Drugs and new trends - Drug awareness fact sheets

• Description: Tablets, capsules.
• Usual consumption methods: Ingested
• Common names: Downers, Nerve pills, Sleepers, Tranks, Bars, Z-Bars, Barbs
• Desired effects: Disinhibition, muscle relaxant effects, reduced anxiety, sedation, sleep.
• Side effects: Fatigue, lethargy, altered judgement/mood, decreased awareness, anterograde amnesia (occurring during drug use), blurred vision, vertigo, depression, hostility, aggressiveness, sexual disorder. In case of overdose: Stupor, deep sleep, coma. Withdrawal symptoms: Anxiety, tachycardia, palpitations, visual hallucinations, convulsions.
• Type of dependence: Physical and psychological dependence.
• Visible signs or symptoms: Irritability, disorientation, psychomotor disorder, confusion, dry mouth, skin rash, nausea and vomiting.
• Legal status: The possession of this substance without a prescription is illegal. The drugs as well as the precursors used to produce them are included in Schedules I to VIII of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. Offences range from simple possession to possession for the purpose of trafficking, trafficking, importing, exporting, possession for the purpose of exporting, and producing. All these offences are punishable by criminal sanctions.
• History: The first benzodiazepine was introduced in medicine in 1961. Since then, benzodiazepines have been widely used in medicine to treat anxiety and insomnia. These substances are normally produced by the pharmaceutical industry and take the form of tablets, gel caps and, occasionally, injectable solutions. Benzodiazepines act by weakening the central nervous system.^{Footnote 1}

• Description: White to brown powder, patches, tablets of different shapes and colours.
• Usual consumption methods: Topic, ingested (chewed) snorted, inhaled, injected
• Common names: China white, China girl, Persian girl, Egg White, Synthetic heroin, Patch, Sticky, Sticker
• Desired effects: Euphoria, pain relief, relaxation, sedation, control of withdrawal symptoms.
• Side effects: Dizziness, depression, anxiety, decreased breathing, blurred vision, decreased libido, loss of appetite, constipation. In case of overdose: Dropping blood pressure, slow breathing, clammy, cold and bluish skin, deep sleep, stupor, coma, death by respiratory depression (very quick).
• Type of dependence: Physical and psychological dependence.
• Visible signs or symptoms: Constricted pupils, sweating, dry mouth, nausea and vomiting, itching, injection marks.
• Legal status: The possession of this substance without a prescription is illegal. The drugs as well as the precursors used to produce them are included in Schedules I to VIII of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. Offences range from simple possession to possession for the purpose of trafficking, trafficking, importing, exporting, possession for the purpose of exporting, and producing. All these offences are punishable by criminal sanctions.
• History: In 4000 BC, poppy was already used for its analgesic effect. Opium use later spread to the Middle-East and North Africa. In the 16th Century, after thousands of years of oral use, the practice of smoking opium with or without tobacco started and the first opium-based pharmaceutical preparations were synthetized. At the beginning of the 19th century, morphine and codeine are extracted from opium. From 1935, several analogues of morphine are developed.^{Footnote 1}

• Description: Clear liquid, sometimes odourless, sometimes with light salty and soapy taste.
• Usual consumption methods: Ingested
• Common names: GH, Liquid ecstasy, petit jus, Date rape drug
• Desired effects: Euphoria, reduced inhibition, decreased anxiety, relaxation.
• Side effects: Slurred speech, sedation, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, urinary incontinence, muscular spasms, tremors, lack of coordination, general anesthesia, amnesia. In case of overdose: Seizures, hallucinations, decreased heart rate, hypotension, watering eyes, respiratory depression, unconsciousness, coma, death.
• Type of dependence: Physical dependence.
• Visible signs or symptoms: Sleepiness, confusion, amnesia, slowness of movements, decreased muscle strength.
• Legal status: This drug is illegal. The drugs as well as the precursors used to produce them are included in Schedules I to VIII of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. Offences range from simple possession to possession for the purpose of trafficking, trafficking, importing, exporting, possession for the purpose of exporting, and producing. All these offences are punishable by criminal sanctions.
• History: In the 1970s, GHB was used for medical purposes. Then, in the 1980s, it was sold as a food supplement in North America and Europe. The over-the-counter sale of GHB was prohibited in 1990 because of the many health problems associated to its use. In April 1998, GHB officially became a prohibited substance in Canada.^{Footnote 1}

• Description: Powder varying from white to brown.
• Usual consumption methods: Smoked/inhaled, injected
• Common names: Smack, China white, Hard stuff, Point, Jazz
• Desired effects: Euphoria, overall sensation of well-being, sedation.
• Side effects: Apathy (suppression of emotions), mood disruption, agitation or slowness of movements, lack of concentration, slurred speech, blurred vision, drowsiness. In case of overdose: Stupor, coma, respiratory depression, cardiopulmonary arrest, death.
• Type of dependence: Physical and psychological dependence
• Visible signs or symptoms: Constricted pupils, respiratory rate reduction, injection marks, slowed speech and movements, reduced appetite, itchiness and clammy skin, dry mouth, excessive sweating.
• Legal status: This drug is illegal. The drugs as well as the precursors used to produce them are included in Schedules I to VIII of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. Offences range from simple possession to possession for the purpose of trafficking, trafficking, importing, exporting, possession for the purpose of exporting, and producing. All these offences are punishable by criminal sanctions.
• History: Heroin was first synthesized from morphine by a British chemist in 1874 and was subsequently used as an analgesic. In 1920, the first cases of heroin injection were reported. In Canada, heroin was added to the list of prohibited substances in the Opium Act in 1923.^{Footnote 1}

