MANY ILLEGAL DRUGS AVAILABLE TO TEENS

"Where there is a will there is a way" is a common line of thinking,
usually applied to setting positive goals.

However, it seems the same advice is being followed by students to get high
- - faster and with more readily accessible drugs than the past. Here is a
look at a few substances students may be abusing.

* Marijuana - This substance remains popular drug choice for many students.
It is easily available, relatively inexpensive and today's batches contain
a higher level of delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), resulting in a greater
high.

Marijuana induces impaired motor skills and the inability to make sound
judgments. This may result in driving accidents or sexual promiscuity.

* Over-the-counter (OTC) medications - These easily accessible drugs, like
cold pills and cough syrup are a growing trend among middle school students.

Because they are inexpensive, often costing an average of $8 each, and
legal, they are popular among the younger set, who may not have convenient
access to illegal drugs.

* Crystal Meth - Crystal and crystal meth are common street names for
methamphetamine, the most hyper-charged member of the amphetamine drug family.

At low doses, crystal boosts alertness and blocks hunger and fatigue. At
higher doses, it causes exhilaration and euphoria. At extremely high doses,
the drug can cause agitation, paranoia and bizarre behaviour.

* Ecstasy - One of the most popular club drugs, ecstasy, scientifically
known as MDMA, is a synthetic, psychoactive drug chemically similar to the
stimulant methamphetamine and the hallucinogen mescaline.

Popular among club goers, ecstasy fosters a feeling of euphoria, which is
increased by the pulsating rhythm of techno music. It is distributed in
pill form, usually featuring a logo of some sort.