Chapter 3
ALCOHOL AND DRUG USE

Alcohol and the Law

Alcohol is unquestionably the most abused controlled substance in the United States. Alcohol-impaired driving causes approximately 30 percent of California's fatal traffic collisions. The denial and lack of acknowledgment of the issue's severity by many drivers often lead to catastrophes on the road. Awareness of the signs that are commonplace in the problem drinker will help reveal any deficiencies before that person gets behind the wheel. Knowledge of the penalties associated with drinking and driving-related laws may also deter people from mixing alcohol with the often difficult task of driving. Drinking and driving is a problem that can easily ruin many lives.
It is legal to have a container of liquor, beer or wine in the passenger compartment of your car as long as:

• It is full.
• It is sealed.
• It is unopened.

An open container of alcohol in the passenger compartment of the car is against the law. The only place an opened container of alcohol may be stored in the vehicle is the trunk. If the vehicle does not have a trunk, the opened container may be stored in any area not designed for occupant use except for the glove or utility compartment. You may not have a passenger hold any open container of alcohol, regardless of where he or she is seated.

Effects of Alcohol on the Body

Alcohol is absorbed directly into the blood stream. After the alcohol is absorbed, it affects and damages many organs, including the heart, stomach, and liver. It can cause enlargement of the heart (leading to congestive heart failure), cancer of the digestive system, and possibly hepatitis and/or cirrhosis of the liver. Drinking too much at once can lead to an alcoholic coma, which in turn can lead to death. The higher learning centers of the brain are the first to be affected, followed by muscular control, and then vital functions such as digestion, breathing, heartbeat and circulation. Alcohol also affects your vision. The delicate, small muscles that control your eyes are not able to focus and move correctly. The more relaxed the muscles, the fuzzier vision becomes (this is when double vision occurs.) Other results are:

• Tendency to stare straight ahead
• Narrowing of the field of vision
• Reduction in depth perception
• Reduction of adaptability to darkness
• Increased sensitivity to glare
• Longer time to readjust after glare

Alcohol is a depressant, and it slows the activities of the brain, affecting judgment, reflexes, and coordination. If the brain receives images from the eyes that are blurry and unclear while the brain's functions slow down, you have a great recipe for disaster. Some other effects alcohol has on the brain are:

• Reduced awareness of danger
• Reduction in balance or equilibrium
• Over-confidence (which can result in reckless driving)
• Difficulty making decisions

BRAIN - The brain lacks an interior system of veins and requires large amounts of oxygen, which is absorbed from the blood stream. The brain is affected by anything the blood carries in it, especially since it is dispersed throughout the body, and the frontal lobe is the first part to be affected by alcohol. The frontal lobe is essential for driving a motor vehicle because it controls judgment, emotions, decision-making, and awareness. Driving a motor vehicle requires many coordinated functions, and they are adversely impacted by alcohol and other drugs.

STOMACH - Alcohol consumption on an empty stomach can cause a peptic or bleeding ulcer. A bleeding ulcer occurs if acid flows into the ulcerated wall and penetrates an artery. It should be clearly understood that alcohol is a toxic poison that can potentially kill.

LIVER - Blood is channeled directly from the stomach to the liver. The liver's function is to oxidize all toxic substances in the body. The liver is capable of oxidizing approximately one ounce of alcohol per hour, regardless of the size of the person. Prolonged abuse of alcohol can severely injure and potentially kill liver cells and then the drinker. Alcohol impairs the primary functions of the liver, which are to produce blood-clotting elements, break down large proteins, store vitamin A and glycogen, and filter all the blood that goes from the intestines to the heart. When the liver is injured, it swells, and fat accumulates in the liver cells. The greater the damage, the more likely scar tissue can form, leading to cirrhosis. Vision and body nutrition can decline as a result of liver damage. Prolonged abuse of the liver will cause symptoms to appear.