• Description: Tablets, capsules or liquid.
• Usual consumption methods: Ingested, snorted, injected
• Common names: Oxy, OC, Hillbilly heroin, Percs
• Desired effects: Euphoria, pain relief, relaxation, sedation, control of withdrawal symptoms.
• Side effects: Dizziness, depression, anxiety, decreased breathing, blurred vision, decreased libido, loss of appetite, constipation. In case of overdose: Decreased blood pressure, slow breathing, clammy, cold and bluish skin, deep sleep, stupor, coma, death by respiratory depression.
• Type of dependence: Physical and psychological dependence
• Visible signs or symptoms: Injection marks, constricted pupils, sweating, dry mouth, nausea and vomiting, itching.
• Legal status: The possession of this substance without a prescription is illegal. The drugs as well as the precursors used to produce them are included in Schedules I to VIII of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. Offences range from simple possession to possession for the purpose of trafficking, trafficking, importing, exporting, possession for the purpose of exporting, and producing. All these offences are punishable by criminal sanctions.
• History: In 4000 BC, poppy was already used for its analgesic effect. Opium use later spread to the Middle-East and North Africa. In the 16th Century, after thousands of years of oral use, the practice of smoking opium with or without tobacco started and the first opium-based pharmaceutical preparations were synthetized. At the beginning of the 19th century, morphine and codeine are extracted from opium. From 1935, several analogues of morphine are developed.^{Footnote 1}

• Description: Tablets, capsules or liquid.
• Usual consumption methods: Ingested, snorted, injected
• Common names: Dilos, Hydro, Juice, Dillies, Dust
• Desired effects: Euphoria, pain relief, relaxation, sedation, control of withdrawal symptoms.
• Side effects: Dizziness, depression, anxiety, decreased breathing, blurred vision, decreased libido, loss of appetite, constipation. In case of overdose: Decreased blood pressure, slow breathing, clammy, cold and bluish skin, deep sleep, stupor, coma, death by respiratory depression.
• Type of dependence: Physical and psychological dependence
• Visible signs or symptoms: Injection marks, constricted pupils, sweating, dry mouth, nausea and vomiting, itching.
• Legal status: The possession of this substance without a prescription is illegal. The drugs as well as the precursors used to produce them are included in Schedules I to VIII of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. Offences range from simple possession to possession for the purpose of trafficking, trafficking, importing, exporting, possession for the purpose of exporting, and producing. All these offences are punishable by criminal sanctions.
• History: In 4000 BC, poppy was already used for its analgesic effect. Opium use later spread to the Middle-East and North Africa. In the 16th Century, after thousands of years of oral use, the practice of smoking opium with or without tobacco started and the first opium-based pharmaceutical preparations were synthetized. At the beginning of the 19th century, morphine and codeine are extracted from opium. From 1935, several analogues of morphine are developed.^{Footnote 1}

• Description: Tablets or gel caps, drinkable solution, injectable liquid.
• Usual consumption methods: Ingested, snorted, injected
• Common names: M, Morph, Red rockets
• Desired effects: Euphoria, pain relief, relaxation, sedation, control of withdrawal symptoms.
• Side effects: Dizziness, depression, anxiety, decreased breathing, blurred vision, decreased libido, loss of appetite, constipation. In case of overdose: Dropping blood pressure, slow breathing, clammy, cold and bluish skin, deep sleep, stupor, coma, death by respiratory depression.
• Type of dependence: Physical and psychological dependence.
• Visible signs or symptoms: Constricted pupils, sweating, dry mouth, nausea and vomiting, itching, injection marks.
• Legal status: The possession of this substance without a prescription is illegal. The drugs as well as the precursors used to produce them are included in Schedules I to VIII of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. Offences range from simple possession to possession for the purpose of trafficking, trafficking, importing, exporting, possession for the purpose of exporting, and producing. All these offences are punishable by criminal sanctions.
• History: In 4000 BC, poppy was already used for its analgesic effect. Opium use later spread to the Middle-East and North Africa. In the 16th Century, after thousands of years of oral use, the practice of smoking opium with or without tobacco started and the first opium-based pharmaceutical preparations were synthetized. At the beginning of the 19th century, morphine and codeine are extracted from opium. From 1935, several analogues of morphine are developed.^{Footnote 1}

• Description: Liquids that evaporate readily at room temperature (fuel, cleaning products, glue, aerosol, solvent and others).
• Usual consumption methods: Inhaled
• Common names: Air blast, Glue, Moon gas, Hippie crack, Whiteout, Sniff
• Desired effects: Euphoria, alcohol-like intoxication, perceptual distortion, hallucinations (auditory, visual and tactile), lightheadedness, disinhibition.
• Side effects: Partial or total amnesia of events that occur during intoxication, headaches, lethargy, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, stomach cramps, ringing in the ears. In case of overdose: Ataxia, muscle weakness, arrhythmia, anesthesia, convulsions, respiratory depression, coma, death.
• Type of dependence: Physical and psychological dependence.
• Visible signs or symptoms: Drowsiness, slurred speech, ataxia, agitation, aggressiveness, hypersalivation, sneezzing, cough, redness in the face, disorientation, confusion.
• Legal status: These substances are legal and available over-the-counter.
• History: Volatile substance abuse in Western countries is common since the early 1900s. Adolescent glue sniffing was first noted in the United States during the 1940s, while gas sniffing subsequently appeared during the following decade. ^{Footnote 2}

