FAQs

From what age are you allowed to buy alcohol?

Selling alcohol to people under age of 18 is prohibited in Bulgaria.

Why the use of alcohol and drugs by young people under the age of 16 is not encouraged?

The development of the person passes through different stages. In the adolescence the organism matures and the human personality is developed. Some scientists set the end of the adolescence for 21 years old. That’s why  until that age the vulnerability caused by the use of psychoactive substances and alcohol is dangerous.  The psychoactive substances could influence negatively the development of the brain structure, so that some parts of the brain could not reach their full development and get damaged.

The continued use of alcohol in the adolescence could lead to structural changes in the brain, which influence the ability to learn and remember. For young people even small quantities of alcohol cause great influence. The adults, who use alcohol in big amounts, are also exposed to big risk.

If I smoke cannabis on a daily basis, am I addicted?

It’s good to get to know with the following information. The addiction could be physical and psychological.  

The physical dependence is a physical expression of familiarization to certain substance, expressed as disturbed functioning of the organism. Only people who have intensively and continuously smoke cannabis, have sometimes small withdraw symptoms like insomnia or irritability.  

The psychological dependence means that in his concepts he cannot function well and feel good without the substance – he has frequent need of the substance, thoughts about it and how to get it. In this condition it is hard to refrain from usage.  Such psychological dependence could happen as a consequence of cannabis use.

If you smoke cannabis every day and you cannot stop than we can speak about psychological dependence.

Can I be arrested if a policeman catches me for smoking a joint?

Yes, because the substance THC contained in the hemp plant known as weed, marijuana, joint, is prohibited by a law. The penal law (see the attached quotation from the law), part of which is the penal codex of Bulgaria, defines the cultivation, distribution and use of cannabis as criminal manifestations. The penal and procedure codes allude to the type and degree of the penalties, which are set in case that the law is broke. So, even if you don’t smoke marijuana, the fact that you posess it, is a sufficient reason to be held by the police.

The law on the control of  drug substances and their precursors

PROHIBITION OF PLANTS, SUBSTANCES AND MEDICINES FROM APPLICATION 1
Article 30. The production, remake, commerce, conservation, import, export, reexport, transit, carrying, offering, acquisition, use and possession of the plants, drug substances and their preparations from application 1 is prohibited.

Are there pesticides in hash or weed?

The pesticides are support substances used in the raising of plant cultures. They influence the growing of undesired plants, especially weeds, which are an obstacle to the development of the basic plant.  In the cannabis cultivation the use of pesticides is not known. The plant shoots up fast, it develops leaf mass, which is easily overshadowing and impedes the growth of other plants, including undesired weeds. At this moment in Bulgaria pesticides have not been met in this kinds of cultures. It is important to know that we cannot be sure if pesticides have been used in the cultivation of illegal plants.

Is eating space cake safer than smoking marijuana?

No. Both ways of using bring risks. The smoking of cannabis harm the lungs. The eating of space cake is turning around this problem, but brings risk of swallowing big amounts of marijuana. The effects of consummation could manifest after 30 - 90 minutes after the consummation, that’s why sometimes people could consume big amounts of food with marijuana in the searching of its’ effect. That leads to manifestation of undesired effects, connected to unpleasant experiences and sensations, discomfort and nervousness, which could continue up to 6 hours.  

What is the difference between hash and weed?

The substances both come from the same plant: the Cannabis sativa plant. Hash is compressed resin from the female plant and is 5 to 8 times stronger than the regular marijuana. Marijuana, weed, joint are used to name the dried leafs and flowers of the female plant. The effects of using hash and weed differ by the intensity, duration and tangibility of the experiences they lead to.

What is the effect of cannabis on memory?

People, who have smoked cannabis, frequently forget much of what they have just heard or said because they are under the influence of THC. This is because cannabis reduces the capacity to concentrate and short-term memory. These restore themselves when people stop using. As far as is known for now, there are no convincing evidence that cannabis cause permanent memory damage.

