Drug Use A High Risk Behavior. What is Substance Abuse? Unnecessary or improper use of chemical...
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Transcript of Drug Use A High Risk Behavior. What is Substance Abuse? Unnecessary or improper use of chemical...
Drug Use
A High Risk Behavior
What is Substance Abuse?
Unnecessary or improper use of chemical substances for nonmedical purposes.
Illegal Drugs: chemical substances that people of any age may not lawfully manufacture, possess, buy, or sell
Illicit Drug Use: the use or sale of any substance that is illegal or otherwise not permitted.
What factors influence decisions about drugs?
1. Peer Pressure: control or urging of friends, social groups.
2. Family Members: Parents and other adults
3. Role Models: People you admire and look up to
4. Media: T.V., digital media, music, internet
5. Perceptions
6. Misleading Information: believe it can be beneficial
Health Risks of Drug Use
Physical Health Heart, lungs, brain, other vital organs Overdosing: strong, sometimes fatal reaction to
taking a large amount of a drug Risk of contracting Hepatitis B and HIV greatly
increases
Health Risks
Mental Health Drugs cloud reasoning and thinking Users lose control of their behavior People often lose sight of their values Drugs alter the brains structure and function
Health Risks
Social Health Users do and say things they will later regret Can have a negative effect on relationships Drug use can cause teens to be expelled or drop
out of school Legal consequences Major factor in many crimes, suicides and
unintentional injuries
Other Effects of Drug Use
Tolerance: body becomes accustomed to the drug and causes them to need more to get the desired effect
Psychological Dependence: believe the drug is needed in order to feel good or function normally
Physiological Dependence: develop a chemical need for the drug
Addiction: a psychological or physiological dependence on the drug
Signs of Drug Use“Personality”
Becomes Disrespectful-verbally abusive
Is angry a lot- extreme mood swings
Seems depressed and less out-going
Is secretive and lies about what they are doing
Is stealing or “losing” possessions
Seems to have a lot of money or always needs
Withdraws from family and family activities
Signs of Drug Use“Physical Apperance”
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
Signs of Drug Use“Social Activity/School
Performance” Drops old friends and activities Is skipping school Loses interest in school work Is getting low grades Is sleeping in class Loses concentration and is having trouble
remembering things
Current Stats
19.1 Million Americans or 7.9% of the population aged 12 and older are current illicit drug users. (current drug use means use of an illicit drug within one month of survey)
General Categories of Drugs that teens are using
Over the counter cough and cold Prescription painkillers or opiates Sedatives Steroids Stimulants
Over the Counter
DXM (cough suppressant found in cough and cold medications)
When used as recommended it is safe
Teens use sometimes as much as 30 times the recommended dose which produces hallucinations and the sensation of having out of body experiences
Examples: Pertussin, Robitussin, Sudafed, Triaminic
Prescription Painkillers (opiates) Medically used to relieve pain
Most commonly abused: OxyContin, Vicodin, Percocet, Percodan
Opium and heroin are illegal forms of opiates
Work by changing how the brain perceives pain
Slow down the body processes: Breathing, heart rate, digestion
Produce a sense of well-being and calm drowsiness
Extremely addicting
Sedatives and GHB Also known as “downers”
Slow normal brain function
Medically used to treat anxiety, stress and panic disorders
Also used as sleeping pills
Most common: Xanax, Valium
Induce drowsiness and intense relaxation
Very addicting
Steroids (Anabolic-Androgenic)
Man Made substances related to male sex hormone
Used medically to treat: delayed puberty, impotence, aids
Illegally used to improve physical performance and body image
Pictures of Steroid Users
Stimulants
Also known as “uppers”
Prescription stimulants used to treat depression, obesity, ADHD
Commonly abused prescription stimulants: dexedrine, ritalin and adderall
Marijuana
PotHerbGrass
WeedMary JaneChronic
What is Marijuana?
Green, brown, or gray mixture of dried, shredded leaves, stems, seeds, and flowers of the hemp plant
Mind Altering: It changes how the brain works Contain THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol),
the main active chemical Also contain over 400 other chemicals
Facts about Marijuana
Usually smoked as a cigarette (joint) or in a pipe or bong
THC is absorbed by fatty tissue. Can be detected in the body for weeks
Contrary to popular belief, most teens do not use marijuana. (1 in 6 tenth graders)
Most start using because of peer pressure Some use because they think they can escape
problems at school, home or with friends Most teenagers do not use
What happens if you smoke marijuana?
The way the drug affects each person depends on many factors: User’s previous experience with the drug How strong the marijuana is (how much THC) What the user expects to happen How the drug is taken Whether the user is drinking alcohol or using other drugs Some may feel little effect, while others feel relaxed or
high Makes users feel thirsty and very hungry “the munchies”
Short term effects
Problems with memory and learning Distorted perception (sights, sounds, time,
touch) Trouble with thinking and problem solving Loss of motor coordination Increased heart rate
Long Term effects
Cancer: many of the chemicals found in marijuana are known carcinogens
Lungs and Airways: often develop same type of breathing problems as cigarette smokers.
Immune system: THC can damage cells and tissues in the body that help protect against disease
Gateway Drug
Very few young people use other illegal drugs without first using marijuana
Puts people in contact with other users and dealers
Marijuana may cause changes in the brain that make a person more at risk for becoming addicted to other drugs
How can you tell is someone has been using marijuana?
