In the coming weeks, we look to utilize the anonymity of the internet to hopefully help persons involved with drugs learn from and even speak with members of our church who have beaten the habits.

Please check back often as we place testimonies from members and other persons who have used their trust and faith in Jesus to help free themselves of the destructive lifestyle that comes with drug use.

Link: Partnership for a Drug Free Dekalb County

www.partnershipdekalb.org

(Please take some time to visit this site)

Link: Mother against Meth-Amphetamine

www.mamasite.net

(Please take some time to visit this site)

Testimonies

(This was written by a young Indian girl who was in jail for drug charges, and was addicted to meth).

She wrote this while in jail. As you will soon read, she fully grasped the horrors of the drug, as she tells in this simple yet profound poem. She was released from jail, but, true to her story, the drug owned her. They found her dead not long after, with the needle still in her arm.)

 

My Name Is "Meth"

I destroy homes, I tear families apart, take your children, and that's just
the start. I'm more costly than diamonds, more precious than gold, the
sorrow I bring is a sight to behold.

If you need me, remember I'm easily found, I live all around you, in
schools and in towns. I live with the rich; I live with the poor; I live
down the street and maybe next door.

I'm made in a lab, but not like you think, I can be made under the kitchen sink. In your child's closet, and even in the woods.

If this scares you to death, well it certainly should.

I have many names, but there's one you know best, I'm sure you've heard of me, my name is crystal meth. My power is awesome; try me you'll see, but if you do, you may never break free. Just try me once and I might let you go, but try me twice, and I'll own your soul.

When I possess you, you'll steal and you'll lie, you do what you have to -- just to get high. The crimes you'll commit for my narcotic charms will be worth the pleasure you'll feel in your lungs, your nose and your arms.

You'll lie to your mother; you'll steal from your dad, When you see their tears, you should feel sad. But you'll forget your morals and how you were raised, I'll be your conscience, I'll teach you my ways.

I take kids from parents, and parents from kids, I turn people from God, and separate friends. I'll take everything from you, your looks and your pride, I'll be with you always -- right by your side.
You'll give up everything - your family, your home, Your friends, your money then you'll be alone. I'll take and take, till you have nothing more to give, When I'm finished with you, you'll be lucky to live.

If you try me be warned - this is no game, If given the chance, I'll drive you insane. I'll ravish your body, I'll control your mind, I'll own you completely, your soul will be mine.
The nightmares I'll give you while lying in bed, The voices you'll hear, from inside your head. The sweats, the shakes, the visions you'll see, I want you to know, these are all gifts from me.

But then it's too late, and you'll know in your heart, That you are mine, and we shall not part. You'll regret that you tried me, they always do, but you came to me, not I to you.

You knew this would happen, many times you were told, But you challenged my power, and chose to be bold. You could have said "no", and just walked away, if you could live that day over, now what would you say?

I'll be your master, you will be my slave, I'll even go with you, when you go to your grave. Now that you have met me, what will you do? Will you try me or not? It's ! All up to you.

I can bring you more misery than words can tell, come take my hand, let me lead you to hell.

Drug Rehabilitation

The following information is for Drug Rehabilitation Treatmen, Drug Rehab Programs, Prescription Drug Addiction, and Alcohol Detox. Call Toll free for help 1-866-323-5608 are visit their web-site at www.drug-rehabilitation.org

Substance Abuse Study Posted 1/21/2005

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Substance Abuse Study

 

 

Drugs are all over the world and the problems that are associated with drugs affect people all over the world. Drugs affect the users, the families and also the friends. Many lives are taken as a result of substance abuse. Overdoses, suicides and driving accidents result from substance abuses. Drug abuse is a serious problem all over the world and it is time that people become aware of the issue. In order to combat substance abuse, one must have knowledge about substance abuse and get an understanding as to why people use drugs, what attracts people to use them and how to help people overcome substance abuse.

 It is important to note that the typical “drug abuser” has been stereotyped as the one who wants to be with the “cool crowd” and hangs out with “the wrong people”. You must be careful not to judge someone by the crowd that they hang out with and other things. There is need for concern but do not be so quick to label someone a “drugee” because he/she fits the description. However, as I said previously, there should be concern and observation of changes. There is another type of drug abuse that is somewhat accepted in society. That’s right! You may ask what is that. I am glad that you asked. It is the person who is “hooked” on prescription drugs. People can easily become addicted to pain pills and anti-depressants. There are many drugs available to the addict and non-addict. I believe that for most people it started out as an innocent “just try it” out of curiosity experience but things got more involved than they ever imagined.

