The Truth Behind 8 Common Misconceptions About Drugs
Your spine doesn’t store LSD, and MDMA doesn’t put holes in your brain.
By Sara Chodosh July 20, 2018
Recreational drugs, especially ones you take at parties or concerts, can be easy to get misinformation about. Pixabay
Drugs, especially illegal ones, are notorious for their misinformation. Without a reliable knowledge base, users—from recreational ones to addicts—often rely on friends, online forums, and other untrustworthy information sources.
As such, misconceptions about these substances permeate the internet. We rounded up some of the more common ones and answered them with something more than rumours: we garnered assistance from Wilson Compton, the deputy director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Here’s what we found.
Smoking heroin is better for you than injecting it
Technically, by smoking the drug you avoid the potential disease risks that come with sharing needles. But this myth has less to do with inadvertent disease acquisition and more to do with the posit that smoking heroin is somehow less addictive or harmful to the body than injecting it because the drug doesn’t go straight into your veins. And that’s just not true.
“The harms associated with chasing the dragon [the slang term for smoking heroin] are very similar to injection in terms of people organizing their lives around the drug, impairing their work and their interactions with others,” Compton says. “Those are all the same and those are the harms that most of us are particularly concerned with.” He notes that in terms of physical risks, you do have less transmission of infectious diseases with a pipe than a needle, but that that’s only one of the concerns.
Inhaling heroin might feel like it’s less immediate or intense because it seems less direct—you’re inhaling fumes rather than sticking the heroin straight into your bloodstream. But Comptons says that’s not the case. “Inhaling might even be faster because our lungs have a huge surface area,” he explains. “At the very least it’s a toss up. People think injection is faster, but our lungs are extremely efficient drug delivery systems.”
MDMA puts holes in your brain
This one seems to have come from a study that associated MCPP, a related but significantly different compound from MDMA, with a Parkinson’s-like syndrome. Compton explains that the MCPP caused structural damage to the dopamine system, and that while there are MDMA-related compounds that can cause serious changes to your brain, there are “no significant direct brain structural changes” that scientists have associated with MDMA itself. Certainly under the influence of MDMA there’s a flood of serotonin, but researchers haven’t found changes to the structure of serotonin systems in MDMA users.
Your fat cells store LSD and THC, then release them when you exercise
Both compounds are fat soluble, but Compton says that “in terms of a release in significant quantities, that would be a myth.” It’s definitely not enough for you to feel high. But that’s not to say that marijuana (whose psychoactive ingredient is THC) isn’t still in your system for a long time. “For people that use marijuana regularly and heavily, it will be detectable for weeks,” says Compton. “There are impairments in driving performance for weeks after someone stops using it.” Many people aren’t aware of how long it takes to truly clear the blood of all THC, and even small amounts affect your driving.
As for LSD, that has more to do with the next misconception…
Your spinal column stores LSD and psilocybin, which reactivate when you crack your back
Compton says this one doesn’t sound likely, but that “certainly there’s been this issue of long term flashbacks from LSD that people re-experience months or years later.” He says no one is quiet sure whether this is a true drug experience, meaning it’s actually the active ingredient exerting some kind of effect on the brain, or whether it’s a memory. We can truly relive our memories, and if someone subconsciously reminds us of a psychedelic trip we may feel as if we’re momentarily high.
No one has been able to prove that these flashbacks are drug experiences are the result of the stored drug reactivating in your body, but as far as we know none of the psychoactive compounds in LSD, magic mushrooms, or cannabis can be stored long-term only to re-emerge.
PCP is an embalming fluid
This seems to be just a fundamental misunderstanding of both chemicals. PCP is an abbreviation for phencyclidine, which comes in both powder and liquid forms. Embalming fluid is usually a mixture of formaldehyde, methanol, glutaraldehyde, and other chemicals that help preserve human bodies for a short period of time. Sometimes people use the term “embalming fluid” as a street term for PCP, but they are most certainly not the same thing. True embalming fluid can kill you if injected or smoked. All of the chemicals in it are toxic and you should not put them in your body.
Incidentally, PCP itself is not terribly safe to be putting in your body—it can cause temporary psychosis, violent outbursts, dissociation from your body, convulsions, paranoia, suicidal impulses, and hallucinations, among other things—but that’s an issue for another time.
Bath salts can turn you into a cannibal
Though true cannibalism sounds unlikely to Compton, he says that temporary psychosis isn’t as far-fetched as it sounds. Bath salts, which have nothing to do with baths or salts, are stimulants and hallucinogens, which he says can combine to produce psychotic symptoms. The term is also not well-defined. Bath salts can be a variety of mixtures of synthetic chemicals and so can have unpredictable effects. But cannibalism? “That’s a severe exaggeration,” Compton says.
