My Student Body Drugs

MY STUDENT BODY
Here's a copy of the articles to read for the drugs part of my student body (mbs). Use ctrl + f to find what you need! Enjoy!

Most schools require a physical examination before college, but have you ever thought about who will take care of your medical needs after you get to college? What if you need prescription medication while you’re away, or if you need to get your prescription medication refilled? Here are some answers to help with those FAQs:



Q: Do I need to take anything with me to college in case I have to see a doctor or get my prescription refilled?
A: Good question. Here are 5 things you’ll need to pack:
•	List of medications that you are currently taking
•	List of health-related phone numbers (your personal physician, pharmacy, etc.)
•	Medical insurance card
•	Latest medication information/records
•	List of health services available on or near campus
Q: I am traveling to college on an airplane. Will airport security take away my prescription medication?
A: If you have to travel to college via public transportation that requires security check-points, then you will need proof that your medication is truly your own. A physician’s note or the actual medication bottle should be enough, but double-check with the transportation authority to be sure.

Q: I’m on ADHD medication. Can my I get my prescription refilled on campus?
A: ADHD medications are becoming popular for many students who don’t actually have ADHD. As a result, many college health care providers will no longer write new prescriptions for ADHD medications. But if you already have a prescription from your healthcare provider at home, then you should be okay.

Q: My family physician gave me a prescription before I left for school and now I can’t find it. What can I do?
A: Coordinate with your healthcare provider at home and campus health center. It’s possible that your healthcare provider can fax a new script to your student health center or pharmacy. Alternatively, your healthcare provider may decide to send a new prescription directly to you by mail.

Q: A doctor at the student health center just prescribed a new medication for me. Is there anything I should know before I start taking it?
A: Follow these four simple but important rules, and you’ll be all set.
Rule #1: Always take medication exactly as prescribed. This means if your healthcare provider prescribes one pill three times a day for 10 days, then you should follow those instructions exactly.
Rule #2: Never share medication with anyone, no matter what reason.
Rule #3: Keep medication concealed in a secure or discreet location, out of view from people visiting your room.
Rule #4: Learn about any possible side effects and know what to do in case they occur.
 Always check with your student health center or family physician if you have any questions about prescription medication or other health-related issues.

Have you ever thought about taking pain medication for something other than pain? Maybe not, but some students do. In fact, more than a third of all college students say they have close friends who have abused prescription pain meds.
What’s going on?
Morphine, codeine, oxycodone, hydrocodone – these are common prescription pain medicines (also known as opioids) often prescribed by doctors for pain. But, the nonmedical use of these meds by males and females aged 18-22 is now at its highest level in the past two decades.
Aside from pain, typical reasons for taking opioids for nonmedical reasons vary, and in all case there can be serious consequences. Taking opioid medications for nonmedical reasons can be as dangerous as taking street drugs like cocaine or heroin. Serious consequences of pain meds can include:
•	Physical dependence (apparent by withdrawal symptoms if the medication is stopped)
•	Addiction (compulsive drug-seeking behavior regardless of the consequences)
•	Lower grade point averages
•	Higher rates of substance use and other risky behaviors
Also keep in mind that mixing opioids with alcohol, or other medications or street drugs, can create a toxic concoction in the body. Combos increase the risk of overdosing; loss of coordination (think drugged driving); difficulty breathing; and heart attacks.
Reasons for nonmedical opioid use	Alternative options
Recreational
use and experimentation	Figure out what’s behind the desire to get messed up. Is there a need to fit in? Escape? Or is there something else going on? Talk to a campus counselor for some confidential, one-on-one help if needed.
Sleep	Adequate sleep is essential for every college student, but let’s be real, it’s tough trying to squeeze in enough sleep between school, work, and having fun. Taking pain meds as a sleep remedy may be tempting, but a healthier alternative is to organize daily activities and stick to the schedule. Take a 30-minute power nap during the early afternoon if getting enough Zzzzs at night isn’t an option.
Stress or anxiety	If you’re stressed out, and who isn’t at college, use some alternative approaches for relief. Exercise is a great way to get rid of those anxious feelings. Visit the academic resource center on campus for tips on note-taking and study-skills. Hang out with friends for a short study break to help ease some tension. But, if stress is getting too much to bear, ask for help at your student health center. Many centers have stress management programs or other options to help you get through rough times.

I take prescription meds for ADHD. My friend once asked me for a pill to help him cram for a test, and I gave it to him. Now he asks me all the time. How can I say no without wrecking our friendship?
Author Travis Glassman, Ph.D.
Reviewed by Emily Sandahl, M.S. on July 14, 2010
It’s not uncommon for friends to share their prescription medicine; however, there are serious health, legal, social, and moral issues to consider.
1.	Not all people respond and react the same way to medicine.  For example, if someone has a preexisting medical condition or allergy he or she may have a dangerous, unexpected physical response by taking your medicine.
2.	This person may develop an addiction to your medicine or they may already be addicted and are using you as a personal “pharmacy.”
3.	It’s against the law to give or sell you medicine to others.  Do you really want to risk getting into legal trouble by giving away your medicine?
4.	If this person is really your friend, why are they putting their wants ahead of your needs?  What happens when you’re out of your medicine and you need to study for a test or write a paper?
5.	How do you feel about yourself when you give your medicine away?  What do you think of others who do the same?  Only, you can decide for yourself what you think is right.