 I thank God that He somehow kept me from trying “drugs”. However, my “drug”, as a teenager, was alcohol. Alcohol took me farther than I wanted to go. I feel like drug abuse needs to be studied. There are many people wanting to be free from drugs! There are many families and friends that want their family members and friends to be free from the drugs that have robbed time from all people involved.

 

 I have asked some people that I know to answer questions about drugs and their effects. Also, I told them to write down any questions that they thought should be asked and answer them. Next I asked them to write a personal testimony of their bondage to drugs and what enabled them to be free from substance abuse. In advance I thank each and everyone, who participated in this program, from the bottom of my heart. I pray that this article will help others to be free and lives to be restored in Jesus name.

 

At the end of this article I will place a contact e-mail address if you need to contact someone who can council and listen to situations concerning substance abuse. The people will be people who have used drugs and have a first hand knowledge the situation. If you need someone to speak at an event concerning drug abuse, e-mail the included address and I can arrange it.  There will be some that will be glad to talk to anyone that is seeking help and needs to talk to someone who has “been there”.  

 

·        evangelismdirector@adelphia.net

·        tdhart@adelphia.net

·        www.fpfamilyworshipcenter.org

 

 The following questions were asked and answered:

 

1.      What lures or draws people into using drugs?

 

The most frequent answers to this question were; depression, peer pressure, and a need for an “edge” for the pressures of the world.

 

2.      What attracted you to use drugs?

 

The most popular answers were; wanting to be in the “cool crowd” and pressure of someone and family problems.

 

 

3.       At what point did you realize that you definitely had a real problem with drugs?

 

The answers to this question varied. They were recorded as follows:

a)      when started having hallucinations.

b)      when using whatever money that was available to get the  next fix.

c)      “When I was in jail and realized what I had given up just to do drugs and party.”

 

4.      How did the drug(s) make you feel? [Did they make you feel high or what?]

 

Once again there was an array of answers to this question. The responses were:

a)      “Great, like you were on top of the world until the hangover.”

b)      “Forgetting problems till the drugs were gone, then looking forward to the next time.”

 

 

 

5.      What would you tell someone, who is using drugs, that wants to get off of them?

 

The responses to this question were all the same. The replies were only Jesus can get people off of the drugs.

 Below I will list some of the answers verbatim:

“Lean totally on Jesus Christ. He is the only way to victory.”

“With or without rehab, the only hope for a life free from drugs is Jesus.”

“Get God in your life, talk to Jesus, get Satan out! I tried every rehab, if only I went to God first.”

 

 

 

6.      What advice would you give to someone that is considering using drugs?

 

I will list the responses to this question verbatim.

1.      “Don’t do it. You will be sorry. It will change your life and others in your life too. Your mind is so unclear to how many lives you change.”

2.      “ That would be the biggest mistake of their lives. I just hope they realize that before they lose everything and everyone they love.

3.      “Don’t do it. You never know what you will do or where you’ll end up after trying drugs.”

  

7.      If you attended church and used drugs at the same time, how did that situation make you feel? (This is a question aimed at the Christian who is struggling with drugs and faith. I believe that there are some Christians who may possibly struggle with this. However, I may be wrong.)

 

Below I will list the answers that I received.

 

“ Yes I did. I went to church and did drugs at the same time. It felt like a battle was going on inside me which was one by the master, as you would call “Daddy” and Satan pulling me on the other end. The outcome; the Lord won.”

 

 “I never did that. I always isolated myself from anyone that didn’t do drugs with me.”

 

 “Well, when I first started using alcohol and marijuana, we still attended church. But I wasn’t totally saved at this time I just played church, I dressed up and tried to look and act normal.

  I believed in Jesus, but I didn’t know him as my Lord. I always tried to make deals with God if I needed something. But never was truly sorry for what I did. I always thought one day I’ll get right with God, but not now.”

