Morphine. -For many years morphine was the drug of choice for the relief of pain. The street addict calls it white stuff, M, hard stuff, morpho, untie, and Miss Emma. Addicts use it when they have difficulty getting heroin. Small doses produce euphoria. The body’s tolerance for the drug build rapidly. and physical dependence on it Codeine. -More commonly abused in the form of cough preparations, codeine is less addictive than morphine or heroin. It is also less potent in inducing euphoria. When withdrawal symptoms occur, they are less severe than with more potent drugs. Methadone. –Methadone was invented by German chemists in 1941 when the supply of morphine to Germany ran low. It has many properties similar to those of morphine-it relieves pain and produces physical and psychological dependence. Methadone has one major difference from morphine and heroin–when methadone is taken orally, under medical supervision, it prevents withdrawal symptoms for approximately 24 hours. STIMULANTS. -Stimulants are drugs that stimulate the central nervous system. The most widely known stimulant in this country is caffeine, an ingredient of coffee, tea, cola, and other beverages. Since the effects of caffeine are relatively mild, its use is socially acceptable and not an abuse problem. However, the use of the more potent synthetic stimulants such as amphetamines, methyl phenidate, and phenmetrazine can result in abuse problems. Stimulants produce excitation, increased activity, and an ability to go without sleep for extended periods. The main trait of stimulant abusers is excessive activity. They are irritable and argumentative, appear extremely nervous, and have difficulty sitting. In some cases, the pupils of their eyes will be dilated even in a brightly lit place. Stimulant abusers often go for long periods without sleeping or eating and usually cannot resist letting others know about it. Cocaine. -Cocaine is a white or colorless crystalline powder. Persons who abuse cocaine either inhale the powder or inject it directly into the bloodstream. It can induce euphoria, excitation, anxiety, a sense of increased muscular strength, and talkativeness; it can also reduce the feeling of fatigue. It causes the pupils to become dilated and the heart rate and blood pressure to increase. In larger doses, cocaine can produce fever, vomiting, convulsions, hallucinations, and paranoid delusions. An overdose can depress the heart and breathing functions so much that death results. “ Crack. -Crack is a relatively new form of cocaine. Crack is a street cocaine mixed with baking soda and water to remove impurities. It is about 50 to 60 percent pure, while street cocaine is 20 to 40 percent pure. Users can smoke crack without the fire hazard involved in free-basing. Crack produces a feeling of euphoria more quickly and with more intensity than cocaine snorted into the nasal passages. The high comes in 4 to 6 seconds versus 6 to 8 minutes from snorting. Crack causes blood vessels to constrict and the heart rate to rapidly increase, which leads to high blood pressure. Those changes can cause the heart or arteries to burst and can cause massive heart attacks. In the brain, crack triggers the release of neurotransmitters, causing the euphoric effect. Cocaine blocks the reuse of the neurotransmitters by the brain, thus leaving the brain in a depressed state. The more a person  gets  high,  the  more  their  supply  of neurotransmitters is depleted, and the deeper the depression that follows the euphoria. That rapidly progresses to a psychological dependence on the drug just for the person to feel normal. One reaction to crack is called excited delirium. In this state, a person becomes paranoid and starts shouting and thrashing. The person also becomes violent, with unexpected strength, often breaking mirrors, glass, and other objects. The pupils in the eyes dilate. The body also undergoes hyperthermia (overheating), causing the person to disrobe to cool off. Such episodes last about an hour. Sudden tranquility or a transition to a depressed state may follow, which can lead to respiratory arrest followed by death. Amphetamines. –Amphetamines are often called “uppers” or  pep  pills. Amphetamine and methamphetamine drugs provide help for various disorders. They help overweight patients reduce their appetites and provide relief for patients with narcolepsy, a disorder characterized by an overwhelming need for sleep. They also benefit selected patients with aggressive psychiatric or neurological disorders. Amphetamines have a drying effect on the mucous membranes of the mouth and nose and cause bad breath that is unidentifiable as to a specific odor such as onion, garlic, or alcohol. Because of the dryness of mouth, amphetamine abusers lick their lips to keep them moist. That often results in chapped and reddened lips, which, in severe cases, may become cracked and raw. Abusers may rub and scratch their nose vigorously and frequently to relieve the itching sensation caused by dryness of the mucous membrane in the nose. They often 3-10