Drugs for Kicks

Abstract

This paper is a review of drugs that are being abused by chil dren and adolescents. The format includes subheadings of "General Information," "Effects," "Techniques of Administra tion," "Habit Description," "Clinical Findings," "Association with Crime, Sex, Antisocial Behavior," "Personality Dynamics," "Treatment," and, where applicable, "Preventive Measures." The paper is summarized in a table and includes a comprehensive bibliography of some ninety references. Inhaling noxious vapors of toluene, gasoline, etc., results in an acute brain syndrome that resembles alcohol intoxication but has more serious side effects, including hallucinations and delusions. The deterioration of judgment accompanying this intoxication sometimes results in serious accidents and even fatal conse quences. The possibility of chronic physical and psychological morbidity is accepted. More serious is the problem of the adolescent narcotic addict who is under compulsion to obtain drugs (usually by crime) to feed his physical and psychic craving. Of the hallucinogenic drugs, LSD and marijuana are by far the most commonly abused. Though neither has been shown to be addictive, both produce physiologic and psychic manifesta tions that can be rather severe, and both can precipitate psychotic breaks. LSD has been shown to cause "chromosomal breaks" in the cells of the users and their offspring. Other hallucinogenic drugs such as morning-glory seeds, nutmeg, etc., give essentially the same reactions but are less frequently used. The paper conjectures that usage of LSD, STP, and other psychedelic drugs (but not marijuana) will eventually drop off but that other modes of getting "kicks" or "acting out" will quickly spring up to take their place.