If you decide to tell your friend ‘no’ than half of the battle is already over.  I recommend simply stating that you need your medicine for yourself, and your academics will suffer if you miss a dose.  You can also discuss the other health, legal, social, and moral risks outlined above.  I think your friend will respect your assertiveness and your position on this issue. If your friend doesn’t respect your decision, then they probably were not that good of a friend and you should consider moving on without them.

What is the danger in getting high from a stimulant and then coming down with a sedative?
Author Travis Glassman, Ph.D.
Reviewed by Emily Sandahl, M.S. on July 14, 2010
Taking either a stimulant or a sedative by themselves involves inherent health hazards and when you mix them together the risk increases significantly. Stimulants such as cocaine or methamphetamines increase the body’s central nervous system. Breathing rate, heart rate, and the body’s body temperature all increase.  Stimulants trigger the release of neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine; which create a euphoric feeling. However, stimulants may also increase anxiety and the user may feel strung out coming down from the stimulants.
Some users may try to “level off” by taking a depressant such as a benzodiazepine. Depressants can be habit forming just like stimulants, and if you take too much of them you could end up in a coma or dead. Dosage and frequency of use are the key variables in assessing risk. Another consideration is that illicit drugs are made “underground,” so it’s difficult, if not impossible, to determine the purity or amount of the drug. Finally, mixing stimulants with depressants is extremely dangerous because these drugs artificially bring the body up and down at levels people don’t experience under normal circumstances, and certainly not simultaneously. The body can only take so much stress before it responds unpredictably or not at all. The short-term risks of an overdose or long-term risks of addiction make the practice of mixing uppers with downers much too risky of a proposition for a college student or anybody else.

Prescription medications are:
•	Ordered for you by your doctor or other healthcare provider
•	Filled by a pharmacist
•	Used to treat a specific health problem
You probably know, though, that prescription medications aren’t always used by the people they were prescribed for. Sometimes they aren’t used in the way a doctor would like them to be used, either. When that happens, it’s called the nonmedical use of prescription medication, and it’s a very common form of drug abuse. The most commonly abused prescription medications are:
•	Pain medications that are opioids (also called narcotics)
•	Stimulants (often used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, also known as ADHD)
•	Sedatives (usually prescribed for anxiety or as a sleep aid)
If you use a prescription medication, it’s your responsibility to keep your meds in a safe place and to make sure that they don’t get into someone else’s hands. These steps will help:
•	Store your medication out of sight and in a place that can’t be accessed easily, like a locked drawer.
•	Don’t talk about your prescription medication(s) with other people.
•	If you have any written prescriptions from your doctor that you haven’t filled yet, hide them. That way, no one can steal them and try to fill them in your place.
•	Keep track of your pills by counting them regularly, so you’ll know if any are missing.
•	If you need to carry prescription medication with you, keep the bottle out of sight (in a backpack or handbag, for example).
•	Before throwing out an empty pill bottle, use a marker to blacken out the drug’s name and your personal information.
If your pills are lost or stolen, you may not be able to get more before your next refill date. And if you give or sell your medication to other people, you’re breaking the law and also putting others in danger. Don’t do it. It’s not worth the risk of suspension from college, losing your job, or getting arrested – and possibly losing your financial aid.
If you need to stop taking your prescription medication for any reason, be sure to:
•	Talk to your doctor first. (Never stop taking a prescription medication unless your doctor says so.)
•	Ask your pharmacist or doctor about safe ways to get rid of your leftover medication. Don’t just flush it or throw it in the trash.
For more information on commonly abused prescription drugs, go to http://www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse/commonly-abused-drugs/commonly-abused-prescription-drugs-chart
For more about medication disposal, go to http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm101653.htm
For more information about safe disposal and protecting the environment, go to http://www.smarxtdisposal.net/

Let’s say you have an exam tomorrow and you’re not ready. One of your classmates offers you some pills to help you concentrate. He says that he got the pills from his doctor. You’re thinking that this medication must be safe – after all, it’s legal, it works for your friend, and a doctor prescribed it. So what’s the harm?
Actually, there are a few problems here. One big problem, whether you know it or not, is that you’re both doing something that’s illegal. If you use any medication that’s prescribed for someone else, it’s called misuse– and it’s against the law.
Doctors prescribe stimulants for health issues like ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), or for rare sleep disorders. But stimulants have side effects, too, just like every medication.
If you take a stimulant that hasn’t been prescribed by a doctor who knows you, it could give you some serious health problems. It might:
•	Raise your blood pressure and heart rate to dangerous levels
•	Make it hard to sleep or eat
•	Make you feel more stressed, irritable, and anxious
What does this mean for you? You might feel so sick or out of sorts that you can’t concentrate or focus. That’s probably not what you were hoping for. And if you keep misusing these medications over the long term, you may fall into the problem areas shown by research: that students who misuse stimulants often study less, skip class more, and have lower GPAs than their non-using classmates.
Your success in college depends on learning to manage your time and your priorities. If you’re having trouble focusing or studying, talk to an instructor or an advisor – they’re there to help you. You can meet your goals if you develop good study habits, go to your classes, and plan your time wisely.

