Drug Use

A High Risk Behavior

What is Substance Abuse?

Unnecessary or improper use of chemical substances for nonmedical purposes.

Illegal Drugs: chemical substances that people of any age may not lawfully manufacture, possess, buy, or sell

Illicit Drug Use: the use or sale of any substance that is illegal or otherwise not permitted.

What factors influence decisions about drugs?

1. Peer Pressure: control or urging of friends, social groups.

2. Family Members: Parents and other adults

3. Role Models: People you admire and look up to

4. Media: T.V., digital media, music, internet

5. Perceptions

6. Misleading Information: believe it can be beneficial

Health Risks of Drug Use

Physical Health Heart, lungs, brain, other vital organs Overdosing: strong, sometimes fatal reaction to

taking a large amount of a drug Risk of contracting Hepatitis B and HIV greatly

increases

Health Risks

Mental Health Drugs cloud reasoning and thinking Users lose control of their behavior People often lose sight of their values Drugs alter the brains structure and function

Health Risks

Social Health Users do and say things they will later regret Can have a negative effect on relationships Drug use can cause teens to be expelled or drop

out of school Legal consequences Major factor in many crimes, suicides and

unintentional injuries

Other Effects of Drug Use

Tolerance: body becomes accustomed to the drug and causes them to need more to get the desired effect

Psychological Dependence: believe the drug is needed in order to feel good or function normally

Physiological Dependence: develop a chemical need for the drug

Addiction: a psychological or physiological dependence on the drug

Signs of Drug Use“Personality”

Becomes Disrespectful-verbally abusive

Is angry a lot- extreme mood swings

Seems depressed and less out-going

Is secretive and lies about what they are doing

Is stealing or “losing” possessions

Seems to have a lot of money or always needs

Withdraws from family and family activities

Signs of Drug Use“Physical Apperance”

Not taking care of hygiene and grooming Not sleeping or sleeping too much Loss of appetite Weight loss or weight gain Too hyperactive or too little energy

Signs of Drug Use“Social Activity/School

Performance” Drops old friends and activities Is skipping school Loses interest in school work Is getting low grades Is sleeping in class Loses concentration and is having trouble

remembering things

Current Stats

19.1 Million Americans or 7.9% of the population aged 12 and older are current illicit drug users. (current drug use means use of an illicit drug within one month of survey)

General Categories of Drugs that teens are using

Over the counter cough and cold Prescription painkillers or opiates Sedatives Steroids Stimulants

Over the Counter

DXM (cough suppressant found in cough and cold medications)

When used as recommended it is safe

Teens use sometimes as much as 30 times the recommended dose which produces hallucinations and the sensation of having out of body experiences

Examples: Pertussin, Robitussin, Sudafed, Triaminic

Prescription Painkillers (opiates) Medically used to relieve pain

Most commonly abused: OxyContin, Vicodin, Percocet, Percodan

Opium and heroin are illegal forms of opiates

Work by changing how the brain perceives pain

Slow down the body processes: Breathing, heart rate, digestion

Produce a sense of well-being and calm drowsiness

Extremely addicting

Sedatives and GHB Also known as “downers”

Slow normal brain function

Medically used to treat anxiety, stress and panic disorders

Also used as sleeping pills

Most common: Xanax, Valium

Induce drowsiness and intense relaxation

Very addicting

Steroids (Anabolic-Androgenic)

Man Made substances related to male sex hormone

Used medically to treat: delayed puberty, impotence, aids

Illegally used to improve physical performance and body image

Pictures of Steroid Users

Stimulants

Also known as “uppers”

Prescription stimulants used to treat depression, obesity, ADHD

Commonly abused prescription stimulants: dexedrine, ritalin and adderall

Marijuana

PotHerbGrass

WeedMary JaneChronic

What is Marijuana?

Green, brown, or gray mixture of dried, shredded leaves, stems, seeds, and flowers of the hemp plant

Mind Altering: It changes how the brain works Contain THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol),

the main active chemical Also contain over 400 other chemicals

Facts about Marijuana

Usually smoked as a cigarette (joint) or in a pipe or bong

THC is absorbed by fatty tissue. Can be detected in the body for weeks

Contrary to popular belief, most teens do not use marijuana. (1 in 6 tenth graders)

Most start using because of peer pressure Some use because they think they can escape

problems at school, home or with friends Most teenagers do not use

What happens if you smoke marijuana?

The way the drug affects each person depends on many factors: User’s previous experience with the drug How strong the marijuana is (how much THC) What the user expects to happen How the drug is taken Whether the user is drinking alcohol or using other drugs Some may feel little effect, while others feel relaxed or

high Makes users feel thirsty and very hungry “the munchies”

Short term effects

Problems with memory and learning Distorted perception (sights, sounds, time,

touch) Trouble with thinking and problem solving Loss of motor coordination Increased heart rate

Long Term effects

Cancer: many of the chemicals found in marijuana are known carcinogens

Lungs and Airways: often develop same type of breathing problems as cigarette smokers.

Immune system: THC can damage cells and tissues in the body that help protect against disease

Gateway Drug

Very few young people use other illegal drugs without first using marijuana

Puts people in contact with other users and dealers

Marijuana may cause changes in the brain that make a person more at risk for becoming addicted to other drugs

How can you tell is someone has been using marijuana?

