APPEARANCE: Brown or greenish herbal mixture with a distinctive herbal smell.

STREET NAMES: Weed, Ganja, Herb, Joint, Grass, Reefer.

HOW IT'S TAKEN: Usually smoked in a hand-rolled "joint'' or "spliff'', resembling a cigarette, or in a pipe. It is sometimes mixed with tobacco.

Marijuana can also be eaten, most often baked into cakes or brownies.

EQUIPMENT: Pay-type envelopes or other small bags, cigarette papers, roach clips, pipes or water pipes (also known as "bongs'').

WHAT IT DOES: Causes a feeling of relaxation and well-being. Increases one's tendency to talk and laugh.

SYMPTOMS OF ABUSE: Slowed thinking, speech and reflexes, mood swings, increased appetite, dryness of mouth, increased pulse rate, bloodshot eyes and paranoia.

MEDICAL USES: Reduces nausea in cancer patients.

HASHISH APPEARANCE: Hard, brown resinous material in block or cube form. It is also available in a more potent liquid form known as Hash Oil, which is added to joints.

STREET NAMES: Hash, Cube.

HOW IT'S TAKEN: Usually smoked mixed with tobacco in a hand-rolled joint or spliff resembling a cigarette, or in a pipe. Hashish can also be eaten, most often baked into cakes or brownies.

EQUIPMENT: Knife (usually bears scorch marks), aluminium foil, cigarette papers, pipes or water pipes (also known as `bongs').

WHAT IT DOES: Same effect as marijuana, but more intense.

SYMPTOMS OF ABUSE: Same as marijuana.

MEDICAL USES: None.

TRANQUILISERS ARBITURATES APPEARANCE: Tablets or capsules STREET NAMES: Downers, Goof Balls, Nerve Pills.

HOW IT'S TAKEN: By mouth.

WHAT IT DOES: Short term effects similar to alcohol. In low doses, tranquillisers and barbiturates produce relaxation, a feeling of well-being and perhaps some loss of inhibition.

SYMPTOMS OF ABUSE: Impaired coordination, slurred speech; clumsiness, confusion, lethargy and sluggishness.

MEDICAL USES: Prescribed to treat anxiety, insomnia and seizure disorders, as well as to assist in the management of alcohol withdrawal. Also used as sedatives before certain surgical and medical procedures. Some are also useful in relieving muscle spasms.

CRACK COCAINE APPEARANCE: Off-white crystal shaped `rocks', about the size of a pea.

STREET NAMES: Crack, Rock, Fraggle Rock, Freebase.

HOW IT'S TAKEN: Smoked (freebasing).

EQUIPMENT: Pipes (usually made of glass, sometimes fashioned from commercially-available bottles), small vials or test tubes.

WHAT IT DOES: A highly addictive form of cocaine, crack increases the heartrate, body temperature and blood pressure considerably. Very large doses can lead to seizures, coma and death due to heart attack or heart failure.

SYMPTOMS OF ABUSE: Mood swings, irritability, anti-social behaviour, sore throats and hoarseness, paranoia, loss of appetite and inability to sleep.

ALCOHOL HOW IT'S TAKEN: By mouth in the form of wine, beer and other liquors.

WHAT IT DOES: In small doses, alcohol can reduce tension and inhibitions.

Increasingly large doses impair the body's reaction and judgment. Heavy drinkers can develop liver diseases (such as alcoholic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer), heart diseases, high blood pressure or stroke. Alcohol consumption during pregnancy has been strongly linked to birth defects (Fetal Alcohol Syndrome).

SYMPTOMS OF ABUSE: Bright, heavy-lidded eyes, dry mouth, ruddy skin, spider veins on the nose and cheeks (heavy users), poor balance, slurred speech and heavy smell of alcohol on breath. Violent or aggressive behaviour is possible.

AMPHETAMINES APPEARANCE: Usually appear as yellowish crystals and may be mixed with other materials such as non-drug fillers. Also available in tablets or capsules.

STREET NAMES: Speed, Uppers, Bennies.

HOW IT'S TAKEN: Taken by mouth, sniffed into the nose ('snorted') or infected.

WHAT IT DOES: Stimulates the central nervous system with actions resembling adrenaline, a substance which naturally occurs in the body. Breathing, heart rate and blood pressure all increase and pupils dilate.

SYMPTOMS OF ABUSE: Dry mouth, dilated pupils, fever, excessive perspiration and energy, headaches, blurred vision, flushing, pallor, weight loss, inability to sleep, tremors and loss of coordination.

MEDICAL USES: Prescribed to treat depression, obesity, and a variety of other conditions.

HEROIN APPEARANCE: White or speckled brown powder.

STREET NAMES: H, Horse, D, Dope, Skag.

HOW IT'S TAKEN: Injected intravenously, sniffed into the nose ("snorted''), heated on aluminium foil and fumes inhaled, smoked, (usually with tobacco).

EQUIPMENT: Small plastic bags, candles, scorched spoons, syringes, aluminium foil, plastic tubing, belts or cords (to tie off the arm for injections). When smoked: cigarette papers or pipes.

WHAT IT DOES: Pain is dulled and the activity of the nervous system is depressed. Breathing and heart rate are slowed.

SYMPTOMS OF ABUSE: Tattoo-like "track marks'' from repeated injections (usually on the arms), lethargy, drowsiness, euphoria, nausea (first time users almost always vomit), constipation, constricted pupils, slowed breathing. Convulsions, coma and death can result from an overdose. When going through withdrawal from heroin, users vomit, sweat profusely, experience chills, muscle and joint pain, and panic attacks.

MEDICAL USES: Relief of pain in terminal conditions such as cancer.

COCAINE APPEARANCE: White ff-white crystalline powder.

STREET NAMES: Coke, C, Blow, Snow, White Lady, Girl.

HOW IT'S TAKEN: Usually sniffed into the nose ("snorted''), but it can also be smoked or injected.

EQUIPMENT: Small plastic or paper bags. When being sniffed: Razor blades, cut drinking straws, tightly rolled monetary notes, disassembled disposable pens.

When being smoked: Cigarette papers or pipes. When being injected: Candles, scorched spoons and syringes.

WHAT IT DOES: Increases heart rate, respiration, body temperature and blood pressure considerably. Very large doses can trigger seizures, heart attacks and cardio-respiratory collapse.

SYMPTOMS OF ABUSE: Dilated (large) pupils, excitability, euphoria, a never-ending head cold, nose bleeds, paranoia, significant weight loss, inability to sleep, excessive perspiration, tattoo-like 'track mark' from repeated injections (usually on the arms). Hallucinations are also possible.

MEDICAL USES: Local anaesthesia.

SEIZED -- Some examples of drugs, incluging hashish and marijuana, and drug equipment seized by the Bermuda Police.

DRUGS DGS