A peek at Paul

As a public service, NEWS of the WORLD reprints The FUNNY STUFF FUNNIES, an educational comic book giving basic facts on drugs and alcohol. Each post reproduces a page from the booklet, which is aimed at young persons and which avoids sermonizing and excessive wordiness.

---

XXV

---

Old NY Times and war correspondent clips

As a newspaperman, I once wrote under the name Roger Conant. I began using the name Paul Conant, the name on my driver license, in the early 1990s.

Many more recent clippings must exist somewhere, but those below are a few I was able to find on the internet. This is nuts and bolts stuff. The barn-burners are nowhere to be found.

But that lack doesn’t really matter, as my purpose in presenting these clips is not to boast (really, who cares?), but simply to assure you media people on this list that I really am one of you.

I’ve also tossed in a couple of war reporting features that were located by my son Christopher. My war reporting appeared in the Star-Ledger, New Jersey’s largest newspaper, the New York Daily News, at the time the nation’s largest circulation daily, the Stars and Stripes, a newspaper for service members, and elsewhere.

The author of The Funny Stuff Funnies takes sole responsibility for the content of this e-booklet. This booklet has not been sponsored, either directly or indirectly, by any government or non-government organization or fellowship, such as AA or NA.

---

Find table of content for Funny Stuff Funnies at this link. Read Funny Stuff Funnies again.
Start over HERE.

---

The Lunapic image editor contributed greatly to this booklet's pictorial enhancement. Other image editors used were Palette and Petalica.

---

Do your friends and your friends' kids a favor, and post one or more Funny Stuff links on social media.

Concerning source material

---

As a public service, NEWS of the WORLD reprints The FUNNY STUFF FUNNIES, an educational comic book giving basic facts on drugs and alcohol. Each post reproduces a page from the booklet, which is aimed at young persons and which avoids sermonizing and excessive wordiness.

---

XXIV

SS1

The author, Paul Conant, is a former New York newspaperman.

All facts in this booklet are taken from accredited private and government sources. Any factual errors beought to the author's attention will be gladly corrected.

For a bit of info on Conant's background, please see A Peek at Paul.

The author of The Funny Stuff Funnies takes sole responsibility for the content of this e-booklet. This booklet has not been sponsored, either directly or indirectly, by any government or non-government organization or fellowship, such as AA or NA.

---

Go to NEXT PAGE

---

Find table of content for Funny Stuff Funnies at this link.

---

The Lunapic image editor contributed greatly to this booklet's pictorial enhancement. Other image editors used were Palette and Petalica.

---

Do your friends and your friends' kids a favor, and post one or more Funny Stuff links on social media.

A word from the cartoonist

---

As a public service, NEWS of the WORLD reprints The FUNNY STUFF FUNNIES, an educational comic book giving basic facts on drugs and alcohol. Each post reproduces a page from the booklet, which is aimed at young persons and which avoids sermonizing and excessive wordiness.

---

XXIV

Tap phone images for better views.

I realize that some of my jokes are outdated. Others may be too far off the beaten path for most readers.

So readers are invited to submit their own jokes. You may also submit your own cartoons (no more than three). These may be black and white line drawings or they may be hand- or machine-colored.

I'll consider including them in this booklet, The Funny Stuff Funnies. If they won't quite fit, I'll do my best to include them in a cartoon joke book supplement. If the cartoons are too naughty (NSFW, or Not Safe For Work), I'll try to include them in a separate joke book carrying an NSFW tag.

You may leave a link to your drawings in a comment or you may send your work to kyrptx108 attt gmail dottt commm.

TN1

The author of The Funny Stuff Funnies takes sole responsibility for the content of this e-booklet. This booklet has not been sponsored, either directly or indirectly, by any government or non-government organization or fellowship, such as AA or NA.

---

Go to NEXT PAGE

---

Find table of content for Funny Stuff Funnies at this link.

---

The Lunapic image editor contributed greatly to this booklet's pictorial enhancement. Other image editors used were Palette and Petalica.

---

Do your friends and your friends' kids a favor, and post one or more Funny Stuff links on social media.