Dizzy and trouble walking

Silly and giggly for no reason

Very red, bloodshot eyes

Have a hard time remembering things that just happened

Is marijuana used as a medicine

Since 1970 marijuana has been listed as a Schedule 1 controlled substance

Drug in its smoked form has no commonly accepted medical use

THC is manufactured into a pill available by prescription to treat nausea and vomiting with certain cancer treatments and also to help AIDS victims eat more

Other facts

Heavy or daily use affects the parts of the brain that control memory, attention and learning

Long term use can lead to addiction In 2001, over 255,000 people entered drug

rehab centers stating that marijuana was their drug of choice

Counseling, Support groups

Inhalants

In its broadest sense, it is any substance that a person can inhale.

More specifically, inhalants are substances that can cause a person to become “high”

Examples: gasoline, paint thinner, felt-tip markers, lighter fluid, whipping cream, hair spray

Effects of Short-Term Inhalant Abuse

Nosebleeds Rapid Heart Beat Visual Hallucinations Death Nausea Headache Severe Mood Swings Ringing in the Ears

Effects of Long-Term Inhalant Abuse

Chronic Headaches Brain Damage Muscle Weakness Loss or decrease in the sense of smell Liver Damage Bone Marrow Damage Violent Behavior Death

Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome

Instant death from abusing inhalants Death results from Heart Failure or Heart

Arrest There is no way to predict who will die Inhalants can kill the first time someone uses

Fetal Solvent Syndrome

Inhalants have a negative effect on a developing fetus

“Toluene” is chemical thought to be responsible for defects

Birth Defects include: Small head Deep-set eyes Disfigured nose and ears Stubby fingertips Developmental delay Mental impairment

Signs of Inhalant Use Problems in school (poor grades, poor attendance, and indifference) Paint or stains on body Spots or sores around the mouth Red or runny eyes Red or runny nose Odor of chemicals on the breath Drunken, dizzy, or dazed appearance Nausea or vomiting Loss of appetite Anxiety, excitability Short-term memory loss Slurred speech Staggering Hearing loss

Cocaine

Also known as: Coke, Blow, Snow, Crank, “C”, Toot, White Girl, Cadillac and Nose Candy

Made from the leaf of the coca bush Grown mainly in south America Coca leaves are cut and soaked in kerosene,

paint thinner or other solvents to make a thick paste. This turns into the white powder known as cocaine

Crack- The Cheap Killer

Form of cocaine that is sold as small, white or cream-colored chunks.

Looks like rock salt Inexpensive so easy for kids to buy Effect is felt almost immediately and is much

more powerful than that which is snorted Most powerful form of cocaine

How is Cocaine Used?

Powder: Inhaled through the nose. Called “snorting” Can also be put on the mucous membranes of the

mouth, anus, or vagina Takes effect within 1-3 minutes Reaches peak effect in 15-20 minutes Subsides in 1 hour

How is Cocaine Used?

Injection: Stronger and Faster reaction Acts in 30-120 seconds Reaches full effect in 5-10 minutes Puts user at risk for diseases like AIDS, hepatitis,

and meningitis Goes right to the heart and brain

How is Cocaine Used?

Freebase and Crack “Freebase” made by heating cocaine powder in the

presence of ether (gas). The resulting vapor or smoke is inhaled

Effects are felt in 5-10 seconds Effects disappear in 10-30 minutes Most powerful form of cocaine Most addictive form of the drug

How Cocaine works in the brain

Affects 3 types of chemicals in nerve cells Dopamine nerve cells seem to control the cocaine

“high” and are believed to be responsible for addiction

Norepinephrine nerve cells are responsible for rapid heartbeat, high blood pressure, pupil dilation, heavy sweating, and shaking

Serotonin nerve cells are involved in bringing sleep

How does it harm your body

Brain Damage: causes the blood pressure to rise quickly over a short period of time. Can lead to blood vessels bursting in the brain as well as seizures

Heart: Causes the heart to beat very quickly which can lead to chest pain or heart attack

Lungs: Can cause blood clots to form in the lungs. Too large of dose can cause person to stop breathing

Ecstasy

Classified as a stimulant Has hallucinogenic properties Comes in tablet form that is often branded Usually taken as a mood enhancer Street Names:

Adam E X

Short Term Effects of Ecstasy

Enhanced sense of self-confidence and energy Need to touch each other “Hug Drug” Involuntary Teeth Clenching Blurred vision, transfixed on sights and sounds Increased heart rate and blood pressure Dehydration

Long Term effects of Ecstasy Use

Memory Loss

Mood

Appetite

Addiction

Meth

Addictive Stimulant

Street Names Speed Crank Chalk Go Fast Zip Ice

How is Meth made?

Make shift labs in the basement of homes, trunks of cars, vacant buildings etc.

Over the counter medicines, drain cleaner, battery acid, antifreeze etc.

Cost on the street $25 per ¼ gram $100 per gram $1700 per ounce

Effects of Meth

Euphoria, Paranoia Decreased appetite increased physical activity Jerky or flailing movements Insomnia Tremors Aggression Hyperthermia

Pictures of Meth