• Description: Substances in gas or liquid form used to induce general anesthesia (ether, chloroform, nitrous oxyde, etc.).
• Usual consumption methods: Inhaled
• Common names: Laughing gas (nitrous oxyde), Whippets
• Desired effects: Euphoria, laughing, alcohol-like intoxication, stimulation, loss of inhibition.
• Side effects: Headaches, nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, diarrhea. In case of overdose: Motor dysfunction, paresthesia, altered perceptions, convulsions, respiratory depression, arrhythmia, coma, death.
• Type of dependence: Psychological dependence.
• Visible signs or symptoms: Drowsiness, irrational or aggressive behaviour, disorientation, confusion, slurred speech, impaired coordination, general muscle weakness.
• Legal status: These substances are legal and available over-the-counter.
• History: Volatile substance abuse in Western countries is common since the early 1900s. Adolescent glue sniffing was first noted in the United States during the 1940s, while gas sniffing subsequently appeared during the following decade.^{Footnote 2}

• Description: Tablets of different shapes, colours and logos
• Usual consumption methods: Ingested
• Common names: Speed, Peanut, Pills
• Desired effects: Euphoria, increased energy and mental awareness, reduced appetite, sense of well-being.
• Side effects: Anxiety, irritability, impaired judgment, increased heart rate and body temperature, tactile hallucinations, reduced appetite, aggressive thoughts, anger, paranoia, insomnia. In case of overdose: Hypertension, chest pain, kidney failure, convulsions, toxic psychosis, coma, death.
• Type of dependence: Physical and psychological dependence
• Visible signs or symptoms: Agitation, dilated pupils, sweating or chills, dry mouth, nausea or vomiting, weight loss, tremors, confusion, necrosis of the skin.
• Legal status: This drug is illegal. The drugs as well as the precursors used to produce them are included in Schedules I to VIII of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. Offences range from simple possession to possession for the purpose of trafficking, trafficking, importing, exporting, possession for the purpose of exporting, and producing. All these offences are punishable by criminal sanctions.
• History: Amphetamine was first synthesized in 1887 by an Italian chemist. In 1920, amphetamine is used for the treatment of asthma. At the same time, methamphetamine was synthesized by a Japanese chemist. In 1937, amphetamine is recommended in the treatment of narcolepsy and depression. The large-scale production of the crystallized form of methamphetamine started around 1980. In 2005, methamphetamine was added to the list of prohibited substances in the Controlled Drugs and Other Substances Act in response to growing concerns about its negative consequences.

• Description: White powder also found in various colours
• Usual consumption methods: Smoked/inhaled, injected, snorted
• Common names: Meth, Speed
• Desired effects: Euphoria, increased energy and mental awareness, reduced appetite, sense of well-being.
• Side effects: Anxiety, irritability, impaired judgment, increased heart rate and body temperature, tactile hallucinations, reduced appetite, aggressive thoughts, anger, paranoia, insomnia. In case of overdose: Hypertension, chest pain, kidney failure, convulsions, toxic psychosis, coma, death.
• Type of dependence: Physical and psychological dependence
• Visible signs or symptoms: Agitation, dilated pupils, sweating or chills, dry mouth, nausea or vomiting, weight loss, tremors, confusion, necrosis of the skin.
• Legal status: This drug is illegal. The drugs as well as the precursors used to produce them are included in Schedules I to VIII of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. Offences range from simple possession to possession for the purpose of trafficking, trafficking, importing, exporting, possession for the purpose of exporting, and producing. All these offences are punishable by criminal sanctions.
• History: Amphetamine was first synthesized in 1887 by an Italian chemist. In 1920, amphetamine is used for the treatment of asthma. At the same time, methamphetamine was synthesized by a Japanese chemist. In 1937, amphetamine is recommended in the treatment of narcolepsy and depression. The large-scale production of the crystallized form of methamphetamine started around 1980. In 2005, methamphetamine was added to the list of prohibited substances in the Controlled Drugs and Other Substances Act in response to growing concerns about its negative consequences.

• Description: Fine glossed transparent crystals
• Usual consumption methods: Smoked/inhaled, injected
• Common names: Crystal meth, Glass, Ice, cristal, Tina
• Desired effects: Euphoria, increased energy and mental awareness, reduced appetite, sense of well-being.
• Side effects: Anxiety, irritability, impaired judgment, increased heart rate and body temperature, tactile hallucinations, reduced appetite, aggressive thoughts, anger, paranoia, insomnia. In case of overdose: Hypertension, chest pain, kidney failure, convulsions, toxic psychosis, coma, death.
• Type of dependence: Physical and psychological dependence
• Visible signs or symptoms: Agitation, dilated pupils, sweating or chills, dry mouth, nausea or vomiting, weight loss, tremors, confusion, necrosis of the skin.
• Legal status: This drug is illegal. The drugs as well as the precursors used to produce them are included in Schedules I to VIII of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. Offences range from simple possession to possession for the purpose of trafficking, trafficking, importing, exporting, possession for the purpose of exporting, and producing. All these offences are punishable by criminal sanctions.
• History: Amphetamine was first synthesized in 1887 by an Italian chemist. In 1920, amphetamine is used for the treatment of asthma. At the same time, methamphetamine was synthesized by a Japanese chemist. In 1937, amphetamine is recommended in the treatment of narcolepsy and depression. The large-scale production of the crystallized form of methamphetamine started around 1980. In 2005, methamphetamine was added to the list of prohibited substances in the Controlled Drugs and Other Substances Act in response to growing concerns about its negative consequences.