The Long-Term Effects of Alcohol On The Body
Drinking heavily over a long period of time can cause damage to many parts of the body. Damage to the brain and liver functions can be permanent. Diet is often also poor, further affecting health. Emotional difficulties, such as depression and relationship problems, are also likely.

The table below describes some possible physical effects of alcohol at certain BAC levels. Remember that alcohol affects everyone differently, so do not use this table to measure how much alcohol is in your body.

A. Blood Alcohol Level / BAC .08 percent - When a driver reaches a level of alcohol in his or her blood system of .08 percent, the driver would be legally DUI, or driving under the influence. For commercial licenses, the BAC level is .04 percent. If a person were to consume one alcoholic drink per hour, the driver would most likely not be in danger of getting near .08 percent. Conversely, increased consumption of alcohol over a short period of time would most likely lead to an illegal BAC. For example, a 150-pound male or female consuming four alcoholic beverages (one ounce each) over a two-hour period would have a BAC of .086 percent if a male and .105 percent if a female. This exemplifies the need for individuals of varying weights and tolerances to know their own limitations. However, there is no safe way to ever drive while under the influence. Even one alcoholic drink can make you an unsafe driver on the road.

One alcoholic drink is the equivalent to a four ounce glass of wine, a 12 ounce beer, or a shot of hard liquor.

Through the liver, the human body is able to detoxify one ounce of alcohol per hour, or the equivalent of one drink per hour. If three drinks are consumed consecutively at the beginning of an hour, the equivalent of two drinks would remain in the bloodstream at the end of that hour, as the body would only have detoxified one drink. (The liver can only detoxify a limited amount of alcohol at any given time.)

B. Zero Tolerance Law (drivers under 21) - A driver under the age of 21 suspected by a police officer of drinking alcohol is required to take a Preliminary Alcohol Screening Test (PAS). If the driver’s BAC is .01 percent or higher, or if the person refuses to take the PAS, the person’s license to drive is suspended for one year. If there is no PAS device available, the driver will then be given the option of taking a blood, breath or urine test. If the BAC is .05 percent or more, the driver may be arrested for DUI and be subjected to the more severe associated penalties.

C. Presumptive DUI - A peace officer can arrest an individual at a BAC he or she believes is below .08 percent based on the officer's professional opinion that the driver is unsafe on the road. A conviction for DUI may still be imminent, despite the actual BAC level being below .08 percent.

D. Impaired Driver - An impaired driver often has consumed trace amounts of alcohol, yet still is dramatically affected as a result. Alcohol can affect individuals in many different ways, with minimal amounts doing substantial damage to one's self-control. Alcohol alters behavior and causes a driver to become mentally and physically impaired.

E. Implied Consent - Under the Implied Consent Law (Vehicle Code 23157), a driver must take either a blood or breath test when asked by law enforcement after a DUI arrest. Refusal will often call for a one-year license suspension and the presumption that the driver is under the influence of alcohol. A recent law change in 1999 states that a person suspected of operating a car, boat, or airplane while under the influence of alcohol only will NOT have a urine test as a choice (Senate Bill 1890). These tests are not to be confused with Field Sobriety Tests (FSTs are often administered on the side of the road -- see examples of FST below), but are actual chemical tests admissible as evidence in DUI cases. A second refusal within ten years usually calls for a two-year license revocation. In California, refusal to consent to testing is admissible evidence in court. Three or more refusals within ten years will result in a three-year license revocation.

F. Administrative Per Se Law (Admin Per Se) - When you drive in California, you consent to take a blood or breath test if you are stopped for driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or both. This law allows for an officer to confiscate the driver's license of any driver who refuses or fails to complete a test or has a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) exceeding .08 percent (or .01 percent if the driver is on probation for a DUI offense, as of January 1, 2009). This effectively allows for a suspension of the driving privilege without any formal DMV or court action. The police officer will take away the driver's license and serve the driver with an order of suspension or revocation. The suspension or revocation will take effect in 30 days, though the driver may request a hearing during that period.