 

What drugs are commonly abused?
NIDA and other agencies monitor what drugs are being abused by tracking trends in drug abuse through many different surveys and data collection systems. Annually, NIDA supports the collection of data on drug abuse patterns among secondary school students and young adults through the Monitoring the Future Study (MTF). The table below provides 2004 MTF data for some commonly abused drugs among 8th, 10th, and 12th graders. NIDA has also gathered information on types of commonly abused drugs, such as street and commercial names and health effects, into a chart available on line at /DrugPages/DrugsofAbuse.html.

NIDA also monitors general and emerging drug abuse trends through its Community Epidemiology Work Group which meets twice yearly to discuss drug abuse patterns in major metropolitan areas across the nation.

MTF 2004 Data for Current* Use
Drug/Type of Drug	8th grade	10th grade	12th grade
Any Illicit Drug	8.4%	18.3%	23.4%
Nicotine/Tobacco - Cigarettes - Smokeless Tobacco	9.2% 4.1%	16.0% 4.9%	25.0% 6.7%
Marijuana	6.4%	15.9%	19.9%
Inhalants	4.5%	2.4%	1.5%
Methamphetamine	0.6%	1.3%	1.4%
Ecstasy (MDMA)	0.8%	0.8%	1.2%
Cocaine	0.9%	1.7%	2.3%
Heroin	0.5%	0.5%	0.5%
MTF 2004 Data for Past Year** Use
Prescription Drugs	8th grade	10th grade	12th grade
Ritalin	2.5%	3.4%	5.1%
Tranquilizers	2.5%	5.1%	7.3%
Amphetamines	4.9%	8.5%	10.0%
Anabolic Steroids	1.1%	1.5%	2.5%
OxyContin	1.7%	3.5%	5.0%
Vicodin	2.5%	6.2%	9.3%

* "Current" use is use at least once in past 30 days prior to being surveyed.
** "Past Year" use is use at least once in the year prior to being surveyed.

What is drug addiction?
Drug addiction is a complex brain disease. It is characterized by drug craving, seeking, and use that can persist even in the face of extremely negative consequences. Drug-seeking may become compulsive in large part as a result of the effects of prolonged drug use on brain functioning and, thus, on behavior. For many people, relapses are possible even after long periods of abstinence. For more information, visit /about/welcome/aboutdrugabuse.

How quickly can I become addicted to a drug?
There is no easy answer to this. If and how quickly you might become addicted to a drug depends on many factors including the biology of your body. All drugs are potentially harmful and may have life-threatening consequences associated with their abuse. There are also vast differences among individuals in sensitivity to various drugs. While one person may use a drug one or many times and suffer no ill effects, another person may be particularly vulnerable and overdose with first use. There is no way of knowing in advance how someone may react.

How do I know if someone is addicted to drugs?
If a person is compulsively seeking and using a drug despite negative consequences, such as loss of job, debt, physical problems brought on by drug abuse, or family problems, then he or she probably is addicted. Seek professional help to determine if this is the case and, if so, the appropriate treatment.

What are the physical signs of abuse or addiction?
The physical signs of abuse or addiction can vary depending on the person and the drug being abused. For example, someone who abuses marijuana may have a chronic cough or worsening of asthmatic symptoms. Each drug has short-term and long-term physical effects. Stimulants like cocaine increase heart rate and blood pressure, whereas opioids like heroin may slow the heart rate and reduce respiration.

If a pregnant woman abuses drugs, does it affect the fetus?
Many substances including alcohol, nicotine, and other drugs of abuse can have negative effects on the developing fetus because they are transferred to the fetus across the placenta. For example, nicotine has been connected with premature birth and low birth weight as has the use of cocaine.

Whether a baby's health problems, if caused by a drug, will continue as the child grows, is not always known. Research does show that children born to mothers who used marijuana regularly during pregnancy may have trouble concentrating, even when older. Our research continues to produce insights on the effects of drug abuse on the fetus.

Are there effective treatments for drug addiction?
Drug addiction can be effectively treated with behavioral-based therapies and, for addiction to some drugs such as heroin or nicotine, medications. Treatment will vary for each person depending on the type of drug(s) being used, and multiple courses of treatment may be needed to achieve success. Research has revealed 13 basic principles that underlie effective drug addiction treatment discussed in NIDA's Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide.

Where can I find information about drug treatment programs?
For referrals to treatment programs, call 1-800-662-HELP, or visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration online at http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/.