• Description: Shiny crystalline powder
• Usual consumption methods: Injected, snorted
• Common names: Coke, Powder, Coca, Snow
• Desired effects: Euphoria, increased sociability, energy and vigorous feeling, increased mental awareness and self-esteem, enhanced sensory perceptions (visual, auditory, kinesthetic and sexual).
• Side effects: Anxiety, depression, reduced appetite, accelerated heart rate, hypertension. In case of overdose: Chest pain, arrhythmia, confusion, convulsions, respiratory depression, coma, death.
• Type of dependence: Psychological dependence
• Visible signs or symptoms: Dilated pupils, dehydration, chapped (dried) nostrils, nosebleeds, injection marks, sniffing, dry mouth and lips, slurred speech, lack of coordination, sweating, tremors, hyperactivity.
• Legal status: This drug is illegal. The drugs as well as the precursors used to produce them are included in Schedules I to VIII of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. Offences range from simple possession to possession for the purpose of trafficking, trafficking, importing, exporting, possession for the purpose of exporting, and producing. All these offences are punishable by criminal sanctions.
• History: Coca leaf chewing by native people in South America dates back to the 1st Century. Around 1860 was the launch of Coca-Cola and Vin Mariani, both containing cocaine. Cocaine was later used as an anesthetic in dentistry and ophthalmology. After various cases of medical cocaine poisoning were reported, cocaine was finally removed from Coca-Cola and prohibited in the Opium and Drug Act in 1911.^{Footnote 1}

• Description: Little rocks colour ranging between white to yellowish cream to brown
• Usual consumption methods: Smoked/inhaled
• Common names: Crack, roche, Freebase
• Desired effects: Euphoria, increased sociability, energy and vigorous feeling, increased mental awareness and self-esteem, enhanced sensory perceptions (visual, auditory, kinesthetic and sexual).
• Side effects: Anxiety, depression, reduced appetite, accelerated heart rate, hypertension. In case of overdose: Chest pain, arrhythmia, confusion, convulsions, respiratory depression, coma, death.
• Type of dependence: Psychological dependence
• Visible signs or symptoms: Dilated pupils, dehydration, chapped (dried) nostrils, nosebleeds, injection marks, sniffing, dry mouth and lips, slurred speech, lack of coordination, sweating, tremors, hyperactivity.
• Legal status: This drug is illegal. The drugs as well as the precursors used to produce them are included in Schedules I to VIII of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. Offences range from simple possession to possession for the purpose of trafficking, trafficking, importing, exporting, possession for the purpose of exporting, and producing. All these offences are punishable by criminal sanctions.
• History: Coca leaf chewing by native people in South America dates back to the 1st Century. Around 1860 was the launch of Coca-Cola and Vin Mariani, both containing cocaine. Cocaine was later used as an anesthetic in dentistry and ophthalmology. After various cases of medical cocaine poisoning were reported, cocaine was finally removed from Coca-Cola and prohibited in the Opium and Drug Act in 1911.^{Footnote 1}

• Description: Crimson-brown leaves
• Usual consumption methods: Ingested (chewed)
• Common names: Khat, Qat, Tat, Tchat, African salad
• Desired effects: Euphoria, exaltation, increased energy, increased self-esteem, increased proclivity for social interaction.
• Side effects: Headaches, blurred vision, emotional instability, irritability, loss of appetite, hyperthermia, tachycardia and hypertension, depression. In case of overdose: Constipation, psychosis, paranoia, intracerebral hemorrhage, pulmonary edema and infarction.
• Type of dependence: Psychological dependence
• Visible signs or symptoms: Dilated pupils, anorexia, dry mouth.
• Legal status: This drug is illegal. The drugs as well as the precursors used to produce them are included in Schedules I to VIII of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. Offences range from simple possession to possession for the purpose of trafficking, trafficking, importing, exporting, possession for the purpose of exporting, and producing. All these offences are punishable by criminal sanctions.
• History: Catha edulis is used in ancestral rituals where fresh leaves are chewed for their stimulating effects. Khat is a shrub native to tropical East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, more particularly Ethiopia, Somalia and Yemen. The leaves contain amphetamine-like stimulants, namely cathinone and cathine, which are controlled substances in Canada since 1997. Substances such as mephedrone and MDPV are synthetic derivatives of cathinone and are found in the form of tablets and powder.

• Description: Crystals or crystalline powder generally white in colour
• Usual consumption methods: Snorted
• Common names: Bath salts, Plant food, Synthetic cocaine
• Desired effects: Euphoria, increased energy, excitement, increased mental awareness, increased sociability and sexual arousal.
• Side effects: Increased heart rate, hypertension, arrhythmia, hallucinations, agitation, chest pain, anxiety. In case of overdose: Panic attacks, extreme violence, paranoia, toxic psychosis, convulsions, death.
• Type of dependence: Psychological dependence
• Visible signs or symptoms: Confusion, excessive sweating, skin discolouration, nausea and vomiting, erratic behaviour, extreme agitation.
• Legal status: This drug is illegal. The drugs as well as the precursors used to produce them are included in Schedules I to VIII of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. Offences range from simple possession to possession for the purpose of trafficking, trafficking, importing, exporting, possession for the purpose of exporting, and producing. All these offences are punishable by criminal sanctions.
• History: MDPV is a synthetic derivative of cathinone, a controlled substance in Canada since 1997. Mephedrone is a synthetic derivative of cathinone, a controlled substance in Canada since 1997.

• Description: Tablets of different shapes, colours and logos
• Usual consumption methods: Ingested
• Common names: Speed, Ecstasy
• Desired effects: Euphoria, increased energy, excitement, increased mental awareness, increased sociability and sexual arousal.
• Side effects: Increased heart rate, hypertension, arrhythmia, hallucinations, agitation, chest pain, anxiety. In case of overdose: Panic attacks, extreme violence, paranoia, toxic psychosis, convulsions, death..
• Type of dependence: Psychological dependence
• Visible signs or symptoms: Confusion, excessive sweating, skin discolouration, nausea and vomiting, erratic behaviour, extreme agitation.
• Legal status: This drug is illegal. The drugs as well as the precursors used to produce them are included in Schedules I to VIII of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. Offences range from simple possession to possession for the purpose of trafficking, trafficking, importing, exporting, possession for the purpose of exporting, and producing. All these offences are punishable by criminal sanctions.
• History: MDPV is a synthetic derivative of cathinone, a controlled substance in Canada since 1997. Mephedrone is a synthetic derivative of cathinone, a controlled substance in Canada since 1997.