G. "1 in 2,000" - It is remarkable to imagine, but it is often said that there are approximately 2,000 drivers on the road at any given time who are DUI for every one arrested. These numbers exemplify the difficulty those in law enforcement have in trying to curtail the problem of the drinking driver. There are simply too many who abuse alcohol behind the wheel on the road for law enforcement to catch.

H. Dram Shop Law - The Dram Shop Law is based on the theory that all those involved with the drinking driver are somehow responsible for the problem. Bartenders, hosts, friends, and family could all be held responsible under this law. In California, it is illegal for establishments to serve or furnish alcohol to those who are obviously intoxicated. But when those who are served are minors, these establishments can be held liable for any damages caused by intoxicated minors who then get behind the wheel.

I. Road Awareness - If only one DUI driver each night emerges from a local bar, restaurant, or establishment serving alcohol and gets behind the wheel, imagine the number of intoxicated drivers on our roads. All drivers should be aware that many intoxicated people leave these establishments each night and flood the highways. Late at night on the weekends are peak times for drinking drivers on the road.

J. Effects of Carbonated Drinks - Carbonated alcoholic beverages such as champagne hit the blood system and brain much more quickly than non-carbonated drinks. The drinker rarely knows the effects of the drink until it is too late. Festivities that celebrate life with a glass of champagne often lead to catastrophes because of alcohol abuse. Alcohol and driving simply do not mix!

Fines and Penalties

A simple fact of life: If you break the law, you must pay the price. However, if you drink and drive, you may also pay with your life. It's never a good idea to drink and drive. Not only do you endanger the lives of yourself and others on the road, but you also run the chance of making a mistake that will stick with you for the next 10 years! When convicted of DUI or alcohol-related reckless driving, you will be advised of the dangers of being under the influence and that if someone dies as a result, you could be charged for murder. You will face more severe penalties if you are convicted of subsequent DUI offenses. All persons convicted of DUI will receive a restriction, suspension, or revocation of the driving privilege, without exception. The punishment for a DUI will vary with the level of intoxication in addition to other variables, but listed below are some penalties to expect: 

A. First offense (without probation)

• A fine from $390 to $1,000 plus penalty assessment to be added to the fine.
• Six-month license suspension, or the court may take away your vehicle for up to 30 days.
• 96 hours to six months in jail (minimum of 48 hours should be continuous).
• Although not required, the DMV calls for attendance of an alcohol treatment program prior to reinstatement of the driver's license. An alcohol treatment center is essentially a school for those presumed to have a serious problem with alcohol.
• Substantial auto insurance premium increase. Insurance companies evaluate many variables when assessing a person’s premium. A DUI conviction alerts the insurance company to a propensity for the driver to be involved in a drinking and driving-related incident. Cancellation of the insurance policy is common after a DUI arrest, with new policies showing dramatic increases in automobile insurance premiums.
• Attorney Fees - Legal representation in a drinking and driving case is essential. Attorneys typically charge fees in excess of $2,000 for a first-time DUI arrest.
• Two Points - A DUI conviction will result in two points on the driving record for ten years. This puts the driver in jeopardy of losing his or her driving privilege every year until the points are expunged at the end of that period.

NOTE: A first DUI offense (with probation) would include all of the aforementioned penalties with the following distinctions:

• 48 hours to six months in jail (48 hours will be continuous).
• There may be a six-month license suspension, especially if the DUI occurs in a vehicle requiring a “Class A” or “Class B” license.
• A three-month stint in an alcohol treatment program.
• IN ADDITION: For a defendant 18 to 21 years of age, the court shall order an additional one-year license suspension or delay in a license re-issuance. For defendants under 18, the DMV shall revoke the driver’s license until the person turns 18, or for one year, or for the duration of any restriction, suspension, or revocation, whichever of the three options is longer.

The preceding penalties apply to offenders with a BAC under .20 percent. For a first DUI offense with a BAC of .20 percent, the penalties are enhanced as follows:

• While under probation, the offender must spend the nine months in an alcohol treatment program that includes alcohol education, group counseling and individual interview sessions, and the time spent in the required program activities must total at least 60 hours. This also applies to those who refused to be tested.
• The mandatory driver’s license suspension period is ten months.

