Drug Unit
What is a Drug?

_____________
– any chemical other than food intended to affect the structure or function of the body.
Why some people use Drugs?

Many people believe that every problem, no matter how large or small, has or should have chemical solutions.

Examples:

For fatigue = caffeine

For insomnia = sleeping pills

For anxiety or boredom = alcohol/drugs
How do drugs work???

Nerve cells in the brain are called neurons. These neurons "talk" to each other by passing chemicals back and forth, just like passing notes in class. The neurons' "notes" are called neurotransmitters , and they are manufactured in vesicles in the nerve cell.
Neurotransmitters include serotonin, acetylcholine, norepinephrine, dopamine, histamine and about two dozen others.

The nerve cells are separated by a small space called a "synapse." When a message moves down the axon of the pre-synaptic neuron, neurotransmitters are released from the vesicle. These chemicals (or notes) cross the synapse to the post-synaptic neuron, where they bind with receptors specifically designed to receive them, much as a key is designed to fit into a specific lock.

Many nerve cells have receptors that are sensitive to various drugs. These drugs operate on the "lock-and-key" principle, where the drug can be thought of as the "key" that either (1) fits into the "lock," causing the nerve cell (neuron) to discharge its chemicals, or (2) "jams" the lock, preventing the nerve cell from discharging.
How do drugs work???

Ex.) -Narcotics mimic endorphins and lock into opiate receptor sites.
- Hallucinogens mimic serotonin
- Cocaine blocks the re-uptake of neurotransmitters → causing severe depression when coming down.
- Methamphetamines cause the release
of neurotransmitters in greater amounts
- THC mimics anandamide and interferes with the cannabinoid receptor sites.
Health Consequences of Drug Use

_______________________ Once a drug enters the bloodstream, it can harm a user’s brain, heart lungs, and other vital organs.

__________________________ drugs cloud reasoning and thinking, and users lose control of their behavior. (lose sight of values)

_________________________ substance abuse can have negative effect on relationships with friends and family members. List examples:

DRUG USE… A HIGH RISK BEHAVIOR!!

_______________________ is a high risk behavior that includes misusing legal drugs or using illegal drugs or other chemicals

People abuse drugs for a number of reasons, none of them healthful!
1. Teenagers –
the highest percentage of use is with
people between the ages of 18-25
Why do teenagers abuse drugs???
•
A way to be accepted with ______________
•
Influenced by the media
•
_____________
•
A way of _________________
•
__________________
2. Adults -
3. School -
4. Athletes -
What is the difference between drug use and abuse?

Misuse

Using the drug incorrectly due to ignorance

Taking the drug with the wrong food

Stopping the drug too soon

Abuse
1. intentionally misusing the drug normally for a desired effect
Dangers of substance abuse

Some drugs have side effects –

can range from minor to deadly.

Illegal drugs can be especially dangerous because there are no controls or means of monitoring these substances for quality, purity, or strength.

Overdose –
is a strong or fatal reaction to taking a large amount of drug. Often, overdoses occur when alcohol and other drugs are combined.

When drug abuse involves injecting substances through a needle, hepatitis B or HIV can occur

People who experiment with drugs tend to lose control…can lead to STD’s or pregnancies

Risk to unborn and newborns:
1. breast milk – can pass from mother to infant.
2. Can cause miscarriage or premature birth
3. Can cause birth defect, mental retardation

CLASSIFICATIONS OF DRUGS
(Psychoactive)

_______________- Drugs that speed up activities of the central nervous system (CNS)

_________________- Psychoactive drugs that slow brain and body reactions.

___________________ (opiates)- natural or synthetic drugs that relieve pain and cause drowsiness.

I______________- Drugs that are inhaled or breathed in through the nose to produce the desired effect.

_______________- Psychoactive drugs that alter perception, thought, and mood.

________________ – cannot be used without the written approval of a licensed physician.

______________________ (OTC) medicines – you can buy these without a prescription
Psychoactive Drugs

Psychoactive drugs – those designed to alter a person’s experiences or consciousness.
(nicotine, heroin, cocaine, alcohol, steroids, LSD, marijuana)
 Psychoactive drugs cause intoxication

Intoxication – a state in which sometimes unpredictable physical and emotional changes occur.
 A person who is intoxicated may experience a difference in emotions and judgment.
1. ________________________

Drugs which cause the body systems to _____________ up

Effects : increased heart rate and breathing, increased blood pressure, dilated pupils, decreased appetite, dry mouth, dizziness, sweating, headache, blurred vision, sleeplessness, anxiety, moodiness

Very high doses: irregular heartbeat, tremors, high fever, heart failure

How it enters the body: swallowed, snorted, injected
 Amphetamines - people use them illegally to stay awake and alert, to improve athletic performance, to lose weight, etc.
 Methamphetamine – fumes alone can be deadly
 Cocaine – powerful stimulant – regular use can lead to depression, edginess, weight loss, and physiological dependence
 use can destroy the nasal septum. Can cause heart attacks due to disturbing electrical impulses of the heart. Can occur on the first use!
 The drug, not the user, control the shots
 Crack - a form of cocaine
Stimulants –slang names
 Speed
 Uppers
 Crank
 Pep pills
 Medical use Treats hyperactive children
 Treats narcolepsy
 Used for weight control
 Bumble bees
 Hearts
 Footballs
“Meth Mouth”

 Experts believe that meth ravages teeth by drying up saliva and leaving users with “dry mouths.”