Marijuana’s not addictive
Compton says this is one of the top misconceptions he comes across. “Just like with many other substances, many people use them and don’t become addicted,” he explains, “But it’s estimated that one in 10 or 11 people that use marijuana will develop a regular habit.” Many people think of addicts as people who are obviously physically addicted to the effects of a drug, but a “regular habit” can also mean someone who starts organizing their life around the drug. If you continue smoking cannabis even though it’s causing problems in your life, especially if you want to stop and can’t seem to kick the habit, that’s an addiction.
Lots of people drink alcohol and never have a problem, Compton explains. They can have two drinks at a party and not feel compelled to have another for weeks. But some people end up wanting to drink most nights. Even if it just feels like having fun with friends regularly, if it becomes a situation where you can’t not drink, or you start planning to always be at the bar because you want something alcoholic, that becomes a regular habit. That’s problematic. The same goes for marijuana. Plenty of folks use it for legitimate reasons, like chronic pain, or only smoke recreationally and never feel compelled to keep going. But that doesn’t mean it’s not addictive for others .
Prescription drugs must be safe
This is the other myth that Compton gets a lot. “It couldn’t be further from the truth,” he says. “There’s a reason they require a prescription.” They may be safe and effective for the person they’re prescribed to, but they can be extremely dangerous to others. Plus, he notes, there are an awful lot of counterfeit drugs that look like prescription pills but actually contain other, toxic chemicals. Without testing it in a lab, you’ll never know the difference until you pop the pill and have a problem.
Even if you’re taking a legitimately prescribed pill, you can still be in danger. More than 40 percent of the opioid deaths in the U.S. involved a prescription. Just because a doctor signed a pad of paper doesn’t make it safe.
So be careful getting your information. Drugs, both prescription and illegal, can be dangerous. Don’t believe everything you hear, and be careful out there.
Source: https://www.popsci.com/drugs-common-misconceptions July 20, 2018
Ukweli wa Dhana Nane Mbaya Kuhusu Dawa za Kulevya Ugonjwa wa Mifupa Haujumuishi LSD, Na MDMA Haijumuishi Vifuko Katika Ubongo Wako Sara Chodosh, Mkurugenzi wa Idara ya Dawa za Kulevya, anasema kuwa dawa za kulevya, hasa zile zinazotumiwa kwenye karamu au maonyesho ya muziki, zinaweza kuwa rahisi kupata habari zisizo sahihi. Dawa za kulevya za Pixabay, hasa zile zisizo halali, zinajulikana sana kwa habari zao zisizo sahihi. Bila msingi wa maarifa ya kuaminika, watumiaji - kutoka kwa wale wa burudani hadi wale wenye uraibu - mara nyingi hutegemea marafiki, vikao vya mtandaoni, na vyanzo vingine vya habari visivyoaminika. Kwa hiyo, maoni yasiyofaa kuhusu vitu hivyo yanaenea sana kwenye Intaneti. "Tuliandika makala kadhaa na kuwasiliana na Wilson Compton, Mkurugenzi Msaidizi wa Taasisi ya Kitaifa ya Matumizi mabaya ya Dawa za Kulevya.""" Hapa ni nini sisi kupatikana. "Kuvuta heroini ni bora kwa wewe kuliko kuingiza dawa za kulevya, ""aliongeza, ""Kupiga sigara dawa ya kulevya unazuia hatari za ugonjwa zinazoweza kutokea kwa kushiriki sindano." Lakini hadithi hii haina uhusiano na kupata ugonjwa bila kukusudia na zaidi na kufanya na posit kwamba kuvuta heroini ni kwa njia fulani chini ya addictive au madhara kwa mwili kuliko sindano