S1 Drugs Awareness

Aim: Establish what drugs we know about and the different

effects drugs can have.

A drug is……

…any substance which causes

a change in the way the body,

or part of the body, works.

Task

List as many types of drugs as you can. You could do this on a spider diagram.

Coffee

Tea

Chocolate

Cocacola

Paracetamol

Aspirin

Cough syrup

Throat sweets

Antibiotics

Cigarettes

Alcoholic drinks

All of these contain

drugs.

Is it always wrong to

use drugs?

When is it OK to use drugs?

Some drugs are harmless when consumed in moderation:

Coffee, tea, cola and chocolate all contain

CAFFEINE.

This is a mild stimulant which can make us

feel more awake, but, if we take in too much,

it can make us irritable and give us

headaches.

If a doctor prescribes a medicine when you

are ill.

Always take the doctor’s advice about how

much to take and how often to take it.

Overdosing (taking more than the

recommended dose) can make you ill.

Classification of Drugs

Aim: To know what drugs belong to which classification and understand why they are

separated.

Types of Class A drugs

Crack

Cocaine

Ecstasy (MDMA)

Heroin

Magic Mushroom

LSD

Names of Class B drugs

Speed

Cannabis

Amphetamine

Barbiturates

Types of Class C drugs

Tranquilisers

Some painkillers

Ketamine

Gamma hydroxybutyrate(GHB)

Types of Drugs

Depressants (downers) slow down the heart and brain functions. Because they slow you down, depressants affect coordination, concentration and judgment. This makes driving and operating machinery hazardous.

This includes alcohol, heroin, cannabis and tranquilisers.

Types of Drugs

Stimulants (uppers) increase heart rate, body temperature and blood pressure and can make the users feel more awake, alert or confident. Other physical effects include reduced appetite, dilated pupils, talkativeness, agitation and sleep disturbance.

This includes caffeine, amphetamines, nicotine and cocaine.

Types of Drugs

Hallucinogenic drugs distort the user's perceptions of reality. The effects of hallucinogens are not easy to predict and the person may behave in ways that appear irrational or bizarre.

This includes LSD, ecstasy, magic mushrooms and ketamine.

Rachel Miller’s Diary

Watch Monday and Wednesday episodes.

Key questions

- How was Rachel killed?

- How is cannabis used?

- What are the risks of cannabis?

- Why did she experiment with cannabis

Names

Ganja

Marijuana

Weed

Puff Smoke

Pot

Dope

Resin

Grass

The effects

•Some feel chilled out, relaxed and happy, while others feel sick. Others get the giggles and may become talkative. 

•Feel hungry, called 'getting the munchies'.

•May be more aware of their senses or get a feeling of slowing of time, which are due to its hallucinogenic effects.

The risks

•Can become anxious, panicky and suspicious. It affects your coordination, which is one of the reasons why drug driving is illegal. •Can cause lung disease, cancer and make asthma worse.

•Risky for anyone with a heart problem as it increases the heart rate and can blood pressure.

•Link between Cannabis and mental health issues e.g schizophrenia.

•Frequent use can cut a man's sperm count. If you’re pregnant, smoking cannabis may harm the baby. •Regular, heavy use makes it difficult to learn and concentrate.  Some feel tired all the time and can't get motivated.

MarijuanaFacts• Marijuana is the most

widely used illegal drug in Britain, made from the cannabis plant.

• It is a mild sedative and a mild halluginogen.

The law•Is illegal and a Class B drug.

•The maximum penalty for posession is a two year sentence and an unlimited fine.

•The maximum penalty for supply is 14 years in prison and an unlimited fine.The risks

•Can make you anxious, panicky and suspicious.

•Causes difficulties with learning and concentration

OpiatesFacts• Opiates are powerful drugs

and include opium, heroin, morphine, and codeine.

• Some people think that opiates are not addictive.

The law•Is illegal and a Class A drug.

•Possession could lead to a sentence of 7 years and an unlimited fine.

•Supplying (including giving it to a friend) can lead to life imprisonment and an unlimited fine.

The risks•Sharing needles means you risk HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis B or C.

•Deaths from overdoses or mixing with other drugs like alcohol are common.

HallucinogensFacts• Include LSD, magic

mushrooms and ecstasy.• They have powerful mind-

altering effects and cause people to see and hear things that are not there (hallucinate).

The law•Is illegal and a Class A drug.

•Possession can get you up to 7 years in jail.

•The maximum sentence for supplying halluginogens is life imprisonment and an unlimited fine. The risks

•“Trips” or hallucinations can sometimes have very frightening effects.

•Taking hallucinogens when in a bad mood has been known to make people harm themselves.

InhalantsFacts• Most inhalants are common

household products that give off mind-altering chemical fumes when sniffed.

• When inhaled solvents have a similar effect to alcohol

The law•It is illegal for shops to sell substances if they believe you may inhale them.

