Drugs and Alcohol
Cocaine
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Obtained from the leaves of the coca plant
Ancient use in S. America
Religious, Social, Euphoriant, and Medicinal
Active alkaloid 1st purified from the leaves in 1860 –
What we commonly know as Cocaine.
Cocaine extracted in the form of coca paste
Paste approx 50-60% purity
Stimulant of the Central Nervous System
Early Years
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Proven to be one of the 1st local anesthetics for
surgery
Incorporated into numerous medicines and
beverages including Coca-Cola
Harrison Narcotic Act banned its use in 1914
Recreational use increased dramatically in the
late 1960’s
Inexpensive “crack” cocaine use spread in the
late 1970’s
Cocaine Hydrochloride
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Paste is treated with numerous chemicals to
oxidize and purify the paste to form the water
soluble cocaine hydrochloride powder
Can be close to 100% pure
Can be injected, inhaled as powder, or ingested
orally
Cannot be smoked
Freebase Cocaine
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A.k.a. Crack Cocaine
Similar to the unpurified insoluble coca paste
Cannot be inhaled (as powder) or injected
because it is not water soluble
Cocaine is absorbed immediately into blood via
the lungs, reaching the brain in about 5 seconds
High typically lasts 5-10 minutes
Effects of Short Term Use
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Moderate euphoria lasts for 60-90 min
State of anxiety lasts for hours
Thoughts race, rapid speech
Sleep delayed
Appetite suppressed
Depressive state follows
Serious negative effects on the CNS
Long-Term Use
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Anxiety and sleep deprivation increase
Suspiciousness, paranoia, and persecutory fears
Heart Attack
Irregular heart rhythm
Seizures
Alcohol/Cocaine is the largest two drug
combination resulting in death
Amphetamines
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Used for over 60 years therapeutically for
numerous disorders
Used in WW II to fight fatigue and enhance
performance
Widespread abuse began in 1940’s with students
and truck drivers to stay awake and increase
alertness
Were used as appetite suppressants
Also a stimulant
Physiological Effects
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Increased BP
Decreased HR
Increased alertness
Psychomotor stimulant
Loss of appetite
Feeling of power
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Euphoria
Excitement
Mood elevation
Increased motor/speech
activity
Effects
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Moderate Use
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Respiratory stimulation
Slight tremors
Restlessness
Greater increase in motor
activity
Insomnia
Agitation
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High Dose
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Repetitive purposeless
acts
Sudden outbursts of
aggression/violence
Paranoid delusions
Severe anorexia
Amphetamine Psychosis:
paranoid ideation
Dependence and Tolerance
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Use becomes compulsive
Tolerance develops rapidly
Necessitates the need for markedly higher doses
Tolerance to the euphoriant effects develops
which causes prolonged binging
ICE
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Freebase form of methamphetamine
Effects similar to those of cocaine
Extremely potent
High is intense and long lasting
Chronic use can result in serious psychiatric,
cardiovascular, metabolic and neuromuscular
changes
Other behavioral stimulants include ephedrine
and methylphenidate (Ritalin)
Caffeine
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Most commonly consumed psychoactive drug in
the world
Average intake per person per day is between 80
to 400 milligrams
Consumption of caffeine is not considered drug
abuse
Effects
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Increased energy
A sense of well-being
Faster and clearer flow of thought
Reduced fatigue
Need for sleep is delayed
Caffeine causes a slight stimulant action on the heart
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Increases the workload cardiac contractility
Dilates coronary arteries
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More oxygen to the heart
Effects
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Chronic use associated with habituation and
tolerance
Quitting may cause withdrawal:
Headaches
 Drowsiness
 Fatigue
 Negative mood
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Nicotine
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Primary active ingredient in tobacco
One of the three most widely used psychoactive
drugs
Caffeine
 Alcohol
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Few or no therapeutic applications
Important because of widespread use and
toxicity
Statistics
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Responsible for the deaths of 1100 Americans every
day
Each day 6000 American teenagers try their first
cigarette
3000 children become regular smokers
1000 of these will die from smoking related disease
9 in 10 smokers become addicted before age 21
