FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

For people who use opiates such as heroin and the people who care about them, it's really important to know about Naloxone.

Methadone is a depressant similar to heroin and morphine. It is usually prescribed as a substitute for heroin, to help people reduce the harm of illegal use. Methadone is only legal with a prescription but is sometimes ‘diverted’ and used illegally.

Ketamine It is a depressant and a hallucinogenic. Ketamine was originally made to be an anaesthetic and is still used for this purpose sometimes.

Inhalants include volatile substances, aerosols, gases and nitrates. Inhaling spray paint fumes is the most common inhalant accessed however petrol, gases and glue are also used.

Ice is often in the media, and use has become more common in Victoria. Ice is an illegal stimulant.

Most commonly known as speed, amphetamines can give you a high, a bad comedown or even an overdose, so it's good to get a heads up on what it's about.

Alcohol is the most readily available drug in Australia and is the first drug that most young Australians try. Just like any other drug, it's important to know the facts about drinking alcohol.

Cocaine is an illegal stimulant made from the leaves of the coca plant. It's also known as C, coke, nose candy, snow, rack, white lady, toot, Charlie, blow, white dust, pebbles, Chang and stardust. Freebase is known as base. Crack is referred to as rock or wash.

Heroin is used by less than 1% of the Australian population, but it is the fourth most common drug of concern for young people wanting support from alcohol and other drug services. Heroin is an illegal depressant.

GHB is depressant, which means it slows down the body’s reaction to things. It used to be used as a legal anaesthetic but is now mostly (but not always) illegally used as a drug at parties and clubs.

It is a dissociative which means you will feel a sense of being “out of your body”. It’s also a hallucinogen, so you can see or hear things that aren’t there when you use it. It can make you feel “woozy”, slow your reaction time and cause you to have less control of your movements.

Buprenorphine is a prescribed drug that is used as a legal replacement for heroin. It is also often prescribed to help heroin withdrawal. It is sometimes called Bup or B.

Benzos is a short name for Benzodiazepines (pronounced ben-zoh-die-az-a-peens). Benzos aren’t one drug but actually a whole heap. Benzos are depressant drugs which mean they slow your body’s reaction to things. They're also called diaz, tranx, sleepers, downers, serras (Serepax), moggies (Mogadon), normies (Normison) tranquillisers.