yake kwa sababu madawa ya kulevya si kwenda moja kwa moja katika mishipa yako. Na hilo si kweli. "Uharibifu unaohusishwa na kumfukuza joka [neno la kawaida la kuvuta heroini] ni sawa sana na sindano katika suala la watu kuandaa maisha yao kuzunguka dawa hiyo, kudhoofisha kazi yao na mwingiliano wao na wengine, "Compton anasema. "Hiyo ni yote sawa na hizo ni madhara ambayo wengi wetu ni hasa wasiwasi na. ""Anahesabu kwamba katika suala la hatari ya kimwili, una chini ya maambukizi ya magonjwa ya kuambukiza na bomba kuliko sindano, lakini kwamba ni moja tu ya wasiwasi." Kuingiza heroini inaweza kuhisi kama ni chini ya mara moja au kali kwa sababu inaonekana chini ya moja kwa moja - wewe ni kupumua moshi badala ya kuweka heroini moja kwa moja katika mtiririko wako wa damu. Lakini Comptons anasema kwamba si hivyo. "Huenda hata kupumua kukawa kwa kasi zaidi kwa sababu mapafu yetu yana eneo kubwa la uso", aeleza. <unk>Kwa kiwango cha chini ni <unk>toss juu. "Mchanganyiko wa MDMA na MDMA unaonekana kuwa ""mchanganyiko wa kuvutia"" ambao unahusiana na ugonjwa wa Parkinson." Compton anaelezea kwamba MCPP ilisababisha uharibifu wa muundo wa mfumo wa dopamine, na kwamba wakati kuna misombo inayohusiana na MDMA ambayo inaweza kusababisha mabadiliko makubwa kwa ubongo wako, hakuna mabadiliko makubwa ya muundo wa ubongo wa moja kwa moja ambayo wanasayansi wamehusisha na MDMA yenyewe. Bila shaka chini ya ushawishi wa MDMA kuna mafuriko ya serotonini, lakini watafiti hawajapata mabadiliko katika muundo wa mifumo ya serotonini katika watumiaji wa MDMA. "Kulingana na utafiti wa utafiti, ""kila kemikali huweza kuyeyushwa katika mafuta, lakini kwa kiasi kikubwa, hiyo ingekuwa hadithi tu.""" Lakini hiyo si kusema kwamba bangi (ambayo kiungo psychoactive ni THC) bado si katika mfumo wako kwa muda mrefu. "Kwa watu wanaotumia bangi kwa ukawaida na kwa wingi, itagunduliwa kwa majuma kadhaa", anasema Compton. Kuna hasara katika utendaji wa kuendesha gari kwa wiki baada ya mtu kuacha kuitumia. Watu wengi hawajui ni muda gani inachukua kweli kusafisha damu ya THC yote, na hata kiasi kidogo huathiri kuendesha gari yako. "Kama kwa LSD, hiyo ina zaidi ya kufanya na wazo la pili makosa... spine yako kuhifadhi LSD na psilocybin, ambayo reactivate wakati wewe crack nyuma yako. ""Hii moja haina sauti uwezekano, lakini kwamba ""hakika imekuwa suala hili la muda mrefu flashbacks kutoka LSD kwamba watu re-maisha miezi au miaka baadaye"" anasema hakuna mtu ni utulivu uhakika kama hii ni uzoefu wa kweli dawa, maana ni kweli kiungo hai kutoa aina fulani ya athari juu ya ubongo." Tunaweza kweli kuishi tena kumbukumbu zetu, na kama mtu subconsciously inatukumbusha ya safari psychedelic tunaweza kuhisi kama sisi ni kwa muda mrefu juu. Hakuna mtu aliyeweza kuthibitisha kwamba kumbukumbu hizi ni uzoefu wa dawa za kulevya, ni matokeo ya dawa iliyohifadhiwa inayofanya kazi tena katika mwili wako, lakini kwa kadiri tunavyojua hakuna kiwanja cha psychoactive katika LSD, uyoga wa kichawi, au bangi kinachoweza kuhifadhiwa kwa muda mrefu tu ili kuibuka tena. PCP ni mtiririko wa embalming, na ni muhimu sana kwa ajili ya matibabu ya ugonjwa wa ugonjwa wa ugonjwa wa ugonjwa wa ugonjwa wa ugonjwa wa ugonjwa wa ugonjwa wa ugonjwa wa ugonjwa wa ugonjwa wa ugonjwa wa ugonjwa wa ugonjwa wa ugonjwa wa ugonjwa wa ugonjwa wa ugonjwa wa ugonjwa wa ugonjwa. PCP ni kifupi cha phencyclidine, ambayo inakuja katika aina zote mbili za poda na umajimaji. Kwa kawaida, maji ya kuhifadhi mwili ni mchanganyiko wa formaldehyde, methanol, glutaraldehyde, na kemikali nyingine zinazosaidia