Roads to recovery: Step by step

---

As a public service, NEWS of the WORLD reprints The FUNNY STUFF FUNNIES, an educational comic book giving basic facts on drugs and alcohol. Each post reproduces a page from the booklet, which is aimed at young persons and which avoids sermonizing and excessive wordiness.

---

XXIII

Tap phone images for better views.

RY1

The steps suggested for recovery are virtually identical for Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. But, the two programs differ a bit in their approaches to recovery. The NA website lists other 12-step programs for various stressful problems.

---

The Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous are outlined in the book Alcoholics Anonymous. They can be found at the beginning of the chapter “How It Works.” Essays on the Steps can be read in the book Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions.

The Twelve Steps of AA
1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol — that our lives had become unmanageable.
2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these Steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

RY2

The following are the 12 Steps of Narcotics Anonymous, also referred to as NA. Narcotics Anonymous offers recovery from the effects of addiction through working a twelve-step program, including regular attendance at group meetings. The group atmosphere provides help from peers and offers an ongoing support network for addicts who wish to pursue and maintain a drug-free lifestyle. The name, Narcotics Anonymous, is not meant to imply a focus on any particular drug; NA's approach makes no distinction between drugs including alcohol.

The Twelve Steps of NA
1. We admitted we were powerless over our addiction, that our lives had become unmanageable.
2. We came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
3. We made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
4. We made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
5. We admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
6. We were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
7. We humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
8. We made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
9. We made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
10. We continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
11. We sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to addicts, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

---

Some people benefit from tips in slogan form. Most people with alcohol or drug problems however need some sort of full-fledged recovery program.

Turn it over
Meeting makers make it.
Let go. Let God
This too shall pass
Misery is optional

---

Live and let live
Easy does it
Think Think Think
First things first

---

Live Easy but Think First

---

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
                                                                 -- Serenity Prayer

The author of The Funny Stuff Funnies takes sole responsibility for the content of this e-booklet. This booklet has not been sponsored, either directly or indirectly, by any government or non-government organization or fellowship, such as AA or NA.

---

Go to NEXT page.

---

Find table of content for Funny Stuff Funnies at this link.

---

The Lunapic image editor contributed greatly to this booklet's pictorial enhancement. Other image editors used were Palette and Petalica.

---

Some fentanyl victims

---

As a public service, NEWS of the WORLD reprints The FUNNY STUFF FUNNIES, an educational comic book giving basic facts on drugs and alcohol. Each post reproduces a page from the booklet, which is aimed at young persons and which avoids sermonizing and excessive wordiness.

---

XXII

 Taken from Wikipedia.

Notable deaths

• American professional wrestler Anthony Durante, also known as "Pitbull #2", died on 25 September 2003 from a fentanyl-induced overdose.^[185]
• Wilco guitarist Jay Bennett died on 24 May 2009 from an accidental overdose of fentanyl, shortly after he publicly revealed that he needed hip replacement surgery which he could not afford due to his health insurance considering the situation a "pre-existing condition."^{[186][187][188]}
• Slipknot bassist Paul Gray died on 24 May 2010 from an overdose of morphine and fentanyl.^[189]
• Medical examiners concluded that musician Prince died on 21 April 2016, from an accidental fentanyl overdose.^[190] Fentanyl was among many substances identified in counterfeit pills recovered from his home, especially some that were mislabeled as Watson 385, a combination of hydrocodone and paracetamol.^[190][191]
• Author & journalist Michelle McNamara died on 21 April 2016, from an accidental overdose; medical examiners determined fentanyl was a contributing factor.^[192][193]
• Canadian video game composer Saki Kaskas died of a fentanyl overdose on 11 November 2016;^[194] he had been battling heroin addiction for over a decade.^[194]
• American rapper Lil Peep died of an accidental fentanyl overdose on 15 November 2017.^[195][196]
• On 19 January 2018, the medical examiner-coroner for the county of Los Angeles said musician Tom Petty died from an accidental drug overdose as a result of mixing medications that included fentanyl, acetyl fentanyl, and despropionyl fentanyl (among others). He was reportedly treating "many serious ailments" that included a broken hip.^[197]
• In 2018, American rapper Mac Miller died from an accidental overdose of fentanyl, cocaine and alcohol.^[198]
• On 16 December 2018, American tech entrepreneur Colin Kroll, founder of social media video-sharing app Vine and quiz app HQ Trivia, died from an overdose of fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine.^[199]
• On 1 July 2019, American baseball player Tyler Skaggs died from pulmonary aspiration while under the influence of fentanyl, oxycodone, and alcohol.^[200]
• On 1 January 2020, American rapper, singer, and songwriter Lexii Alijai died from accidental toxicity resulting from the combination of alcohol and fentanyl.^[201]
• On 20 August 2020, American singer, songwriter and musician Justin Townes Earle died from an accidental overdose caused by cocaine laced with fentanyl.^[202]
• On 24 August 2020, Riley Gale, frontman for the Texas metal band Power Trip, died as a result of the toxic effects of fentanyl in a manner that was ruled accidental.^[203]
• On 22 April 2021, Digital Underground frontman, rapper, and musician Shock G died from an accidental overdose of fentanyl, meth, and alcohol.^[204]
• On 6 September 2021, actor Michael K. Williams, who rose to fame through his critically acclaimed role as Omar Little on the HBO drama series The Wire, died from an overdose of fentanyl, parafluorofentanyl, heroin, and cocaine.^[205][206]
• 6 April 2023: Jarez Posey, the manager of US rapper Coolio (Artis Leon Ivey, Jr) attributes his death to fentanyl, according to press reports.^[207]