Your friend used to smoke marijuana every once in a while, but over the last couple of months, he’s turned into a totally different person. He’s stopped caring about most of his classes and he spends a lot of time smoking in his room, alone or with people you’ve never seen before. You don’t want him to get kicked out of school. After all, he’s a nice guy … or at least he was, when you could still have a normal conversation with him.
Now what?
He’s not the same
Face it, you’re not in high school anymore. It may already be hard enough for some students to keep up with the work load. So why would anyone risk using marijuana, too?
Of course, there’s a difference between casual marijuana use and going overboard. But if you have a feeling that something’s not right, your instincts are probably kicking in for a good reason. After all, a person doesn’t have to be a down-and-out addict to have a drug problem.
Maybe you’ve noticed some of these changes in your friend:
•	He’s smoking marijuana more often, and at times of the day when he didn’t used to smoke.
•	It looks like he’s smoking more at one sitting than he used to.
•	He seems to depend on marijuana to get through tough or new experiences.
•	His social life revolves around smoking, often with different (drug-using) friends.
•	He coughs a lot.
•	He has problems with his memory.
•	He has trouble concentrating and/or paying attention.
Any of these issues could eventually affect your friend’s ability to pass his courses and stay in school.
But one of the biggest red flags about your friend’s marijuana use could be this: He knows that his drug use is affecting his health and his relationships, but he won’t (or can’t) stop.
What can you do?
•	Decide whether to talk directly with your friend, or whether to get suggestions first from an on-campus counselor, your academic dean, or a trusted member of your family.
•	Try to speak privately with your friend at a time when he’s not high.
•	Don’t lecture, argue, or make accusations – stick with the facts. Say what you’ve noticed about your friend’s behavior and health and how it’s affecting your relationship.
•	Say that his drug use now could have long-term consequences that can’t be undone: Most people only get one chance at college because it costs so much money.
•	Make sure your friend knows that you’re there for support whenever he needs it.

Picture this – you’re wearing bellbottoms and platform shoes, Richard Nixon is President, and Pink Floyd is playing on the radio. The decade – the 1970s, and marijuana is the drug of choice.
Now flash forward about thirty years. Maybe you wouldn’t be caught dead in a plaid tweed blazer, but what about passing around a joint? Despite a decline of marijuana use over the years, it’s still number 1 on the charts (after alcohol); although, there’s one big difference today – the potency has risen dramatically.
The major active ingredient in marijuana – delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) – is responsible for the mind-altering effects of the drug. The marijuana available today can be 5 times more potent than marijuana grown in the 1970s. Much of these high-potent plants result from agricultural advances that yield higher THC levels.
What does this mean?
From a health perspective, it means that marijuana smoked today is stronger than previous generations and consequently, it’s more harmful. It also means that marijuana can pack a mean punch – both academically and legally. Check out these facts:
•	Frequent marijuana use is associated with poor academic performance because it can affect concentration and the ability to retain information.
•	The Higher Education Act prevents access to federal student loans for anyone with a drug conviction, no matter how minor.
•	Campus drug policies differ, but if you’re busted for marijuana possession, use, or distribution you could face fines; loss of campus housing; probation, suspension, or expulsion; and parental notification.
•	It’s not uncommon these days for companies to perform background checks on potential employees. A marijuana conviction can stay on your record for a long time, and may prevent you from getting your dream job after graduation.
When you come right down to it, the stakes are much higher now for marijuana users compared to years ago.
What can you do?
If you’re around marijuana a lot or just feel pressure to smoke, here are some things to consider:
•	Know you’re not alone if you don’t smoke pot; nearly 70% of college students have never even tried it according to a 2009 survey from the American College Health Association.
•	Become familiar with your campus policies and state laws.
•	If you’re hitting the bong more than you’re hitting the books, there might be a problem. Talk to a counselor if you are already hooked on weed. There are support groups that can help with marijuana addiction.

All Dan wanted was one night with an uninterrupted sleep. Was that too much to ask? Unfortunately, people kept knocking on his door at all hours. Dan didn’t ask what was going on, but he had a pretty good idea that his roommate was selling drugs. And his roommate wouldn’t stop smoking pot in the room, either, even though Dan had told him to take it somewhere else.
Then Dan heard that a student was arrested in another residence hall for possession of marijuana. The student’s roommate was also arrested, even though he’d never used the stuff.
That’s when Dan got very nervous.
No one said it was easy
College is full of choices, and some are a lot easier to make than others. You’ve already made the choice to get a degree, for example, and you’ve probably worked a lot of hours to help pay for it, too. You don’t want someone else’s bad choices to affect what happens to your life.
Here’s the reality, though: You can sometimes get caught in the middle of bad, alcohol or drug-related situations. And some of those situations could get you placed on suspension, enrolled in an alcohol or drug education/rehab program, kicked out of campus housing, or even arrested – even if you’ve never used them yourself. That’s why it’s important to understand what’s at stake, and how to protect yourself.
What can you do?
•	First, understand that your status as a college student will NOT protect you from local, state, or federal prosecution if your school works with law enforcement for alcohol or drug infractions.
•	Learn your school’s rules concerning illegal alcohol and drug use, and possession. You can usually find this information in the student handbook or on the Dean of Students’ website. While some campuses have a lenient attitude, some have very strict, zero-tolerance policies.
•	Learn about the laws in the state where your school is located. In some cases, you might face sanctions for simply being in the same room (or car) as a person possessing alcohol or drugs.
•	If you’re worried about getting in trouble for your roommate’s alcohol or drug use, or possession, first speak with your roommate and/or your RA. Keep a record of any steps that you’ve taken, including speaking with campus security or police (if necessary). If the problem continues, you may want to protect yourself by moving, or finding a new roommate.
•	Know that students who are convicted of drug possession usually lose their scholarships, as well as the ability to apply for federal grants or loans.
•	Understand that an alcohol or drug conviction will stay with you for years. It could keep you from going to graduate school, or getting into certain types of jobs or licensed professions.
Being around students who possess, use, or deal illegal substances could be risky for your future. Don’t take the chance!