Is smoking cannabis good for your lungs?

No. If someone tells that smoking cannabis purifies your lungs, this is an unauthentic information. Smoking damages your lungs, and when smoking cannabis carcinogens are inhaled the same way as smoking tobacco. It has not yet been demonstrated, however, that you can actually get lung cancer from smoking purely cannabis. With long-term use, you can have major difficulties breathing and problems with — for example — coughing and bronchitis.

 source:   Erowid, Earth. "Mouth-Smoking Cannabis". Erowid Extracts. Dec 2001;2:22.

Is smoking cannabis less harmful than drinking alcohol?

It is difficult to compare different substances.  Psychologically active substances bring their own risks and consequences with them. Which substance carries the most or greatest risks depends upon factor as how often one uses, quantity used, for how long one uses, the commonly physical condition and many other factors. For example alcohol is freely accessible on the market which makes it very easy to get but that does not mean that it is harmless for someone’s health. On the other hand cannabis which is prohibited by law except the risks for the health is also connected with a criminal behaviour that could be sanctioned in the form of penalty, reprobation or imprisonment. The effects of the use of these substances may lead to lack of self control, aggression, and rush actions (driving in an inadequate condition practicing indiscriminate sex, participating in robberies, attacks and others).

Is it safe to smoke cannabis when you are breast feeding?

The function of the breastfeeding is not only to sate the baby's appetite, but also to provide the necessary substances for its growth and development. Most of the things that the mother consumes is reflected on the quality of her milk. That is why very often it is necessary for the breastfeeding mother to be on a special diet. Identically, tetrahydrocannabinol absorbed by  a mother – smoker of marijuana is transmitted to the baby's organism through the mother's milk. In this case the substance with all its properties and effects influences the small organism.

If you want to avoid the bad effects for you and your baby, it is recommended that you stop using cannabis while breastfeeding.

Can I get high if someone next to me smokes a joint?

There is a slim possibility that someone will „get high“ just by sitting next to a person who is smoking joint. The active ingredient in cannabis is THC (delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol). The absorption of THC in the organism leads to „getting high“. The smoke, that an onlooker would breath when sitting next to a smoker, ussually contains low concentration of THC and doesn't produce any effects.

What is the influence of THC over the brain once it is in the organism?

Cannabis creates a feeling of being ‘high,’ reduces concentration and impairs short-term memory capacity. Researches from the last years show that human brain creates physiological substances very similar to psychologically active substances as THC. This activity is done by the endocannabinoide system in the body that has receptors for assimilating these chemical substances (endocannabinoide receptors).

Many processes in the brain involve the endocannabinoide system. Endocanabinoids and THC are assimilated through endocanabinoide receptors and as a result there is an effect of looseness. Binding of THC and endocanabinoide receptors increases the level of dopamine in the brain and causes feelings of relaxation. This part of the brain that is responsible for concentration, memory and attention, has many canabinoide receptors. THC connected with cannabinoide receptors influences memory and attention.

Can smoking cannabis create mental disorders?

Probably yes because of its influence over human brain functioning and growth. Such mental disorders as schizophrenia and depression could develop because of cannabis use.

Schizophrenia:
Research shows the use of cannabis to approximately double the risk of developing schizophrenia. The following two groups run a particularly high risk:

• adolescents who smoke cannabis
• people who smoke cannabis and have a genetic predisposition towards schizophrenia

 

Given that genetic predisposition plays a major role in the emergence of schizophrenia, the burning question is: What role does cannabis play? Can cannabis cause such an illness or does it really only play a minor role in the emergence of the illness? (for people having genetic predisposition)

Researches have been made looking for an answer of the question what are the premises for the people to develop schizophrenia. There are indications, however, that cannabis may actually cause schizophrenia. A dosage-response association has been found to occur, for example. This means that the more frequent cannabis is used, the greater the chances of developing schizophrenia. Drugs have a negative influence on the brain. The use of cannabis during puberty especially has a negative influence on brain development by severely damaging endocannabinoide system which is still developing during this phase.  Using of cannabis thus influences the regular functioning of the brain.