The author of The Funny Stuff Funnies takes sole responsibility for the content of this e-booklet. This booklet has not been sponsored, either directly or indirectly, by any government or non-government organization or fellowship, such as AA or NA.

---

Go to NEXT page.

---

Find table of content for Funny Stuff Funnies at this link.

---

Do your friends and your friends' kids a favor, and post one or more Funny Stuff links on social media.

For help or info, check out these links

---

As a public service, NEWS of the WORLD reprints The FUNNY STUFF FUNNIES, an educational comic book giving basic facts on drugs and alcohol. Each post reproduces a page from the booklet, which is aimed at young persons and which avoids sermonizing and excessive wordiness.

---

XXI

Tap phone images for better views.

HP1

The author of The Funny Stuff Funnies takes sole responsibility for the content of this e-booklet. This booklet has not been sponsored, either directly or indirectly, by any government or non-government organization or fellowship, such as AA or NA.

---

Have a problem with alcohol? There is a solution.
Alcoholics Anonymous

---

If you're looking for answers on alcoholism, AA has placed its "Big Book" online. You may also purchase online a regular book version.
Read free or buy AA's Big Book

---

Is NA for me?
Narcotics Anonymous

---

Alcoholics Victorious
offers a Christian-centered program of recovery.

---

---

Uppers, Downers, All-Arounders:
Physical and Mental Effects of Psychoactive Drugs
by Darryl S. Inaba and William E. Cohen (CNS Productions).
This fact-packed textbook is up-to-date and user-friendly. It has been adopted by more than 400 colleges and universities. Wide-ranging research and extensive citations make this an excellent reference source.

---

Some info on treatment of chem problems

---

What the feds say about crack
https://www.justice.gov/archive/ndic/pubs3/3978/index.htm
Also:
https://oig.justice.gov/sites/default/files/archive/special/9712/appb.htm

HP2

Here are some top-ranked U.S. sites for help on alcohol or drug abuse:

✓ FindTreatment.gov

✓ National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare

✓ If you or someone near to you is in crisis or suicidal, call or text 988, chat 988Lifeline.org, or call 1-800-273-8255 for free and confidential support.

✓ American Addiction Centers Online Resources & Addiction Help Websites, which provides educational and empowering resources for individuals struggling with substance abuse and addiction, including Alcohol.org, Recovery.org, DrugAbuse.com, and PsychGuides.com.

✓ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), which offers a range of services for those with mental and substance use disorders, including a treatment locator, crisis and suicide prevention hotline, and resources for parents and caregivers.

✓ DrugAbuse.com, which provides educational resources and guides individuals toward drug treatment options.

✓ National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare (NCSACW), which provides information, consultation, training, and technical assistance to child welfare, dependency court, and substance use treatment professionals to improve outcomes for children, parents, and families.