My roommate smokes pot and she keeps it in our room. I don’t want to snitch, but I’m afraid if she gets busted then I’ll also get in trouble because it’s my room too. What should I do?
Author Travis Glassman, Ph.D.
Reviewed by Emily Sandahl, M.S. on July 14, 2010
From a legal standpoint point, it is against the law to possess marijuana (without a prescription depending on the state).  If you are aware that marijuana is in your residence, then you could be considered an accomplice.
From a health perspective it is safest not to use marijuana at all, let alone, to inhale the second hand smoke.  Some students who live in Residence Halls get caught smoking marijuana because the smell is so distinctive.
I recommend telling your roommate not to use marijuana at all, but if this recommendation is not realistic, then you need to ask her to never bring marijuana inside your shared residence.  If your roommate does not agree with your rules, then I suggest you find a new roommate or place to live.

Giving up marijuana is a big step. But think about the advantages: you’ll be able to think more clearly once the drug is out of your system, you’ll have more time and money to do other things, and if your grades have been slipping, you’ll be able to get back on track.
Getting through the first weeks
For anyone who’s giving up marijuana, be aware that the first few days and weeks are usually the worst, but there are ways to make the transition easier. First, get rid of everything in your room or at home that makes you think of marijuana, like your pipe, bong, rolling papers, etc.
As for your friends, decide who’s supportive and avoid the rest – at least until you’re confident in your goals and know that you won’t slip.
Think about expanding your network of friends, too. There may already be a group of people in your classes or in the community who like to do the same things as you – see if you can join them. It’s even better if those activities take place in public areas where marijuana use isn’t an option.
What you can do
•	Let your friends know that you’ve stopped smoking marijuana.
•	Change any routines (like watching TV with certain friends) that usually led to smoking marijuana.
•	If you’re in a situation where people start smoking, excuse yourself and leave.
•	Don’t substitute alcohol or other drugs for the marijuana you’ve given up.

No preaching here: Just learn the facts about marijuana and its effects on your brain and body during the first few minutes of use. What about long-term effects? You’ll read about those, too.
Just the facts
The main active ingredient in marijuana is THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol). After a person inhales marijuana smoke, THC travels quickly from the lungs to the bloodstream, brain, and other organs in the body. While it’s in the brain, THC heads straight for cannabinoid receptors; most of these receptors are in the brain’s “pleasure,” memory, and movement control centers.
What does all of this mean for you?
•	Marijuana can cause a loss of coordination that affects how well you’re able to shoot hoops, dance, or be active in other ways.
•	There may be problems in learning and remembering information for tests and exams.
•	It may be hard to come up with solutions to specific problems, like figuring out the answers to math questions on homework or exams.
Some of these issues could stick around long after the immediate effects of smoking wear off.
Smoking marijuana can also raise a person’s heart rate by 20 to 50 beats per minute. In some cases, it could even double. If your heart beats too quickly, you could feel dizzy or lightheaded, or get out of breath by climbing stairs.
People who smoke marijuana over long periods of time inhale more carcinogens than people who smoke tobacco. And while there’s no proof that marijuana use causes lung cancer, it can still lead to being sick more often, with a higher number of chest colds and respiratory infections.
Other possible long-term effects include:
•	Coughing and/or wheezing, which can be just as annoying to your roommate(s) and friends as it is to you.
•	Difficulty with tasks that require more than a couple of steps, like researching and writing a report.
What can you do?
•	Decide how important it is to you to do well in school. Regular marijuana use can make it harder to learn new facts, and to remember facts that you’ve already learned.
•	Don’t drive on a marijuana high. Your reaction times are slower, and you’re less able to pay attention to what’s going on around you.
•	If you’re an athlete, stop using. Marijuana can affect your timing, coordination, and the ability to perform at your best.
•	Realize that marijuana use can have real-world consequences. Many jobs (including internships and co-ops) require drug testing, which can give a positive result for marijuana use several days after a person has smoked the drug. And people who are heavy marijuana users may still have THC in their systems for weeks after quitting.

