Effects of Abuse

Campus Safety

II. What are the known effects of drug use and alcohol abuse?

The College recognizes alcohol and drug dependence as an illness and a major health problem. Alcohol is the number one drug problem in this country and on campus. Drinking alcohol has acute effects on the body. It impairs judgment, vision, coordination, and speech and often leads to dangerous risk-taking behavior. Nearly half of all accidental deaths, suicides, and homicides are alcohol-related. The misuse of alcohol is often involved in violent behavior, acquaintance rape, unintended pregnancy, and exposure to sexually-transmitted diseases. Long-term excessive drinking and drug use can lead to a variety of health problems.

Drugs and alcohol can cause physical and psychological dependence. They can interfere with memory, sensation, and perception. Drugs impair the brain's ability to synthesize information. Regular users of drugs develop tolerance and physical dependence, often evidenced by withdrawal symptoms. A user is psychologically-dependent when the drug is central to his or her life.

Drugs and their effects

Type of drug (other names)	Effects and possible health risks
Stimulants	Speed up action of the central nervous system
Amphetamines (Speed, uppers, crack, pep pills; bennies)	Hallucinations, heart problems, malnutrition, dependence, paranoid psychosis, death, harmful effects on fetus
Cocaine (Coke, snow, crack, rock; classified as narcotic)	Confusion, depression, convulsions, damaged nasal membranes, lung lesions, dependence, paranoid psychosis, coma, death, harmful effects on fetus

Type of drug (other names)	Effects and possible health risks
Depressants	Relax the central nervous system
Barbiturates (Barbs, goof balls, downers, blues)	Confusion, depression, convulsions, damaged nasal membranes, lung lesions, dependence, paranoid psychosis, coma, death, harmful effects on fetus
Tranquilizers (Valium, Librium)	Especially dangerous in combination with alcohol
Methaqualone (Soapers, quads, ludes)	See above

Type of drug (other names)	Effects and possible health risks
Narcotics	Lower pain perception
Heroin (H, scag, junk, smack)	Lethargy; apathy; loss of judgment and self-control; tolerance; dependence; convulsions; coma; death
Morphine (M, dreamer)	Malnutrition; infection; hepatitis; decreased sex drive
Codeine	See above
Opium	See above

Type of drug (other names)	Effects and possible health risks
Hallucinogens	Distort reality
Lysergic acid (Diethylamide, LSD, acid)	Hallucinations; panic; tolerance; "flashbacks;" possible birth defects in user's children; long-term psychosis in susceptible persons
Mescaline (MDA, DMT, STP, Psilocybin, designer drugs)	See above
Phencyclidine (PCP, angel dust; legally classified as a depressant)	See above

Type of drug (other names)	Effects and possible health risks
Cannabis	Alters perception and mood
Marijuana (Grass, pot, weed)	Confusion; loss of coordination; tolerance; dependence; lung damage; decreased sex drive
Hashish (Hash, hash oil)	See above

Type of drug (other names)	Effects and possible health risks
Alcohol	Tolerance; dependence; depression; coma; death; decreased sex performance; fetal alcohol syndrome. Alcohol abuse is linked to cancer, heart and liver damage.

Type of drug (other names)	Effects and possible health risks
Deliriants	Cause mental confusion
Aerosol products	Confusion; loss of coordination; hallucinations; convulsions; death; dependence;; damage to lungs, brain, liver, bone marrow
Lighter fluid	See above
Paint thinner	See above
Amyl nitrite (Poppers)	See above
Other inhalants	See above

Type of drug (other names)	Effects and possible health risks
Nicotine	Emphysema, lung cancer, heart disease, dependence

Contact Us

The Office of Campus Safety is located in Campus Safety on the Undergraduate Campus.

Emailsafety@lclark.edu

Voice503-768-7855
Fax503-768-7195

DirectorTim O'Dwyer

Office of Campus Safety
Lewis & Clark
0615 S.W. Palatine Hill Road, MSC 107
Portland, OR 97219

@lccampussafety