the OPP
On Wednesday, the Fort Frances Community Drug Action Team responded to a complaint that marijuana was being sold in the area of Fort Frances High School.
Further information was received that the marijuana has been making people sick after consumption, causing them to require medical attention.
The Fort Frances Community Drug Action Team was able to seize an amount of this marijuana and submit it for testing.
The result of the test confirmed it tested positive for both THC and amphetamines (commonly known as speed).
There are several side effects from taking amphetamines that persons who use marijuana may not expect.
Some of the common side effects are as follows:
Lower doses
•feelings of euphoria, excitement, and a sense of well-being;
•increased confidence and motivation;
•a sense of power and superiority over others;
•increased talkativeness;
•repetition of simple acts;
•nervousness, anxiety, agitation, and panic;
•increased libido;
•paranoia;
•hallucinations;
•irritability, hostility, and aggression;
•headaches;
•dizziness;
•feeling more awake and alert, reduced need for sleep, and difficulty sleeping;
•abrupt shifts in thought and speech that can make people difficult to understand;
•enlarged (dilated) pupils;
•dry mouth;
•increased breathing rate;
•shortness of breath (from smoking it);
•increased heart rate and blood pressure;
•irregular heart beat, palpitations;
•chest pain;
•reduced appetite;
•stomach cramps;
•stomach irritation (if swallowed);
•feeling more energetic;
•increased sweating;
•increased body temperature;
•faster reaction times;
•feelings of increased strength; and
•itching, picking, and scratching
Higher doses
A high dose of amphetamines can cause a person to overdose (this means a person has taken more amphetamines than their body can cope with).
Not knowing the strength or purity of amphetamines increases the risk of overdose.
Injecting runs a greater risk of overdose due to large amounts of the drug entering the blood stream and quickly travelling to the brain.
The effects of a high dose of amphetamines can intensify some of the effects.
People also experience:
•blurred vision;
•tremors;
•irregular breathing;
•loss of co-ordination;
•collapse;
•rapid pounding heart;
•violent or aggressive behaviour;
•hallucinations;
•seizures;
•stroke; and
•coma
High doses and frequent heavy use also can create an “amphetamine psychosis,” characterized by paranoid delusions, hallucinations, and bizarre, aggressive, or violent behaviour.
These symptoms usually disappear a few days after the person stops using amphetamines.
As the effects of amphetamines begin to wear off, a person may experience a range of effects.
These effects can last for several days after use and may include:
•feeling restless, irritable, and anxious;
•aggression that may lead to violence;
•tension;
•radical mood swings;
•depression;
•paranoia;
•lethargy; and
•total exhaustion
Members of the public who recently may have consumed marijuana, and who are experiencing these side effects, are urged to seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Anonymous tips go a long way in helping police solve crimes pertaining to criminal drug activity.
Anyone can contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at www.tipshelp.com or 1-800-222-TIPS, or by texting “tip262 and their tip information” to CRIMES (274637).