✓ National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), which supports research and the development of effective interventions for treating substance use disorders, including medications, behavioral interventions, and digital therapeutics.

✓ USA.gov/mental-health, which provides a directory of resources for mental health, including emergency hotlines, counseling, and treatment options for mental health and substance abuse.

---

For answers to SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, you might try using a free AI service such as Perplexity.ai, which provides links to its sources. You should check the sources and not rely on the machine's answer.

HP3

Zep: Stairway to Heaven

---

Financial worries?
Some people need help with the financial damage resulting from chem abuse.

Here is a site that might be of help:
https://www.annuity.org/personal-finance/financial-wellness/addiction-recovery/

We caution that we do not vouch for this service. It is up to you to use good judgment.

In general, experience shows that
recovery must come ahead of everything
-- including financial worries.

---

Go to NEXT page.

---

Find table of content for Funny Stuff Funnies at this link.

---

The Lunapic image editor contributed greatly to this booklet's pictorial enhancement. Other image editors used were Palette and Petalica.

---

Do your friends and your friends' kids a favor, and post one or more Funny Stuff links on social media.

Severe mental problems

---

As a public service, NEWS of the WORLD reprints The FUNNY STUFF FUNNIES, an educational comic book giving basic facts on drugs and alcohol. Each post reproduces a page from the booklet, which is aimed at young persons and which avoids sermonizing and excessive wordiness.

---

XX

This page does not give all the basic facts about mental illness. The purpose is to drop a few tips with respect to mental illness and chem abuse.

Discussed below are:

Depression
Bipolar disorder
Schizophrenia
Borderline personality disorder

People with mental illnesses often use street chems and alcohol rather excessively. A person with a mental illness may find a spell of temporary relief, but it is frequently the case that mental illness symptoms worsen with usage.

Depression
Two types of depression are classed as forms of mental illness.

They are sometimes called clinical depression and chronic depression. Or experts may refer to them as major depressive disorder and persistent depressive disorder, or dysthemia.

In clinical depression, the person feels overwhelmed by gloom that cannot be shaken off. That cheerless person can't do much of anything.

Adults with chronic depression stay way down in the dumps for two or more years. For teens and children, one year is sufficient to be diagnosed with chronic depression.

Alcoholics are twice as likely to have recently had a bout of severe depression than people without drinking problems. They are three times more likely to have been suffering from chronic depression than people without drinking problems. Women with depression seem to be particularly vulnerable to alcoholism.

Alcohol and chems make medical treatment much more difficult. Alcoholics who are able to quit drinking and stay stopped have a much better chance of recovery from depression. Many choose twelve-step programs, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, as a means of assisting their recovery.

Other chems, such as marijuana, are often used as a means of placating the anxiety associated with depression. In the long run, they don't work. They just tend to make things worse.

Bipolar disorder
People with bipolar disorder -- also known as manic-depressive illness -- are very likely to guzzle liquor or overuse other chems. Some two fifths of those with one type of bipolar (bipolar I) have or have had chem abuse disorders. About one fifth with another type (bipolar II) have or have had problems with chems.

Alcoholism and pot addiction rank high, followed by cocaine and downers. Doctors find it very hard to treat bipolar people who are in active addiction.

People with bipolar I have severe and lasting episodes of both depression and mania. Between these extremes, a patient may return to a baseline mood state, in which mania or depression is not wild but which still may not be wonderful.

Untreated bipolar I victims generally have periods of very severe depression lasting at least two weeks and at least one episode of mania that lasts at least a week or that requires hospitalization. Such persons find it hard to stay in a relationship or to keep a job. Some symptoms of the manic phase may be like those of schizophrenia (see below).

Untreated bipolar II victims have the same two-week bouts of severe depression, but they don't skyrocket into wild mania. Instead they get a temporary boost in energy and impulsivity, often performing tasks with extreme diligence. But the real value of their zealous activity is open to doubt.

Schizophrenia
In males, schizophrenia tends to strike those who are between 15 and 25 years old. In females, the age bracket is 20 to 35, with another surge occurring in older women whose estrogen levels have dropped.