• Description: White crystalline powder, tablets, capsules.
• Usual consumption methods: Ingested, snorted, injected/li>
• Common names: Vitamin R, R-Ball, Smart Drug, Uppers, Kiddy Coke, Skittles, Skippy, Rid, Beans, Dexies
• Desired effects: Euphoria, increased cognitive performance, weight loss, increased attention, increased awareness.
• Side effects: DTrouble sleeping, nervousness, stomach pain, loss of appetite, dry mouth, weight loss, irritability, agitation, moodiness, palpitations. In case of overdose: Headaches, tachycardia, hyperthermia, arrhythmia, convulsions, coma.
• Type of dependence: Physical and psychological dependence
• Visible signs or symptoms: Motor or verbal tics, hyperreflexia, tremors, vomiting, confusion, hallucinations, delirium, sweating, dilated pupils, redness of the skin.
• Legal status: The possession of this substance without a prescription is illegal. The drugs as well as the precursors used to produce them are included in Schedules I to VIII of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. Offences range from simple possession to possession for the purpose of trafficking, trafficking, importing, exporting, possession for the purpose of exporting, and producing. All these offences are punishable by criminal sanctions.
• History: Synthesized methylphenidate, the main active ingredient of Ritalin^MD and Concerta^MD, is used as antidepressant and appetite suppressant. In the 1990s, the total amount of methylphenidate produced world-wide started to increase rapidly. Methylphenidate has been used in the treatment of attention-deficit disorder with or without hyperactivity (ADD/ADHD) since 2009. The illicit use of methylphenidate for recreational purposes or to enhance cognitive performance was first noted in 2011.

• Description: Tablets of different shapes, colours and logos, capsules, fine crystal powder.
• Usual consumption methods: Ingested, snorted
• Common names: Ecstasy, Legal X
• Desired effects: Euphoria, increased energy, vitality, alertness.
• Side effects: Urinary retention, visual hallucinations, paranoia, depression, chest pain, insomnia, anxiety, nausea and vomiting, headaches. In case of overdose: Tachycardia, agitation, hyperthermia, convulsions, brain swelling.
• Type of dependence: Risk of physical or psychological dependence unknown.
• Visible signs or symptoms: Dilated pupils, confusion.
• Legal status: This drug is illegal. The drugs as well as the precursors used to produce them are included in Schedules I to VIII of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. Offences range from simple possession to possession for the purpose of trafficking, trafficking, importing, exporting, possession for the purpose of exporting, and producing. All these offences are punishable by criminal sanctions.
• History: Benzylpiperazine (BZP) was developed as an antidepressant in the 1970s but was never commercialized. In fact, because of its side effects and addictive properties similar to those of amphetamine, this substance was never clinically used in humans. In the 1990s, BZP was mostly illicitly used at dance parties and raves. It was initially sold on the Internet as a legal alternative to MDMA (Ecstasy). BZP is often sold in the form of tablets mixed with other piperazines like Trifluoromethylphenylpiperazine (TFMPP). BZP is illegal in the United States since 2004 and in Canada since 2012.

• Description: Mixture of herbs, spices or organic materials
• Usual consumption methods: Smoked/inhaled
• Common names: Spice, Yucatan fire, K2, JWH-018, JWH-073, HU-210, HU-211, CP 47
• Desired effects: Euphoria, sense of well-being, laughter, sense of calm and relaxation, sociability, carelessness, enhanced sensory perceptions.
• Side effects: Drowsiness, altered time perception, short term memory loss, confusion, depression. In case of overdose: Sedation, slurred speech, ataxia (lack of fine motor coordination), respiratory depression, coma, death.
• Type of dependence: Risk of physical or psychological dependence unknown.
• Visible signs or symptoms: Redness of the eyes, dry mouth, lack of coordination, tremors.
• Legal status: This drug is illegal. The drugs as well as the precursors used to produce them are included in Schedules I to VIII of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. Offences range from simple possession to possession for the purpose of trafficking, trafficking, importing, exporting, possession for the purpose of exporting, and producing. All these offences are punishable by criminal sanctions.
• History: In the 1960s, an American chemist discovered that it was possible to synthesize marihuana. The first one hundred milligrams of synthetic cannabinoid (JWH-018) were tested on laboratory rats. Spice was the first brand name of synthetic cannabinoids commercialized in Europe in 1995. The company THC Pharm detected the presence of another synthetic cannabinoid (JWH-108) in more than one sample of Spice Gold, which led to a wave of international legislations.

