health 4-17

Legal and illegal DrugsLegal and illegal Drugs

• Drug Abuse and the BrainDrug Abuse and the Brain• AddictionAddiction

• Is the compulsive use of a drugIs the compulsive use of a drug• Despite any cost to health, family, or social standingDespite any cost to health, family, or social standing

• Disease that changes the structure and chemistry Disease that changes the structure and chemistry of the brainof the brain


• Dangers of Drug Misuse and AbuseDangers of Drug Misuse and Abuse• Side EffectsSide Effects

• An unwanted physical or mental effect cause by a An unwanted physical or mental effect cause by a drugdrug

• ExamplesExamples• NauseaNausea

• DizzinessDizziness

• DrowsinessDrowsiness

• Side Effects differ for everyoneSide Effects differ for everyone


• Dangers of Drug Misuse and AbuseDangers of Drug Misuse and Abuse• Tolerance and DependenceTolerance and Dependence

• When someone uses a drug repeatedly the body When someone uses a drug repeatedly the body may develop tolerance to the drugmay develop tolerance to the drug• Tolerance may lead to drug dependenceTolerance may lead to drug dependence

• Body develops a chemical need for the drug and Body develops a chemical need for the drug and cant function normally without itcant function normally without it


• Dangers of Drug Misuse and AbuseDangers of Drug Misuse and Abuse• WithdrawalWithdrawal

• If they stop taking the drugIf they stop taking the drug• Symptoms includeSymptoms include

• Nausea or vomitingNausea or vomiting

• Headaches or dizzinessHeadaches or dizziness

• FeverFever

• Digestion problemsDigestion problems

• Paranoia or panicParanoia or panic

• Tremors, seizures, or deathTremors, seizures, or death


• Dangers of Drug Misuse and AbuseDangers of Drug Misuse and Abuse• Drug InteractionsDrug Interactions

• AntagonismAntagonism• Drug antagonismDrug antagonism

• Occurs when each drug’s effect is canceled out or Occurs when each drug’s effect is canceled out or reduced by the otherreduced by the other

• SynergismSynergism• Drug synergismDrug synergism

• Occurs when drugs interact to produce effects Occurs when drugs interact to produce effects greater than those that each drug would produce greater than those that each drug would produce alonealone


• Dangers of Drug Misuse and AbuseDangers of Drug Misuse and Abuse• ImpuritiesImpurities

• Many illegal drugs are contaminated with Many illegal drugs are contaminated with chemicals that may themselves be harmful or chemicals that may themselves be harmful or cause dangerous drug interactionscause dangerous drug interactions

• May vary from batch to batchMay vary from batch to batch


• Dangers of Drug Misuse and AbuseDangers of Drug Misuse and Abuse• Other Health RisksOther Health Risks

• Hepatitis and HIVHepatitis and HIV• If drug users share needles to inject drugs, If drug users share needles to inject drugs,

contaminated blood left in the needle can carry contaminated blood left in the needle can carry disease causing viruses from user to userdisease causing viruses from user to user

• May cause hepatitis B or CMay cause hepatitis B or C

• Can cause AIDSCan cause AIDS

• Disease that has no cureDisease that has no cure


• Dangers of Drug Misuse and AbuseDangers of Drug Misuse and Abuse• Other Health RisksOther Health Risks

• Risks to Fetus and NewbornRisks to Fetus and Newborn• Drug abuse by a pregnant woman places her baby at Drug abuse by a pregnant woman places her baby at

risk for problemsrisk for problems

• Can have many different problemsCan have many different problems


• Legal Risks and Other CostsLegal Risks and Other Costs• Legal RisksLegal Risks

• Penalties can carry long prison terms and heavy Penalties can carry long prison terms and heavy finesfines

• Will have criminal recordWill have criminal record• May make it difficult to get a job or admitted into May make it difficult to get a job or admitted into

schoolsschools


• Legal Risks and Other CostsLegal Risks and Other Costs• Effects on Family and FriendsEffects on Family and Friends

• Can often become strained as the behavior of the Can often become strained as the behavior of the user changesuser changes

• May be unpredictable mood swings, violent, or May be unpredictable mood swings, violent, or withdrawnwithdrawn

• Can cause friends and family to grow a partCan cause friends and family to grow a part


• Legal Risks and Other CostsLegal Risks and Other Costs• Costs to SocietyCosts to Society

• Government has spent billions of dollars in efforts Government has spent billions of dollars in efforts to stop illegal drug manufacture and salesto stop illegal drug manufacture and sales

• Costs of Drug AbuseCosts of Drug Abuse• Imprisoning thousands of people for drug related Imprisoning thousands of people for drug related

crimescrimes

• Medical costs for illnesses and injuriesMedical costs for illnesses and injuries

• Premature deaths from drug related homicides and Premature deaths from drug related homicides and crashescrashes

• Lost work productivity because of drug dependencyLost work productivity because of drug dependency

health 4-17

Education