NIDA publishes an expanding series of treatment manuals, the "clinical toolbox," that gives drug treatment providers research-based information for creating effective treatment programs.

What is detoxification, or "detox"?
Detoxification is the process of allowing the body to rid itself of a drug while managing the symptoms of withdrawal. It is often the first step in a drug treatment program and should be followed by treatment with a behavioral-based therapy and/or a medication, if available. Detox alone with no follow-up is not treatment.

What is withdrawal? How long does it last?
Withdrawal is the variety of symptoms that occur after use of some addictive drugs is reduced or stopped. Length of withdrawal and symptoms vary with the type of drug. For example, physical symptoms of heroin withdrawal may include: restlessness, muscle and bone pain, insomnia, diarrhea, vomiting, and cold flashes. These physical symptoms may last for several days, but the general depression, or dysphoria (opposite of euphoria) that often accompanies heroin withdrawal may last for weeks. In many cases withdrawal can be easily treated with medications to ease the symptoms, but treating withdrawal is not the same as treating addiction.

What is NIDA’s Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network (CTN)?
Clinical trials are research studies that answer specific questions about new treatments for health conditions such as drug addiction. NIDA’s CTN seeks to test new treatments for drug addiction, both medication and behavioral-based, in community settings.

NIDA has established a network of CTN centers across the country. Each center partners with several community treatment programs where patient volunteers are recruited for clinical trials. Researchers and practitioners involved in the CTN work together to determine treatment concepts to be tested. To date, eight different treatment protocols and three survey studies have been completed in our national clinical trials infrastructure. NIDA researchers are also training providers in the delivery of such treatments and, in so doing, are beginning to infuse evidence-based practices into the diverse culture of community treatment. This, in turn, is leading to advances in the way treatment is provided in this country.

Researchers, community treatment providers, and people who want to learn about participating in the CTN should visit /CTN/Index.htm.

How does NIDA ensure its research findings are used by treatment providers?
NIDA partners with other NIH Institutes, Federal agencies, and community and professional organizations to bring research findings to community and other treatment settings. In a landmark initiative begun in 2001, NIDA and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) developed what has come to be known as the Blending Initiative. This involves an interagency agreement designed to meld science and practice by encouraging the use of current evidence-based treatment interventions by professionals in the drug abuse treatment field.

"Blending Teams," comprising NIDA researchers and staff from the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment’s (CSAT’S) Addiction Technology Transfer Center (ATTC) Network are charged with disseminating research results for adoption and implementation in practice settings. Specifically, each team develops a strategic dissemination plan for introducing particular research findings using a number of different mechanisms—such as trainings, self-study programs, workshops, and distance learning opportunities—for effective adoption within communities. This effort also will establish and maintain regional and national partnerships with drug abuse researchers and community-based treatment providers as well as policy makers, stakeholders, and the general public.

This NIDA/SAMHSA-ATTC collaboration is an important mechanism for disseminating recent progress in drug addiction research and forging important linkages. Reaching individuals who are providing services to people with substance use disorders is imperative to the success of drug abuse treatment programs throughout the country.

What are the costs of drug abuse to society?
It is estimated that in 2002 illegal drug use cost America close to $181 billion:

·                       $129 billion in lost productivity

·                       $16 billion in healthcare costs

·                       $36 billion in other costs, such as efforts to stem the flow of drugs.

For more details on the economic cost of drug abuse, visit http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/publications/economic_costs/.

Beyond the raw numbers are other costs to society:

·                       spread of infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C either through sharing of drug paraphernalia or unprotected sex

·                       deaths due to overdose or other complications from drug use

·                       effects on unborn children of pregnant drug users

·                       other effects such as crime and homelessness.

How can I receive educational materials regarding drug abuse?
NIDA produces a variety of educational materials for the general public and healthcare providers:

·                       Research Report Series

·                       NIDA Infofacts

·                       NIDA NOTES

·                       Therapy Manuals

·                       Community Alert Bulletins

NIDA’s materials are available online. For hard copies, NIDA maintains an online publications catalog, and orders can be placed by calling the National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information at 1-800-729-6686. Many of our publications are available in both English and Spanish.

