Section 17.3 Commonly Abused Drugs
Commonly Abused Drugs
Objectives
Compare the effects of depressants,
stimulants, and hallucinogens on the body.
Describe the effects of marijuana.
Name three classes of drugs of increasing
concern in recent years.
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Section 17.3 Commonly Abused Drugs
Health Stats The graph shows the number of new
abusers of prescription pain relievers in each year since
1985.
What factors do you think are responsible for the
increase in prescription drug abuse?
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Section 17.3 Commonly Abused Drugs
Depressants
• A psychoactive drug that slows brain and body
reactions is called a depressant.
• Depressants slow body functions by decreasing
heart and breathing rates and lowering
blood pressure.
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Section 17.3 Commonly Abused Drugs
Barbiturates
• One class of depressants is the barbiturates
(bahr BICH ur its) —also called sedative-hypnotics.
• In small doses, barbiturates are sedatives—they
relax a person.
• In high doses, barbiturates are hypnotics—they
induce sleep.
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Section 17.3 Commonly Abused Drugs
CNS Depressants
• A CNS depressant is a sedative that slows the
activity of the central nervous system (CNS).
• CNS depressants
• slow nerve activity
• relax muscle tension
• lower alertness
• cause drowsiness
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Section 17.3 Commonly Abused Drugs
Opiates
• An opiate (OH pee it) is any drug made from
psychoactive compounds contained in the seed pods
of poppy plants.
• In small doses, opiates act to dull the senses, relieve
pain, and induce sleep.
• Heroin is an illegal opiate made from morphine in
a laboratory.
• Heroin is highly addictive.
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Section 17.3 Commonly Abused Drugs
Stimulants
• A stimulant is a drug that speeds up activities of the
central nervous system.
• Stimulants increase
• heart rate
• blood pressure
• breathing rate
• alertness
• Physicians sometimes prescribe certain stimulants to
treat sleep disorders and behavioral disorders.
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Section 17.3 Commonly Abused Drugs
Amphetamines
• Amphetamines (am FET uh meenz) are
prescription drugs that are sometimes sold illegally
as “speed” or “uppers.”
• Amphetamine abuse produces feelings of well-being
and high energy.
• The effects wear off quickly and the abuser is often
left feeling depressed.
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Section 17.3 Commonly Abused Drugs
Methamphetamine
• A stimulant that is related to amphetamines, but is
even more powerful, is methamphetamine.
• Methamphetamine initially produces a rush, or “high.”
• But, after the rush wears off, the user may become
• confused
• shaky
• anxious
• irritable
• violent
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Section 17.3 Commonly Abused Drugs
Cocaine
• Cocaine is a powerful but short-acting stimulant.
• Cocaine is highly addictive.
• When cocaine’s effects wear off, abusers often
experience depression, which can be severe.
• Crack is the strongest form of cocaine.
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Section 17.3 Commonly Abused Drugs
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Section 17.3 Commonly Abused Drugs
Hallucinogens
• A hallucinogen (huh LOO sih nuh jun) is a drug that
distorts perception, thought, and mood.
• Hallucinogens overload the brain with sensory
information, causing a distorted sense of reality.
• Abusers
• cannot tell what is real
• may experience memory loss and
personality changes
• may be unable to perform normal activities
• may lose track of time and their surroundings
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Section 17.3 Commonly Abused Drugs
LSD
• The strongest known hallucinogen is lysergic acid
diethylamide, or LSD.
• LSD’s effects are unpredictable—it can either
stimulate or depress the central nervous system.
• Abusers experience hallucinations in which they may
see colorful visions and mistakenly feel they have
superhuman powers.
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Section 17.3 Commonly Abused Drugs
Psilocybin
• Another hallucinogen is psilocybin
(sil uh sy bin)—sometimes called “shrooms.”
• Psilocybin is a chemical found in a certain type
of mushroom.
• The effects of psilocybin are much like those of LSD,
but not as strong.
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Section 17.3 Commonly Abused Drugs
PCP
• One of the most dangerous of all drugs is PCP, short
for phencyclidine.
• Because the drug eliminates the sensation of pain,
abusers may unintentionally injure or even
kill themselves.
• Some PCP abusers develop signs of schizophrenia.
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Section 17.3 Commonly Abused Drugs
Marijuana
Marijuana
(mar uh WAH nuh) is
the leaves, stems,
and flowering tops of
the hemp plant
Cannabis sativa.
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Section 17.3 Commonly Abused Drugs
Effects of Marijuana
• Marijuana is one of the most frequently abused
psychoactive drugs.
• Its main ingredient changes the way information
reaches and is acted upon by the brain.
• Side effects of marijuana use include
• distorted perceptions
• difficulties with thinking and problem solving
• loss of motor coordination
• increased heart rate
• feelings of anxiety or paranoia
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Section 17.3 Commonly Abused Drugs
Marijuana and Driving
• Users often feel sleepy or drowsy.
• Marijuana use can make it difficult to judge distances
and react quickly to signals and sounds on the road.
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Section 17.3 Commonly Abused Drugs
A Gateway to Other Drugs
• Marijuana use is often a gateway to using other
“harder” drugs, such as cocaine.
• As marijuana users build up tolerance, they may
seek out other drugs to experience the “high” they
first got from marijuana.
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Section 17.3 Commonly Abused Drugs
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Section 17.3 Commonly Abused Drugs
Club Drugs, Inhalants, and Steroids
• Three classes of drugs that are of growing concern
in recent years are club drugs, inhalants, and
anabolic steroids.
• The effects of club drugs and inhalants are extremely
unpredictable and dangerous.
• Abuse of steroids causes lifelong damage to the
body and brain.
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Section 17.3 Commonly Abused Drugs
Club Drugs
• Club drugs got their name from the fact that they
first gained popularity at dance clubs and raves.
• Their effects are different from person to person and
very dangerous.
• While under the effects of rohypnol (roh HYP nawl),
a person may be hurt or raped and not even be able
to recall the event later on.
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Section 17.3 Commonly Abused Drugs
Inhalants
A breathable chemical vapor that produces mind-altering
effects is called an inhalant (in HAYL unt).
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Section 17.3 Commonly Abused Drugs
Anabolic Steroids
• Anabolic steroids are synthetic drugs that are similar
to the hormone testosterone.
• Steroids are abused primarily by people who want
bigger muscles.
• Steroids can make a user’s personality very
aggressive.
• Some steroid users become severely depressed.
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Section 17.3 Commonly Abused Drugs
Vocabulary
depressant
barbiturates
A drug that slows brain and body reactions.
A class of depressant drugs; also called
sedative-hypnotics.
opiate
Any drug made from psychoactive compounds
contained in the seed pods of poppy plants.
heroin
An illegal opiate made from morphine in a
laboratory.
stimulant
amphetamines
A type of drug that increases the activity of the
nervous system.
Prescription drugs that are sometimes sold
illegally as “speed” or “uppers.”
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Section 17.3 Commonly Abused Drugs
Vocabulary
methamphetamine
cocaine
hallucinogen
marijuana
club drugs
inhalant
A stimulant that is related to amphetamines, but
is even more powerful.
A drug that is a powerful but short-acting
stimulant.
A drug that distorts perception, thought, and
mood.
A drug made from the leaves, stems, and
flowering tops of the hemp plant.
Drugs that first gained popularity at dance clubs
and raves.
A breathable chemical vapor that produces
mind-altering effects.
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Section 17.3 Commonly Abused Drugs
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Section 17.3 Commonly Abused Drugs
End of Section 17.3
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