Without saliva, bacteria in the mouth multiply, leading to decay.

Dentists report that healthy teeth can become rotten from even a few months of meth use.
Long- Term Effects of Meth Use

Hallucinations

Disorganized lifestyle

Violent and aggressive behavior

Permanent psychological problems

Behavior resembling paranoid schizophrenia

Poor coping abilities

Disturbance of personality development

Lowered resistance to illnesses

Possible brain damage
2.______________________

Depresses or slows down the central nervous system. alcohol can prove fatal. Users feel no pain or fear.

Effects: similar to the effects of alcohol
*small doses – calmness, relaxed muscles
* larger doses – slurred speech, impaired judgment, impaired coordination
*very large doses – respiratory depression, coma, death
How it enters the body: swallowed

Medical use : to stop convulsions, relief of tension and anxiety, to induce sleep

Slang names: yellow jackets, reds, red devils, blues, ludes, barbs, downers, yellows

Drugs: barbiturates, tranquilizers, alcohol, methaqualone
3. _____________________

Powders ranging from white to dark brown; tablets, capsules, liquid. Comes from the poppy plant or it is synthetic

Effects: stimulates a burst of euphoria, often followed by drowsiness, nausea and vomiting. Ravages the body and is extremely addictive. When paired with alcohol, heroin is easy to overdose on.

Short term problems: breathing problems, nausea, vomiting, constipation
 Long term problems: users must take the drug to feel “normal.” A break of only one day can bring on severe withdrawal symptoms – aches, chills, sweating, muscle spasms and weakness. After a break, the usual dose may be an overdose

Heroin is highly ___________________

Medical use: pain relief, cough suppressant (codeine), pain relief, stops diarrhea, relief from tooth pain

________________ – used to reduce severe pain. Exa. Relief from cancer

Slang names: smack, horse, brown sugar, junk, mud, big H, Miss Emma, schoolboy, dollies, blue velvet


How it enters the body: injected, smoked or inhaled

Heroin – has no accepted medical use in the US.

Depresses the nervous system and slows breathing and pulse rate

Coma or death may occur with large doses

Tolerance develops quickly
4. ________________
(Psychedelics)

Drugs that ________________ and cause hallucinations

Could appear as liquid, capsules, powder, blotter paper, thin gelatin squares, mushrooms

Effects: time distorted, senses distorted, may produce bizarre, unpredictable behavior, person may sit for hours in a quiet dreamlike state

Short term effects: a “bad trip” – intense panic, confusion, deep depression, terrors, scary delusions. Can cause fatal accidents

Long term effects: Out-of-the-blue flashbacks – hallucinations without taking the drug again for up to a few days to a year after an acid trip. Severe depression

All are illegal –

PCP(angel dust) –considered to be one of the most dangerous of all drugs. Time seems to pass slowly, body movements slow down, coordination impaired, dulls the sensations of touch and pain.

Mescaline – is the psychoactive ingredient of the _________________.

LSD – (acid) effects are widely unpredictable. Some users believe that they can fly
 LSD “acid” is odorless, colorless. Often added to absorbent paper, such as blotter paper, and divided into small decorated squares.

The effects of LSD are unpredictable. Great mood swings, delusions and visual hallucinations. The user may “hear” colors and see sounds.

Trips are long – _____________________. Some users experience severe, terrifying thoughts and feelings, fear of losing control, fear of insanity and death and despair.

Flashbacks – occurs suddenly, often without warning, and may occur within a few days or more than a year after LSD use
ANABOLIC STEROIDS

Powerful compounds that are similar to the male sex hormone, testosterone. These drugs are taken to increase muscle mass and strength

Effects: may initially increase muscle mass, body strength, and weight, purple or red spots on the body, swelling of feet and legs, unpleasant breath odor, depression, increased risk of heart attack, stroke liver cancer, acne

Males - __________, withered testicles, impotence

Females – irreversible _______________, breast reduction, sterility

How it enters the body: swallowed, intramuscular injection
INHALANTS

Dangerous fumes are concentrated in a bag, on a cloth, etc. and inhaled

Effects: nausea, sneezing, coughing, nosebleeds, fatigue, lack of coordination, loss of appetite,

* solvents – decrease in heart rate and breathing, impaired judgment

How it enters the body: Vapors are inhaled through the nose or mouth

A person can go into a coma from a single use and be in a vegetable state the rest of his/her life
MARIJUANA

The dried leaves, stems, and seeds of the cannabis sativa plant.

