COMMONLY ABUSED COMMONLY ABUSED DRUGSDRUGS

DepressantsDepressants

►Drugs are categorized according to Drugs are categorized according to their actions and effects on the bodytheir actions and effects on the body

►DEPRESSANTDEPRESSANT: psychoactive drug that : psychoactive drug that slows down the brain and body slows down the brain and body reactionsreactions Decrease heart and breathing rates; lower Decrease heart and breathing rates; lower

blood pressureblood pressure

Depressants: BarbituratesDepressants: Barbiturates

►BARBITURATES: “sedative hypnotics” ( act BARBITURATES: “sedative hypnotics” ( act as sedatives to relax a person/downers)as sedatives to relax a person/downers)

► In high doses, are hypnotics; induce sleep; In high doses, are hypnotics; induce sleep; seizure control (used as an anesthetic)seizure control (used as an anesthetic)

► Physicians rarely prescribe barbiturates for Physicians rarely prescribe barbiturates for sleep problems because they are more sleep problems because they are more dangerous and have a high potential for abuse dangerous and have a high potential for abuse (stronger than tranquilizers) ex. phenobarbital(stronger than tranquilizers) ex. phenobarbital

► Barbiturate abuse develops a tolerance to the Barbiturate abuse develops a tolerance to the drug quicklydrug quickly Walk slowly, slur speech, react more slowly to Walk slowly, slur speech, react more slowly to

environmentenvironment Withdrawal can be fatalWithdrawal can be fatal

Depressants: CNS Depressants: CNS DepressantsDepressants

►Sedative that slows down the activity of Sedative that slows down the activity of the Central Nervous Systemthe Central Nervous System

►Used to be called “tranquilizers” Used to be called “tranquilizers” ►Slow nerve activity, relax muscle tension, Slow nerve activity, relax muscle tension,

lower alertness, cause drowsinesslower alertness, cause drowsiness►Replaces barbiturates for medical usesReplaces barbiturates for medical uses

Treats anxiety, sleep disorders, muscle Treats anxiety, sleep disorders, muscle spasms, convulsionsspasms, convulsions

Can cause tolerance and dependenceCan cause tolerance and dependence Ex. Xanax, ValiumEx. Xanax, Valium

Depressants: OpiatesDepressants: Opiates

►OPIATE: Any drug made from OPIATE: Any drug made from psychoactive compounds contained in psychoactive compounds contained in the seed pods of the poppy plantsthe seed pods of the poppy plants

► In small doses, act to dull senses, relieve In small doses, act to dull senses, relieve pain, and induce sleeppain, and induce sleep

► ““morphine” and “codeine” are used in some morphine” and “codeine” are used in some prescription medications to reduce severe prescription medications to reduce severe painpain Morphine and Codeine can produce tolerance Morphine and Codeine can produce tolerance

and lead to dependenceand lead to dependence

Depressants: Opiates (cont)Depressants: Opiates (cont)

►Growing area of concern is the use of opiate Growing area of concern is the use of opiate containing painkillers or cough syrups for a containing painkillers or cough syrups for a “high”“high”

► Involves taking a larger dose then Involves taking a larger dose then recommended on labelrecommended on label Can be life threateningCan be life threatening

►HEROIN: illegal opiate made from HEROIN: illegal opiate made from morphine in a laboratorymorphine in a laboratory Highly addictiveHighly addictive Users appear dazed and disorientedUsers appear dazed and disoriented

DepressantsDepressants

►BARBITURATES:BARBITURATES: Side Effects: poor coordination, slurred Side Effects: poor coordination, slurred

speech, decreased alertnessspeech, decreased alertness Long term effects: sleepiness, irritability, Long term effects: sleepiness, irritability,

confusionconfusion

►CNS DEPRESSANTSCNS DEPRESSANTS:: Side Effects: blurred vision, dizziness, slurred Side Effects: blurred vision, dizziness, slurred

speech, drowsiness, headache, skin rashspeech, drowsiness, headache, skin rash Long term effects: blood and liver diseaseLong term effects: blood and liver disease

DepressantsDepressants

►OPIATES:OPIATES: Side Effects: Nausea, vomiting, decreased Side Effects: Nausea, vomiting, decreased

alertness, drowsiness, depressed respirationalertness, drowsiness, depressed respiration Long term effects: constipation, infections Long term effects: constipation, infections

associated with injectingassociated with injecting

►ALCOHOL:ALCOHOL: Side Effects: Impaired judgment, decreased Side Effects: Impaired judgment, decreased

alertness, lack of coordination, memory problems, alertness, lack of coordination, memory problems, vomitingvomiting

Long term effects: liver damage, brain damage, Long term effects: liver damage, brain damage, anxiety and depression, malnutrition, memory lossanxiety and depression, malnutrition, memory loss

