Definitions

Abscess: a localized collection of pus surrounded by an inflamed area, often the result of a bacterial infection.

Abstinence: refraining from using something, such as a drug, by one's own choice. In pharmacology the term "abstinence syndrome" is equivalent to withdrawal syndrome.

Abusers: people who use drugs in ways that threaten their health or impair their social or economic functioning.

Acetic acid: the acid in vinegar.

Acetylcholine: a stimulatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, which also controls muscles and sensory input signals.

Acid: slang term for LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide).

Acid house: a type of psychedelic music with a strong back beat, often played at nightclubs where people take ecstasy and engage in wild dancing.

Active principle: the main chemical constituent of a drug plant. Cocaine, for example, is the active principle of coca leaf. Although active principles may be responsible for many of the effects of drug plants, they do not exactly reproduce those effects and in pure form have higher toxicity and potential for abuse.

Acupuncture: an ancient Chinese system of medical treatment that aims to influence enegy flow around the body by inserting needles into particular points on the skin.

Acute: intense and of short duration, as opposed to chronic.

Addiction: in reference to drugs, a patern of consumption marked by compulsive taking of a drug, the need for increasing doses over time to maintain the same effect(tolerance), and the appearance of symptoms when the drug is stopped that disappear when it is reinstated(withdrawal).

Adulteration: the deliberate addition of impurities to a pure substance-- for example, the cutting of cocaine with sugars and cheap local anesthetics to make it go further on the black market.

Alkali: any substance that in solution gives a pH of greater than 7.0. Lye (potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide), baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), and lime (calcium oxide or calcium hydroxide) are examples of alkalis.

Amnesia: loss of memory, either partial or total.

Amys: slang term for amyl nitrite.

Analgesic: a medication that reduces or eliminates pain.

Androgenic: having the property of stimulating development of male sex characteristics.

Anemia: a deficiency of red blood cells or hemoglobin, reducing the blood's capacity to carry oxygen.

Angel dust: slang term for PCP (phencyclidine).

Animal tranquilizer: slang term for PCP (phencyclidine), because of its uses as a veterinary anesthetic.

Antidepressants: pharmaceutical drugs prescribed for the treatment of persistent and severe depression. Imipramine (Tofranil), amitriptyline (Elavil), and fluoxetine (Prozac) are examples.

Antihistamines: A large class of synthetic drugs used to relieve allergic symptoms.

Apathy: lack of feeling, emotion, or interest in what excites most people.

Asphyxiation: Unconsciousness or death resulting from lack of oxygen.

Asthma: A respiratory disease caused by constriction of the bronchial tubes with resultant difficulty in breathing. Wheezing on exhalation is the most characteristic symptom.

Bad trip: An unpleasant experience on a psychoactive drug, especially a hallucinogen. Paranoia, panic, scary hallucinations, and depression may all occur in a bad trip.

Barbs: Barbiturates, such as secobarbital (Seconal).

Biorythms: cyclic changes in biological functions, such as twenty-four-hour cycles of waking and sleeping and secretion of certain hormones, and the monthly menstral cycle in women.

Bronchitis: inflammation of the bronchial tubes, producing a painful cough and other breathing difficulties.

Bummer: slang term for an unpleasant experience on a psychoactive drug. Similar to bad trip.

Burn-out: a condition of emotional and intellectual impairment supposed to be the result of excessive use of psychoactive drugs. Also, a person with this condition.

Bust: an arrest, especially for involvement with illegal drugs. Also used as a verb.

Cellulose: an indigestible carbohydrate that is the main structural component of all plant tissues and fibers.

Central nervous system: the brain and spinal cord.

Chamomile: a low-growing plant of the daisy family with yellow flowers and a pleasant applelike smell. The dried flowers make a relaxing tea that also alleviates indigestion.

Chemotherapy: the treatment of cancer by giving patients very toxic drugs that kill dividing cells, in the hope that more cancerous cells will die than normal ones.

Chipping: the practice of using narcotics such as heroin on an occasional basis without developing true addiction.

Chronic: persisting over time, as opposed to acute.

Codependence: 1) a relationship in which one person enables or encourages the addictive behavior of another person. 2) an addictive personal relationship.

Coke: slang term for cocaine. (Others are "blow" and "snow.")

Coma: deep and prolonged unconsciousness, usually the result of disease, injury, or poisoning.

Controlled substances: plants and chemicals listed in the Federal Controlled Act, the law regulating disapproved psychoactive drugs and those approved only for medical use.

Convulsion: an intense episode of muscle contraction, usually caused by abnormal brain function.

Cop: to obtain a supply of a desired drug. Same as score.

Cornea: the transparent, outer covering of the eye, overlying the iris, pupil, and lens.

Crack: a smokable, pelletized form of cocaine.