•Since October 1999, it has been illegal to sell cigarette lighter refills to under 18’s.

The risks•People can experience vomiting and blackouts.

•Long-term abuse can damage the brain, liver and kidneys.

•Solvent abuse killed 64 people in 2000. A quarter were under 18.

AmphetamineFacts• Are stimulants that people

take to keep them alert.• Usually taken by mouth in

a powder form but is sometimes prepared for injection making it even more dangerous.

The law•Illegal and a Class B drug. Prepared for injection becomes a Class A drug.

•Possession can mean 5 years imprisonment and supply could get you 14 years.

The risks•Puts a strain on your heart and can lead to anxiety, depression, irritability and aggression.

•It can make it difficult to relax and sleep properly meaning long term health effects.

NicotineFacts• Comes from the tobacco

plant.

• Nicoteine is is extremely powerful and is at least as strong as addictions to other drugs such as heroin and cocaine.

The law•Is a legal drug.

•Since 2007, it is illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18.

The risks•Long-term addiction could leave you with cancer, emphysema (related to your lungs) or heart disease.

•Other people breathing in your smoke could end up with breathing difficulties, asthma or even cancer.

Drugs Awareness

Aim: To discuss the differences between the possession and supply

of drugs and know the consequences of both

Class A

If I get caught dealing how long will I get in prison?

A) Life B) 14 years C) 2 years

How long will I get in prison for possessing a Class A drug?

A) Life B) 7 years C) 5 years

The maximum sentences for intent to supply drugs are:

up to life in prison or an unlimited fine (or both) for a Class A drug

The maximum sentences for possession of each class of drug are:

up to 7 years in prison or an unlimited fine (or both) for a Class A drug

Class B

If I get caught dealing how long will I get in prison?

A) Life B) 14 years C) 2 years

How long will I get in prison for possessing a Class B drug?

A) Life B) 7 years C) 5 years

up to 14 years in prison or an unlimited fine (or both) for a Class B drug

The maximum sentences for possession of each class of drug are:

up to 5 years in prison or an unlimited fine (or both) for a Class B drug

Class C

If I get caught dealing how long will I get in prison?

A) 5 years B) 14 years C) 2 years

How long will I get in prison for possessing a Class B drug?

A) 2 years B) 7 years C) 5 years

up to 5 years in prison or an unlimited fine (or both) for a Class C

drug

The maximum sentences for possession of each class of drug are:

up to 2 years in prison or an unlimited fine (or both) for a Class C drug

Drink and drugs

Mixing alcohol with other drugs is seriously dangerous. This is because drink serves to slow down the nervous system (controlling heart and breathing rate). Combined with other depressant drugs, it could see the body shut down altogether. Barbiturates should never be mixed with alcohol as this is often a deadly combination. Called Barbs or Downers.

Rachel Miller’s Diary

Watch all episodes if time allows

Consider issues connected to:- Peer pressure- Media messages- Risk taking- Self esteem- Effects and consequences of specific drugs

eg ecstasy, solvents, amphetamines

Alcohol – some facts

Aim: Examine facts about alcohol and its effects on society.

Alcohol is involved in 30% of all accidents

Over 1/3 of pedestrians killed on the roads had consumed alcohol

41% of all types of assault and GBH involved an offender who had been drinking.

1 in 4 facial injuries take place in violent situations. 61% of these involve alcohol.

8-14 million working days a

year in the UK are lost due to alcohol related problems.

A study of 16-24 year olds found that after drinking;

1/7 had unsafe sex

1/5 had sex they regretted

1/10 could not remember if they had had sex the night before

40% more likely to have casual sex

Aim: Know how to help friends

that have consumed too

much alcohol or drugs

Help!!!

Help in an emergency – drugs

Look out for danger signs in yourself or other people who have taken drugs like overheating, dizziness, sickness, sudden tiredness, headaches, cramps and aching arms and legs.

Take the following steps immediately: Phone 999 and ask for an ambulance Say where the patient is, what drugs they've taken and what their symptoms are you may be instructed to give mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, put the patient into the recovery position or do something else to save the person's life.

Make sure the person's airways aren't blocked, for example by vomit, and check they haven't swallowed their tongue

Collect evidence of anydrugs that might've been taken

Stay until the ambulance arrives

Help in an emergency – alcohol

If you notice a friend who has drunk alcohol and is behaving in a way that makes you uneasy about their safety or the safety of those around them, or who has become really ill from drinking alcohol take the following steps.

1)Phone 999 and ask for an ambulance or assistance from the police

2)Make sure the person's airways aren't blocked, for example by vomit, and check they haven't swallowed their tongue

3)Don't let the person fall asleep

4)Don't let the person leave, or walk away alone

The National Drugs Helpline - 0800 77 66 00.

Drinkline, the National Alcohol Helpline, is on 0800 917 8282. Both are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Talktofrank.com 0800776600

Alcoholics Anonymous 0845 769 7555