Introduction
to drug abuse
Mrs. Basmah kattan, MPH
Outline
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Terms and definitions
Gateway drugs
Types of drugs
Categories of drugs
Addiction (activity)
How Addiction Happens
Factors That Influence Drug Action
Why do people use drugs
Symptoms of drug user
How Drugs Are Taken
Stages of addiction
Exercise
Definitions
 Drug
– a substance that causes a physical
or emotional change in a person.
 affects the processes of the mind or body;
*Over-the-counter- (non-prescription)
*Prescription Drugs – Dr. written order
*Tobacco*Alcohol*Illegal drugs*
Herbal*Caffeine*Inhalants
Effect
– the influence a drug has on
the body and the mind or both.
Drug Use – taking meds properly and in
its correct dosage.
Drug Misuse – improper use of a drug
(usually done by mistake)
Drug
abuse – intentional improper
use of a drug.
Psychoactive
effects – an
effect on a person’s mood or
behavior.
Mood-altering
affects
brain activity
Overdose
– a serious sometimes
fatal reaction to a large dose of
a drug
Dose – an exact amount of a
drug
o Tolerance:
A stage of drug abuse in
which the brain and body get used
to a drug, causing a person to have
to take more and more of the drug
to get the same effect
o Dependence: A stage of drug
abuse in which a person needs a
drug just to feel okay (normal).
Addiction
A style of living
characterized by compulsive use and
overwhelming involvement with a
drug. A stage of drug abuse in which
the user cannot stop taking the drug
despite serious negative
consequences; the drug takes control
of the brain and overpowers the
body’s natural signals
Compulsive use of a drug despite
any cost
Changes the structure and
chemistry of the brain
Withdrawal:
A stage of drug
abuse when the user stops
taking the drug. The user is
often in physical pain and
may suffer from depression,
hallucinations or delusions.
Other Drug Vocabulary
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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
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,
 Illicit
Drugs
Illegal
Most
tobacco, caffeine
are psychoactive – changes brain
chemistry
Categories of drugs
Stimulants
– speed up
the mental and physical
responses of the central
nervous system.
Increase Heart Rate
blood pressure
breathing rate
alertness
Depressants
– the opposite of
stimulants, these drugs slow
down brain and body
reactions
decreases heart and
breathing rates
lowers blood pressure
Alcohol
Barbiturates
Sedatives Tranquilizers
Narcotics
– Powerful
painkillers – suppress the CNS.
They have a high potential for
abuse and addiction.
Heroin
OxyContin
Codeine
Vicodin
Methadone
Darvon
Hallucinogens
– distort
sensory information going
to the brain, while not all
users hallucinate, have a
distorted sense of reality.
No medical use.
LSD PCP
Rohypnol
MDMA – Ecstasy
Mushrooms
= Also know as club
drugs
Inhalants
– common
household products.
Chemical inhaled gives
mind-altering effects.
Marijuana
– formally
classified as both a
hallucinogen and a
depressant, marijuana and
its derivatives are in a
category all by themselves.
Up to 20 times stronger than
30 years ago
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?
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
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.
Factors That Influence
Drug Action
Dose
Age
Body
Weight
Gender
Previous
knowledge of
drug
Other
drugs in
body
Contents of
stomach
Mood
Expectations
Environment
Why do people use
drugs?
Curiosity
Peer pressure
Peer acceptance
Pleasure seeking
Act of rebellion
Boredom
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.
How Drugs Are
Taken
Inhaled
Injection
Orally
Snorted
Transdermal
Absorbed
(Patches)
Stages of Addiction
Stage
1
curiosity
is a motivator
learning to trust/mistrust
the drug used
“High” is still a new feeling
Stages of Addiction
Stage 2
User
is thinking more about
drugs
Previous relationships become
difficult
User uses when alone
User still thinks they have control
Stages of Addiction
Stage 3
Seeks
out the “high”
Has confidence in using the
drug
User thinks the drug won’t hurt
them
Peer group uses
Tolerance develops
Stages of Addiction
Stage
Can
4
no longer get “high”
User uses the drug to
avoid being sick!
Drugs become the center
of their life
Tolerance, Dependence or
Addiction?
Does the scenario represent
Tolerance,
Dependence
or
Addiction?
Tolerance, Dependence or Addiction?
Maha has to take twice as
much heroin to get the same
high she used to get with just
one needle.
Tolerance, Dependence or Addiction?
Rayan has a compulsive
need to drink alcohol.
Tolerance, Dependence or
Addiction?
Ahmed will do anything,
including steal from his friends
to get the drugs.
Tolerance, Dependence or Addiction?
The brain adjusts to the drug
to the point that it needs the
drug to function normally.
Tolerance, Dependence or Addiction?
Sarah’s reward pathway
doesn’t respond as strongly
as it used to when she
smokes a cigarette.
Tolerance, Dependence or Addiction?
Saleh experiences
overwhelming physical
withdrawal symptoms when
he doesn’t take heroin.
Tolerance, Dependence or Addiction?
Instead of a good feeling,
taking the drug only
produces relief.
Tolerance, Dependence or Addiction?
The drug user’s brain cells
become more resistant to the
effects of the drug.
Tolerance, Dependence or Addiction?
Layla cannot control her
cocaine use anymore.
Tolerance, Dependence, or
Addiction
5. Tolerance
1. Tolerance
6. Addiction
2. Addiction
7. Dependence
3. Addiction
4. Dependence 8. Tolerance
9. Addiction