StimulantsStimulants

►STIMULANT: drug that speeds up STIMULANT: drug that speeds up activities in the CNSactivities in the CNS

► Increase heart rate, blood pressure, Increase heart rate, blood pressure, breathing rate, alertnessbreathing rate, alertness

►Sometimes prescribed to treat sleep Sometimes prescribed to treat sleep disorders and behavioral disorders disorders and behavioral disorders such as ADHDsuch as ADHD

►Abusers may develop tolerance, Abusers may develop tolerance, dependence, and addictiondependence, and addiction

Stimulants: AmphetaminesStimulants: Amphetamines

►AmphetaminesAmphetamines: prescription drugs that are : prescription drugs that are sometimes sold illegally as “speed” or sometimes sold illegally as “speed” or “uppers” “uppers”

►(treatment for conditions such as ADHD and (treatment for conditions such as ADHD and narcolepsy)narcolepsy)

►Produce feelings of high energy and well Produce feelings of high energy and well beingbeing

►Effects wear off VERY quickly; user is left Effects wear off VERY quickly; user is left feeling depressedfeeling depressed

►““Down” effect often leads to taking another Down” effect often leads to taking another dose (results in dependence)dose (results in dependence)

Stimulants: Stimulants: MethamphetaminesMethamphetamines

►METHAMPHETAMINES:METHAMPHETAMINES: stimulant related stimulant related to amphetamines; made from relatively to amphetamines; made from relatively inexpensive over the counter ingredients in inexpensive over the counter ingredients in illegal labs called “meth labs”illegal labs called “meth labs”

► Produces as rush or high, but after it wears Produces as rush or high, but after it wears off the user becomes confused, shaky, off the user becomes confused, shaky, anxious, irritable, violentanxious, irritable, violent

► Ultimately become paranoid and psychotic Ultimately become paranoid and psychotic due to brain damagedue to brain damage

►May also cause strokes and deadly May also cause strokes and deadly convulsionsconvulsions

Examples of Chemicals used Examples of Chemicals used to make Meth….to make Meth….

► Ether► Benzene► Methanol► Methylene Chloride► Trichloroethylene► Toluene► Muriatic Acid► Sodium Hydroxide► Anhydrous Ammonia► Red Phosphorous► Iodine► Reactive Metals

► Table Salt► Ammonia► Pseudoephedrine► Hydrochloric Acid► Drain Cleaner► Battery Acid► Lye► Lantern Fuel► Anti-Freeze

Scan of normal brain vs scan of Scan of normal brain vs scan of a meth braina meth brain

Stimulants: CocaineStimulants: Cocaine

► COCAINE: powerful, short-acting stimulating that is COCAINE: powerful, short-acting stimulating that is sniffed through the nose, smokes, or injectedsniffed through the nose, smokes, or injected

► Highly addictive/tolerance develops rapidlyHighly addictive/tolerance develops rapidly► Overdoses can result in seizures, heart failure, or Overdoses can result in seizures, heart failure, or

respiratory failurerespiratory failure► When effects wear off abusers are usually left with When effects wear off abusers are usually left with

depressiondepression► ““Free basing”- changes cocaine into a concentrated Free basing”- changes cocaine into a concentrated

smoke able form called “crack”smoke able form called “crack” Strongest form of cocaineStrongest form of cocaine Short but powerful effects occur within 8 seconds after Short but powerful effects occur within 8 seconds after

smokingsmoking

Crack CocaineCrack Cocaine

-Baking soda (Sodium Bicarbonate -Baking soda (Sodium Bicarbonate replaces Diethyl-ether) to make crack replaces Diethyl-ether) to make crack cocaine.cocaine.

-Cheaper-Cheaper

Term “crack” comes from the sound Term “crack” comes from the sound generated when it is being made and generated when it is being made and smoked)smoked)

StimulantsStimulants

►Amphetamines:Amphetamines: Side effects: restlessness, rapid speech, blurred Side effects: restlessness, rapid speech, blurred

vision, dizzinessvision, dizziness Long term effects: hyperactivity, irritability, Long term effects: hyperactivity, irritability,

irregular heart rates, liver damage, paranoiairregular heart rates, liver damage, paranoia►Methamphetamines:Methamphetamines:

Side effects: increased respiration, elevated body Side effects: increased respiration, elevated body temp, convulsions, stroketemp, convulsions, stroke

Long term effects: psychotic behavior, memory Long term effects: psychotic behavior, memory loss, aggression, brain damage, heart damage, loss, aggression, brain damage, heart damage, severe tooth and gym decay, strokesevere tooth and gym decay, stroke