For teachers and students, NIDA Goes Back to School provides science-based drug abuse education materials geared to students in grades K-12 and their teachers. All of these materials are free. Students are encouraged to join Sara Bellum, a budding neuroscientist, as she explores the effects of various drugs on the brain. Students and teachers can learn through the Mind Over Matter curriculum, or they can go online to join in Sara’s Quest an interactive web-based program. Educationally appropriate materials from NIDA’s collaboration with Scholastic Marketing Partners, the in-school marketing division of Scholastic, the global children’s publishing and media company, also are available in compilations by year from NIDA’s publications catalog and online through NIDA Goes Back to School. These products include articles and posters from the Heads Up: Real News About Drugs and Your Body program through which Scholastic features NIDA science-based articles on drug abuse and addiction in its Classroom Magazines. ScholasticNews.com also maintains a Heads Up Web site at www.scholastic.com/headsup. Also available is Marijuana: Facts for Teens and a companion booklet, Marijuana: Facts Parents Need to Know.

Is permission required to use parts of or reproduce these materials?
Unless otherwise specified, NIDA's products are in the public domain and can be copied as a whole without seeking permission from NIDA. Also, text selections and graphics that do not have source citations listed beside, above, or below them can also be used without permission. If the person or organization using such material wishes to cite the document or text, standard citation formats relating to publications and Web sites should be followed.

Please note, however, that if a person or organization wishes to use text selections and graphics that do have source citations listed beside, above, or below them, permission for use will need to be sought directly from the listed source.

NIDA Unveils Campaign to Send Teens the Message about the Link Between Drug Abuse and HIV

 