Would you drive somewhere if you’d been drinking? What about getting a ride from a friend who’s drunk? You already know how dangerous both of those situations are. Now substitute “smoking marijuana” for “drinking,” and “high” for “drunk.” Does that make you feel any better? It shouldn’t.
Keeping all four wheels on the road
“Drugged driving” is driving while you’re under the influence of drugs. And the drugs that you take don’t always have to be illegal: Some prescription or over-the-counter medicines can mess up your driving skills, too. You might not be able to stop as quickly, pay enough attention to other cars and trucks on the road, or react as fast as you’d need to. Then what?
For about 8,600 people each year, it means dying in a car crash. Another 580,000 people are injured by
drugged drivers instead.
The drugs that lead to accidents are ones that you might expect. Marijuana is the biggest problem, followed by opioids (like hydrocodone, abused by “House” on TV), cocaine, methamphetamine, and tranquilizers. In almost 10% of “drugged driver” accidents, the driver has also been drinking.
Legal drugs can affect your driving ability, too. Some allergy medicines, antidepressants, decongestants, motion-sickness pills, anti-seizure drugs, and anti-nausea medicines could make you feel sleepy and hurt your chances of driving safely.
Why should you care?
•	Nothing derails a college career like being involved in a car accident with fatalities or injuries. If you’re the impaired driver and a passenger dies, you could face arrest and jail time. If you’re seriously injured instead, your classes (and future) are on hold until you’re back in one piece.
•	Depending on your school’s policies, being arrested for drugged driving could jeopardize your financial aid, and may result in suspension or expulsion.
What can you do?
•	You already know the drill: If you go out, choose a driver who’ll stay sober for the night (no alcohol or drugs).
•	If you can’t get the car keys away from an impaired friend, then offer a place to sleep, or a cab ride home.
•	Always carry extra money in case you need to take a cab or public transportation.
•	Think twice about getting behind the wheel if you’ve taken any medication(s) that make you feel sleepy.
•	Realize that all of your hard work at school (and your tuition money) could be gone in an instant if you’re in a drugged driving crash. Decide if that shaky ride is worth risking your life and your future.

Take a moment and think about the other students on your campus? Now, ask yourself these questions: how many of them smoke marijuana? Use other drugs? Take prescription medication for nonmedical reasons? Interestingly, most college students overestimate the amount of recreational drug use on their campus.
Finding the truth
Let’s look at the figure shown on this screen, which is based on the American College Health Association-National College Health Assessment (ACHA-NCHA) Fall 2009 Survey. These findings show the perception of marijuana use among college students nationwide is almost always higher compared to the actual marijuana use. For example, students believed about 11% of their peers had never smoked marijuana, when in reality, nearly 70% of their peers reported never smoking marijuana! The fact is that most students don’t use drugs or take prescription meds for nonmedical use.
Where do the misperceptions come from?
According to Dr. Wesley Perkins, professor at Hobart and William Smith Colleges, “We look to [a] group about what we should do, how we should act, and what we should believe. Norms are the predominant characteristics of the group – either attitudes or behaviors – that influence us all and heavily shape our actions.”
So where do you get your ideas from? Your friends? Your parents? The media? Your college? Think about it – these sources may actually outline your perception of truth.
Why do social norms matter?
If you showed up at a party wearing a t-shirt, jeans, and sneakers only to find everyone else wearing dresses and suits, you may think about running home to change your clothes in order to fit in better. The same is true for social norms.  Students who believe that everyone smokes weed or pops pills, may feel internal pressure to use drugs and fit in with peers. In this way, false social norms can perpetuate the exact behavior or belief that is untrue.
What can you do?
•	Pay attention to positive messages posted around campus (e.g., 84% of ABC students say they stopped a friend from driving high). Data in these messages usually come directly from your campus community.
•	Listen to your gut feelings. If you’re doing something that doesn’t feel right, you may end up regretting your decision later.
•	Find out about your campus substance use rates from stats found online or at your Office of Student Affairs.

