alcohol, ETHANOL. and risk cannot occurs here almost immediately, Prevalence: around 4.6 percent of all self-confidence; methamphetamines often be seen from Synonyms: booze, hooch, firewater. the outside delayed when cannabis drinks, yogurt, Europeans aged between 15 and 64 have a much stronger effect than Fortification: around 3100 BC, workers and baked cookies are consumed. have consumed cocaine at least once amphetamines. on the pyramids were given five liters Effect: accentuates existing positive in their lives. 1.2 percent of the same Prevalence, amphetamines: of beer daily as a supplement to their or negative moods; makes consumers age group have consumed cocaine during around 3.8 percent of all Europeans diet and to keep their mood up. considerably more upbeat. Feelings the past twelve months – or one out aged between 15 and 64 have consumed of relaxation, inner peace and equilibrium; of four people have experimented with amphetamines at least once in their Benzodiazepines often reduced drive. Cheerfulness cocaine. lives. 0.6 percent of the same age group Active ingredient: a group of com- and heightened social communicative- Risks: rapid psychological dependency, consumed amphetamines in the last ck sto

pounds whose basic constituents are 1,4- in k ness are also observed. all the way to ‘cocaine psychosis’; twelve months – or one out of six people h t or 1,5-benzodiazepines. They were Prevalence: almost 25 percent of all impurities in filler substances increase have experimented with amphetamines. oto: h

developed as tranquilizers for calming p Europeans aged between 15 and 64 have the risk of side-effects. Prevalence, ecstasy: around