• Description: Leaves and dried leaves (buds); colour varying from green to brown.
• Usual consumption methods: Smoked/inhaled, ingested
• Common names: Pot, Weed, Marijuana, Mari, Marijane, Grass, Green
• Desired effects: Euphoria, sense of well-being, laughter, sense of calm and relaxation, sociability, carelessness, enhanced sensory perceptions.
• Side effects: Altered time perception, physical and mental slowness, loss of concentration, ambition and initiative, decreased blood pressure, increased heart rate. In case of overdose: Motivation loss, drowsiness, confusion, disorientation, delirium, depression, toxic psychosis, activation of latent schizophrenia.
• Type of dependence: Physical and psychological dependence
• Visible signs or symptoms: Redness of the eyes, dry mouth, lack of coordination, uncontrolled appetite.
• Legal status: Cannabis is legal in Canada for individuals 18 years of age or older. It is subject to the Cannabis Act, under which an adult may possess up to 30 g of dried cannabis or its equivalent. It is still prohibited to sell it without a licence issued by Health Canada. The classes of cannabis authorized for sale with a licence are listed in Schedule 4 of the Cannabis Act. Criminal penalties will be imposed on individuals who do not respect the Act. Offences vary from possession of an amount greater than 30 g of legal cannabis in a public place to possession and/or the sale of illicit cannabis, importation or exportation and production without authorization provided for in the Act. All these offences are subject to sanctions that may vary from one province to another.
• History: At end of the 19th century, cannabis was used in Western countries to treat and relieve migraine headaches, spasms, asthma and cough. It was sold over-the-counter in pharmacies. In 1923, cannabis was included as a prohibited substance in the Opium Act (1911). The popularity of marihuana reached a peak in 1970. Cannabis became illegal in 1997 with the adoption of the Controlled Drugs and other Substances Act. In 2001, the Marihuana Medical Access Regulations (MMAR) allows some patients suffering from severe illnesses to use marihuana for medical purposes. In October 2018, cannabis becomes legal in Canada for individuals 18 years of age or older according to the Cannabis Act.

• Description: Thick opaque paste; light brown to black in colour
• Usual consumption methods: Smoked/inhaled
• Common names: Hash, Resin, Brown
• Desired effects: Euphoria, sense of well-being, laughter, sense of calm and relaxation, sociability, carelessness, enhanced sensory perceptions.
• Side effects: Altered time perception, physical and mental slowness, loss of concentration, ambition and initiative, decreased blood pressure, increased heart rate. In case of overdose: Motivation loss, drowsiness, confusion, disorientation, delirium, depression, toxic psychosis, activation of latent schizophrenia.
• Type of dependence: Physical and psychological dependence
• Visible signs or symptoms: Redness of the eyes, dry mouth, lack of coordination, uncontrolled appetite.
• Legal status: Cannabis is legal in Canada for individuals 18 years of age or older. It is subject to the Cannabis Act, under which an adult may possess up to 30 g of dried cannabis or its equivalent. It is still prohibited to sell it without a licence issued by Health Canada. The classes of cannabis authorized for sale with a licence are listed in Schedule 4 of the Cannabis Act. Criminal penalties will be imposed on individuals who do not respect the Act. Offences vary from possession of an amount greater than 30 g of legal cannabis in a public place to possession and/or the sale of illicit cannabis, importation or exportation and production without authorization provided for in the Act. All these offences are subject to sanctions that may vary from one province to another.
• History: At end of the 19th century, cannabis was used in Western countries to treat and relieve migraine headaches, spasms, asthma and cough. It was sold over-the-counter in pharmacies. In 1923, cannabis was included as a prohibited substance in the Opium Act (1911). The popularity of marihuana reached a peak in 1970. Cannabis became illegal in 1997 with the adoption of the Controlled Drugs and other Substances Act. In 2001, the Marihuana Medical Access Regulations (MMAR) allows some patients suffering from severe illnesses to use marihuana for medical purposes. In October 2018, cannabis becomes legal in Canada for individuals 18 years of age or older according to the Cannabis Act.

• Description: Thick, viscous liquid; yellow, orange, brown or black in colour.
• Usual consumption methods: Smoked/inhaled
• Common names: Oil, Liquid hash, Marijuana oil, Honey oil
• Desired effects: Euphoria, sense of well-being, laughter, sense of calm and relaxation, sociability, carelessness, enhanced sensory perceptions.
• Side effects: Altered time perception, physical and mental slowness, loss of concentration, ambition and initiative, decreased blood pressure, increased heart rate. In case of overdose: Motivation loss, drowsiness, confusion, disorientation, delirium, depression, toxic psychosis, activation of latent schizophrenia.
• Type of dependence: Physical and psychological dependence
• Visible signs or symptoms: Redness of the eyes, dry mouth, lack of coordination, uncontrolled appetite.
• Legal status: Cannabis is legal in Canada for individuals 18 years of age or older. It is subject to the Cannabis Act, under which an adult may possess up to 30 g of dried cannabis or its equivalent. It is still prohibited to sell it without a licence issued by Health Canada. The classes of cannabis authorized for sale with a licence are listed in Schedule 4 of the Cannabis Act. Criminal penalties will be imposed on individuals who do not respect the Act. Offences vary from possession of an amount greater than 30 g of legal cannabis in a public place to possession and/or the sale of illicit cannabis, importation or exportation and production without authorization provided for in the Act. All these offences are subject to sanctions that may vary from one province to another.
• History: At end of the 19th century, cannabis was used in Western countries to treat and relieve migraine headaches, spasms, asthma and cough. It was sold over-the-counter in pharmacies. In 1923, cannabis was included as a prohibited substance in the Opium Act (1911). The popularity of marihuana reached a peak in 1970. Cannabis became illegal in 1997 with the adoption of the Controlled Drugs and other Substances Act. In 2001, the Marihuana Medical Access Regulations (MMAR) allows some patients suffering from severe illnesses to use marihuana for medical purposes. In October 2018, cannabis becomes legal in Canada for individuals 18 years of age or older according to the Cannabis Act.