Crash: to experience depression, lethargy, or sleepiness after a drug induced high, especially common after using stimulants.

Cut: to adulterate a drug by adding to it some substance to make it go further. Also, any substance used for this purpose.

Deal: To sell or distribut illegaql grugs

Deliriants: drugs that cause delirium. Datura is an exampl.

Delirium: A state of mental confusion marked by disorientation and hallucination. Fever and certain drugs are common causes.

Dependence: Indility to separate oneself.

Ecstasy: Common street name for MDMA

Ejaculation: In males, discharge of seminal fluid, usually during orgasm

Emaciated: Thin and grunt, as from starvation or illness

Emphysema: A chonicraspitory disease in which lung tissue loses its elasticity and with the ability to exchange caron dioxide for oxygen. Patients with emphysema suffer from progressively diminishing breathing capacity and eventually become bedridden "respiratory cripples."

Endogenous drugs: Drugs produced within the body.

Enzyme: A protein produced by a living orgaism that catayzes (speed up) biochemical reactions. many digestive enzymes enable the body to process foods, for example.

Estrogen: One of a groups of hormones, mostly manufactured by the overies in woman, reponsible for producing female sex characteristics and regulating fertility.

Euphoria: A feeling of great happiness or well-being

Fix: Slang term for a dose of a mood-altering drugs, especially an intravenous dose of an opiate, as in,"I need a fix." Also used as a verb, as in, When did you fix last?"

Flashback: A recurrence of symptoms associated with LSD or other hallucinogens some time after the actual drug experiance.

Freak out: To panice or lose emotional control.

Freebase: A smokable form of cocain. As a verb, to smoke cocaine in this form.

GABA: Gamma-amino-butyric acid, a simple, organic chemical that serves as a neurotransmitter in certain brain cells. Its effect is inhibitory and depressing of nervous function.

Gas: Slang term for nitrous oxide.

Gastrointestinal track: The whole chain of tubular structures from the mouth to the anus from concerned with the processing of food.

Glass: (See ice)

Gram: A unit of mass and weight in the metric system, defined as one thousandth of a killogram.(A kilogram is about 2.2 pounds.)

Hallucination:SSS The perception of something that is not there, such as seeing pink elephants or hearing voices that other people cannot hear; also the nonperception of objects or events that are perceived by others (negative hallucination). Hallucinations can be symptoms of physical or mental illness, or the result of taking some kinds of psychoactive drugs.

Hallucinogens: Drugs that stimulate the nervous system and produce varied changes perception and mood. Examples are LSD, DMT, mescaline, and magic mushrooms. Hallucinogens are also known as psycedelics.

Hash: Slang term for hashish, the concentrated resin of the marijuana plant.

Hash oil: Adark, syrupy liguid obtain by extracting the resin of marijuana with solvents and concentrating it.

Head: A person who uses psychoactive drugs, especially marijuana (a pot head) or psychedelics (such as an acid head).

Head shops:SSD Stores that dell drug-related products, such as smoking devices, drug literature, and other materials.

Hepatitis:Inflammation of the liver, usualy because of infection with a virus. Jaundice, weakness, and digestive problems are common symptoms that may last for weeks or months. There is no specific treatment.

High:An altered state of consciousness, marked by euphoria, feelings of lightness, self-transcendence, and energy. High states are not necessarily drug-related. They may occur spontaneously or in response to various activities that affect mood, perseption, and concentration. Also used as an adjective.

Hog:Slang term for PCP (phencyclidine)

Hormone:A chemical substance produced by one organ of the body, such as a gland, and conveyed, usualy by the blood, to another organ (or organs), where it exerts a controlling or regulating action. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that regulates sugar metabolism throughout the body.

Hyperventilation:Abnormally rapid, deep breathing.

Hypothermia:The condition of abnormally low body temperature, usually the result of exposure to cold. Early symptoms are uncontrollable shivering and bizarre changes in consciousness. If not treated, it can progress to coma and death.

Nystagmus: Rapid, involuntary, jerking monementsof the eyes, usually a sign of intoxication or disease of the central nervous system.

OD: Overdose,used as both a noun and a verb, as in, "Anyone who shoots drugs should know how to avoid an OD," and, "the last time i took a downer I OD'd on it.

OTC: Over-the-counter, refferring to drugs sold legally without prescription.

Paranoia: Delusions of persecution or grandeur; unreasoning beleif that on is the target of conspericiesand patterns of events aimed ag one's destruction or benifit. In common usage, the term is a synonym for extreme fear, especially of other people and situations.

Paraquat: A chemical herbicide used to kill unwanted plants. In resent years goverment agencies have sprayed paraquat on Mexican pot fields.

Schizophrenia: The commonest form of psychosis: chiefly affecting thought. It is of unknown cause and is generally considered incurable. Major tranquilizers are the treatment of choice and may allow some schizophrenics to function better.