B. Second offense in ten years (without probation)

NOTE: A second DUI offense (with probation) would include all of the aforementioned penalties with the following distinctions:

• 10 days to one year in jail.
• Restriction of driver’s license, which allows driving only to and from work and to a treatment program, along with proof of insurance throughout the entire program. An 18-month license suspension will result if the offense occurred in a vehicle that requires a “Class A” or “Class B” license.
• 18 or 30 months in an alcohol treatment program.
• Driving only if you file a special certificate of insurance (SR22).
• IN ADDITION: For a defendant 18 to 21 years of age, the court shall order an additional one-year license suspension or delay in license re-issuance. For defendants under 18, the DMV shall revoke the driver’s license until the person turns 18, or for one year, or for the duration of any restriction, suspension, or revocation, whichever of the three is longer. The courts may also take the vehicle away for 30 days.

C. Probation for DUI offenses (effective January 1, 2009) - Any driver placed on probation for DUI must refrain from consuming any quantity of alcohol. If a police officer has reasonable cause to believe that a driver has been drinking, the officer may request the driver’s consent to a preliminary alcohol screening test or other chemical test. If the test shows a BAC of .01 percent or higher, or the driver refuses to submit to testing, the officer can impose an admin per se driver’s license suspension.

D. Subsequent DUI offenses - Additional jail time, fines, misdemeanor or felony offense convictions, and other penalties may result after subsequent DUI offenses. After a second DUI offense within ten years, a driver must install an ignition interlock device in his or her vehicle. This device requires a driver to blow into a mechanism that determines if there is alcohol in his or her system before driving. This device prevents the vehicle from operating if the test proves positive for alcohol. If you drive a vehicle without the device installed, that vehicle will be impounded for 30 days at your expense.

You may still be able to obtain a restricted license, but you must have an ignition interlock device installed, complete at least the first 12 months of an 18 or 30-month alcohol treatment program, and establish proof of insurance.

Arrests and/or convictions of DUI violations will remain on your record for 10 years. If you're a repeat offender, (even if your prior conviction was over 10 years ago) you'll have to take a drug and alcohol problem assessment program, and most likely a repeat offender program as well. 10 years is a long time; don't make a mistake that can stick with you for that time.

E. DUI offense with injuries - When there are injuries related to the DUI offense, the violation is considered a misdemeanor or felony. Jail time, fines, or license actions would be far more severe. Jail sentences of up to three years or more in state prison are common.

Example of an FST

A. Balance Test - A driver may be asked to raise one leg off the ground and touch his or her nose with the index finger. A drinking driver’s equilibrium is affected, causing the driver to have trouble with this simple balance skill.

B. Walking a Straight Line - An officer may ask the driver to walk along a line on the roadway, moving his or her feet heel to toe and repeating. Again, balance is observed.

C. Counting Backwards - Speech is dramatically affected when alcohol is consumed. Counting backwards will reveal slurred speech patterns, as well as one’s ability, or lack thereof, to concentrate on a simple task.

D. Touching Finger Tips - Basic coordination is influenced adversely by alcohol. When asked to touch fingertip to fingertip, the drinking driver often has extreme difficulty.

E. Following Directions - The driver is asked to follow some basic directions that may determine his or her sobriety level. This is very difficult when alcohol is introduced to the brain.

F. Nystagmus Test - The nystagmus test relies on the effect that alcohol consumption has on the ocular nerves. Consumption of alcohol slowly weakens the eye muscles to the point where the eye can no longer follow in "smooth pursuit" of the finger or object being moved horizontally by the peace officer. An expert in this field (the peace officer) will verify that the fluttering or twitching of the ocular muscle is a direct result of the alcohol.

