RISKS, FACTS,
CONSEQUENCES
What are DRUGS?
• Drugs are chemical substances that
have an effect on the body and the
mind.
• Drugs can be obtained the following
ways:
• OTC: Over the Counter
• Rx: Prescription or Doctor’s note
• Illegal: Against the law, “underground”
Drug Classifications
Caffeine, Nicotine,
Ritalin, Cocaine
Dexedrine,
Amphetamines
Marijuana, LSD,
PCP, ‘Shrooms.
AntiDepressants:
Prozac, Paxil,
Zoloft.
Opiates/Narcotics
Valium,
Barbiturates
Xanex,
Alcohol
Heroin, Codeine,
Oxycontin, Demerol,
Percocet
ABUSE
Both can be dangerous
and cause illness
• Taking a drug for “fun” get
“high” or a “buzz”. Fight
boredom.
• Addiction/Intentionally taking a
drug to cause harm (overdose).
• Taking someone else’s
prescription to feel different.
• Taking ANY illegal drug or a
drug not meant for consumption
in the body.
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MISUSE
Not finishing all medication
when the Doctor says to.
Taking expired medication.
Taking a an old prescription
drug for symptoms without
consulting a Doctor.
Don’t follow directions: Says
to take with food,
dosage/amount, shake well
Drugs Abused At Home?
• OTC: Over The Counter Drugs
Example: Cough Medicine
Slang: Robo, Triple C, Orange Crush
Abused drug; Dextromethorphan (DXM);
induces euphoria, enhanced awareness
Side-effects: Nausea, headache, loss of
coordination, vomiting, loss of
consciousness, coma, death.
Can mimic that of opiates/heroin.
Rx Drugs Abused
• Vicodin: “Vikes” Derived from opium, pain reliever
• Side-effects include vomiting, stomach pain, rash,
constipation.
• Oxycontin: “Oxy”/“OC” Pain reliever, instant rush
• Side-effects include upset stomach, constipation,
Extremely addictive
• Ritalin/Adderall: “Vitamin R”, “Kiddy coke”
Stimulant drug, enhances alertness
• Side-effects include tremors, loss of coordination,
irregular heart beat, anxiety, impulsiveness.
ALL deadly when mixed with other drugs or
• Inhalants are toxic or poisonous fumes
inhaled intentionally to create a
hallucinogenic-type high.
• Inhalants are abused through a process
called “huffing”.
• The inhalant abusers desired experience
is numbness, laughter, and
hallucinations.
• Harmful/dangerous experiences:
Dizziness/confusion, muscle spasms,
hearing loss, liver/kidney damage, bone
marrow damage, brain damage, and
heart failure/death.
MARIJUANA
• What is it???
A powerful drug that comes from the Indian
Hemp Plant. Also known as “cannabis sativa”
• Slang: Dope, pot, maryjane, weed, grass,
reefer.
• How is it used: Smoked, eaten
• F.Y.I.: Number one reason people
(Good advice!)
enter drug rehab is for Marijuana dependence
Facts of MARIJUANA
• THC: Mind Altering Chemical found in
Marijuana that gets people “HIGH”
• Fast Fact: Marijuana is 3-10x’s more powerful
today than it was in the 1960’s/70’s.
• How long does Marijuana stay in
your body? Up to 1 Month
• A person can become
Psychologically Dependent on
Marijuana.
Facts about “Medical Marijuana”
• Marijuana is not medicine. It has not been
approved by the Federal government to be helpful,
and is considered a Schedule 1 drug under Federal
law.
• Marijuana has never been proven in any medical
journal to cure or prevent any disease.
• AIDS and cancer patients have been prescribed
marijuana as a last resort to alleviate pain,
nausea, and improve appetite.
• These patients are only allowed to smoke in their
own homes under strict regulations.
• New York state does not allow medicinal
marijuana usage.
Effect of Marijuana on the
• BODY
BODY & MIND
• Speeds up heart rate; increases risk of
heart attack.
• Risk cancer of the lungs, mouth, throat.
• Affects growth and sexual development;
interfering with hormone production.
• Slows down reaction time, thinking,
reflexes; similar to that of alcohol.
• Weakens Immune System.
BRAIN
• Hallucinations/blurs vision.
• Loss of ambition, motivation.
• Affects personality, mood, and behavior.
• Affects short-term memory negatively.
• Affects part of brain that controls thirst
and hunger.
• Affects muscle coordination.
• Drugs that speed up the body and the
mind.
• Types: Caffeine, Nicotine,
Amphetamines, Cocaine, Crack
• Many Stimulants have the –INE or
“EEN” sound at the end of the drug.
LOOK closely.
• Why do people use STIMULANTS?
To stay awake, for fun;fight boredom, to
feel better about themselves.
EFFECTS OF STIMULANTS ON
MIND AND BODY
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Increased Heart Rate & Breathing
Increased in Blood Pressure
Sweating/frequent urination
Sleeplessness
Increase body temperature
Headaches
Easily irritated
Addiction
Loss of appetite
Can’t focus/concentrate
Nausea
Cocaine & Crack
• Cocaine: Powder extracted from the coca
leaf.