There is evidence that the more one uses and the younger the age of use, the greater the chances of developing depression. Whether cannabis actually causes the depression is still unclear. However increasing number of studies is showing that early cannabis use can frequently be associated with unemployment and criminality or factors which clearly increase the chances of depression.

Why do your eyes get red when smoking cannabis?

The active ingredient in cannabis, THC, dilates the blood vessels in the eyes. The widening of these blood vessels allows more blood to pass through. The eyes thus look redder as a result.

Can smoking cannabis influence one’s interest in sex?

Yes. The effects of cannabis nevertheless differ depending on the user and particularly the surroundings and atmosphere. A small amount of cannabis generally increases the interest in sex and physical sensitivity. Inhibitions can also be lowered. It is possible that prolonged use may decrease the interest in sex.

Can I have my pills tested?

In order for a psychologically active substance to be identified and a quality analysis to be made, gas chromatography or mass spectrometry is applied. Such a facility is available in different labs in Bulgaria but the one that is authorized by the state to do that activity regarding the illegal substances is the laboratory of Science Research Institute of Criminology and Criminal Law (Ministry of Interior). This laboratory does not work with citizens but only with employees of the Ministry of Interior.

Possession of drugs which are included in Appendix 1 of the law regarding drugs and precursors (heroin, amphetamines, ecstasy, cocaine, marijuana and etc.), is a criminal offence and that is the reason for ordinary people not to be allowed to test their substances in a laboratory.

If the testing of illegal psychologically active substances was possible in Bulgaria it could prevent you from taking another substance with more dangerous components or in a higher dosage than the one expected. However that could not eliminate the risks from using.

How much does an XTC pill cost?

XTC is usually offered in clubs and disco’s where its price vary from 10 to 15 levs. If buying on the street the price could be 20 levs.

Is it good to consume lots of fluids when using XTC?

When using extasy it is important to take lots of liquids too because under it's influence the human body is not capable of regulating it's own temperaturе very well. Very often extasy is used in warm and crowded places without good air conditioning and where people dance very intensively. In such conditions the body temperature could increase considerably which could lead to overheating and dehydratation. There are cases in which this could lead to brain damage and even death.

In order to avoid and decrease such risks it is good if one is using extasy to take rests from time to time, to cool down and to regularly drink water and/or non alcoholic beverages in order to restore the amount of body liquids that were used up through sweating.

In the same time it is very important to know that taking too much water at once could also be dangerous (for example more than 4 glasses of water or another liquid per hour). Some of the death cases after extasy usage are connected exactly with water „intoxicating“ (or hyponatremia). When the quantity of water in the human body is too high in comparisson with the quantity of sodium it leads to water-sodium disbalance or a low level of salt quantity.

In order to decrease the risk of hyponatremia it is good the person who uses extasy to drink not more than 500 ml of water per hour and not at once. Salty snacks and sport beverages that contain lots of salts also could be of help.

Can you suffer brain damage as a result of XTC use?

What are exactly the consequences for the brain from the neurotoxicity of extasy substance, what are the mental, behavioral and emotional changes that could occur while using and how serious they could be is not very well determined yet.

 Scientists that conduct such researches have an opinion that extasy use could decrease or even exhaust the serotonin depots in the brain. In normal conditions serotonin (a neurotransmitter that delivers information in the brain)  is  stored in special vesicles at the tip of the the axons and the effects of taking extasy are partly a consequence of an intense release of serotonin. Researches that are led during the last years show  that often the use of extasy could lead to destoying  the axons in the nerve cells. In the same time there is no unified opinion that this damage is irreversible and could influence the person who has used  even years after he has stopped using.  How exactly is this happening and what consequences  it could have – these are questions  for more extended reasearches.

 Prolonged usage of extasy especially in big dosages could lead to memory damage and periods of depression which both are connected to the low levels of serotonin in the brain.