A. There is a DUI arrest rate of one in every 139 licensed drivers in the U.S.

B. Approximately 300,000 people are seriously injured annually in alcohol-related collisions.

C. Over one-half of the people killed in alcohol-related collisions are drinking drivers, 20 percent are passengers in the vehicle, and 17 percent are occupants of other vehicles or pedestrians.

D. Over 90 percent of drinking drivers attending alcohol treatment centers such as Alcoholics Anonymous return within three years, indicating another DUI arrest.

E. Between midnight and 4 a.m., approximately 80 percent of all fatally injured drivers have been drinking.

F. Roughly 40 percent of drivers on the road after midnight on the weekends are over the .08 percent DUI level.

G. The leading cause of death among teenagers is alcohol-related vehicle collisions. Drivers under 18-years-old have a risk of being involved in a fatal crash that is 2.5 times greater than the average driver.

H. It has been estimated that a person arrested for his or her first DUI has driven while intoxicated on the roads between 200 and 1,200 times without being arrested for DUI.

I. Approximately 25 percent of every dollar spent on automobile insurance premiums is allocated toward drunk driving-related damages.

J. Three in every 10 Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related collision at some point in their lives.

New Statistics

K. In 2007, there were 12,998 fatalities in alcohol impaired-driving collisions, a decrease of 3.7 percent from 2006.

L. In 2007, there was an alcohol impaired-driving fatality every 40 minutes in the United States.

M. Approximately 1.5 million drivers are arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs annually.

Statistics don't lie...alcohol, motor vehicles, and people don't mix!

Positive Statistics

A. According to research by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 26,333 lives were saved between 1975 and 2007 due to minimum drinking age laws.

B. In 1982, 35 percent of all drivers involved in fatal traffic crashes had a BAC of .08 percent or higher. In 2007, just 22 percent of all drivers involved in fatal crashes had a BAC of .08 percent or higher.

C. From 1982 to 1999, the number of young drivers who died in an alcohol-related traffic crash in which another young driver was involved decreased by 62 percent.

D. Due to new minimum drinking age laws, lower BAC laws, and activist groups such as MADD and SADD, countless lives are being saved each year. By educating our children on the dangers of drinking and driving, we should be able to lower the number of impaired driving incidents even more...

2004 Holiday Statistics

A. On New Year’s Day, 132 people died in traffic-related collisions. Of those 132 people, 91, or 68.9 percent, were alcohol-related.

B. On Memorial Day Weekend, 358 people died in traffic-related collisions. Of those 358 people, 174, or 48.6 percent, were alcohol-related.

C. On the Fourth of July Weekend, 361 people died in traffic-related collisions. Of those 361 people, 177, or 49 percent, were alcohol-related.

D. On Labor Day Weekend, 339 people died in traffic-related collisions. Of those 339 people, 159, or 50.7 percent, were alcohol-related.

E. On Christmas Weekend -- 6 p.m., Dec. 23, 2004 to 6 a.m., Dec. 27, 2004 -- 310 people died in traffic-related collisions. Of those 310 people, 147, or 47.4 percent, were alcohol-related.

F. From Thanksgiving to New Year's Eve -- Nov. 24, 2004 to Dec. 31, 2004 -- 3,511 people died in traffic-related collisions. Of those 3,511 people, 1,316, or 37.5 percent, were alcohol-related.

There is a tendency for motorists to relax during holidays. The mind is at ease, and thoughts are on upcoming festivities. The truth, however, as statistics show, is that holidays are the most dangerous times to be on the road. More people are drinking alcohol, more chaos associated with children in the vehicle exists, and the overall driving task is made more difficult.

A. Speeding - Alcohol affects a person's ability to decide right from wrong, which includes safety in general. Speed is often increased, and unsafe chances behind the wheel are often taken.

B. Driving Slowly - In a futile attempt to hide their intoxication, impaired drivers often drive substantially below the speed limit.

C. Weaving - The drinking driver loses focus on the road and may fall asleep or simply lose control of the vehicle. Coordination begins to deteriorate, with weaving the most obvious and common driving trait.

