INTR

O TO T

HE DRUG

CATEGORIE

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LEGAL AND ILLEGAL DRUGS

Proper Use• Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs – a medicine that is

sold legally in pharmacies and other stores without a doctor’s prescription.

• Prescription drugs – a drug that can be obtained only with a written order from a doctor and can only be purchased at a pharmacy.

• By using the instructions on the label or following the doctor’s orders to treat a medical condition, is the proper use of these drugs.

LEGAL AND ILLEGAL DRUGS

• Drug Misuse: the improper use of medicines (prescription or OTC drugs). Examples would be taking more than the prescribed amount or not taking a drug for the correct period of time.

• Drug Abuse: when a drug is intentionally use improperly or unsafely. Examples would be abusing prescription pain killers or OTC cough medicines to cause a “high”, rather than to treat pain or a cough.

DANGERS OF DRUG MISUSE AND ABUSE

Side effects – unwanted physical or mental effect cause by a drug.

Tolerance – drug use needs increasingly larger amounts of the drug to achieve the original effect.

Dependence – the body develops a chemical need for the drug and can’t function normally without it.

WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMSgroup of symptoms that occurs upon the

abrupt discontinuation/separation or a decrease in dosage of the intake of

medications, recreational drugs, and alcohol.

**In order to experience the symptoms of withdrawal, one must have first developed a physical/mental dependence

“chemical dependency”

ex: nausea, vomiting, headaches, fever, paranoia, seizures, death

RISK FACTORS

A number of factors make it either more or less likely that a teen will abuse drugs.

They include family factors, social factors, and personal factors.

*life crisis coping

COMMONLY ABUSED DRUGS:

Depressants:Slow body functions by decreasing heart and

breathing rates and lowering blood pressure.

Examples - Barbiturates, Sedatives, Painkillers, Tranquilizers, Opiates, Heroin, Morphine, Codeine, Alcohol, GHB

Common Side effects – poor coordination, slurred speech, blurred vision, nausea, vomiting, impaired judgment, memory problems, and drowsiness

DEPRESSANTS

COMMONLY ABUSED DRUGS:

Stimulants:Increase heart rate, blood pressure, breathing

rate and alertness.

Examples – Amphetamines, Speed, Methamphetamine, Cocaine, Crack Cocaine, Ecstasy

Side effects – restlessness, rapid speech, increased respiration, convulsions, stroke, loss of appetite, nausea

STIMULANTS

COMMONLY ABUSED DRUGS:

Hallucinogens :Overload the brain with sensory information,

causing a distorted sense of reality.Examples – LSD (“acid”), Psilocybin

(“mushrooms”), PCP (“angel dust”), Ketamine, Mescaline (“peyote”), Ecstasy

Side Effects – hallucinations, flashbacks, eliminated sensation of pain, schizophrenia

HALLUCINOGENS

COMMONLY ABUSED DRUGS:

Marijuana:Most frequently abused psychoactive drugIts main ingredient changes the way information reaches and is acted upon by the brain.Side Effects – distorted perceptions, difficulties with thinking and problem solving, loss of motor coordination, increased heart rate, anxiety, paranoia

http://www.drugfreeworld.org/#/videos

COMMONLY ABUSED DRUGS:

Club Drugs:Strength and quality of these drugs is unpredictable

and their effects are different from person to person and are very dangerous.

Some people are unknowing victims of these drugs;

they are often referred to as “date-rape” drugs.

Examples – Ecstasy, Rohypnol, GHB, Ketamine

CLUB DRUGS

ECSTASY DATABASE

COMMONLY ABUSED DRUGS:

Inhalants:A breathable chemical vapor that produces mind-

altering effects.

Examples – glue, household cleaners, nail polish remover, markers

Side Effects – increased heart rate, depressed brain function, cardiac arrest, suffocation, loss of consciousness, death

COMMONLY ABUSED DRUGS:

Steroids:Synthetic drugs that are similar to the hormone testosterone.

Side Effects in Males – enlarged breasts, sterility

Side Effects in Females – facial hair growth, deepening of voice

Overall Side Effects – stunted growth, mood swings, hair loss, acne

CAFFEINE ?The most comprehensive chart of beverage caffeine content online.

Find the amount of caffeine in coffee, tea, soft drinks, energy drinks and energy shots.

Energy Fiend Caffeine-Database