• Taken by sniffing, injecting, smoking.
• Slang: coke, toot, snow, blow
• Crack: Cocaine that has been chemically
changed to be smoked. (In rock form)
• Crack can be more dangerous because of
how quickly it gets to the brain, lungs and
heart.
• Possible to become “instantly addicted”.
• BODY
• Increases breathing & heart rate to dangerous
levels.
• Possibility of overdose; even the first time.
• Rises body temperature and blood pressure.
• Nasal damage (holes in septum)
• Crack (freebasing) causes damage to lungs
• MIND
• Addiction (strong physical/psychological)
• Short-term; intense pleasure followed by a
depressed or anxious/paranoid low.
• Affects personality, mood, ambition/goals for
the future.
Meth Laboratory
Meth Mouth
Meth Addicted Brain
“Crystal” Meth
What are
Hallucinogens?
•Mood & Mind altering drugs that affect the central nervous system;
•See or hear things that aren’t there.
• LSD: Acid, purple haze
Colorless, odorless liquid absorbed through the skin
• Mescaline: Peyote, Mesc.
Pill form (eaten)
• Psilocybin: Magic Mushrooms, ‘shrooms.
Eaten (Is it a poisonous mushroom??)
• PCP: Angel Dust, Peace Pill
Commonly smoked, commonly found laced in Marijuana.
HALLUCINOGENS:
THE MIND & “TRIPS”
• PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS:
Changes the way the brain interprets messages.
• Unpredictable effects
• Effects may be scary; make a person feel like they
are “going crazy”
• “Trips”: Term given to the experience on a
hallucinogen. (May last 8-10 hours, effects cannot
be stopped)
• “Bad Trip”: Scary/fearful/paranoid experiences
• “Flashbacks”: The feeling of being on the drug
without taking more of it. Can happen at any time;
may last seconds to minutes; unpredictable.
HALLUCINOGENS
• PHYSICAL EFFECTS:
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Increased Heart Rate
Nausea
Loss of appetite
Increased BP
Decreased Coordination
Sweating
Vomiting
Sleeplessness
Tremors
MDMA or Ecstasy
(methylenedioxymethamphetamine), is a synthetic
drug with amphetamine-like and hallucinogenic
properties. It is classified as a stimulant.
SHORTTERM
This can lead to
muscle
breakdown and
kidney, liver and
cardiovascular
failure. Can
cause
severe
dehydration and
hyperthermia or
dramatic
increases in body
temperature.
Long-Term:
Stop the production
of serotonin, a brain
chemical, which
regulates mood,
pain, appetite,
learning and
memory. May disrupt
or interfere with
memory.
Athletes Admitted To, or Have
Been Accused of Steroid Use
• What are STEROIDS?: Steroids are synthetic
derivatives of the male hormone testosterone.
• There are more than 100 different types pf
anabolic steroids, some are by prescription,
some are made illegally, some are smuggled
into the U.S. illegally.
• Steroids can be injected with a hypodermic
needle or taken orally.
Why do people take STEROIDS?
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47.1%: To improve athletic performance.
26.7%: To improve their appearance.
10.7%: For injury treatment or prevention.
15.5%: For other reasons.
Approximately 1 in 35 high school students
has tried steroids.
• It’s said that at least 40% of boys have
thought about trying or are planning on
using steroids.
How do I know if someone is on
STEROIDS?
• Rapid muscle growth and gain. As much as a 20-30
percent increase in a 4-8 week period.
• Puffiness or bloated appearance, in particular face
and upper body.
• Spotted or blotchy skin.
• Persistent bad breath.
• Unexplained aggressiveness or behavioral
changes/irritability.
• Severe acne on face, back, and legs.
• Severe headaches and dizziness.
• Nausea.
• Unexplained bloody noses.
• Possible hair loss.
Potential Side Effects for
Males and Females
Males
Females
• Decreased sex drive.
• Shrunken testicles.
• Sterility or possible
impotence.
• Enlarged prostate gland.
• Gynecomastia: “Male
Breasts”
• Increase in body hair
growth.
• Severe mood swings.
• Development of male
characteristics
including:
• Reduction in breast
size.
• Increase in
body/facial hair.
• Thinning hair.
• Wider shoulders.
• “Manly” muscles.
Long-Term Side-Effects of
STEROIDS
• Liver tumors, both benign and malignant.
• Linked to increase in other types of cancer.
• Increases cholesterol levels; increases chance
of heart disease.
• Reproductive organs are affected reducing
one’s likelihood of having children.
• Possible link to stunting one’s growth.
• HIV/AIDS from infected needles.
• List at least 3 warning signs that you might
suspect a friend is taking steroids.
• What could be some situations or scenarios that
leads to your friend’s using steroids? (List 3).
• How might you discourage a friend from using?
• What are some safer alternatives to improving
your friend’s physique and sports performance?