drugs

CocaineThis is the second most commonly used drug. Cocaine is

highly addictive. People who are young and healthy can have a fit or heart attack after taking too much coke. It can also cause panic attacks.

Short term: coke makes you feel high, confident and full of energy but this can lead into anxiety, panic and paranoia. People can feel tired and depressed after taking coke.

Long term: giving up coke and crack

can be very difficult for dependent users.

There's little available evidence on the

long-term mental effects of coke use.

Cannabis

Research has shown that smoking cannabis joints is even more damaging to lungs than smoking cigarettes . Long-term use can cause lung disease and cancer. Cannabis can also lead to paranoia and loss of motivation.

Ecstasy The study revealed that 1.5% of 16 to 59 year olds had

taken ecstasy in the last year. Ecstasy can cause panic attacks or psychotic states. There have been more than 200 ecstasy-related deaths in the UK since 1996. The drug has been linked to liver, kidney and heart problems.

Short term: E makes you feel relaxed, high, ‘loved-up’ and ready to dance all night. But bad experiences of paranoia or feeling ‘out of it’ can happen with high doses or to people who are already feeling anxious. Long term: regular use may lead to sleep problems, lack of energy, drastic weight loss, depression or anxiety. People can become psychologically dependent on the euphoria and calmness that E gives them.

Marijuana, weed, dope, skunk Short term: people smoke cannabis to relax and get high, but

it can make it difficult to remember things, even if they’ve only just happened. It can cause anxiety attacks or feelings of paranoia. "If you use a lot of cannabis regularly, you’re putting yourself at risk of some temporary problems, such as confusion or delusions," says Barnes.

Long term: "It’s possible that cannabis might trigger long-term mental health problems,

including psychosis, schizophrenia and depression," says Barnes. "If you or someone in your family has mental health problems, it’s best to avoid cannabis altogether."

Heroin

Short term: heroin slows down the body functions and so stops both physical and emotional pain.

Long term: heroin can be physically addictive. "The withdrawal from heroin is really unpleasant," says Professor Nutt. "Long-term heroin users are often depressed because of their overall lifestyle." Coming off and staying off heroin can be very difficult.

Ketamine

Short term: ketamine is an anaesthetic that makes people feel relaxed and high. But its effects are unpredictable. "It’s like drinking a whole bottle of vodka: you don’t have any control over what you’re doing," says Professor Nutt. "The biggest danger is wandering

off in a daze and having an accident

or getting lost and staying out all night,

resulting in hypothermia."

Long term: tolerance develops quickly,

so people need more K to get high.

Solvents

Short term: solvents make you feel drunk, and sometimes cause hallucinations.

Long term: heavy use of solvents poisons your brain and can damage it, making it hard to control your emotions, think straight or remember things.

Tobacco

Tobacco comes from the leaves of the tobacco plant. It contains a drug called nicotine which is highly addictive. It's nicotine that gives smokers their 'hit‘. Smoking any drug gets it to the brain quickly. When a smoker inhales, the nicotine reaches the brain in around 8 seconds. Regular smokers say it helps them relax and feel less hungry.

Tranquillisers

Tranquillisers are manufactured drugs produced to treat anxiety, depression and insomnia. Prescribed by a doctor, they're designed to reduce anxiety and promote calmness, relaxation and sleep. There are hundreds of different tranquillisers around but most common are the Benzodiazepines.