Symptoms include poor social skills, dulled outward emotion, lack of motivation and reasoning. Other symptoms are hearing things others don't and paranoia -- the unjustified fear that you are a target of organized harassment. (Donald Trump was not paranoid; he was such a target.)

Studies show that chems and alcohol are heavily used by people with schizophrenia, which afflicts about one in a hundred people. Close to half of schizophrenic patients have or have had serious drinking or chem problems. More than 80 percent used alcohol or pot to excess. They used cocaine at a rate three times higher than everybody else. Drinking and drugging don't yield good results for these people. Medical treatment doesn't work well, with the risk going up of violent behavior, suicide or landing back on a psyche ward.

Borderline personality disorder
Don't let the word "borderline" fool you. This mental illness can be quite severe.

People with borderline personality disorder are very likely to abuse chems, including alcohol. One study found that 78 percent of people with BPU were likely to overuse alcohol and chems.

People with BPU are highly impulsive to the point of recklessness, and that problem only gets worse if they are addicts or abusers of chems.

BPU victims have great difficulty managing their emotions, which is probably why so many seek relief from chems. They blow hot and cold toward themselves and toward others. They tend to be all-or-nothing types. Fear of abandonment is often an issue.

Doctors find it very hard to treat BPU patients who are using alcohol or illicit chems.

A typical case is given by researchers:

A 27-year-old woman was seen by doctors for cutting and burning herself daily. She wanted to relieve tension with self-punishment. She had also been drinking heavily and using heroin, benzos and pot. Her times of being "clean and sober" were cut short by family conflicts and strong cravings. She has been almost impossible to treat, with treatment ended either by her or the institution. She thinks a lot about suicide, and has tried to kill herself four times since age 14.

The author of The Funny Stuff Funnies takes sole responsibility for the content of this e-booklet. This booklet has not been sponsored, either directly or indirectly, by any government or non-government organization or fellowship, such as AA or NA.

---

Go to NEXT page.

---

Find table of content for Funny Stuff Funnies at this link.

---

Do your friends and your friends' kids a favor, and post one or more Funny Stuff links on social media.

Mood boosters, psychiatric meds

---

As a public service, NEWS of the WORLD reprints The FUNNY STUFF FUNNIES, an educational comic book giving basic facts on drugs and alcohol. Each post reproduces a page from the booklet, which is aimed at young persons and which avoids sermonizing and excessive wordiness.

---

XIX

Tap phone images for better views.

Also see the discussion of benzos on the Downers page.

---

Discussed below are:

Antidepressants
Other psychiatric meds

MD1

Antidepressants
As a rule, people don't take psychiatric medicines for the fun of it. They are in need of having their general mood stabilized. For some that means staving off bipolar disorder -- wild swings of mood between mania and melancholy. For others, the main objective is to prevent crippling depression.

Depression or high mental excitement for these people is not simply a passing case of the blues or feeling of exhilaration. So they often benefit from one of the various medicines available.

Such people need to watch out for the risk of self-medication with alcohol or street chems. The temporary relief from self-medication is rarely worth the load of trouble ahead.

Plus, you can never be sure how a prescribed mood pill will interact with alcohol or some other chem. Often the effect is wild, crazy -- and dangerous.

Psychiatric meds don't generally get you high, and so are not sought after on the street. But, even so, longterm use can result in physical dependency. Going off psyche meds should occur under medical supervision.

MD2

Quite a few people recovering from alcoholism or drug addiction are prescribed antidepressants. If they relapse, their prescribed meds could interact with the liquor or street chem in very uncool ways.

Some antidepressant names:

Paxil
Pexeva
Bupropion (used to help smokers quit)
Cymbalta
Drizalma Sprinkle
Prozac
Zoloft
Celexa
Lexapro
Effexor XR
Pristiq
Fetzima
Remeron
Trintellix
Viibryd

Some others:

Forfivo XL
Wellbutrin SR
 Pamelor
Norpramin
Parnate
Nardil
Marplan
Emsam
Selegiline
Abilify
Seroquel

If you are age 25 or under, there is some risk that antidepressants may make you feel suicidal. Should that happen, get back to your doctor immediately and tell a trustworthy family member or friend.