3.4 percent of all Europeans aged Nobel plea: “The service is tight … today 2 to 4 percent among young adults named ‘methadone’ in the USA in 1947. pipes back home with them. It found its between 15 and 64 have consumed I am writing primarily about Pervitin. … (15–34 years) in selected EU countries. Used in the USA from the late 1940s way to China via contemporary Indonesia ecstasy at least once in their lives. Yours, Hein,” telegraphed Nobel Prize for Risks: collapse if overdosed, psychoses onwards to compensate for the withdrawal in the 17th century. In Europe, opium 0.6 percent of the same age group Literature winner (in 1972) Heinrich if consumed regularly, lasting state of fear symptoms suffered by patients addicted was used as an analgesic mainly from the consumed ecstasy in the last twelve Böll from Poland on November 9, 1939 even after small doses – given genetic to heroin; in Germany from 1950 onwards 18th century onwards. Morphine, the months – or one out of six people have to his parents in Cologne. disposition. (as ‘Polamidon’). First experimental most important main alkaloid, was isolated experimented with ecstasy. Origins and history: developed as methadone program in Germany between from opium in 1804; heroin, which has Risks: overdose and side-effects, Diazepam  Benzodiazepines a fast-acting anesthetic from 1962 in the 1973 and 1975 in Hanover. Substitution an even greater potential for addiction, was especially in the case of impure and Indispensable: the WHO includes it in USA, where it was approved in 1970 programs using methadone were esta- synthesized in 1898. During the early intraveneously administered drugs; its list of ‘Essential Medicines’ that belong then used immediately, including in the blished in Germany from around 1990 decades of the 20th century the medicinal hallucinations, psychological dependency, to the minimum equipment for basic Vietnam War; non-medical consump- onwards following positive research work use of opioids, especially heroin, shifted collapse, dehydration. medical care. tion initially among ‘psychonauts’, today there. to misuse as an illegal drug (pre)produced Origins and history: the colloquial as a ‘club drug’ at raves, etc. Synonyms: dolly, doll, red rock. mainly in the ‘Golden Triangle’ of Thai- expressions ‘designer drug’ and, in Ecstasy  'Designer Drugs' Synonyms: Special K, Vitamin K, jet, Curative: the idea that methadone land, Laos, and Myanmar, as well as Germany, ‘Weckamine’ (which means super acid, Kit Kat, bump. (Amidon) entered the market as Afghanistan. In Germany opioids are the ‘wake-amines’) describe on the one hand Hashish resin from the Paradise: “If captains of industry, ‘Adolphine’ prior to 1945 proved to be primary drug involved in half of all drug the intentional synthesis of these sub- blossoms of the female hemp plant leaders of nations could partake an urban legend spread in New York in therapy inquiries. stances in the laboratory, and on the other Active ingredient: tetrahydrocanna- of this love medicine the whole planet the 1970s to discredit methadone Piercing damage: “I’ve seen the hand their effect. In 1887 the Romanian binol (THC), levels between five and might be converted into the Garden substitution therapy by associating it needle / And the damage done” – chemist Lazâr Edeleanu synthesized 20 percent depending on origin. Of Eden.” Psychonaut Marcia Moore in with the Nazi regime. Neil Young singing about the demise of amphetamine in Berlin, which was used  Cannabis Journeys Into the Bright World (1978). a heroin-addicted guitarist on the from 1933 onwards as Benzedrine to Pothead in Berlin: Opioids (active in drugs album Harvest (1972). treat colds. But its stimulant side-effects “From now on a joint must always Marijuana dried, shredded such as morphine, opium, heroin, soon came to the fore – in environments be burning on German soil!” declared pieces of the female hemp plant codeine, etc.) Opium such as the military, which since World actor and cabaret artist Wolfgang Active ingredient: tetrahydrocannabinol Active ingredients: naturally Active ingredient: morphine  Opioids War II used amphetamines to increase per- Neuss (1983). (THC), levels between 1 and 7 percent occurring or synthesized substances By the book: “Whoever wishes to formance, and also in sport. A new depending on origin; Dutch greenhouse which stimulate what are known as smoke opium must purchase a permit dimension of misuse began in the 1960s Heroin  Opioids strains (skunk, sinsemilla, Nederwiet) the opioid or μ-receptors in the brain personally from the responsible Opium with injected amphetamines, which Synonyms: H, stuff, junk, mud, tar, up to 22 percent. and spinal chord. Officer. The fee for this permit shall be continues to this day; the ‘party drug’ skag, brown sugar, smack, China white,  Cannabis Form of consumption: smoked, one dollar a month, and must be paid is now consumed in various forms. chiva, dragon. Beat poetry: “I could do these things eaten, sniffed, or intraveneously injected. quarterly in advance” – Paragraph 5 of The development of methamphetamines À la mode: in 1986 The Sunday Times endlessly on grass,” wrote Jack Kerouac Effect: induces states ranging from the ‘Ordinance on Opium’ issued occurred in parallel: synthesized for coined the term ‘Heroin Chic’ to describe to his friend Allen Ginsberg. exuberant happiness (heroin) to fantasies by Imperial Governor Meyer-Waldeck the first time in 1893 in Japan, they became heroin consumer culture, especially and (erotic) hallucinations. in Tsingtao, 1912. commonplace in almost every army very thin, pale models. Methadone Prevalence: the number of ‘problematic in the Second World War thanks to their Active ingredient: synthetic  Opioids opioid consumers’ in Europe is estimated Speedball blend of cocaine stimulant effects – in Germany under Ketamines Form of consumption: in powder or at 1.4 million. Three percent of all drug- with morphine or heroin the name Pervitin, which was patented in Active ingredient: a so-called tablet form, as drops or syrup; taken orally induced deaths among Europeans aged Pushing the deadline: the physician 1937. As with MDMA (ecstasy), which ‘dissociative anesthetic’ closely related to when used legally as part of substitution between 15 and 30 are connected Lord Dawson of Penn injected a was first synthesized in 1912, these uses hallucinogens (phencyclidine derivative). therapy for heroin addicts; illegal usage both to opioids. fatally ill British King George V with a eclipsed potential medical applications Form of consumption: drunk in oral and intravenous. Risks: heavy dependency, death if deadly mixture of cocaine and mor- in the treatment of colds and the stimula- a watery solution or sniffed as a Effect: similar to other opioids, but overdosed, severe withdrawal symptoms phine on January 20, 1936 at around tion of appetite. Used for doping, powder (Ketanest, Ketaset, Ketalar); weaker and more delayed. (‘turkey’) – especially after heroin. five minutes to midnight, “so that ecstasy in particular has become the more rarely intraveneously injected. Prevalence: lifetime prevalence Origins and history: opioids emerged in the announcement of the King’s death unhappy star of the music scene Effect: produces a kind of cataleptic estimated at 0.2 percent. what is now Turkey more than 8,000 years could be published in the morning Impressum since the mid-1960s. state in which the consumer sees himself Risks: dependency, death following ago as opium, which was garnered edition of the newspapers…” Drägerwerk AG & Co. KGaA Synonyms, amphetamines: speed, as disconnected from his surroundings and massive overdose. from the opium poppy. Juice obtained from Moislinger Allee 53–55 pep, white, crank, uppers. body (‘K Land’), and from time (‘K Hole’). Origins and history: first synthesized scored, unripe poppy seed capsules was Valium  Benzodiazepines 23558 Lübeck, Deutschland Synonyms, methamphetamines: Bizarre, sometimes terrifying dreams, in 1939 by I.G. Farben as ‘Va 10820’, and made into pills and used as a medicine to Kids on your nerves: “And though ice, meth, crystal, glass, Tina; visual and auditive hallucinations. produced initially in small quantities alleviate pain. Opium has only been she’s not really ill / There’s a little yellow www.draeger.com for ecstasy: E, Adam, XTC, beans, X, Prevalence: incomplete, inconsistently from 1942 onwards as a painkiller under smoked since the discovery of America by pill” (Mother’s Little Helper, The This article originally appeared in the Dräger Review 107, MDMA, love drug. collected data estimates usage at around the name ‘Amidon’, before being re- the Europeans, who brought tobacco and Rolling Stones, 1965). Special edition Drugs and Alcohol