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Every day, in every corner of our world, deadly drugs take thousands of lives. Most of the drugs are familiar because they have been around for decades such as legal and illegal opioids, stimulants, depressants, hallucinogens, and more. You can probably name several of the drugs without having to think about it too hard. However, there are at least five dangerous drugs you may not have heard about.
Many of the five deadly drugs have irreversible, life-altering effects, so whether you experiment with drugs or not, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with these little-known substances. Your knowledge may help save a friend or loved one from addiction or overdose.
Khat is common in the Middle East and is as popular as coffee in some areas. The drug contains two active ingredients known as cathine and cathinone which produce stimulant-like effects. Typically, people chew the leaves of the Khat plant, retaining it in the cheek, similar to chewing tobacco. Some users make a tea or chewalbe past out to the dried leaves. Others sprinkle it on food or smoke the dried leaves.
Street names for Khat may include:
Khat produces various effects, some of which can be dangerous to a person’s health. Immediate effects of Khat include increased blood pressure and heart rate. Other effects may include hyperactivity, paranoia, hallucinations, nightmares, and grandiose delusions. With chronic use, Khat can cause suicidal thoughts, depression, and violence.
Long-term use of Khat can lead to overdose. The signs of overdose may include difficulty breathing, increased blood pressure and heart rate, delusions, and loss of appetite. In some cases, liver damage and cardiac problems have occurred.
Because Khat can give users a sense of invincibility, many terrorists use the drug before going on a mission. Additionally, some terrorist organizations profit from manufacturing, trafficking, and selling the drug.
Foxy Methoxy is a synthetic drug that produces hallucinogenic effects. The chemical name is 5-methoxy-N, N-diisopropyltryptamine. Foxy belongs to a class of drugs known as tryptamines. Typically, Foxy is available in powder, tablet, or capsule form and can be smoked or snorted. The drug is popular among teens and young adults at raves and other venues where club drugs are used.
Foxy is an illegal, Schedule 1 drug that has a high potential for abuse. The drug produces various physical and psychological effects such as:
Physical effects of Foxy:
Psychological effects of Foxy:
Using Foxy Methoxy is dangerous due to the lack of control over the purity of the drug, which can cause fatal consequences.
Benzo Fury is a hallucinogen and a stimulant, similar to MDMA. The drug’s effects can last up to 14 hours due to its high potency. Benzo Fury is an illegal drug generally made from amphetamines (Adderall) and entactogens (MDMA). The effects produced may include high energy, increased alertness, heightened feelings of affection, and hallucinations. These effects peak after two or three hours,but may persist for 14 to 24 hours.
The physical and mental signs of Benzo Fury addiction may include:
Benzo Fury is sold legally and is often labeled “not for human consumption.” This dishonest labeling allows the drug to be purchased without risk of punishment.
Devils’s Breath is also known as Scopolamine and Scopolamine Datura. Criminal use Devil’s Breath to control their victim’s mind and actions without leaving any memories of the incident. The drug eliminates a person’s free will, making it easy for predators to control the individual. For instance, a person will submissively withdraw money from a teller machine and give it to the predator.
Scopolamine is odorless and tasteless and may be ingested orally, intravenously, or through inhalation. Some people grind the roots and flowers of the tree to create a hallucinogenic tea. Using large amounts of deadly drugs like Scopolamine can be fatal.
Krokodil, the street name for the illicitly produced concoction that contains the semi-synthetic opioid, Desomorphine. Other chemicals used to produce Krokodil may include iodine, red phosphorus, organic solvent, alkali solutions, and codeine tablets. The name, Krokodil, refers to the leather-like skin that appears around injection sites making the drug one of the most disfiguring drugs used today.
Due to its heroin-like effects and low cost, the name “poor man’s heroin” is popular.
The most toxic effects of Krokodil use may include skin ulcerations, necrosis, and gangrene which can lead to limb amputation or ultimately, death.
Deadly drugs continuously become more potent, addictive, and harmful. Nothing seems effective in slowing the spread of new, designer drugs that take lives daily. While we can’t prevent drugs from circulating, we can help those who become addicted to them.
Design for Change Recovery provides effective, affordable treatment for any kind of drug addiction. We are in-network with many insurance providers to help you get the high level of care you deserve. You should also know that our program is fully licensed by the state of California and JCAHO certified.
Contact our Lancaster, CA facility to learn more about our comprehensive, full continuum of care. We will design a treatment plan customized to your unique needs.
Sources:
dea.gov/ – Khat
justice.gov/ – Foxy Fast Facts
drugfree.org/ – Party Drug Called “Benzo Fury” Presents Dangers, Rat Study Suggests
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ – Million Dollar Ride
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ – The Harmful Chemistry Behind Krokodil (Desomorphine) Synthesis and Mechanisms of Toxicity