Hashish is the dark brown resin that is collected from the top of this plant.

Effects: increased heart rate, bloodshot eyes, dry mouth and throat, increased appetite, short-term memory loss, altered sense of time, damage to lungs and circulatory system

How it enters the body: Smoked in joints, pipes, bongs, eaten
Marijuana

Main active chemical in marijuana is _____________
. Marijuana’s effects on the user depend on the strength of the THC

Cannabis is a hallucinogen and has the effects of both a depressant and a stimulant

Alters your senses, coordination, reaction time, and can interrupt your ability to make rational and healthful decisions

____________: problems with memory and learning, distorted perception, difficulty in thinking and problem solving, loss of coordination, increased heart rate, anxiety, and panic attacks.

Effects on the lungs: same respiratory problems that tobacco users have. (cancer, etc,)
CLUB DRUGS

Are used by young adults at all-night dance parties such as “raves” or “trances,” dance clubs, and bars.

Some club drugs are colorless, tasteless, and odorless. They can be added to beverages by individuals to intoxicate or sedate others.

There has been an increase in reports of club drugs used to commit sexual assaults

Ecstasy (MDMA) - mind altering drug with hallucinogenic properties

Health hazards: psychological difficulties, confusion, depression, sleep problems, drug craving, severe depression.

Physical problems: muscle tension, nausea, blurred vision, chills, sweating

Long term problems: damage to the parts of the brain critical to thought and memory

GHB – is odorless and nearly tasteless. Induces a state of relaxation

Can be slipped into someone’s drink without detection. Has been reportedly used in cases of date rape.

Physical problems: nausea, vomiting, respiratory problems, seizures, coma

Rohypnol – people may unknowingly be given the drug which, when mixed with alcohol, can incapacitate and prevent a victim from resisting sexual assault.

Physical symptoms: sedative-hypnotic effects including muscle relaxation and amnesia.
 Ketamine: “special k” is a powerful hallucinogen that includes visual distortions and a lost sense of time, sense and identity.

Profound physical and mental problems including delirium, amnesia, impaired motor function and potentially fatal problems

Special K is a powder that is usually snorted but is sometimes sprinkled on tobacco or marijuana and smoked.

___________________________________

Emotionally/ Personality

Behaviorally

Physically/ Physical Appearance

Social Activity/ School Performance
Emotional / Personality Effects of Substance Abuse

_________

Burnout

Anxiety

Depression

Paranoia

____________

Withdraws from family/ Friends
Behavioral Effects of Substance Abuse

Slow reaction time

Impaired coordination

Slowed Speech

Irritability

______________

Inability to sit still

Limited attention span

________________

Lack of energy
Physical Effects of Substance Abuse

Weight Loss

Sweating

Chills

Poor Hygiene

Interrupted sleep patterns < or >

Loss of appetite
Social Activity Effect

Drops old friends and activities

Skipping School

Loses interest in school work

Low Grades

Sleeping in class

Loses concentration

Having trouble remembering things
Addiction – what friends or family members can do

Many families, after recognizing that the problem exists, will have an intervention.

Intervention - the interruption of the addiction continuum before the addict hits bottom.

 Meetings take place without the addicted person’s knowledge.

Second step in this process is a surprise meeting with the addict that forces the addict to face the seriousness of the problem.

If addict refuses to recognize the problem, the addict will be given an ultimatum -
Wife will move out, etc.
Recovery

A process that happens over time -. A recovered person never says “I am cured, but “I am recovering.”

The first step in the recovery process is detoxification – the removal of the drug from the body, usually under medical supervision
 This step also includes restoring one’s mental health

Most experts recommend total abstinence

Relapse – slips from recovery, or periodic returns to use can happen
Treatment options

Support group such as AA, narcotics Anonymous, cocaine anonymous

Detoxification Units – a person is under a Drs. care and may be given some medication to ease the symptoms of withdrawal

Inpatient treatment centers – involves detox and counseling, both individual and group
Treatment options

Outpatient treatment centers –
involves follow up sessions, counseling

Halfway houses-
people are admitted to this program generally after they have completed at least a 28 day recovery program where they stay for 6 months to a year where they learn coping and living skills they will need when they return to society.
Choosing to be Drug Free!
 Learn to say “no!”
*Give a reason (lie or truth)
*Provide alternatives
*Use eye contact to say no
*Take a definite action

Realize that no drug will solve your problem

Talk to trusted friend/counselor, etc.

Learn to handle the stress in you life and get help when you need it.