D. Lights - Lights - Alcohol adversely affects basic brain functions, such as memory. Turning on driving lights may be overlooked, resulting in a dangerous situation with a dark car on the road.

E. Windows - Drinking drivers often believe cold air will keep them awake while driving. An open car window in cold weather late at night is often a sure sign that the driver is intoxicated.

F. Lane Straddling - Drinking drivers often use lane dividing lines as guides to stay on the road. This is an obvious indication of an intoxicated driver, as focus is lost and every attempt is made to stay on the road.

G. Tailgating - Tailgating is a basic driving violation, but it is especially common with the drinking driver. Vision becomes impaired, depth is distorted, and the eyes react more slowly to lights.

H. Turning Difficulty - A drinking driver may signal to turn one way and then erratically turn the other way. It is very common for the impaired driver to make unusually wide or narrow turns. Motor skills are at extremely diminished levels.

If you spot a driver you suspect to be drunk, be prepared to take quick, evasive action. Never pass a drunk driver's vehicle. Avoid pulling over to the shoulder if you are being tailgated, if possible - the driver, if drunk, may be using your tail lights to stay within traffic and thus may hit you from behind. Instead, make a quick turn onto the nearest cross street or parking lot when it is safe to lose that driver.

There is no easy remedy for chronic or short-term abuse of alcohol. The only way to sober up is to allow the liver time to detoxify and thus gradually reduce the level of alcohol in the system. This is a process called "oxidation," or enzymatic detoxification. Food and coffee are often perceived as viable ways to dilute alcohol in the system, but they are misconceptions. Oxidation occurs in the liver, and little can be done to either slow or speed up this process. Water consumed while drinking dilutes alcohol in the body and may lessen the effects on the brain. However, this does not reduce the BAC. Water cannot reverse the effects of hours of drinking.

The Only Proven Solution: Sleep and Time - As a depressant, alcohol usually induces sleep. Sleep allows time for the liver to detoxify and dissipate the alcohol from the system. Time allows the liver to detoxify the alcohol. The body can only absorb one ounce of alcohol per hour, meaning a .08 percent BAC would require at least eight hours to be fully detoxified by the body.

SUMMARY
As of now, no one has discovered a practical, effective and quick way to extract alcohol from the body. Several problems occur when you consume too much alcohol. Alcohol concentrates in your inner ear and disturbs your sense of balance. It can trap needed nutrients and waste products in the liver, therefore inflaming the liver cells. Alcohol interferes with a phase of deep sleep, causing you to have a poor night's rest. It also causes dehydration. Traditional remedies do not work. Coffee may give you a caffeine boost, but it will not ease the symptoms. Fruit juice may re-hydrate the body a bit, but it may also upset your stomach, as will aspirin. REST IS THE ONLY WAY TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE.

Designated Driver Program - The designated driver program was developed to help deter drinking and driving while encouraging sober, designated drivers. One person in a group is discouraged from drinking alcoholic beverages and made responsible for the rest of the group. This person will drive the others home, ensuring that those who may be intoxicated and dangerous will not be driving on the roads.

• Must possess a valid driver’s license.
• Must be in a group of two or more people.
• Must identify self verbally.
• Must not consume any alcoholic beverage throughout the evening.
• Should be at least 21 years of age.
• Must understand that management reserves the right to refuse service to anyone at anytime.

These programs have helped contribute to a decline over the last 10 years in DUI-related deaths. The drinker often cannot consciously help him or herself and needs a friend to step forward. Designated Drivers Save Lives!

A driver's use of drugs other than alcohol (cocaine, marijuana and some over-the-counter drugs, to name a few) can also create significant problems on the road. Any two or more drugs taken at the same time may cause a reaction called "synergism." This reaction sometimes causes the enhancement of the effects of one or more of the drugs. The most dangerous combination of synergism is alcohol and drugs. A driver who combines any amount of alcohol and drugs that potentially affects his or her driving abilities is not only dangerous, but IN VIOLATION OF THE LAW.