Smoking identified as the major preventable cause
death and disability
Smoking Diseases
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Lung Cancer
Cancer of the mouth and throat
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Chewing tobacco
Cardiovascular Disease
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Carbon monoxide decreases amount of oxygen delivered to
the heart while nicotine increases the workload
Carbon monoxide and nicotine increase narrowing
(atherosclerosis) and clotting (thrombosis) in the coronary
arteries
Increased risk of coronary heart disease
Smoking Diseases
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About 4,000 Americans per year die from lung
cancer caused by second-hand smoke
37,000 deaths per year from heart disease caused
by second hand smoke
Marijuana
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Marijuana is the dried mix of flowers and leaves form
the female Cannabis Sativa plant
The major biologically active chemical compound in
cannabis is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)
Has psychoactive and physiological effects
The most common method of absorption is smoking
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Either in a loosely rolled cigarette or through a pipe or water
pipe
Effects
Effects on the respiratory system are the same as
smoking cigarettes.
 Chronic use of marijuana can reduce testosterone levels
in men as well as reducing the production of sperm.
 Smoking Marijuana during pregnancy has many of the
same effect as smoking cigarettes, mild fetal growth
retardation. There have been cases of infants born with
THC dependence and withdrawal.
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Physical Effects
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Senses may be enhanced
Perception of time is usually altered
Mild euphoria, relaxation, and relief from
anxiety
Contrary to popular belief, illusions and
hallucinations occur infrequently
Medicinal Marijuana
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The use of marijuana for medicinal proposes
dates back more then 5ooo years. However, the
debate over medicinal marijuana rages today in
the United States.
Therapeutic Benefits of Marijuana
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Reduction of intraocular pressure associated with
glaucoma.
Use as a bronchodilator in asthmatics.
Relief of muscle spasms in such disorders as multiple
sclerosis.
Preventing seizures associated with epilepsy.
Treatment of depression.
Treatment of chronic pain, and migraines.
Alcohol
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Alcohol is a depressant, which means it slows
the function of the central nervous system.
Alcohol actually blocks some of the messages
trying to get to the brain.
This alters a person's perceptions, emotions,
movement, vision, and hearing.
Binge drinking- For a man, 5 or more drinks in
one evening, for a woman, 4 drinks.
Blood Alcohol Content
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Dependent on:
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Presence of food
Rate of consumption
Concentration of alcohol
Drinkers body
composition
Effects of Alcohol
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Affected judgment
Muscle coordination is depressed
Staggered walk and slurred speech
Emotions erratic
Memory impaired
Vomiting
Confusion
Coma
Death
Chronic Effects of Alcohol
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Irritation, Bleeding, and Malabsorption
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Alcohol irritates stomach lining
Irritates esophagus resulting in mild chest pain
Causes ulcers and stomach bleeding
Liver Disease
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Fatty liver
Alcoholic hepatitis (jaundice)
Cirrhosis of the liver (non reversible)
Chronic Effects of Alcohol
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Hematological System
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Anemia
Effects white blood cells (increases susceptibility to infection)
Bruising easily & clotting problems
Cardiovascular System
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AHMD (alcoholic heart muscle disease)
Shortness of breath & dramatic enlargement of heart
Arrhythmias
Increase risk of stroke
Why Do Teens Drink???
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Curiosity
To feel good, reduce stress, and relax
To fit in
To feel older
Why you shouldn’t drink
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Puts your HEALTH at RISK
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Punishment is severe
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Bad decisions
Review??
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Name two drugs that are considered stimulants.
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What is the primary ingredient in tobacco?
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What are some long term effects of using tobacco?
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What is considered binge drinking?
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How will you avoid being pressured into using drugs or
alcohol?