MD3

Other psychiatric meds
Antipsychotic medications are used to restore a measure of orderly thinking during periods of psychosis. Sometimes they are called "major tranquilizers" while other mood stabilizers, including benzos, may be referred to as "minor tranquilizers."

Psychosis is a term used to describe the loss of some contact with what most people take as reality. The most observable factor in psychosis is the person's inability to function and socialize in a way that doesn't menace self or others. The person may hear and see things others don't and fear things others are unaware of. But the question is, is the person able to care for herself or himself, as well as others? We should beware branding a person as psychotic merely on the basis of "crazy ideas."

Some brand names:

Olanzapine
Risperidone
Haloperidol
Quetiapine

Mixing antipsychotics with other medicines is unwise. Beware using routine over-the-counter drugs like

Codeine
Acetaminophen (Tylenol etc.)
Ibuprofen

Lithium is used to help keep patients from going manic, as occurs in bipolar disorder. Some brand names:

Camcolit
Priadel
Liskonum

Another drug, valproate, is used to counteract both epilepsy and manic episodes.

Some brand names for the tablet form:

Belvo
Depakote
Convulex

Another form of valproate can be injected or taken in a tablet or capsule.

Some brand names:

Episenta
Dyzantil
Epilim

Lamotrigine treats those people whose bipolar disorder is mostly depressive.

MD4

The author of The Funny Stuff Funnies takes sole responsibility for the content of this e-booklet. This booklet has not been sponsored, either directly or indirectly, by any government or non-government organization or fellowship, such as AA or NA.

---

Go to NEXT page.

---

Find table of content for Funny Stuff Funnies at this link.

---

The Lunapic image editor contributed greatly to this booklet's pictorial enhancement. Other image editors used were Palette and Petalica.

---

Do your friends and your friends' kids a favor, and post one or more Funny Stuff links on social media.

Steroids and sports chems

---

As a public service, NEWS of the WORLD reprints The FUNNY STUFF FUNNIES, an educational comic book giving basic facts on drugs and alcohol. Each post reproduces a page from the booklet, which is aimed at young persons and which avoids sermonizing and excessive wordiness.

---

XVIII

Tap phone images for better views.

Discussed on this page are

Anabolic steroids
Human growth hormone
Clenbuterol
EPO
Beta blockers
Diuretics

SR1

Anabolic steroids
People use anabolic steroids to help them bulk up and become "more masculine." The drugs tend to enhance the effects of weight training and other forms of athletic activity.

These artificial chems are closely related to the natural hormone testosterone, which promotes maleness in males.

Because of that effect, steroids are sometimes taken by females who prefer to deny their birth gender. In particular, for teens, hormone balance is important. Hormones are involved in the development of a girl's feminine traits and a boy's masculine traits.

There are sound medical reasons for use of steroids -- but only for people who are very ill. Sports associations are these days always on the lookout for doping by steroids. One they detect often is boldenone (sold under the brand Equipoise), which is only legal for veterinary use.

Some people take steroids by pill, others use a syringe to inject the stuff into a muscle.

Those who buy 'roids in the gym and sports worlds tend to take 10 to 100 times more than any prescribed dosage.

SR2

Buck: Tiger by the Tail

Some generic names: trenbolone, oxymetholone, methandrostenolone, nandrolone, stanozolol, boldenone and oxandrolone.

Some brand names: Anadrol, Oxandrin, Dianabol, Winstrol, Deca-Durabolin and Equipoise.

Excessive use can trigger 'roid rage in some. That might not turn out well. Suicide is another possibility.

Other possible side effects:

Heart disease
Stroke
Liver disease
Mood disorders
Weakened disease-fighting
In young people, out-of-sync bone growth

In hopes of getting big faster, some steroid users take two or more kinds of steroids at once. Of course, there is no data available that proves that this is an especially effective technique.

SR3

Other potential problems:

Guys: Shrunken testicles, reduced sperm count and breast growth.

Girls: Masculine traits, deepened voices, excessive body hair, reduced breast size.

Also:

Not growing to your proper height. Steroids tell the teen body that it's done growing.

Severe acne, greasy hair and baldness (that goes for girls as well as guys).