Cannabis

Type	What is it called?	What does it look like?	How is it used?
Marijuana	Pot, Reefer, Grass, Weed, Dope, Ganja, Mary Jane, Sinsemilla	Dried parsley, with stems and/or seeds; rolled into cigarettes	Smoked or eaten
Tetrahydrocannabinol	THC	Soft gelatin capsules.	Taken orally
Hashish	Hash	Brown or black cakes or balls	Smoked or eaten
Hashish Oil	Hash Oil	Concentrated syrupy liquid varying in color from clear to black	Smoked -- mixed with tobacco

The use of cannabis may impair or reduce short-term memory and comprehension, alter sense of time, and reduce the ability to perform tasks requiring concentration and coordination, such as driving a car. Marijuana can also produce paranoia and psychosis. The use of cannabis has both negative physical and mental effects. Physical effects of cannabis include a substantial increase in the heart rate, bloodshot eyes, a dry mouth and throat, and increased appetite. Because users often inhale the unfiltered smoke deeply and then hold it in as long as possible, marijuana is extremely damaging to the lungs.

Cocaine

Type	What is it called?	What does it look like?	How is it used?
Cocaine	Coke, Snow, Nose candy, Flake, Blow, Big C, Lady, White, Snowbirds	White crystalline powder	Inhaled, injected
Crack Cocaine	Crack, rock, freebase	White to tan pellets or crystalline rocks that look like soap	Smoked

Cocaine is a stimulant that affects the central nervous system. Immediate effects of cocaine use include dilated pupils and elevated blood pressure, heart rate and body temperature. The use of crack or freebase is extremely addictive, and the effects are felt within 10 seconds. The physical effects include dilated pupils, increased pulse rate, elevated blood pressure, insomnia, loss of appetite, tactile hallucinations, paranoia, and seizure. Cocaine or crack can cause death by cardiac arrest or respiratory failure after just one use.

Other Stimulants

Type	What is it called?	What does it look like?	How is it used?
Amphetamines	Speed, Uppers, Ups, Black beauties, Pep pills, Copilots, Bumblebees, Hearts, Benzedrine, Dexedrine, Footballs, Biphetamine	Capsules, pills, tablets	Taken orally, injected, inhaled
Methamphetamines	Crank, Crystal meth, Crystal methedrine, Speed	White powder, pills, rock that resembles a block of paraffin	Taken orally, injected, inhaled
Additional Stimulants	Ritalin, Cylert, Preludin, Didrex, Pre-State, Voranil, Sandrex, Plegin	Pills or capsules	Taken orally, injected

The use of stimulants can cause an increase in heart and respiratory rates, elevated blood pressure, a loss of appetite, and dilated pupils. Large doses of stimulants will cause irregular heartbeat, tremors, loss of coordination, and even physical collapse. Long-term use of stimulants can cause an amphetamine psychosis that includes hallucinations, delusions, and paranoia.

Depressants

Type	What is it called?	What does it look like?	How is it used?
Barbiturates	Downers, Barbs, Blue devils, Red devils, Yellow jacket, Yellows, Nembutal, Tuinals, Seconal, Amytal	Red, yellow, blue, or red and blue capsules.\	Taken orally
Methaqualone	Quaaludes, Ludes, Sopors	Tablets	Taken orally
Tranquilizers	Valium, Librium, Miltown, Serax, Equanil, Tranxene	Tablets or capsules	Taken orally

The effects of depressants are similar to those of alcohol. Large doses of depressants can cause respiratory depression, coma, and death. The combination of depressants and alcohol can magnify the effects of the drugs, increasing the risks. The regular use of depressants will cause physical and psychological addiction. Babies born to mothers addicted to depressants can have birth defects and behavioral problems .

