Mandrax is also called:

 Mandrakes

 Mandies

 Mx

 Buttons

 Whites

and many other names




THE MANDRAX HIGH

This makes a person feel relaxed, peaceful calm and happy.

Worries disappear and everything feels perfect. However, some people feel irritable, confused and become aggressive, when the high wears off.

A regular Mandrax user will probably have yellow/brown marks on the hands, and will tend to lose weight.

The user may start to steal, or use up pocket money rapidly, because Mandrax is a fairly expensive habit to support.





 


The person using Mandrax is often trapped. He/she may want to stop but finds this impossible to do.

 

MANDRAX

WHAT IS MANDRAX?

Mandrax was first produced in mid 1960's. It is highly addictive and was therefore banned in 1977. It is still illegally sold in South Africa. Mandrax depresses the central nervous system and is classed as sedative-hypnotic drug.

APPEARANCE AND USE

Originally Mandrax were smooth, firm white tablets with Mx written on the side of the tablet. Nowadays they can also be grey or yellow in colour, slightly freckled and with soft crumbly texture. They vary in colour, size and texture because they sometimes contain other drugs and are made illegally without keeping to proper standards.


WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS:

The withdrawal symptoms lead to person back to having another Mandrax because the person feels so uncomfortable without the drug. The person may find it difficult to say "no" to drug offers from friends. The person often has money and family problems and finds it easier to use drugs than to face these problems.

Often the Mandrax user and their family feel helpless, frustrated and embarrassed. Everyone may feel some guilt, anger and hopelessness. Everyone in the family can have a chance to talk and be helped.

TOLERANCE AND ADDICTION

The person, who uses mandrax for a while, finds it necessary to use more and more.

Such a person's body has developed a tolerance to Mandrax and needs to use more to reach the same effects. Mandrax is also psychologically addictive.

This means that a person will want it badly enough to start centering most activities on it. A person may start behaving unusually, for example stealing or lying in order to get it. He or she may stop going to school or work regularly.


SYMPTOMS OF MANDRAX USE

Mandrax are usually smoked but can also be swallowed or injected. Most people crush the tablets, mix them with dagga and smoke them in a pipe or bottleneck. The symptoms of Mandrax use last for several hours. The person may lose his or her appetite and have a dry mouth. Often he/she slurred or mumbled speech. The person may stumble or stagger because he or she feels weak and numb.

Sometimes stomach pain, nausea and vomiting occur. A person who is drugged from Mandrax will usually have red, glazed or puffy eyes as a result of the dagga mixed with the Mandrax. As the effect of Mandrax wears off, the person feels tired and may go to sleep. Sometimes the person feels miserable or has a kind of "hangover" feeling when waking from this sleep.

It is difficult to stop taking Mandrax without the treatment and understanding available at the Drug Counselling Centre. Mandrax is also physically addictive. This means that when a person stops taking Mandrax, withdrawal occurs. Withdrawal may last a few days and start a few days after stopping use. Some signs of withdrawal are sleeping problems, nervous, anxious and irritable feelings, headaches, restlessness and eating problems.