Can you lose weight using speed?

Yes. The use of amphetamines leads to blunting the feeling of being hungry. The people who use that substance become physically more active and spend more energy while in the same time take less food. That is why the regular use of amphetamines leads to losing weight.

 Losing weight as a result of the use of amphetamines very often leads to negative consequences for the body. Insufficient feeding and the lack of nutrition can cause weakening of the immune system and the body becomes pliable to infections and illnesses. When stopping the use of amphetamines, the body weight is restored.

Some people grind their jaws when using speed. What causes this?

Speed influences, among other things, the amount of dopamine in your brain. This substance influences many things including the regulation of emotions, memory, concentration and the coordination of movement. Speed stimulates the release of dopamine in your brain. The dopamine balance is disrupted. And the user can sometimes lose control over his or her movements and thus produce uncontrolled movement as a result. The grinding of the jaws when using speed is an example of this.

What substances are used most often to cut speed (amphetamines) with?

Do consult with a specialist physician.

How much does cocaine cost?

Approximately 120 levs per gram

Can you become depressed by cocaine?

Yes, it can. People who use cocaine can go in depression in the period between uses.The reason is that cocaine changes the balance of the substance dopamine in the brain, which influences the mood of the individual.

The psychophysiological conditon of the person after the amount of cocaine in the blood decreases is known as cocaine dysphoria. The cocaine dysphoria is expressed in anxiety, sadness, apathy, increased agression and insomnia. All these symptoms are typical for clinical depression as well.

Dopamine balance restores by itself when stopping the use of cocaine and that leads to stabilisation of the mood. Following prolonged use this restoration may take a few weeks.

It is possible that the depression continues after stopping the use of cocaine if there are other negative factors in life circumstances (difficulties at work, in private life etc.). Old problems that have been put aside might appear again even more acute than before. 

Why does snorting cocaine sometimes give you a bloody nose?

Nose bleed is a specific problem of those people, who insufflate cocaine. Cocaine snorting may cause damage of the cartiledge and mucosa in the nose which result in nose bleed. Prolonged use may eventually lead to appearance of a hole in the septum (the soft structure separating the nostrils).

Does the use of cocaine influence one’s interest in sex?

Yes. A single use may increase interest in sex. The reason is that small doses of cocaine may provoke a burst of testosterone in males, thus increase sexual desire.

Under the influence of cocaine sexual experience becomes more intense, ejaculation takes  place later and erection lasts longer. However, prolonged and often use of cocaine has a negative effect on erection and the ability to reach orgasm, and it dulls the arousal. The increased amount of testosterone kills the spermatozoids.

How much is a line of coke?

Anywhere between 0.025 and 0.1 gram. The user can thus get 10 to 40 lines out of 1 gram of coke. Every user decides for himself  how many lines to use. That depends on a number of factors but mainly on the personal preferences and the purity of the coke. 

What is the difference between crack and freebase cocaine?

Freebase cocaine (or boiled cocaine) and crack are both smokable forms of cocaine. Both substances have similar effect and bring along similar risks. The difference between them is in one aspect of the preparation of the cocaine for consumption. Freebase is typically made by boiling sniffing cocaine with water and sodium bicarbonate (baking soda). If too little water is used in proportion to the coke or the mixture is not boiled a second time, remnants of the sodium bicarbonate or cutting substance can be present in the freebase which is then called ‘crack.’ In that case the remnants of sodium bicarbonate are excreted, which stays in the free base. When smoked, the remnant of the sodium bicarbonate creates a crackling sound when smoked, and this is where the name ‘crack’ comes from.

What is the difference between cocaine and speed?

Cocaine is a drug, extracted from the leaves of the plant “coca” (Erythroxylon cocа), the amphetamines which are chemical substances, synthesized in a laboratory. Both substances are stimulants of the central nervous system.

The use of amphetamines leads mostly to physical inexaution and hyperactivity, while the effects of cocaine are of a more psychological nature (euphoria, have no inhibitions).