SR4

Human growth hormone
In children and teens, human growth hormone kindles bodily growth. In people of all ages, the hormone is critical to maintenance of the body. An artificial form of the hormone is manufactured and used for medical reasons. It has also been a common element in various sports doping scandals.

Researchers have found that growth hormone increases lean body mass among physically fit young adults, but has no positive effect on performance. In fact, those who take growth hormone are more likely to retain fluid and become fatigued.

Possible side effects:

Overgrown head, hands and feet
Heart disease
Diabetes
Muscle and joint pain
Arthritis
High blood pressure

Clenbuterol
Clenbuterol is a bronchodilator used to relieve the constricted breathing of asthma. The pills are illegal in the United States.

The chem, which speeds up the nervous system and metabolism, is used by some people to burn off body fat. They're also hoping to maintain any muscle gain. How well that works is an open question.

SR5

In addition, athletes like having their lung capacity hiked. They feel that the boost in oxygen improves their stamina.

Other effects are similar to those from other stimulants:

Excitability
Nervousness
Increased energy
Greater determination

Other possibilities:

Anxiety
Shaking
Headaches
Atypical sweating
Raised body temperature

EPO
EPO is a hormone that increases red blood cells and can improve endurance. Health risks include:

Blood clots
Heart attack
Stroke
Anemia

SR6

Beta blockers
Beta blockers reduce the effects of adrenalin and slow the heart rate, curbing blood pressure and anxiety. This may improve the performance of athletes who need a steady hand (such as in archery or shooting).

Health risks include:

Reduced circulation
Dizziness
Fatigue
Dry mouth
Drowsiness
Asthma attack
Impotence
Memory loss
Heart failure

Diuretics
Diuretics promote loss of water from the body through urination. They may be used by athletes to reduce their weight or to flush other drugs out of the body.

Possible effects:

Dehydration
Dizziness
Muscle cramps
Constipation
Skin rash
Fever
Loss of appetite
Heart rhythm problems
Kidney problems

For more on drugs in athletics, go here.

SR7

The author of The Funny Stuff Funnies takes sole responsibility for the content of this e-booklet. This booklet has not been sponsored, either directly or indirectly, by any government or non-government organization or fellowship, such as AA or NA.

---

Go to NEXT page.

---

Find table of content for Funny Stuff Funnies at this link.

---

The Lunapic image editor contributed greatly to this booklet's pictorial enhancement. Other image editors used were Palette and Petalica.

---

Do your friends and your friends' kids a favor, and post one or more Funny Stuff links on social media.

Non-prescription meds

---

As a public service, NEWS of the WORLD reprints The FUNNY STUFF FUNNIES, an educational comic book giving basic facts on drugs and alcohol. Each post reproduces a page from the booklet, which is aimed at young persons and which avoids sermonizing and excessive wordiness.

---

XVII

Tap phone images for better views.

On this page are discussed a few cold and allergy medicines. Some people abuse over-the-counter meds because they want to get high but they don't want to get in trouble with the law. The usual drug screening tests don't detect these chems. Quite a few of these meds contain aceteminophen (the ingredient in Tylenol), which, if used in large doses can lead to liver damage.

Discussed are

Benadryl and similar chems
Robitussin and the like
Loperamide
Sudafed, decongestants

NR1

Benadryl and similar chems
Benadryl is an antihistamine that is useful in controlling certain allergic reactions. The active ingredient (diphenhydramine hydrochloride) is also found in the over-the-counter sleep aids Sominex, Unisom and Nytol because it makes you drowsy.

Benadryl is among the top 10 chems tied to overdose deaths, it has been reported.

Some people take far more than the proper dosage in order to experience a druggie high -- even to the point of hallucinations.

That's a pretty risky proposition, since to obtain such effects, the amount needs to be close to lethal. Some youngsters, seeking hallucinations, have killed themselves by swallowing too many of the pills.

NR2

Possible effects:

Drowsiness or fatigue
Restlessness
Confusion
Anxiety
Mood swings
Depression
Nightmares
Poor coordination
Loss of appetite
Physical weakness
Chest tightness
Headache
Gastric problems

It gets worse:

Impaired memory and thinking
Rapid heartbeat
Seizures
Low blood pressure
Blurred vision
Poor coordination
Difficulty urinating
Liver problems

And, over time, physical problems may become even worse and longer-lasting, with a heightened risk of permanent brain problems (dementia).