• Description: Fresh, dried, powder or capsules
• Usual consumption methods: Ingested
• Common names: Magic mushrooms, Mush, Mushrooms, Shrooms, Shrum
• Desired effects: Relaxation, daydreaming, sensitivity, illusions, hallucinations.
• Side effects: HDizziness, altered color perceptions, altered time and space perceptions, impaired judgment, increased blood pressure and heart rate.
• Visible signs or symptoms: Hot flashes, numbness, lack of coordination, nausea and vomiting.
• Legal status: This drug is illegal. The drugs as well as the precursors used to produce them are included in Schedules I to VIII of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. Offences range from simple possession to possession for the purpose of trafficking, trafficking, importing, exporting, possession for the purpose of exporting, and producing. All these offences are punishable by criminal sanctions.
• History: Psilocybin (active ingredient) was isolated from the psilocybe mushroom and commercialized in 1960. The 1970s saw a decrease in the use of magic mushrooms with the decline of the hippie movement. In fact, in 1974, it became illegal to grow and use magic mushrooms. In the 1980s, there was an ambiguity as to their legal status, and tools used to plant and grow magic mushrooms were advertised in certain magazines.

• Description: Tablets of different shapes, colours and logos, capsules, fine crystal powder, blotters, liquid.
• Usual consumption methods: Ingested, snorted
• Common names: Acid, Liquid acid, Ecstasy, LSD, Nexus, Toonies, Bromo
• Desired effects: Euphoria, enhanced sensory perceptions, sociability, visual hallucinations, sensual and sexual excitement.
• Side effects: Hallucinations, tachycardia, agitation, elevated blood pressure, hyperthermia. In case of overdose: Frightening hallucinations, agitation, hypertension, aggression, violence, excited delirium, seizures, respiratory depression, death.
• Type of dependence: Unknown
• Visible signs or symptoms: Tremors, lack of coordination, chills, muscle clenching, increased mucus production, nausea, vomiting.
• Legal status: This drug is illegal. The drugs as well as the precursors used to produce them are included in Schedules I to VIII of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. Offences range from simple possession to possession for the purpose of trafficking, trafficking, importing, exporting, possession for the purpose of exporting, and producing. All these offences are punishable by criminal sanctions.
• History: Synthesized in 1974 by American chemist Alexander Shulgin, 2C-B was put on the market in 1980 as a substitute to Ecstasy (MDMA). It became more popular after MDMA was classified as a controlled substance in 1985. 2C-B became illegal in the United States in 1994 and in Canada in 1997.

• Description: White powder
• Usual consumption methods: Snorted
• Common names: Special K, K, Vitamin K
• Desired effects: Euphoria, floating sensation, stimulation, insensitivity to pain, out of body experience (hallucinations), fantasy interactions (spiritual journeys).
• Side effects: Thought disorder, dissociative experience, altered mood, perceptions, thoughts and state of consciousness, altered vision, bad trip. In case of overdose: Paralysis, convulsions, prolonged sedation, death by respiratory depression.
• Type of dependence: Psychological dependence
• Visible signs or symptoms: Unconsciousness, memory loss, lack of coordination, slurred speech, fever, nose bleeding, nausea, anxiety, confusion, slowed breathing.
• Legal status: This drug is illegal. The drugs as well as the precursors used to produce them are included in Schedules I to VIII of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. Offences range from simple possession to possession for the purpose of trafficking, trafficking, importing, exporting, possession for the purpose of exporting, and producing. All these offences are punishable by criminal sanctions.
• History: Ketamine was synthesized as a substitute for phencyclidine (PCP) and introduced as a general anesthetic in 1965. Ketamine produces a dissociative state and was used for surgeries performed in the battle fields during the Vietnam War. In 1968, ketamine was used in animal surgery and pediatrics. It became a recreational drug in 1970. In 1995, ketamine appeared in the Food and Drug Regulations and was finally included in the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act in 2002.

• Description: White powder, tablets in various colours, shapes and logos, sugar lump, solution applied on blotting paper.
• Usual consumption methods: Ingested
• Common names: Acid, Blotter, Acid cap
• Desired effects: Euphoria, sensory, time and space distortion, sensation of floating and lightness, feeling of oneness with the universe, cosmic experience, deep feeling of introspection and insight.
• Side effects: Fear, anxiety, depression, paranoid state, panic attack. In case of overdose: Hyperthermia, hypertension, arrhythmia, central vasospasm, convulsions, coma.
• Type of dependence: Psychological dependence
• Visible signs or symptoms: Bad trip, strange behaviour, delirium, terrifying hallucinations.
• Legal status: This drug is illegal. The drugs as well as the precursors used to produce them are included in Schedules I to VIII of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. Offences range from simple possession to possession for the purpose of trafficking, trafficking, importing, exporting, possession for the purpose of exporting, and producing. All these offences are punishable by criminal sanctions.
• History: In the 1950s, the CIA became interested in LSD as a "truth serum". Later, LSD was used by a former agent of the US Secret Service as a treatment for alcoholism. While LSD was largely studied as an adjuvant to psychotherapy, it became illegal in Canada in 1962 and in the United States in 1965.

• Description: Tablets of different colours, shapes and logos, or capsules or crystalline powder
• Usual consumption methods: Ingested
• Common names: Ecstasy, E, Molly, Party pill, Speed
• Desired effects: Euphoria, intensification of emotions, feeling of sensuality and increased need to be intimate, altered sensual perceptions and pleasure.
• Side effects: Anxiety, insomnia, motivation loss, visual hallucinations, fatigue, depressive state, increased blood pressure and heart rate, urinary retention. In case of overdose: Agitation, panic, paranoia, convulsions, major depression, toxic psychosis, kidney failure.
• Type of dependence: Psychological dependence
• Visible signs or symptoms: Dilated pupils, increased sociability, excessive sweating, teeth grinding, tension of the jaw, reduced appetite.
• Legal status: This drug is illegal. The drugs as well as the precursors used to produce them are included in Schedules I to VIII of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. Offences range from simple possession to possession for the purpose of trafficking, trafficking, importing, exporting, possession for the purpose of exporting, and producing. All these offences are punishable by criminal sanctions.
• History: MDMA (Ecstasy) was used on an experimental basis in psychotherapy treatment in the 1970s as a substitute for LSD. However, the use of Ecstasy did not show any medical benefit. In 1976 in Canada and in 1986 in the United States, possessing, trafficking, importing and manufacturing MDMA became illegal.

