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Lesson 2
Marijuana and Other
Illegal Drugs
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 marijuana
Dried leaves and flowers of the hemp plant, called cannabis sativa

THC The main active chemical in marijuana
 amnesia
 anabolic steroids
Partial or total loss of memory
Synthetic substances related to the male sex hormones

In this lesson, you will learn to
 describe the effects and risks of marijuana.
 identify the most commonly used club drugs.
 explain the reasons that teens abuse anabolic steroids.
 list the physical effects of anabolic steroids.

Finding the Main Idea
For each major heading in this lesson, write one sentence that states the main idea.
Major Headings in this Lesson
• What Is Marijuana?
• What Are Marijuana’s Effects?
• What Are Club Drugs?
• Date Rape Drugs
• Anabolic Steroids
• Teens and Steroid Use

What Is Marijuana?
Marijuana is commonly called pot or weed .
marijuana Dried leaves and flowers of the hemp plant, called cannabis sativa

What Are Marijuana’s Effects?
THC alters the way the brain processes sensory information.
THC The main active chemical in marijuana
It is impossible to know what other harmful substances may be mixed in with marijuana.

What Are Marijuana’s Effects?
Short-term Effects
Reduced reaction time
Reduced coordination
Impaired judgment
Increased heart rate
Increased appetite
Anxiety
Panic attacks

What Are Marijuana’s Effects?
Long-term Effects
Lung diseases, including cancer
Changes to the region of the brain that processes information
Depression
Anxiety
Personality disturbances
Loss of motivation, causing the user to fall behind in school
Problems with friends and family members

What Are Marijuana’s Effects?
Safety Risks
Risk of getting arrested
Users may say or do things that could get them into trouble
Impaired reaction time and coordination make driving dangerous
Impaired judgment can lead to risky behaviors
•
Drinking alcohol
•
Engaging in sexual activity, leading to a risk of sexually transmitted diseases and unplanned pregnancy

What Are Marijuana’s Effects?
Frequent users can develop a tolerance
Developing a tolerance often leads to physical dependency
Each year more than 12,000 people seek treatment for addiction to marijuana

What Are Club Drugs?
Club drugs take their names from dance clubs or raves where they are often used.
Some people falsely believe that club drugs are safe to use.

What Are Club Drugs?
The harmful effects of club drugs include:
Hallucinations
Paranoia
Amnesia amnesia Partial or total loss of memory
When club drugs are mixed with alcohol, the effects of both substances are increased.

Ecstasy
The scientific name for ecstasy is MDMA.
Ecstasy speeds up the central nervous system, making a person feel very alert, or “hyper.”

Ecstasy
Effects of Taking Ecstasy
Increased heart rate
Nausea and dizziness
Anxiety
Elevated blood pressure
Chills
Sweating
Loss of appetite

Date Rape Drugs
Rohypnol, commonly called roofie, is a club drug that works by suppressing the central nervous system.
Characteristics of Rohypnol
Odorless
Easily slipped into a person’s drink
Colorless
Has no taste
The unwilling user is unaware of what is happening
Causes amnesia

Date Rape Drugs
GBH is a depressant of the central nervous system.
Until 1992, GBH was available as an over-thecounter drug used by bodybuilders to increase muscle mass and decrease fat.

Date Rape Drugs
Ketamine, sometimes called Special K, is an anesthetic used in medical procedures for humans and animals.
A small amount of Ketamine produces hallucinations, memory loss, and even respiratory failure.

Anabolic Steroids
Physicians sometimes prescribe anabolic steroids to treat growth problems, lung diseases, and skin conditions.
anabolic steroids Synthetic substances related to the male sex hormones
Steroids are most often abused by people who want to enhance their athletic abilities.

Anabolic Steroids
Major Side Effects
Liver tumors
Cancer
Jaundice
High blood pressure
Kidney tumors
Severe acne
Trembling

Anabolic Steroids
Side Effects in Males
Shrinking of the testicles
Breast development
Side Effects in Females
Growth of facial hair
Menstrual changes
Deepened voice
In NIDA’s 2004 Monitoring the Future study, 3.4% of high school seniors reported using steroids at least once.
Source: NIDA Infofacts: High School and Youth Trends.

Teens and Steroid Use
Steroid use can have a negative effect on your appearance.
Steroid use can cause a person to become angry or violent.
Steroid use can cause a hormonal imbalance, which can interfere with the normal development of teens.

What I Learned
Vocabulary What is THC ?
Lesson 2 Review

Lesson 2 Review
What I Learned
Recall What are health risks associated with using anabolic steroids?

Lesson 2 Review
What I Learned
Explain What are two long-term effects of marijuana use?

Lesson 2 Review
Thinking Critically
Analyze Why do you think steroid abuse is a concern in competitive sports?

Lesson 2 Review
Thinking Critically
Hypothesize What might happen to a person who unknowingly ingests Rohypnol while at a club?

End of
Lesson 2
Marijuana and Other
Illegal Drugs
Click for:
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>> Chapter 14 Assessment