Smoking cocaine can also cause lung damage and convulsions. Crack cocaine use has been linked to HIV transmission among teens and young adults due to risky sexual encounters while high or trading sex for this drug. Intravenous cocaine users who share drug paraphernalia may become infected with HIV, Hepatitis B and other blood-borne diseases. Chronic cocaine users develop both physical and psychological dependence. Amphetamines Amphetamines and methamphetamines are white, bitter, crystalline powders which can be taken orally, injected, snorted and smoked.
Effects begin soon after ingestion and usually last between two and eight hours.
Their impact on the CNS resembles that of cocaine, but is generally longer lasting. On the street, these drugs are often cut with other materials, and may appear chalky and off-white. Ritalin, a stimulant with chemical properties similar to amphetamines, also produces many of the effects listed below. Amphetamines are nicknamed Crank, Ice, Speed, Crosstops, Uppers, Pep Pills, Cat, Black Beauties, Whites, Bennies, Dexies, Crystal Meth, Christmas Trees, Glass and Snot. Amphetamines disrupt the central nervous, cardiovascular, respiratory and gastrointestinal systems.