It’s one thing to take cough and cold medicines to treat a stuffy nose and bad cough…but what happens if you take too much in order to get high?
Is it worth the risk?
Just because cough and cold medicines are legal and sold over the counter, it doesn’t mean that they’re safe if they’re taken in large doses to get high. As a matter of fact, some of their ingredients can harm your body if too much is taken at once. Here’s an example:
•	Dextromethorphan (DXM or DM) is found in over 100 over-the-counter (OTC) products, including cough syrup. People who abuse these products are often looking for out-of-body feelings, or for changes in how they see or hear things around them. But taking too much DXM at once could also cause:
o	Diarrhea/nausea
o	Dizziness
o	Blurred vision
o	Hallucinations
o	Confusion
o	Drowsiness
o	Brain damage
These side effects can be worse if you combine DXM with alcohol and other legal or illegal drugs -- especially if you take a lot at once.
Taking high doses of a DXM product also means taking high doses of all the other ingredients in that product, too. Each of these ingredients has its own set of side effects that could hurt your body.
Why should you care?
You have four years to get a degree and move out into the real world. Getting high from cough and cold medicines could damage your body in ways that impact the rest of your life:
•	You may never be able to safely drink alcohol, including beer, if high doses of these medicines permanently damage your liver.
•	If your kidneys get damaged from the higher doses of these medicines, then (in some cases) you may need dialysis; dialysis uses a machine to filter your blood, in a process that would normally be managed by your kidneys. If your kidney damage is permanent, it would require dialysis treatments three days out of every week.
Cough-and-cold medicines aren’t the only OTC medicines being abused, though. Others include:
•	Weight loss supplements and/or laxatives (used by those with eating disorders)
•	Antihistamines that contain diphenhydramine
•	Decongestants with pseudoephedrine
•	Stimulants that contain caffeine
All of these medicines have their own short- and long-term risks if they’re abused.
What can you do?
•	Realize that most people don’t use cough syrup and other DXM/OTC products to get high.
•	If your abuse of over-the-counter drugs is becoming a habit, speak with a counselor.
•	Take a look at what’s going on in your life right now. Are you misusing OTC medicines to relieve stress? Lose weight? Study harder? Are there other (better) ways to handle these problems?
What’s the difference between steroids that pro athletes get busted for injecting and the supplements I can buy at vitamin stores, like Creatine?
Author Travis Glassman, Ph.D.
Reviewed by MyStudentBody staff on March 4, 2008
Creatine and steroids differ considerably. First, creatine does not constitute as a hormone or a “drug,” so the Food and Drug Administration(FDA) does not regulate this product.
Creatine involves the energy-generating system in our muscles. We all contain different concentrations of it in our muscles depending on our genetic make up. A well balanced diet with sufficient protein or supplementation will allow an individual to optimize their muscle building capacity assuming they follow a proper workout regimen. While it is not necessary to purchase creatine to build muscle mass, people can reduce their risk of complications if they buy Creatine Monohydrate, which does not contain additional supplements. Note: consuming products not regulated by the FDA includes inherent risk.
People should only use steroids if prescribed by a physician and should strictly adhere to the directions indicated by the pharmacist. The NFL and other professional sports leagues prohibit the illegal use of steroids, whereas supplements are not regulated or monitored.

You’ve heard about ecstasy and think you might want to try it – but there are some reasons why you might want to think twice, instead. Learn what you need to know to stay safe.
What is ecstasy?
Ecstasy is the popular name for MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine), also known as “X” or “E.” It’s an illegal drug that comes in pill form. The typical dose is one or two pills – 60 to 120 mg – and its effects last for three to six hours.
What does ecstasy do?
Ecstasy changes the way that nerve cells in your brain communicate with each other, by causing the release of two main chemicals: serotonin and norepinephrine. Within 30-45 minutes of taking ecstasy, the brain is flooded with serotonin. Most users have a sense of well-being, openness, and compassion for other people. When ecstasy releases norepinephrine into the brain, it makes the person’s heart beat faster, keeps him awake, and may cause some tooth-grinding or jaw-clenching.
Other possible effects of ecstasy include:
•	Some insensitivity to pain and cold
•	Dehydration
•	Nausea
•	Blurred vision
•	Muscle cramps
Risks of ecstasy
•	Ecstasy can cause something called hyperthermia (a sharp rise in body temperature), with excessive sweating and dehydration. This can happen if the user is dancing or being physically active in crowded and/or overheated areas: The person’s body has trouble handling temperature control.
•	It’s important to stay away from alcohol when using ecstasy, because it can add to the problems with temperature regulation and dehydration.
•	Other substances that have serious (or deadly) interactions with ecstasy include some drugs for HIV treatment (such as ritonavir), and the use of MAO inhibitors like Nardil (often prescribed for depression).
•	Like other street drugs, MDMA pills may include unexpected substances. In one DanceSafe study that looked at the contents of ecstasy pills from volunteers:
o	63% of the pills had some level of MDMA
o	29% contained other drugs, but no MDMA
o	DXM (the main active ingredient in over-the-counter cough syrups) was the most commonly found drug mixed into the pills
o	Other drugs found in the pills included caffeine, ephedrine and pseudoephedrine (used to treat nasal/sinus problems), and aspirin.
o	An Australian study found additional drugs in their ecstasy pill samples: LSD, GHB, ketamine, and PMA
•	The high from MDMA is usually followed within a couple of days by feelings of depression, tiredness, irritability, and a loss of appetite. These effects can last for up to a week or more.
•	Some studies show that even short-term use of ecstasy may have a long-term effect on a user’s memory and ability to pay attention.

The caffeine in some products can help you stay awake, and it might improve your focus. But there’s more to caffeine than meets the eye.
Coffee is a big part of college life. It gets you going in the morning, and it helps you study late into the night by improving your attention span and concentration. And you can’t ignore the social aspect of meeting friends for coffee, either.
In low or moderate amounts, caffeine is usually harmless. Caffeine can even come in handy when you’ve got a headache, because it’s one of the main ingredients in a lot of headache medications.
Did you know, though, that caffeine is actually classed as a drug? That’s because, like other drugs, it affects a person’s central nervous system when it’s consumed.
Do you know how much caffeine you consume every day? Here's a list:
Tall coffee (12 oz. Starbucks)	260 mg
NoDoz/Vivarin	200 mg
Coffee, 1 mug (8 oz.)	95-200 mg
Energy drink (Red Bull), 8 oz. can 	76 mg
Espresso, 1 oz (Starbucks)	58-75 mg
Excedrin Extra Strength, 1 tablet	 65 mg
Midol, 1 tablet	60 mg
Black Tea, 1 cup	40-120 mg
Chocolate bar (Hershey’s Milk or Dark)	9-31 mg
Green Tea (8 oz.)	37 mg
Cola (diet or regular), 12 oz.	35 mg
Coffee ice cream, 4 oz	29 mg
Root beer, 12 oz.	22 mg


