Intro to Substance Abuse

Drugs and Addiction

• Each student will:–Discuss the cycle of addiction–Reason why teens are more likely to develop addiction over adults.

What are drugs?

A chemical substance that:• affects the processes of the

mind or body; • may be used in the diagnosis,

treatment, or prevention of disease,

• used recreationally for its effects on the central nervous system.

Why can drugs be bad for your mind and body?

• Drugs used for medical purposes can be beneficial but still can have negative effects

• Drugs alter the chemical state of a person’s mind and body.

• They affect a person’s – Appearance– Physical health– Social life– Financial life

What are gateway drugs?

A gateway drug is a drug that opens the door to other, harder

drug use.

What are examples of gateway drugs?

Alcohol, Tobacco, Marijuana

• Drugs can be separated into Types and Categories

• Types of Drugs:– Prescription Drugs– Over-the-Counter (OTC) Drugs– Recreational Drugs • alcohol, tobacco, caffeine

– Illicit Drugs • Illegal• Most are psychoactive – changes brain

chemistry

Types of Drugs

• Stimulants • Depressants • Opiates • Hallucinogens • Designer Drugs • Inhalants• Steroids

Categories of Drugs

Your Lifeline…

Examine the meaningful events that will happen to you in your lifetime.

1. Along the lifeline place all the significant events that have ALREADY occurred at the appropriate age.

2. Also place the events that will occur during your lifetime. (Dreams, Goals, Plans). Place these events along the line at the age you estimate they will occur.

The Story of Matt Bush

Teen Addiction

Lifeline Reflection

Gateway drug use often lead to harder drug use.

If you became an addict and wasted all you time and money

worrying about drugs, how would that affect your lifeline?

Addiction

Besides drugs what else could someone be

addicted to?

Potato Chip Activity• How does it feel to stop after just one chip?• How many of you would like another chip?• How do cravings for potato chips differ from

cravings for tobacco, alcohol or other drugs?• How might your body react if you stopped

eating potato chips? • What if you stopped using tobacco, alcohol,

or some other drug after you are addicted?

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Changes in Brain chemistry occur dependent on the method of administration. Methods include:

• Oral Ingestion• Injection (can be into the intramuscular or

intravenous)• Smoke• Inhalation• Absorption

The quicker the drug reaches the brain the more likely the user is to become addicted.

Methods of Administration

Synapses…

How Addiction Happens…

• Once a drug reaches the brain, it acts on one or more neurotransmitters, either increasing or decreasing their concentration and actions.

• Neurotransmitters include substances such as serotonin and dopamine that are released from your brain to make you feel good.

Dopamine and Serotonin

Dopamine and the brain

Downward Spiral of Addiction

ExperimentationRecreational or Social Use

ToleranceCompulsive Craving

AddictionWithdrawal

Downward Spiral of Addiction

Use of a substance just to see what it is like; Peers, family, media

may all be an influence

Experimentation

Downward Spiral of Addiction

Use of a substance makes user feel good; think he/she is having fun and fitting in which

often leads to using more frequently

Recreational or Social Use

Downward Spiral of Addiction

The body needs more of a substance because it requires more to get the same effect

Tolerance

Downward Spiral of Addiction

Beginning to have uncontrollable need for the substance

Compulsive Craving

Downward Spiral of Addiction

Use becomes habitual (regular) and out of control; User is

dependent on the substance

Addiction

Downward Spiral of Addiction

Changes that occur when drug use stops

Withdrawal

How quickly someone becomes addicted depends on several factors:–Genetic connection to addiction–Stress, worry, tension – the more there is, the more likely you are to look for so-called relief.–Drug being used. Some drugs cause addiction after just one or a few uses.

WithdrawalWhen someone tries to give up

tobacco, alcohol, or other drugs, they may suffer through a combination of

symptoms.Restlessness Depression Difficulty concentrating

Eating more than usual

Loss of Energy/Fatigue

Tremors

Impatience Stomach or Bowel problems

Heart palpitations

Frustration and Anger

Headaches Sweating

Dependence

When a user needs the drug to be able to function normally.

Tolerance

When the person needs more and more to get the same

effect

Other Drug Vocabulary

• Relapse – the tendency to return to addictive behavior after a period of abstinence.

• Euphoria – “high”• Synesthesia – an effect where sensory

messages are incorrectly assigned (hear a taste, smell a sound)

• Flashbacks – perceptual distortions and bizarre thoughts that occur after the drug has been eliminated from the body

Addiction to a drug can affect someone

physically, socially, and mentally.

Symptoms of a Drug User

Personality

• Becomes disrespectful, verbal and physical abuse

• Is angry a lot, acts paranoid or confused, extreme mood swings

• Seems depressed and less out-going than usual.• Is secretive, lies about what s/he is doing and

where s/he is going.• Steals or “loses” possessions s/he used to

value.• Seems to have a lot of money or is always

asking for money

Symptoms of a Drug UserPhysical Appearance

• 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.

Symptoms of a Drug User

Social Activity/School Performance

• Drops old friends and activities.

• Skips school

• Loses interest in school work and is getting low grades

• Sleeps in class

• Loses concentration and is having trouble remembering things.

Tolerance, Dependence or Addiction?

Does the scenario represent

Tolerance,

Dependence

or

Addiction?

Tolerance, Dependence or Addiction?

Jen has to take twice as much heroin to get the

same high she used to get with just one needle.

Tolerance

Tolerance, Dependence or Addiction?

Neurons and dopamine receptors begin to die.

Dependence

Tolerance, Dependence or Addiction?

Ryan has a compulsive need to drink alcohol.

Addiction

Tolerance, Dependence or Addiction?

Stan will do anything, including steal from his friends to get the drugs.

Addiction

Tolerance, Dependence or Addiction?

The brain adjusts to the drug to the point that it

needs the drug to function normally.

Dependence

Tolerance, Dependence or Addiction?

Sierra’s reward pathway doesn’t respond as strongly

as it used to when she smokes a cigarette.

Tolerance

Tolerance, Dependence or Addiction?

Jon experiences overwhelming physical

withdrawal symptoms when he doesn’t take heroin.

Addiction

Tolerance, Dependence or Addiction?

Instead of a good feeling, taking the drug only

produces relief.

Dependence

Tolerance, Dependence or Addiction?

The drug user’s brain cells become more resistant to

the effects of the drug.

Tolerance

Tolerance, Dependence or Addiction?

Lia cannot control her cocaine use anymore.

Addiction

Tolerance, Dependence, or Addiction

• 1. Tolerance• 2.

Dependence• 3. Addiction• 4. Addiction• 5.

Dependence

• 6. Tolerance• 7. Addiction• 8.

Dependence• 9. Tolerance• 10. Addiction