Addiction to Benadryl happens.

NR3

Fab Four: Twist and Shout.
Johnny: The Rockin' Pneumonia and then Boogie Woogie Flu

Robitussin
DXM is the chemical found in Robitussin and numerous other cough suppressants. These meds come in lquid, pill and capsule form.

Some of these meds also contain antihistamines and decongestants. People seeking a robo-high frequently are also on something else, like alcohol or marijuana. Some people inject the stuff in order to get more of a bang. Unwise. You may end up bang! dead.

Imodium
Loperamide is the chemical found in Immodium and a number of other diahrrea control medicines.

How much of a problem is loperamide misuse? Hard to say. People who swallow a lot of it are seeking a hallucinogenic high. People taking opioids or opiates may swallow Immodium hoping to amplify the opioid effect. This mix can bring on serious opioid withdrawal problems. (Please see the page on Downers.)

Sudafed
Pseudoephedrine (PSE) is a sinus and nasal decongestant found in Sudafed and several other cold medicines that can be used by drug dealers to make methamphetamine.

For this reason, products containing pseudoephedrine are sold "behind the counter" nationwide. A prescription is not needed in most states. Some states limit how much you can buy in a month or year without a prescription. In some states, only people 18 years of age or older can buy the medicine.

The chem makes the average person feel jittery, perhaps quite jittery. But for those with severe sinus problems, that effect is outweighed by the relief.

As with any other med, it's possible to overdose. Adults who take more than four 30 milligram pills or two 60 milligram pills are exceeding the maximum recommended dosage. Cut that max in half for kids aged 6 to 12.

Prolonged use, experts warn, may lead to a decrease in effectiveness, perhaps prompting some sufferers to begin taking risky amounts. (That effect happens with a lot of chems, including alcohol.)

NR4

If you take much too much, the jittery effect may vanish and be replaced by drowsiness -- caused by your nervous system slowing down. A few people end up with heart damage, or dead.

More commonly, an excessive amount leads to symptoms like these:

Headache
Dizziness
Anxiety
A giddy sense of well-being
Tinnitus
Blurred vision
Ataxia
Chest pain
Pounding heart
Heart flutters
Up or down blood pressure changes
Thirst
Sweating
Difficulty urinating
Nausea and vomiting

Such symptoms don't necessarily lead to serious consequences. But they can, especially if you have some health problem or other.

Kids given Sudafed may get dry mouth, wide and rigid pupils, hot flushes, fever, and have problems with their digestive tracts. A few people who take too much may have hallucinations, indicating a need for emergency medical attention.

NR5

Pseudoephedrine (PSE) is a drug with a long history of medical use. it is helpful in treating symptoms of the common cold and flu, sinusitis, asthma and bronchitis.

Aside from those uses, some people take it as a diet pill, since stimulants in general tend to suppress appetite. Some use it as a poor man's Adderall: to help them concentrate. And some use it as a sports doping agent in order to give them a bit of a competitive edge when endurance counts (though there isn't much evidence that performance is really enhanced). Such non-medical uses are frowned on by some. But there isn't much evidence of a widespread health problem that can be attributed to this med.

People with chronic severe sinus problems often have no effective alternative to the chem. Governmental controls force poor people to seek a prescription from a doctor, who might easily be reluctant to grant one -- because of concern about governmental monitoring. Not everyone has insurance that covers doctor visits and prescriptions. If they have access to doctors, that doesn't mean they have access to one who understands the problems associated with severe sinus conditions.

Go here for an up-to-date article on Sudafed.

NR6

The author of The Funny Stuff Funnies takes sole responsibility for the content of this e-booklet. This booklet has not been sponsored, either directly or indirectly, by any government or non-government organization or fellowship, such as AA or NA.

---

Go to NEXT page.

---

Find table of content for Funny Stuff Funnies at this link.

---

The Lunapic image editor contributed greatly to this booklet's pictorial enhancement. Other image editors used were Palette and Petalica.

---

Do your friends and your friends' kids a favor, and post one or more Funny Stuff links on social media.