Just the facts
•	It can take four to six hours for the effects of caffeine to wear off.
•	Drinking strong coffee will NOT make you sober.
•	People who are sensitive to caffeine may feel its side effects at 200-400 mg per day. Side effects include insomnia, restlessness, dehydration, anxiety, nervousness, and/or jitters. And the more you drink, the more likely you are to have extra problems: tremors, an irregular heartbeat, and frequent urination.
•	For some people, as little as one cup of coffee a day can lead to a dependence on caffeine.
•	According to a June 2010 research study, a morning cup of coffee doesn’t necessarily make you more alert. Coffee drinkers “seem to need caffeine to return to their normal state of alertness… [they] aren’t gaining anything over and above a non-consumer of caffeine.”
•	An "energy" drink often gives you an initial buzz, but when it wears off, you may be just as tired as before.
What can you do?
Want to cut down on your caffeine consumption? If so, try to do it slowly over several days. Doing it too quickly could cause headaches, irritability, and fatigue.
Try these tactics:
•	Alternate each cup of decaf with caf.
•	Order half-caf coffee.
•	Switch to non-caffeinated sodas.
•	Try to fit some extra sleep into your schedule, like naps between classes.
•	Get a natural energy boost from exercising.

Students who want to go on a psychedelic adventure will sometimes experiment with mind altering substances that morph reality for minutes to hours at a time.
Hallucinogens and dissociative drugs
There are many different types of hallucinogens and dissociative drugs: some are chemically processed and some are found in natural substances.
These drugs interfere with neurotransmitters in the brain that are responsible for regulating mood, body temperature, sleep, muscle control, sexual behavior, appetite, sensory perception, and memory, which usually cause psychedelic “trips” or “out of body” experiences. Hallucinogens can also cause “flashbacks,” which are unexpected recurrences of the drug effects days, weeks, or months after its original use.
Hallucinogens
(cause altered perceptions) 	Dissociative drugs
(cause sedative effects)
 LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide)	 PCP (phencyclidine)
 Peyote or Mescaline (cactus)	 Ketamine
 Psilocybin (mushrooms)	 Dextromethorphan
 MDMA (Ecstasy)	 Tryptamine drugs (DMT, AMT, and Foxy)
 Salvia Divinorum (herb)


Bon voyage!
Hallucinogens and dissociative drugs can cause extreme pleasure or extreme terror. The type of experience, or trip, a person has depends on:
•	the type and strength of drug
•	how much of the drug is taken
•	the person’s surroundings, interactions, and mood
These drugs carry a higher risk for anyone with a history of psychological issues (bipolar, depression, anxiety). For example, hallucinogens may trigger psychotic episodes in people who have underlying mental health conditions. Also, students who are stressed, or experiencing other highs and lows, are more likely to have a bad trip.

Other things to consider
Not only are these drugs illegal, but they can wreak havoc on academics and friendships. Let’s say your roommate takes LSD one night. He could still be tripping the next morning wanting to talk about the universe while you just want to sleep. And what about your friend who does mushrooms – just once – for the curiosity factor? Months later, during an exam, she has a flashback and feels like she’s on the drug again. What seems like fun at the time has the potential to cause some serious consequences in the future.
What can you do?
•	Know that these drugs can interact negatively with some prescription medications, including those commonly prescribed for depression and bipolar disorder.
•	Call for help if someone is having a bad trip. A resident advisor, the campus health center -- or even campus security -- can assist in this type of emergency.
•	Understand that some hallucinogens and dissociative drugs are addictive; substance abuse counseling may be necessary to quit.

Inhalants are cheap and easy to get at your local gas station, drug store, or hardware store. But they’re also dangerous, and yes, they could kill you. The damaging effects that they have on your brain and body aren’t worth the short-lived high that you’ll get from huffing.
What are inhalants?
There are four main types of inhalants: 1) volatile solvents, like nail polish remover or white-out; 2) aerosols, like spray paint and hair spray; 3) gases, like those found in butane lighters and whipped cream chargers; and 4) nitrites, like computer screen cleaners.
What do they do?
When you inhale any of these items into your lungs, the chemicals rush into your bloodstream and affect your central nervous system. It causes an intense high, and you may have blurred vision and feel lightheaded and dizzy. Users often report seeing and hearing things that aren’t there: It can be hard to tell what’s real and what’s a hallucination. It’s all short-lived, though: Whipped cream chargers ("whippets") give a high that lasts up to 15 seconds, and the high from gasoline lasts for an hour or less.
Nitrites are their own class of inhalants. They mostly dilate blood vessels and relax muscles, and they’re commonly known as "poppers" or "snappers." They’re sometimes used before or during sex.
So if they’re legal, what’s the problem?
A lot. Things like gasoline and hair spray weren’t made to get people high. When they’re used that way, they can kill brain cells. Brain scans of long-term inhalant users show a lot of damage: They look like scans from someone who has multiple sclerosis (MS).
There's also a chance of "sudden sniffing death": It's not as funny as it sounds, and you don't need to be a long-time user for inhalants to kill you. In fact, one study found that almost one-quarter of all sudden sniffing death happened to people who were using an inhalant for the first time. What could happen?
•	Uneven heart rhythms could cause a heart attack
•	You could suffocate if the inhalant crowds out the oxygen in your lungs
•	You could choke on vomit if you lose consciousness
Huffing from a bag, or breathing fumes in a small unventilated space, can make the effects from inhalants even stronger. That increases the risks, too.
What if you keep huffing anyway?
Long-term use of inhalants can damage the brain, liver, and kidneys, and could lead to hearing loss, limb spasms, and central nervous system damage (problems with walking and talking, for example).
What if you’re already hooked on huffing?
Inhalants, like most other drugs, are addictive. If you or someone you know has a problem with inhalants, get professional help right away.