StimulantsStimulants

► Cocaine:Cocaine: Side effects: sleep disorders, loss of appetite, Side effects: sleep disorders, loss of appetite,

increased BP and HRincreased BP and HR Long term effects: Depression, paranoia, irritability, Long term effects: Depression, paranoia, irritability,

weight loss, irregular heart beat, seizures, weight loss, irregular heart beat, seizures, respiratory failure, cardiovascular failure, liver respiratory failure, cardiovascular failure, liver damagedamage

►Nicotine/Tobacco SmokeNicotine/Tobacco Smoke:: Side effects: Nausea, loss of appetite, headache, Side effects: Nausea, loss of appetite, headache,

increased BPincreased BP Long term effects: hacking cough, difficulty Long term effects: hacking cough, difficulty

breathing, increased number of colds, heart and breathing, increased number of colds, heart and lung diseaselung disease

HallucinogensHallucinogens

► HALLUCINOGEN: drug that distorts HALLUCINOGEN: drug that distorts perceptions, thoughts, and moodsperceptions, thoughts, and moods

► Overload the brain with sensory information, Overload the brain with sensory information, causing a distorted sense of realitycausing a distorted sense of reality

► Illegal; no medical useIllegal; no medical use► Can produce frightening unpredictable mood Can produce frightening unpredictable mood

swingsswings► Abusers cant always tell what is realAbusers cant always tell what is real► Experience memory loss, personality changes, Experience memory loss, personality changes,

unable to perform normal activities, lose track of unable to perform normal activities, lose track of time and surroundingstime and surroundings

► Tolerance develops quicklyTolerance develops quickly

Hallucinogens: LSDHallucinogens: LSD

► LSD: Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (“acid”) either LSD: Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (“acid”) either stimulate or depress the nervous systemstimulate or depress the nervous system

► Abusers experience hallucinations in which Abusers experience hallucinations in which they may see colorful visions and mistakenly they may see colorful visions and mistakenly feel that they have superhuman powersfeel that they have superhuman powers

► Shortens attention spans; mind may wanderShortens attention spans; mind may wander►May cause “bad trips”- frightening episodes or May cause “bad trips”- frightening episodes or

“flashbacks”- reoccurrence of a bad trip “flashbacks”- reoccurrence of a bad trip sometimes years after LSD was takensometimes years after LSD was taken

LSD forms: powder, crystal, LSD forms: powder, crystal, liquid, gelatin squares, laced on liquid, gelatin squares, laced on

a sugar cube and capsules, a sugar cube and capsules, blotter paper dipped in LSD blotter paper dipped in LSD

Hallucinogens: PsilocybinHallucinogens: Psilocybin

►PSILOCYBIN: (“shrooms”)PSILOCYBIN: (“shrooms”) chemical chemical found in certain types of mushroomsfound in certain types of mushrooms

►Eat raw or mixed with foodEat raw or mixed with food►Effects much like LSD, but not as strongEffects much like LSD, but not as strong►Tolerance develops quicklyTolerance develops quickly►Sometimes similar looking but deadly Sometimes similar looking but deadly

mushrooms are mistaken for psilocybinmushrooms are mistaken for psilocybin

Hallucinogens: PCPHallucinogens: PCP

► PCP: “phencyclidine” white powder that can PCP: “phencyclidine” white powder that can be smoked with tobacco or marijuana, be smoked with tobacco or marijuana, injected, sniffed, or eateninjected, sniffed, or eaten

►One of the most dangerous of all drugs; One of the most dangerous of all drugs; once used as an anesthetic or painkiller for once used as an anesthetic or painkiller for large animalslarge animals

► Eliminates the sensation of pain; sometimes Eliminates the sensation of pain; sometimes abusers may unintentionally injure or kill abusers may unintentionally injure or kill themselvesthemselves

► Can develop signs of schizophreniaCan develop signs of schizophrenia► Effects remain long after drug use ends; Effects remain long after drug use ends;

flashbacks may occurflashbacks may occur

MarijuanaMarijuana

►MARIJUANA: leaves, stems, and MARIJUANA: leaves, stems, and flowering tops of the hemp plantflowering tops of the hemp plant

►Known as pot, dope, weed, grassKnown as pot, dope, weed, grass►Smokes in a pipe or from a joint, or Smokes in a pipe or from a joint, or

mixed with food and eatenmixed with food and eaten►Hemp plant is also source of the drug Hemp plant is also source of the drug

hashish, or “hash”hashish, or “hash”

Effects of MarijuanaEffects of Marijuana

►One of the most frequently abuse psychoactive One of the most frequently abuse psychoactive drugsdrugs

►Main ingredients change the way information Main ingredients change the way information reaches and is acted upon by the brainreaches and is acted upon by the brain

► Side effects: distorted perceptions, difficulty Side effects: distorted perceptions, difficulty thinking and problem solving, loss of motor thinking and problem solving, loss of motor coordination, increased HR, feelings of coordination, increased HR, feelings of anxiety/paranoiaanxiety/paranoia