kuhifadhi mwili wa mtu kwa muda mfupi. "Wakati mwingine watu hutumia neno ""mvuke wa kuunganisha"" kama neno la mitaani kwa PCP, lakini kwa hakika sio kitu kimoja." Kioevu halisi cha kuyeyusha kinaweza kukuua ukitiwa sindano au kuvutwa. Kemikali zote zilizomo ndani ya mchuzi huo ni sumu na haipaswi kuingizwa ndani ya mwili wako. Kwa bahati mbaya, PCP yenyewe si salama sana kuweka katika mwili wako - inaweza kusababisha psychosis ya muda, milipuko ya vurugu, dissociation kutoka mwili wako, mshtuko, paranoia, msukumo wa kujiua, na hallucinations, miongoni mwa mambo mengine - lakini hiyo ni suala kwa wakati mwingine. Chumvi za kuoga zinaweza kukufanya uwe mnywaji wa nyama Ingawa uharibifu wa kweli wa nyama ya binadamu hauonekani kuwa uwezekano kwa Compton, anasema kwamba ugonjwa wa akili wa muda si wa ajabu kama unavyoonekana. Chumvi za kuoga, ambazo hazina uhusiano wowote na kuoga au chumvi, ni vichocheo na hallucinogens, ambazo anasema zinaweza kuchanganya kuzalisha dalili za kiakili. Neno hilo pia halijafafanuliwa vizuri. Chumvi za kuoga zaweza kuwa mchanganyiko wa kemikali mbalimbali za synthetic na hivyo zaweza kuwa na athari zisizoweza kutabiriwa. Lakini ni ulaji wa binadamu? "Hiyo ni kupita kiasi sana", Compton asema. Marijuana <unk> si addictive Compton anasema hii ni moja ya maoni ya juu makosa yeye huja juu. "Kama ilivyo na dawa nyingine nyingi, watu wengi hutumia dawa hizo na hawawezi kuwa na uraibu, ""alieleza, ""lakini inakadiriwa kwamba mtu mmoja kati ya watu kumi au kumi na mmoja wanaotumia bangi watakuwa na tabia ya kawaida.""" Ikiwa unaendelea kuvuta bangi hata ingawa inasababisha matatizo katika maisha yako, haswa ikiwa unataka kuacha na hauwezi kuonekana kuacha tabia hiyo, hiyo ni uraibu. Watu wengi hunywa kileo na hawapati tatizo lolote, aeleza Compton. Wanaweza kunywa vinywaji viwili kwenye karamu na wasijihisi wamelazimika kunywa kinywaji kingine kwa majuma kadhaa. Lakini watu fulani hatimaye hutaka kunywa usiku mwingi. Hata kama unaonekana kama unafurahia na marafiki mara kwa mara, ikiwa inakuwa hali ambapo huwezi kunywa, au unaanza kupanga kuwa daima kwenye baa kwa sababu unataka kitu cha pombe, hiyo inakuwa tabia ya kawaida. Hilo ni tatizo. Ndivyo ilivyo na bangi. Watu wengi huitumia kwa sababu halali, kama vile maumivu ya kudumu, au huvuta sigareti kwa ajili ya burudani tu na hawajihisi wamelazimika kuendelea. Lakini hiyo haimaanishi kwamba si ya kulevya kwa wengine. Dawa za dawa lazima ziwe salama Hii ni hadithi nyingine ambayo Compton hupata mengi. "Hilo haliwezekani", asema. "Kuna sababu wanahitaji dawa. "Huenda iwe salama na yenye matokeo kwa mtu anayepatiwa dawa hiyo, lakini inaweza kuwa hatari sana kwa wengine. "Amesema: ""Kuna dawa nyingi bandia ambazo zinaonekana kama dawa za dawa lakini kwa kweli zina kemikali nyingine zenye sumu." Bila kuijaribu katika maabara, huwezi kamwe kujua tofauti mpaka unapochukua dawa hiyo na kuwa na tatizo. Hata ikiwa unachukua dawa iliyopendekezwa kisheria, bado unaweza kuwa hatarini. Zaidi ya asilimia 40 ya vifo vya watu wanaotumia dawa za kulevya nchini Marekani vinatokana na dawa za kulevya. Kwa sababu tu daktari alitia sahihi karatasi haifanyi iwe salama. Kwa hiyo uwe mwangalifu unapopata habari. Dawa za kulevya, za dawa za kulevya na zisizo halali, zaweza kuwa hatari. Usiamini kila kitu unachosikia, na uwe mwangalifu huko nje. "Kutoka kwa ""Dog-Popsy"" na ""Dog-Popsy"" na ""Dog-Popsy"" na ""Dog-Popsy"" na ""Dog-Popsy"" na ""Dog-Popsy"" na ""Dog-Popsy"" na ""Dog-Popsy"" na ""Dog-Popsy"" na ""Dog-Popsy"" na ""Dog-Popsy"" na ""Dog-Popsy"" na ""Dog-Popsy."""