DRUG USERS WARNED ABOUT POTENTIAL DANGERS

With designer drug use on the rise, a registered nurse stressed the effects
of such drugs and the possibility a user may not be aware of exactly what
the drugs contain.

The University of Rhode Island's Health Services and URIEMS hosted a
designer drug presentation on Tuesday in the White Hall auditorium. The
featured speaker was Roger F. Jadosz, R.N. and CPR coordinator, who is
currently working with URI's Health Services.

The presentation called Designer Drug Awareness Project is in its third
year. Its goal is to educate men, women and children of all ages about the
effects of many designer drugs such as Ecstasy, Special K, GHB, supplements
and more.

Jadosz spent a large amount of time describing the effects of Ecstasy, also
known as "X," "beans," "rolls" and "pills" among other street names. The
symptoms of the drugs include enhanced touch, sound and sight.

"It is an extreme euphoria like never before," Jadosz explained. "It's so
unique it has to be in a class on it's own. It's compared with mescaline."

Side effects of the drug include tightness of the mouth and teeth grinding,
hypothermia, severe body scratching and in extreme cases even panic
attacks. The most prominent long-term side effect is memory loss.

"It affects varying people to varying degrees," Jadosz said.

The drug floods the brain with seratonin, a chemical that regulates mood,
memory and sleep.

Depending on how it is taken, the drug can be felt within two to five
minutes if broken up and if swallowed, in about 20-40 minutes. Also,
depending on what is in the pill, you can feel the effects, known as
"rolling" from two hours to six hours.

Ecstasy has been growing extremely fast in recent years. The number of
documented users went from 1.2 million in 1998 to 12.1 million in 1999,
just one year later.

Jadosz's most important point when explaining all of the drugs he touched
upon, especially ecstasy, is one can never know what he or she is getting.
He said it is very rare to find a pill that is pure MDMA or pure ecstacy
today since it was banned in the 80s.

"There's no telling what's in it," Jadosz said.

Another drug Jadosz spent a considerable amount of time on was GHB
(gamma-hydroxybutyrate).

Known on the street as "G" and "Liquid E," GHB is a naturally occurring
substance, which acts as a depressant to the central nervous system.

"Think of it as a super concentrated alcohol," Jadosz said.

The drug produces euphoria, relaxation, playfulness and impaired judgment
as well as a number of other drunken-like symptoms.

The reason the drug is so dangerous is that it is an odorless, colorless
substance that can easily be put into water bottles, cleaning solution
bottles, used for contacts, and can as simply be poured into a drink.

"You could be walking around campus with a water bottle full," Jadosz said.
"It is difficult to pick someone out under the influence of the drug
because you swear they're just drunk."

One tell-tale sign is the sudden loss of muscle tone. A person's legs "just
give out" Jadosz said. An individual does not stumble, a person under the
influence of the drug will fall down and then get right back up again.

GHB is absorbed in about 20-30 minutes and can last anywhere from two to
four hours.

The ingredients used to make GHB can be picked up at any local hardware
store. They include drain cleaners, paint strippers and floor cleaners
among others.

Like Ecstasy, GHB's effects vary depending on what is in it and how much of
what is put into it.

Jadosz also shot out some very interesting facts about other designer drugs
such as rohypnol, known as "roofies" and Ketamine, also referred to as
"Special K."

"Rohypnol is ten times stronger then valium," Jadosz said, adding that it
is the most common of the 'date-rape' drugs.

Some measures have been made to safeguard people against the drug. It is a
white pill that when dumped into a clear liquid will turn blue.

The dangers of Ketamine are very unique, Jadosz said.

According to Jadosz it is not entirely uncommon for some users on K to
experience interactions with aliens and out-of-body experiences.

The brain stops accepting signals that travel up the spinal cord and
therefore cannot function properly. This happens within about two to three
minutes. It is made in liquid form and most commonly evaporated and snorted.

"You may not feel your hand on fire," he said.

He said it is easy to tell someone is on Ketamine.

"In a club you can pick them [users] out in a minute. They're really out
there," Jadosz said, describing people's actions under the influence of the
drug as "voodoo like".

Jadosz also briefly mentioned energy drinks saying that drinking just one
Red Bull is the same as consuming two cups of coffee. It contains effedrine
and caffeine among other natural substances.

Jadosz noted that there were $2 billion in sales from Red Bull in 2002.

"It's not bad in itself, but it's deceiving," he said, especially when
mixed with alcoholic substances such as vodka.

Jadosz closed up his presentation by stressing that designer drugs are
everywhere even if they are not as prevalent as alcohol and marijuana.

"It's underneath the surface and it's there," he said.

Jadosz is available most of the time and is very willing to present his
research to anybody that wants more information.

"I am going to be developing a program for athletes because they are
unaware," he said.

His next presentation is for a class next Monday and Wednesday at 8 p.m.
but is open to anyone who would like to attend.