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
Types of Drugs
• 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
Categories of Drugs
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Stimulants
Depressants
Opiates
Hallucinogens
Designer Drugs
Inhalants
Steroids
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?
Methods of Administration
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.
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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
Experimentation
Recreational or Social Use
Tolerance
Compulsive Craving
Addiction
Withdrawal
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.
Withdrawal
When 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
Impatience
Loss of
Energy/Fatigue
Stomach or Bowel
problems
Headaches
Tremors
Frustration and
Anger
Heart
palpitations
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 User
Physical 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
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1. Tolerance
2. Dependence
3. Addiction
4. Addiction
5. Dependence
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6. Tolerance
7. Addiction
8. Dependence
9. Tolerance
10. Addiction