Dizzy and trouble walking
Silly and giggly for no reason
Very red, bloodshot eyes
Have a hard time remembering things that just happened
Is marijuana used as a medicine
Since 1970 marijuana has been listed as a Schedule 1 controlled substance
Drug in its smoked form has no commonly accepted medical use
THC is manufactured into a pill available by prescription to treat nausea and vomiting with certain cancer treatments and also to help AIDS victims eat more
Other facts
Heavy or daily use affects the parts of the brain that control memory, attention and learning
Long term use can lead to addiction In 2001, over 255,000 people entered drug
rehab centers stating that marijuana was their drug of choice
Counseling, Support groups
Inhalants
In its broadest sense, it is any substance that a person can inhale.
More specifically, inhalants are substances that can cause a person to become “high”
Examples: gasoline, paint thinner, felt-tip markers, lighter fluid, whipping cream, hair spray
Effects of Short-Term Inhalant Abuse
Nosebleeds Rapid Heart Beat Visual Hallucinations Death Nausea Headache Severe Mood Swings Ringing in the Ears
Effects of Long-Term Inhalant Abuse
Chronic Headaches Brain Damage Muscle Weakness Loss or decrease in the sense of smell Liver Damage Bone Marrow Damage Violent Behavior Death
Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome
Instant death from abusing inhalants Death results from Heart Failure or Heart
Arrest There is no way to predict who will die Inhalants can kill the first time someone uses
Fetal Solvent Syndrome
Inhalants have a negative effect on a developing fetus
“Toluene” is chemical thought to be responsible for defects
Birth Defects include: Small head Deep-set eyes Disfigured nose and ears Stubby fingertips Developmental delay Mental impairment
Signs of Inhalant Use Problems in school (poor grades, poor attendance, and indifference) Paint or stains on body Spots or sores around the mouth Red or runny eyes Red or runny nose Odor of chemicals on the breath Drunken, dizzy, or dazed appearance Nausea or vomiting Loss of appetite Anxiety, excitability Short-term memory loss Slurred speech Staggering Hearing loss
Cocaine
Also known as: Coke, Blow, Snow, Crank, “C”, Toot, White Girl, Cadillac and Nose Candy
Made from the leaf of the coca bush Grown mainly in south America Coca leaves are cut and soaked in kerosene,
paint thinner or other solvents to make a thick paste. This turns into the white powder known as cocaine
Crack- The Cheap Killer
Form of cocaine that is sold as small, white or cream-colored chunks.
Looks like rock salt Inexpensive so easy for kids to buy Effect is felt almost immediately and is much
more powerful than that which is snorted Most powerful form of cocaine
How is Cocaine Used?
Powder: Inhaled through the nose. Called “snorting” Can also be put on the mucous membranes of the
mouth, anus, or vagina Takes effect within 1-3 minutes Reaches peak effect in 15-20 minutes Subsides in 1 hour
How is Cocaine Used?
Injection: Stronger and Faster reaction Acts in 30-120 seconds Reaches full effect in 5-10 minutes Puts user at risk for diseases like AIDS, hepatitis,
and meningitis Goes right to the heart and brain
How is Cocaine Used?
Freebase and Crack “Freebase” made by heating cocaine powder in the
presence of ether (gas). The resulting vapor or smoke is inhaled
Effects are felt in 5-10 seconds Effects disappear in 10-30 minutes Most powerful form of cocaine Most addictive form of the drug
How Cocaine works in the brain
Affects 3 types of chemicals in nerve cells Dopamine nerve cells seem to control the cocaine
“high” and are believed to be responsible for addiction
Norepinephrine nerve cells are responsible for rapid heartbeat, high blood pressure, pupil dilation, heavy sweating, and shaking
Serotonin nerve cells are involved in bringing sleep
How does it harm your body
Brain Damage: causes the blood pressure to rise quickly over a short period of time. Can lead to blood vessels bursting in the brain as well as seizures
Heart: Causes the heart to beat very quickly which can lead to chest pain or heart attack
Lungs: Can cause blood clots to form in the lungs. Too large of dose can cause person to stop breathing
Ecstasy
Classified as a stimulant Has hallucinogenic properties Comes in tablet form that is often branded Usually taken as a mood enhancer Street Names:
Adam E X
Short Term Effects of Ecstasy
Enhanced sense of self-confidence and energy Need to touch each other “Hug Drug” Involuntary Teeth Clenching Blurred vision, transfixed on sights and sounds Increased heart rate and blood pressure Dehydration
Long Term effects of Ecstasy Use
Memory Loss
Mood
Appetite
Addiction
Meth
Addictive Stimulant
Street Names Speed Crank Chalk Go Fast Zip Ice
How is Meth made?
Make shift labs in the basement of homes, trunks of cars, vacant buildings etc.
Over the counter medicines, drain cleaner, battery acid, antifreeze etc.
Cost on the street $25 per ¼ gram $100 per gram $1700 per ounce
Effects of Meth
Euphoria, Paranoia Decreased appetite increased physical activity Jerky or flailing movements Insomnia Tremors Aggression Hyperthermia
Pictures of Meth