Recreational use

Light-Duty Recreational Surfaces. Artificial surfaces intended for incidental recreational use, eg, swimming pool decks, patios, and landscaping, are designed primarily to provide a practical, durable, and attractive surface. Minimum cost is a prime consideration and has driven the quaUty of some such products to a low level. Most surfaces in this category utilize polypropylene ribbon and a tufted fabric constmction (see Olefin polymers, polypropylene). ... 

Coliform criteria for body-contact water use and recreational use have been established by most states. Upper limits of 200 fecal coliforms per 100 ml and 2,000 total coliforms per 100 ml have been established. These values are only... 

The plant Cannabis sativa produces the psychoactive diug A9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Recreationally, THC is consumed in form of marijuana (dried flowers and leaves) or hashish (resin). The cultivation and possession of Cannabis for recreational use is not... 

Taken for recreational use as an intoxicant, typical acute effects described by misusers are euphoria, relaxation, and increased sexuality (Galloway et al. 1997 Miotto et al. 2001). On the street, GHB is taken in capfuls or teaspoons of a salty/sour liquid, which because of variations in concentration, may range in dose from 0.5 to 5.0 g. Common side effects are nausea, headache, itching, and vomiting (Borgen et al. 2003). Doses of 10—20 mg/kg of GHB typically... 

For recreational use, ketamine is often snorted or smoked with marijuana or tobacco products, but it may also be injected intramuscularly (Weiner et al. 2000). The typical street dose of ketamine ranges from 30 to 300 mg. These amounts are in contrast to the chnical doses used for anesthesia, which range from 2 to 10 mg/kg. Ketamine has a half-life of less than 2 hours and is metabohzed by the cytochrome P450 en2yme system (Koesters et al. 2002 Reich and SUvay 1989). 

Miotto K, Darakjian J, Basch J, et al Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid patterns of use, effects and withdrawal. Am J Addict 10 232-241, 2001 Moncini M, Masini E, Gambassi F, et al Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid and alcohol-related syndromes. Alcohol 20 285-291, 2000 Morgan MJ Memory deficits associated with recreational use of ecstasy (MDMA). 

In summary, it can be reported that toxic cyanobacteria can produce neurotoxic, hepatotoxic, and dermatotoxic compounds that are a direct threat to animal and human water supplies. This threat increases as water bodies become more eutrophic, thus supporting higher production of toxic and nontoxic cyanobacteria. Presence of these potent natural product toxins poses an increasing threat to the maintenance of quality water supplies for agriculture, municipal, and recreational use. 

There is virtually no one who is involved in drug abuse research, or who studies the properties of recreationally used drugs, that is not by now familiar with 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) (figure 1). Over the past 4 years this substance, usually referred to in the popular press as Ecstasy, has received widespread media attention. This chapter will relate recent findings with respect to the potential dangers attendant on the use of MDMA and explore its pharmacological properties. 

MDMA typifies a central problem with the substituted amphetamine-type substances The fact that we know so little about any of these kinds of drugs. What does MDMA actually do What are the psychopharmacologi-cal properties that make it attractive for recreational use Is it just another hallucinogenic amphetamine, as some have asserted In the following... 

In humans, MDA and MDMA have been reported to produce positive mood changes, enhanced emotional awareness, and improved interpersonal communication (Greer and Tolbert 1986 Downing 1986 Shulgin 1986 Peroutka et al. 1988). Because of these psychotropic effects, MDA and MDMA have been used in psychotherapeutic situations (Naranjo et al. 1967 Yensen et al. 1976 Grinspoon and Bakalar 1986). In addition, presumably because of the same positive subjective effects, recreational use of MDMA on college campuses has increased in recent years (Peroutka et al. 1988). 

Peroutka, S. Incidence of recreational use of 3,4-methylenedioxymetham-phetamine (MDMA, Ecstasy ) on an undergraduate campus. N Engl J Meri 317 1542-1543, 1987. 

In order to complete this chapter, I had to call on the help of three friends, who I would like to acknowledge. First, I thank Dr. Luc Varin for providing me with unfettered access to his office at the Loyola campus of Concordia, away from the distractions of Montreal s downtown. I also am thankful to Imad Hoteit for reading and providing detailed feedback on the first draft of the chapter. Last, but not least, I would like to thank Mohammad Ebne-Alian for the excellent technical drawings and recreations used to illustrate parts of this chapter. 

Amphetamine Clinically used for narcolepsy (sudden day-time onset sleep) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) formerly used as a short-term slimming agent, as an antidepressant and to boost athletic performance recreational use widespread tolerance develops readily highly addictive regular users suffer many health problems and a reduced life expectancy amphetamine psychosis may develop, with similar symptoms to acute paranoid schizophrenia. 

Cocaine Clinically used as a local anaesthetic during eye surgery recreational use widespread tolerance develops readily highly addictive, especially crack cocaine severe potential problems similar to amphetamine users often become suspicious and paranoid, displaying antisocial and troublesome behaviour patterns. 

MDMA (Ecstasy) No clinical uses, although it has been used for psychotherapy recreational use widespread acute hyperthermic problems midweek depression during neurochemical depletion long-term problems include neurotoxicity, memory/cognitive deficits and a range of psychiatric problems. 

Phenmetrazine Clinically used for short-term appetite suppression in the longer term its supposed benefits for weight control are very doubtful recreational use is rare, with weaker CNS effects than amphetamine, but it is still addictive. 

The ability to produce a subjective high is probably the most important single action sustaining the widespread and often chronic recreational use of cannabis. Surveys have demonstrated that pleasure and relaxation are the main reasons given... 

Previous studies have found that cyanotoxic compounds may accumulate in sym-patric plants as well as in the tissues of herbivorous fish and invertebrates (reviewed in Zurawell et al. 2005). The accumulation of cyanotoxins at these trophic levels provides a direct path to both aquatic and, potentially, terrestrial consumers (Negri and Jones 1995 Kotak et al. 1996 Giovannardi et al. 1999). However, these compounds are rarely encountered in higher trophic levels in freshwater systems (Kotak et al. 1996 Zurawell et al. 2005). Nevertheless, attempts to minimize cyanotoxins in water bodies for recreational use should remain a major focus of environmental and public health managers, especially in light of the evidence that low doses may still have sublethal effects on the larval development of aquatic vertebrates (Oberemm et al. 1999). 

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