Hallucinogens

Type	What is it called?	What does it look like?	How is it used?
Phencyclidine	PCP, Hog, Angel dust, Loveboat, Lovely, Killer Weed	Liquid, white crystalline powder, pills, capsules	Taken orally, injected, smoked (sprayed on joints or cigarettes)
Lysergic acid diethylamide	LSD, Acid, Microdot, White lightning, Blue heaven, Sugar cubes	Colored tablets, blotter paper, clear liquid, thin squares of gelatin	Taken orally, licked off paper, gelatin and liquid that can be put in the eyes
Mescaline and Peyote	Mesc, Buttons, Cactus	Hard brown discs, tablets, capsules	Discs-chewed, swallowed, or smoked. Tablets and capsules-taken orally
Psilocybin	Magic mushrooms, 'shrooms, mush, magic	Fresh or dried mushrooms	Chewed and swallowed

Mixing the use of hallucinogens with driving is an extremely dangerous practice. The use of most hallucinogens interrupts the functions of the neocortex, which is the part of the brain that controls the intellect and keeps instincts in check. Time and body movement are slowed down. Muscular coordination worsens, and senses are dulled. The physical effects of LSD include dilated pupils, elevated body temperature, increased heart rate and blood pressure, loss of appetite, sleeplessness, and tremors.

Narcotics

Type	What is it called?	What does it look like?	How is it used?
Heroin	Smack, Horse, Mud, Brown sugar, Junk, Black tar, Big H	White to dark-brown powder or tar like substance	Injected, smoked or inhaled
Codeine	Empirin compound with codeine, Tylenol with codeine, Codeine in cough medicine	Dark liquid varying in thickness, capsules, tablets	Taken orally, injected
Morphine	Pectoral syrup	White crystals, hypodermic tablets, or injectable solutions	Taken orally, injected, or smoked
Opium	Paregoric, Dover's powder, Parepectolin	Dark brown chunks, powder	Smoked, eaten, or injected
Meperidine	Pethidine, Demerol, Mepergan	White powder, solution, tablets	Taken orally, injected
Other narcotics	Percocet, Percodan, Tussionex, Fentanyl, Darvon, Talwin, Lomotil	Tablets or capsules	Taken orally, injected

Narcotics cause an initial feeling of euphoria that is often followed by drowsiness, nausea, and vomiting. An overdose may produce slow and shallow breathing, clammy skin, convulsions, coma, and possibly death. A tolerance to narcotics comes very quickly, and dependency is very likely. Addiction in pregnant women can lead to premature, stillborn, or addicted infants who experience severe withdrawal symptoms.

Designer Drugs

Type	What is it called?	What does it look like?	How is it used?
Analog of Fentanyl (Narcotic)	Synthetic heroin, China white	White powder	Inhaled, injected
Analog of Meperidine (Narcotic)	MPTP (New heroin), MPPP, synthetic heroin	White powder	Inhaled, injected
Analog of Amphetamines or Methamphetamines (Hallucinogens)	MDMA (Ecstasy, XTC, Adam, Essence), MDM, STP, PMA, 2, 5-DMA, TMA, DOM, DOB, EVE	White powder, tablets, or capsules	Taken orally, injected, or inhaled
Analog of Phencyclidine (PCP)	PCPy, PCE	White powder	Taken orally, injected, or smoked

The law defines illegal drugs by their chemical formulas. To get around these legal restrictions, chemists have modified the molecular structure of certain illegal drugs to produce similar drugs known as designer drugs. These drugs can be several hundred times stronger than the drugs they are designed to imitate. Use of designer drugs can cause uncontrollable tremors, drooling, impaired speech, paralysis, irreversible brain damage, nausea, blurred vision, chills or sweating, faintness, anxiety, depression, and paranoia.

Over-the-Counter Drugs

Over-the-counter drugs can cause similar reactions to many of the drugs listed above. Drivers may experience the effects of drowsiness, lack of attentiveness, confusion, loss of decision making ability, and altered vision. Always read and follow the instructions and warning labels before taking any medication. READ ALL LABELS ON DRUG CONTAINERS. You can be convicted of DUI for driving while under the influence of an over-the-counter drug.