TIK TIK METHAMPHETAMINE (CHOEF)

Meth abuse has 3 patterns:
Low intensity abuser
They swallow or inhale meth, like caffeine or nicotine. To stay awake or to lose weight. But they have not experienced the euphoric rush associated with smoking or injecting it.

Binge abuser
Binge abusers smoke or inject experiencing the psychologically addictive euphoric rushes.
Rush - Can experience feeling equivalent to 10 orgasms. Continues for 5 - 30 minutes. The adrenal gland releases a hormone called epinephrine, putting the body in battle mode. The sensation results from the release of dopamine in the pleasure centre of the brain.
High - (the shoulder) Feels aggressively smarter and becomes argumentative. Lasts 4 -16 hrs.
Binge - Maintaining the high by smoking or injecting more. Each time a smaller rush than the initial rush until there is no rush and no high. Becoming hyperactive. Lasts 3 - 15 days.
Tweaking - Occuring at the end of the binge when nothing the abuser does will take away the feeling of emptiness and dysphoria. The abuser often takes a depressant (alcohol or heroin) to ease the bad feelings.
Crash - An incredible amount of sleep. The body's epinephrine has been depleted, and needs to replenish its supply. Even the most violent abuser becomes almost lifeless during the crash. The crash can last 1 -3 days.
Normal - after the crash, the abuser returns to almost normal. Lasts between 2 - 14 days.
Withdrawal - Often 30 - 90 days must pass after the last drug used before the abuser realises that he is in withdrawal. Loses the ability to experience pleasure, often suicidal.

High intensity abuser
The addicts, often speed freaks. Their whole existence focuses on preventing the crash, and they seek that elusive perfect, rush. Tweaking is the most dangerous time to confront him because tweakers are extremely unpredictable and short tempered. They see no need to come down from the high.
Dangerous tweakers
The abuser has probably not slept in 3 -15 days and be extremely irritable. His eyes move faster than normal. He talks quick, steady with a slight quiver, his movements are jerky. His hallucinations are vivid, they seem real.

CHEMICAL INFO
Was popular during the seventies called "black bombs". Synthetically produced, used medically for people who are grossly obese. The modern form on our streets has been through a backyard laboratory transformation, it is cooked in chemicals like methylated spirits and it forms crystals and becomes more powerful and effective "crystal meth, ice or tik". Looks like crushed ice.

The cost of an inpatient treatment programme in South Africa can be between R15000 and R30000. Most families will be unable to afford these fees, or medical cover.

www.drugwise.co.za

MANDRAX
Quaaludes Methaqualone

"She falls through the doorway, rolls down the hall
She bounces off the sofa, and walks into the wall
It's easy to see that she buckles and bends
She's doin' Quaaludes again."
"She fumbles and stumbles and falls down the stairs
Makes love to the leg of the dining room chair
She's ready for animals, women or me
She's doin' Quaaludes again."

REAL YELLOWWOOD
SA's Nationa Tree

Podocarpus latifolius The Yellowwood Family is ancient and was represented in this part of Africa more than 100 million years ago. The pale yellow timber is still considered to be one of the loveliest of our indigenous furniture woods. The species is very widespread extending from Table Mountain along the coastal regions to Drakensberg to the Soutpansberg and Blouberg Mountains.It also occurs in tropical east and west Africa as far as Tanzania and Cameroon.

GALJOEN
SA's National Fish

Coracinus capensis (Damba) Probably the first typical fish to be noticed by the earlier settlers. It might well be selected as a marine emblem to rank with the Springbok and the Protea.

BLUE CRANE
SA's National Bird

Anthropoides paradisia About one metre in height, occurs only in southern Africa (that is to say south of the Zambezi and Cunene Rivers) and in the Etosha Pan.
The plumage is almost entirely pale blue-grey, the main wing feathers blue-black, the crown of the head is white, the bill pinkish and the long legs greyish. What appear to be long tail streamers are in fact elongated wing feathers (the tertial feathers) which trail gracefully to the ground when the bird is standing. The male has a slightly longer bill.
Has a loud, nasal trumpeting call ‘krraaaarrrk’ which carries far, but mostly they are silent. The Frequents open grassveld with low, scrubby bushes, often in moist situations, and also lays its two eggs on the ground. It feeds on vegetation including seeds, insects and small reptiles.