Score: To obtain a supply of a desired drug. Same as cop.

Sedative-hypnotics: A class of depressants the induces restfulness in low doses and sleep in higher doses. Alcohol: barbituates: and the minor tranquilizers make up this class of drugs.

Semisynthetic drugs: Drugs created by scientists from materials found in nature.

Sensory isolation tank: an oblong: lightproof: soundproff tank partially filled with a strong salt solution maintained at body temperature. A person floating in the tank experiences little outside stimulation and can explore inner states. Used for relaxation and meditationas well as to investigate altered states of conciosness.

Set: Expectation: especially unconcious expectation: as a variable determining people's reactions to drugs.

Setting: Environment- physical: social: and cultural- as a variable determining people's reacitons to drugs.

Shoot: To injact a drug intravenously.

Sinsemilla: High-grade: seedlass: flowering tops of marijuana.

Skin-popping: The practice of injecting drugs: especially heroin: subcutaneously rather than into a muscle or vein. Sleeping pills: Barbituates and related sedative-hypnotics.

Sniff: To inhale the fumes of organic solvents to produce changes in the conciousness.

Snort: To inhale a powdered drug.

Snuff: 1) Finely powdered tobacco: which maybe inhaled or placed in the mouth. 2) Any finely powdered drug intended for nasal inhalation. 3) To take a drug in powdered form by nasal inhalation.

Spacey: Datached or diconnected from ordinary reality as a result of using psychoactive drugs. ( A related term is "spaced out.")

Speed: Stimulents: especially amphetemines. (Other slang terms for amphetemines are "crank": "zip": and "crystal.")

Speedball: A combination of a stimulant and a depressant: especially cocain and heroine: intended for intravenous use.

Spore: A microscopic reproductive cell of lower plants and mushrooms.

Steroids: A large family of drugs related to the adrenal hormone cortisone. They include anabolic steroids and corticosteroids.

Stimulants: Drugs that increase the activity of the nervous system: causing wakefulness. Cafeine: cocaine: and amphetamines are examples.

Stoned: 1) Intoxicated on a psychoactive drug: especially marijuana. 2) Having the nature of conciosness influenced by marijuana and other drugs: as in " stoned humor."

Street drugs: Psychoactive drugs manufactured and sold illegally.

Stupor: A state of reduced sensibility: often the result of excessive use of depressants.

Subcutaneous: Under the skin: such as the injection of a drug just under the skin rather than into a muscle or vein.

Subtoxic: Below the toxic dose of a drug.

Super-K: Slang term for ketamine.

Sympathetic nervous system: The branch of the involentary nervous system that prepares the body for fight or flight by speeding up heart beat and breathing: and at the same time shutting down digestive functions. Nerves of this system leave the middle segments of the spinal chord to connect to many organs: blood vessels: and glands.

Synergism: In pharmochology: the interaction of two drugs to produce a combined effect greater than the simple sum of their individual effects.

Synthetic drugs: Drugs create dby chemists in laboratories: as oppsed to endogenous drugs or semi-synthetic drugs.

Taboo: A prohibition excluding something from use or mention: devised by any group for it's own protection.

Teetotaler: A person who abstains totally from drinking alcohol.

Testosterone: The pricipal male sex hormone: manufactured by the testes and reponsible for producing male sex charateristics.

Therepeutic: Having healing or curative powers.

Tincture: A solution of a substance: especially a drug: in alcohol.

Toke: An ihalation from a cigarette or pipe. Also used as a verb.

Tolerence: In pharmacology: the need for increasing doses of a drug over time to maintain the same effect. Tolerence is an important characteristic of dependece on drugs and is provoked by some drugs more than others: especially by stimulanta and depressants.

Toxic: Poisonous. Harmful: destructive: or deadly.

Trafficking: In drug law: the distribution: sale: exchange: or giving away of significant amounts of prohibited substances; cocidered a more serious crime than simple possesion.

Trip: An experience on a psychoactive drug: Especially a hallucinogen.

Underground chemist: A chemist who manufatures psychactive drugs illegaly for sale on the black market.

Uppers: Stimulants.

Users: 1) People who use psychoative drugs. 2) People who use psychoactive drugs in non abusive ways: as opposed to abusers.

Visions: Mental images produced in the imagination: usualy seen with the eyes closed; also: the mystical experience of seeing other realities or the supernatural as if with the eyes.

Volatile: Evaporating rapidly at normal temperatures and pressures.

Windowpane: Slang term for LSD in the form of tiny: transparent gelitin chips.

Withdrawal: 1) The process of stopping the use of a drug that had been taken regularly. 2) Any cluster of symtoms that appears when a drug that had been taken regularly is stopped and that disappears when the drug is reinstituted. Also called a withdrawal syndrome.