Last partial update: July 2016 - Please read disclaimer before proceeding
Classification of illicit substances
Drugs that act on the brain (psychoactive drugs) can be classified into two broad groups; those that stimulate brain activity and those that depress it. The commonly used drugs in each group appear in the table below.
Stimulant drugs tend to make people more alert and excited and have effects on the body such as raising pulse rate and body temperature. These effects are exaggerated in stronger drugs or when an overdose is taken, and this can lead to anxiety, agitation, hallucinations, aggression, and psychotic episodes. (A psychotic episode occurs when the person losses touch with reality. As might be expected, hallucinations commonly occur as part of these episodes.)
Depressant drugs are the most commonly used group and tend to slow down the brain, giving a calm relaxed feeling. When these are taken to excess they can slow the brain down so much that the person goes into a coma and eventually stops breathing. (This is the cause of deaths that occasionally occur with a heroine overdose.)
Types of drug commonly used in Australia (Listed in approximate decreasing order of use in Australia) |
|
Stimulants |
Depressants |
Caffeine |
Alcohol |
Nicotine |
Cannabis / marijuana |
Amphetamines |
Heroine |
Ecstasy |
GBH (‘Fantasy’) |
Methamphetamine (‘Ice’) |
Ketamine |
Cocaine |
|
LSD |
|
Hallucinogens
Hallucinogens are a group of drugs that work on the brain to cause hallucinations i.e. seeing, hearing, smelling and tasting things that are not there. These substances occur naturally in trees, fungi (‘magic mushrooms’) etc or can be made synthetically, an example being LSD. Some other drugs, such as ecstasy and cannabis, can cause hallucinations when taken in high doses.
LSD
LSD (Lysergic Acid Diethylamide) is the most commonly used hallucinogen. It is taken orally, usually as a tablet. Effects occur about 30 minutes after ingestion and can last up to 12 hours. Visual hallucinations are quite common, such as colours becoming very bright and distortions of space. Other effects include floating sensations, emotional swings from intense happiness to profound sadness, strange body sensations and changed thoughts. Sometimes the hallucinations can be frightening (‘bad trips’) and cause extreme anxiety or fear, paranoia, panic attacks and feelings of losing control. Aggression and self harm can very occasionally accompany these episodes. A long lasting LSD psychosis (lasting up to months) can rarely occur, usually when large, cumulative doses are taken in susceptible individuals.
There are no long term side effects although flash backs of sensations experienced during use can occur for months to even years after taking the drug. They are more common in regular users, can last up to several minutes and may occur without warning. Addiction to LSD is very rare and there are no withdrawal symptoms.
Reducing harm from LSD
- People who have not used the drug frequently should not take it alone. They should have a non-using friend with them to help them through possible ‘bad trips’. Ways to help a friend having a bad trip include:
- Changing the environment by moving to another room or changing the lighting and music. (These people are often paranoid and thus should not be forced to do things.)
- Do not leave them.
- Reassure them and help them relax. e.g. by breathing with them.
- Users should not drive, operate machinery or perform other similar tasks.
- Adverse reactions need to be treated in hospital emergency departments.
- People with an existing mental illness or a family history of schizophrenia should not take LSD.
- Pregnant women should not take LSD as it causes contractions of the uterus (womb).
Further reading
Teenagers, Alcohol and Drugs What your kids really want and need to know about alcohol and drugs. by Paul Dillon. Published by Allen & Unwin, 2009.
Further information
Alcohol and Drug Information Service in your state.
This service will provide information and/or advice regarding problems. They can also refer callers to health professionals that can help them personally regarding alcohol and other drug problems.
ACT Ph 6205 4545; NSW Ph 9361 8000 or 1800 422 599: NT 8981 8030 or 1800422 599; Qld Ph 3236 2414 or 1800 177 833; SA Ph 1300 131 340; Tas 1800 811 994; Vic Ph 9416 1818 or 1800 136 385; WA Ph 9442 5000 or 1800 198 024) Check directory assistance if these numbers have changed.
Australian Drug Information Network www.adin.com.au
Information about alcohol, tobacco and other drugs.
Australian Drug Foundation www.adf.org.au.
Another good general site regarding drug use; easy to access information about most types of drugs.
Family Drug Support 24 hour hotline www.fds.org.au
Ph 1300 368 186 (throughout Australia)
National Health and Medical research Council National Guidelines on Responsible Drinking https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/health-topics/alcohol-guidelines
National Cannabis Information and Prevention Centre https://ncpic.org.au
Brief Intervention: the Drink-less package (University of Sydney) http://sydney.edu.au/medicine/addiction/drinkless/index.php
This site the very helpful and commonly used alcohol reduction program ‘Drink-less’. It can be downloaded free or orders can be taken from the site.
Information for doctors
Specialist advice for doctors regarding drug and alcohol problems (24 hour service)
NSW: Drug and Alcohol Specialist Advisory Service: Ph: 1800 023 687 or (02) 9361 8006
Vic, Tas, NT: Drug and Alcohol Specialist Advisory Service. Ph: 1800 812 804 or (03) 9416 1818
ACT: Alcohol and Drug Program. Ph: (02) 6205 4545
WA: Dept of Health Clinical Advisory Service. Ph 1800 688 847 or (08) 9442 5042
Qld: Alcohol and Drug Information Service. Ph: (07) 3636 7098 or (07) 363607599