No one jumps out of bed and shouts, “Today’s the day I ‘m going to become a heroin addict!”
But that’s the problem with heroin: You might think you’re running the show, until you find out that you’re not. And by then, it’s too late.
In 2007, there were more than 15 million full-time college students in the U.S. Thirty thousand of those students used heroin during the past year. How did all of those people manage to pass their courses while inhaling, shooting, or smoking heroin? Most of them didn’t.
What’s out there
There are many different types of powdered heroin, with colors that range from white to yellow to brown. It’s also sold as a black sticky substance known as “black tar.” Heroin can be snorted, smoked, or injected directly into the bloodstream. Dealers often “cut” their product with other substances, which stretches their supplies.
It’s not possible to know the purity or strength of any batch of heroin in advance. That’s important, because taking heroin that’s stronger than expected could lead to an overdose. Users may also have a bad reaction to substances used to cut the supply.
The use of heroin has increased in some areas of the country in spite of the danger: Many prescription drug abusers have found that heroin is often cheaper and easier to obtain than the opioid pills that they’ve been using to get high.
How it feels
Injected heroin is felt within seconds. If heroin is smoked or snorted, it may take up to 15 minutes to feel the effects. Either way, the high from heroin is like a rush of euphoria, combined with flushed skin, a dry mouth, and a feeling of heaviness in the arms and legs. This is followed by cycles of feeling drowsy and then awake.
Heroin users can become physically dependent on the drug, feeling withdrawal symptoms (like chills, strong drug cravings, diarrhea and vomiting, and/or body pain) within a few hours of the last hit.
People who are addicted to heroin crave it all the time. They can’t control their drug use and keep using more, even though it’s hurting their bodies and their relationships.
What does heroin use mean for college students?
It’s hard, if not impossible, to pass courses and graduate while using heroin. Why?
•	Heroin affects the ability to think clearly and handle schoolwork.
•	Heroin use affects a person’s speech. Others may not understand what the person is saying.
•	Heroin use can affect coordination, making it hard to play sports or be active.
•	Money for tuition, books, and other school expenses goes to heroin instead.
•	Heroin use ruins relationships, when addicts con or steal from friends and family members to pay for their habit.
You have one chance to get through college; don’t mess it up by trying heroin. Addiction can erase all of your hard work, take all of your money, and destroy your future.

You might have heard that cocaine provides an energy boost, or that it gives a great high. But this powerfully-addictive stimulant has some serious short- and long-term health effects.
Types of cocaine and how they’re used
There are two main types of cocaine:
•	A powdered form that can be snorted; dissolved in water and then injected; or rubbed on the gums or other mucous membranes
•	A processed (freebase) form of cocaine called crack. It can be smoked, and looks like a small, jagged, white crystal
How coke affects the body
Coke raises the amount of dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is a brain chemical that’s linked to feelings of pleasure. Many people feel so euphoric, alert, and full of energy when they use cocaine that they don’t eat or sleep.
The length of a high from cocaine depends on the way that it’s taken, and on how fast the drug is absorbed. If cocaine is snorted, it can take 10-15 minutes to feel the full effects, and the high may last 15-30 minutes. When smoked, though, cocaine reaches the brain within 5-15 seconds, creating a high of 5-15 minutes.
Since a coke high is so short-lived and is usually followed by a depressing crash, some users go on binges: They take more coke as the last dose wears off. This causes users to get tolerant to the drug’s effects, though: More coke is needed just to reach the baseline high.
Cocaine also has side effects, like increased blood pressure and body temperature, vertigo or muscle twitches. People who use a lot of coke run the risk of having a seizure or heart attack.
All cocaine is addictive, but injecting coke or smoking crack is especially dangerous, since the effects are so immediate, strong, and reinforcing. Addiction happens when users crave more coke, and can’t control their use even though it’s hurting themselves and their loved ones.
Mixing coke with alcohol is dangerous. Cocaine and alcohol combine in the liver to make cocaethylene, which is a toxic chemical that can affect your heart and blood pressure.
Why should college students care?
•	Cocaine use can quickly tip over into cocaine addiction. Cocaine addicts can’t control their use of the drug; they’ll keep taking it in spite of all the damage it does.
•	Coke is expensive, but so is school – and most people only have one shot at college. Coke takes money away from tuition and other expenses.
•	People who use coke long-term can damage their ability to feel pleasure normally.
•	Long-term cocaine use can hurt the ability to feel motivated and to remember facts in class and on tests.