	For Release November 29, 2005 "Drug Abuse and HIV: Learn the Link" is the message of a new public awareness campaign announced November 29, 2005, by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), a component of the National Institutes of Health. "Drug abuse prevention is HIV prevention," says NIDA Director Dr. Nora D. Volkow. "Research has shown that a significant proportion of young people are not concerned about becoming infected with HIV. In recent years, the number of young people in the United States diagnosed with AIDS rose substantially. Because drug use encourages risky behaviors that can promote HIV transmission, NIDA views drug abuse treatment as essential HIV prevention." While research has shown that a large proportion of young people are not concerned about becoming infected with HIV, the reality is that there exists a very real danger for those engaged in risky behaviors. In addition, minority populations are disproportionately affected by the health consequences of drug abuse and HIV. For example, in 2004, black and Hispanic women represented about 25 percent of all U.S. women, yet they accounted for more than 80 percent of AIDS cases diagnosed in women that year. African-Americans, while they make up just 12 percent of the population, accounted for approximately half of the total AIDS cases diagnosed in 2004. NIDA and partnering organizations - including the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), the AIDS Alliance for Children, Youth & Families, and the United Negro College Fund Special Programs Corporation - are working together to get this important message about the link between drug abuse and HIV to teens and young adults. In addition to public service announcements distributed to television stations across the country, NIDA has launched a website, www.hiv.drugabuse.gov that provides the latest scientific findings on the relationship between drug abuse and HIV. One item on the Institute's new website is its recently released HIV/AIDS Research Report which provides an overview of the latest NIDA-supported research into the multiple ways in which drugs of abuse contribute to the spread of HIV. For example, the Research Report notes that studies supported by NIDA already have shown that drug abuse can interfere with the efficacy of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), a treatment that can greatly extend the lives of people infected with HIV. Other research has shown that HIV can continue to replicate in people who abuse methamphetamine, despite taking HAART as prescribed. The National Institute on Drug Abuse is a component of the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIDA supports most of the world's research on the health aspects of drug abuse and addiction. The Institute carries out a large variety of programs to ensure the rapid dissemination of research information and its implementation in policy and practice. Fact sheets on the health effects of drugs of abuse and further information on NIDA research can be found on the NIDA web site at http://www.drugabuse.gov.
	2005 Monitoring the Future Survey Shows Continued Decline in Drug Use by Students   For Release December 19, 2005 Overall, the 2005 Monitoring the Future (MTF) survey showed good news. While there was no substantive change in any illicit drug use between 2004 and 2005, analysis of the survey revealed an almost 19 percent decline in past month use of any illicit drug by 8th, 10th, and 12th graders between 2001 and 2005. This trend is driven largely by decreasing rates of marijuana use among these students. For example, since 2001, past month use of marijuana has fallen by 28 percent among 8th graders and by 23 percent among 10th graders. Since 1975 the MTF survey has measured drug, alcohol, and cigarette use and related attitudes among adolescent students nationwide. Survey participants report their drug use behaviors across three time periods: lifetime, past year, and past month. Overall, 49,347 students in the 8th, 10th, and 12th grades from 402 public and private schools participated in this year's survey. The survey is funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and conducted by the University of Michigan. While the 2005 survey showed a continuing general decline in drug use, there are continued high rates of non-medical use of prescription medications, especially opioid painkillers. For example, in 2005, 9.5 percent of 12th graders reported using Vicodin in the past year, and 5.5 percent of these students reported using OxyContin in the past year. Long term trends show a significant increase in the abuse of OxyContin from 2002 to 2005 among 12th graders. Also of concern is the significant increase in the use of sedatives/barbiturates among 12th graders since 2001. "I'm pleased to see the decreased drug use noted in this survey; however, the upward trend in prescription drug abuse is disturbing," says NIH Director Dr. Elias Zerhouni. "We need to ensure that young people understand the very real risks of abusing any drug." "While cigarette smoking is at lowest levels in the history of the survey and overall drug use among teens and adolescents is continuing to decline, there remain areas of concern with specific drugs of abuse such as prescription painkillers," says Dr. Nora D. Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), National Institutes of Health. "Prescription drugs are very powerful medicines that are effective when used properly and with a doctor's supervision. Using these drugs without a prescription is dangerous. ItÕs imperative that teens get this message." Among the survey's findings were the following changes from 2004 to 2005: ·                       Lifetime use of cigarettes declined 2 percent among 8th graders; declined 1.7 percent among 10th graders; and declined 2.8 percent among 12th graders; ·                       Past year use of alcohol was down 2.7 percent among 8th graders; down 1.5 percent among 10th graders; and down 2.1 percent among 12th graders;á ·                       Lifetime use of methamphetamine fell 1.2 percent among 10th graders and fell 1.7 percent among 12th graders; ·                       And past year use of steroids declined 1.1 percent among 12th graders. MTF is one of three major HHS-sponsored surveys that provide data on substance use among youth. Its website is http://monitoringthefuture.org. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), sponsored by HHS' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, is the primary source of statistical information on illicit drug use in the U.S. population 12 years of age and older. Formerly known as the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, the survey collects data in household interviews, currently using computer-assisted self-administration for drug-related items. More information is available at http://www.drugabusestatistics.samhsa.gov. The Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), part of HHS' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System, is a school survey that collects data from students in grades 9Ð12. The survey includes questions on a wide variety of health-related risk behaviors, not simply drug abuse. More information is available at http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dash/yrbs/index.htm. More information on MTF can be found at http://www.hhs.gov/news; or http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov Additional details are also available at http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/MTF.html The National Institute on Drug Abuse is a component of the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIDA supports most of the world's research on the health aspects of drug abuse and addiction. The Institute carries out a large variety of programs to ensure the rapid dissemination of research information and its implementation in policy and practice. Fact sheets on the health effects of drugs of abuse and further information on NIDA research can be found on the NIDA web site at http://www.drugabuse.gov.     Methamphetamine     Brief Description: An addictive stimulant that is closely related to amphetamine, but has longer lasting and more toxic effects on the central nervous system. It has a high potential for abuse and addiction. Street Names: Speed, meth, chalk, ice, crystal, glass. Effects: Increases wakefulness and physical activity and decreases appetite. Chronic, long-term use can lead to psychotic behavior, hallucinations, and stroke. Statistics and Trends: According to the 2002 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, about 12 million Americans have tried methamphetamine.     Cocaine     Brief Description: A powerfully addictive drug that is snorted, sniffed, injected, or smoked. Crack is cocaine that has been processed from cocaine hydrochloride to a free base for smoking. Street Names: Coke, snow, flake, blow, and many others. Effects: A powerfully addictive drug, cocaine usually makes the user feel euphoric and energetic. Common health effects include heart attacks, respiratory failure, strokes, and seizures. Large amounts can cause bizarre and violent behavior. In rare cases, sudden death can occur on the first use of cocaine or unexpectedly thereafter. Statistics and Trends: Adults 18 to 25 years old have the highest rate of current cocaine use, compared to other age groups. Source: NIDA Research Report: Cocaine Abuse and Addiction.     Heroin