• Description: Powder, tablets, capsules.
• Usual consumption methods: Snorted, ingested, injected, inhaled
• Common names: Peace pill, Mess, TH, Angel dust, Elephant, Horse tranquilizer, Crystal, Rocket fuel
• Desired effects: Euphoria, relaxation, sensation of floating and lightness, altered time, space and body perception, visual and auditory hallucinations.
• Side effects: Anxiety, disorganized thinking, dizziness, numbness in the extremities, disorientation, confusion, intense feeling of alienation. In case of overdose: Precipitation of a latent psychotic episode, toxic psychosis, painful reaction to noise.
• Type of dependence: Psychological dependence
• Visible signs or symptoms: Dilated pupils, muscle stiffness, profuse sweating, self-injury, confusion, lack of motor coordination, slurred speech, paranoid delirium, panic attack, inappropriate, strange, hostile or violent behaviour, injection marks.
• Legal status: This drug is illegal. The drugs as well as the precursors used to produce them are included in Schedules I to VIII of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. Offences range from simple possession to possession for the purpose of trafficking, trafficking, importing, exporting, possession for the purpose of exporting, and producing. All these offences are punishable by criminal sanctions.
• History: Phencyclidine or PCP was developed in the 1950s as a general anesthetic for humans. Then, given the severe reactions produced by PCP in humans, it was used only in veterinary medicine. PCP appeared as a recreational drug in the form of tablets in the 1960s and 70s. It became illegal in Canada in 1970.

• Description: Tablets of different shapes, colours and logos, capsules or powder.
• Usual consumption methods: Ingested, snorted
• Common names: Ecstasy, Death, Dr Death
• Desired effects: Euphoria, heightening of emotions, feeling of sensuality and increased need to be intimate, altered sensual perceptions and pleasure.
• Side effects: Hyperactivity, excessive stimulation, inability to remain seated (akathisia). In case of overdose: Hyperthermia, hypertension, convulsions, kidney failure, death.
• Type of dependence: Unknown
• Visible signs or symptoms: Visual hallucinations, delirium, dysphoria (feeling of being ill-at-ease), extreme agitation, disorientation, muscle stiffness, muscle contraction, convulsions.
• Legal status: This drug is illegal. The drugs as well as the precursors used to produce them are included in Schedules I to VIII of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. Offences range from simple possession to possession for the purpose of trafficking, trafficking, importing, exporting, possession for the purpose of exporting, and producing. All these offences are punishable by criminal sanctions.
• History: PMA was first synthesized in the 1970s by the chemist Alexander Shulgin.

• Description: Tablets, capsules, powder, oily liquid, cream or gel.
• Usual consumption methods: Ingested, injected
• Common names: Juice, Roids, Doping, Arnolds
• Desired effects: Increased weight and muscle mass, increase muscle strength and physical endurance, increased motivation and aggressiveness during training, increased resistance to fatigue, quick recovery after training sessions.
• Side effects: Masculinizing effects on women (atrophy of the breasts and uterus, menstrual irregularity, amenorrhea), feminizing effects on men (testicular atrophy, decreased testosterone production, decreased fertility, decreased libido, impotence), acne, joint injuries caused by repeated movement, cardiovascular and hepatic disorder, psychological disorder such as anxiety, irritability, aggressiveness, affective disorder, loss of perception of certain realities, insomnia, suicidal thoughts, depression, triggering of latent schizophrenia. In case of overdose: Abusive and uncontrolled anabolic steroid use causes changes and hormonal disorders affecting the psychological balance of consumers. These imbalances result in various and unpredictable abnormal behaviors.
• Type of dependence: Physical and psychological dependence
• Visible signs or symptoms: Injection marks, excessive body hair growth and deepening of the voice in women; acne and breast growth in men.
• Legal status: The possession of these substances is legal. Offences related to these substances are included in Schedules I to VIII of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. The Offences range from possession for the purpose of trafficking, trafficking, importing, exporting, possession for the purpose of exporting, and producing. All these offences are punishable by criminal sanctions.
• History: The first synthetic anabolic steroids were developed around 1935-1939 for the purpose of reconstructing body mass and preventing the tearing of tissues caused by certain debilitating diseases. The first use of androgenic steroids in human was reported in 1939. They were given to German troops to increase their aggressiveness in battle. In 1940, American bodybuilders started using testosterone and its derivatives. Starting in 1968, steroids were used by weight lifters and later by short and mid-distance runners. The first urine tests for anabolic steroids were introduced in 1976 at the Montréal Olympics. The American Congress adopted the Anabolic Steroids Act in 1990, adding 27 anabolic steroids to the list of controlled substances. Canada followed suit and, today, anabolic substances are included in the Controlled Drugs and other Substances Act.

Drug abuse can lead to physical and/ or psychological dependence and have serious consequences on user health and safety, as well as social and judicial impacts.

Mixing different substances results in unforeseeable effects and an increased risk of intoxication that may pose serious health risks.

Designer drugs are sold at low prices in the form of pills in attractive shapes to lure customers, often young people for whom their use has become commonplace.

While prescription drugs are not illegal, prescription drug abuse is an increasing trend. There is a misconception that prescription drugs are safe but when they are misused, these drugs can lead to addiction and be just as harmful as illicit drugs.

Designer drugs are home-made drugs containing a mixture of chemical substances and are produced in clandestine laboratories by criminal organizations. They constantly change the appearance, name, colour and shape of the substances as well as the logos that appear on the substances and containers. Users have no idea what they are taking and in what amount.