►May permanently damage the brainMay permanently damage the brain► Users damage short term memory and lose Users damage short term memory and lose

motivation to perform at school/workmotivation to perform at school/work► Increases risk of certain cancersIncreases risk of certain cancers

Facts About MarijuanaFacts About Marijuana

►May act as a depressant, stimulant, or May act as a depressant, stimulant, or hallucinogenhallucinogen

►Has lasting negative health effectsHas lasting negative health effects

►May be deadly if combined with May be deadly if combined with alcohol or another depressantalcohol or another depressant

Marijuana and DrivingMarijuana and Driving

►Because it acts as a depressant, users Because it acts as a depressant, users feel sleepy or drowsyfeel sleepy or drowsy

►Can make it difficult to judge distances Can make it difficult to judge distances and react quickly to signals and and react quickly to signals and sounds on the roadsounds on the road

►Driving is extremely dangerous when Driving is extremely dangerous when under the influence of marijuanaunder the influence of marijuana

Gateway to Other DrugsGateway to Other Drugs

►Gateway DrugGateway Drug: marijuana is often a : marijuana is often a gateway to using other “harder” drugs such gateway to using other “harder” drugs such as cocaineas cocaine

► Users build up tolerance, may seek out Users build up tolerance, may seek out other drugs to experience the high they first other drugs to experience the high they first got from marijuanagot from marijuana

► Likely to be in contact with people who use Likely to be in contact with people who use and sell other illegal drugsand sell other illegal drugs

► Almost all young people who use other Almost all young people who use other illegal drugs first used marijuanaillegal drugs first used marijuana

Club DrugsClub Drugs

►Got their name from the fact that they Got their name from the fact that they first gained popularity at dance clubs first gained popularity at dance clubs and ravesand raves

►Widely available; strength and quality Widely available; strength and quality of club drugs are highly unpredictableof club drugs are highly unpredictable Effects are different from person to person Effects are different from person to person

and can be very dangerousand can be very dangerous

Club Drugs (cont)Club Drugs (cont)

► Some people are Some people are unknowing victims of club unknowing victims of club drugsdrugs Ex. Ex. Rohypnol (date rape Rohypnol (date rape

drug)drug) can be slipped into can be slipped into someone's drink without someone's drink without the person knowingthe person knowing

Person may be hurt or Person may be hurt or raped and not be able to raped and not be able to recall the events later onrecall the events later on

Most severe when it is Most severe when it is taken with an alcoholic taken with an alcoholic drink (synergism of drink (synergism of combining two depressants)combining two depressants)

MDMA (Ecstasy)MDMA (Ecstasy)

► Activates serotonin systemActivates serotonin system The serotonin system plays an important role in The serotonin system plays an important role in

regulating mood, aggression, sexual activity, sleep, regulating mood, aggression, sexual activity, sleep, and sensitivity to pain.and sensitivity to pain.

► Immediate Effects: Muscle tension, Immediate Effects: Muscle tension, involuntary teeth clenching, nausea, blurred involuntary teeth clenching, nausea, blurred vision, faintness, chills, sweating, increased vision, faintness, chills, sweating, increased heart rate and blood pressure heart rate and blood pressure

► Long term: Psychosis, confusion, depression, Long term: Psychosis, confusion, depression, sleep problems, drug craving, and severe sleep problems, drug craving, and severe anxietyanxiety

InhalantsInhalants

► INHALANTS: breathable chemical vapor that INHALANTS: breathable chemical vapor that produces mind-altering effectsproduces mind-altering effects

► Some have appropriate medical uses (nitrous oxide-Some have appropriate medical uses (nitrous oxide-used by dentists)used by dentists)

► Abusing inhalants including glue and household Abusing inhalants including glue and household cleaners, may product feelings of brief excitement or cleaners, may product feelings of brief excitement or giddiness giddiness

► Very harmful, sign that oxygen in the inhaled breath Very harmful, sign that oxygen in the inhaled breath has been replaced with a chemical that has either has been replaced with a chemical that has either stimulated the heart or depressed brain functionstimulated the heart or depressed brain function

► Even a single session may result in cardiac arrest or Even a single session may result in cardiac arrest or suffocationsuffocation

Anabolic SteroidsAnabolic Steroids

►Synthetic drugs that are similar to the Synthetic drugs that are similar to the hormone testosteronehormone testosterone

►Legal uses of this drug include treating Legal uses of this drug include treating growth disorders and certain types of growth disorders and certain types of anemiaanemia

►Abuse by people who want bigger Abuse by people who want bigger musclesmuscles

►Extremely dangerous for teenagers, Extremely dangerous for teenagers, whose growing bodies can suffer whose growing bodies can suffer permanent damagepermanent damage