There is a difference between the two substances regarding the duration of the effects. Cocaine has effects which continue between 30 and 60 minutes, according to the way of use, while amphetamines have effects which can be felt few hours after the use.

Cocaine is much more expensive drug. Speed costs anywhere between 20 and 30 levs a gram; cocaine costs between 120 and 150 levs a gram.

What is the difference between the snorting and the smoking of cocaine?

The difference lies in the intensity and duration of the effects. When snorted, the effects begin after a few minutes and last 30 to 60 minutes. When smoked, the effects begin more or less immediately and last only 5 to 10 minutes. The reason about that is its faster dissolution in the organism.

Cocaine snorting could lead to loss of sense for smell, nose bleeding, difficulties swallowing, as well as inflammation, followed by perforation of the nose barrier.

What is mCPP?

mCPP or meta-chlorophenylpiparazine is a chemical compound used in production of psychoactive substances in the form of pills. There are also pills with only mCPP as the active ingredient and pills containing mCPP with only a little bit of XTC in circulation. The effects of mCPP use can be very various. Some people ind them close to extasy effects.

Just as XTC, mCPP increases the levels of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is a chemical substance, synthesized in the brain, that is responsible for the mood regulation, anger, aggression, body temperature, sleep, sexuality, appetite and the body metabolism. It is good to know that  it is possible that the use of mCPP could lead to serotonin poisoning. In such cases, there is too much serotonin active in the brain. The chances of such poisoning increase when mCPP is combined with other substances which also release serotonin in the brain — for example, XTC or certain antidepressants.
After the effect goes away most users experience such negative effects as nausea, dizziness, anxiety, hallucinations, agitation, chills and headache. The negative effects are seen to primarily occur when the pill has almost worn off. The higher the dose of mCPP, the greater the chances of negative effects.

What complaints can occur as a consequence of long-term GHB use?

There are still not enough data about the consequences of the long term use of GHB  on the organism. The lead researches show that the regular use of GHB can lead to psychological dependence. The user starts to need the substance in order to function adequately in the every day life, work, communication or just in order to feel normal.

The daily use of GHB can also lead to physical dependence. The people who use 4 to 6 times a week announce that they need augmentation of the dose in order to accomplish the same effect. In very heavy use (one or more dose daily) the users talk about very serious physical dependence. The withdrawal symptoms for GHB resemble those for alcohol abstinence and can be in a very intensive form (insomnia, the ‘shakes’ (trembling), anxiety, delirium, rapid heart rate, agitation and increased muscle tension).

What is atropine?

Atropine is an alkaloid which was synthesized in 1833 but its structure is established in the 20th century. The substance could be synthesized much cheaper from the plants of Datura family. It is also used as antidote. It suppresses the tonus of the smooth muscularity and dilates the eye pupils. It is used as an antispasmolytic, increases the heart beat and also is used as an ingredient that blocks acetylcholine receptors.

 Atropine causes different effects in the body, it has a relaxing effect for stomach ache, spasms of the bladder and gall bladder. This helps in controling the pain levels in the state of colitis, gastric ulcer and irritable bowel syndrome.Atropine also reduces the secretions of many organs, thereby helping to control conditions such as excessive stomach acid production and excessive secretion from the pancreas, nose, lungs, salivary glands, and stomach before surgery

 Atropine is used to treat the rigidity, tremor, excessive salivation, and sweating caused by Parkinson's disease.
Atropine also has effects on the heart. It is used during surgery to maintain proper heart function and to treat certain heart disorders.

 Atropine could be used as an ingredient in the extasy pills or in cocaine.

 The combination between atropine and cocaine could be dangerous and brings risks such as:

•    visual and audio hallucinations;
•   anxciety;
•    blunt consciousness ot loss of sonsciousness;
•    in rare cases it could lead to death because of breathing disturbance or arrhythmia.

Is there a difference between GHB and liquid XTC?