Slide 1 of 32 If drugs are not used as directed, serious health problems can result. Facts About...

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If drugs are not used as directed, serious health problems can result.

Facts About Drug Use

Medicines are legal drugs that help the body fight injury, illness, or disease.

Medicines can be classified into two groups: 1) over-the-counter drugs 2) prescription drugs.

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A medicine that is sold legally in pharmacies and other stores without a doctor’s prescription

Over-the-Counter Drugs

Any over-the-counter drug can cause harm if the instructions on the label are not followed.

Examples?

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A drug that can be obtained only with a written order from a doctor and can be purchased only at a pharmacy

Prescription Drugs

Require more government control than over-the-counter drugs because of their potential for harm.

Examples?

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An illegal drug is a chemical substance that people of any age may not lawfully manufacture, possess, buy, or sell.

Illegal Drugs

Illegal drugs are also called street drugs.

Examples?

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When a drug is intentionally used improperly or unsafely, it is known as drug abuse.

Drug Abuse

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A mood-altering drug, also called a psychoactive drug (sy koh AK tiv), is a chemical that affects brain activity.

Drug Abuse and the Brain

Most abused drugs are psychoactive.

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Many psychoactive drugs trigger activity along a pathway of cells in the brain called the “reward pathway.”

The “Reward Pathway”

Brain cells along the activated reward pathway release a chemical called dopamine (DOH puh meen).

The extra dopamine released during drug use can cause the user to ignore the harmful effects of the drug and want to continue using it.

Flooding the reward pathway with dopamine may lead to intense cravings for the drug.

After a time, drug abuse can dull the brain’s reactions to natural levels of dopamine.

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Area of the brain’s“reward pathway”

How Drugs Affect the Brain

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Abuse of psychoactive drugs may result in addiction.

Addiction

Addiction is the compulsive use of a drug, despite any cost to health, family, or social standing.

Addiction is a disease that changes the structure and chemistry of the brain.

https://youtu.be/7VUlKP4LDyQ

Brain Reward: Understanding How the Brain Responds to Natural Rewards and Drugs of Abuse

https://youtu.be/7VUlKP4LDyQ

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If a person who is dependent on a psychoactive drug stops taking the drug, that person will experience withdrawal symptoms.

Withdrawal

Withdrawal symptoms include

nausea or vomiting

headaches or dizziness

fever

digestion problems

paranoia or panic

tremors, seizures, or death

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Many illegal drugs are contaminated with chemicals that may themselves be harmful or cause dangerous drug interactions.

Impurities

Illegal drugs may vary widely from batch to batch in the concentration of psychoactive chemicals they contain.

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Hepatitis and HIV If drug users share needles to inject drugs, contaminated blood left in the needle can carry disease-causing viruses from user to user.

Other Health Risks

Risks to Fetus and Newborn Drug abuse by a pregnant woman places her baby at risk for a broad range of developmental problems.

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Drug abusers risk

Legal Risks and Other Costs

facing serious legal penalties

damaging their relationships with family and friends

causing significant costs to society

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Penalties for individuals who produce, possess, transport, or sell illegal drugs include long prison terms and heavy fines.

Legal Risks

A criminal record makes it difficult to get a job or to be admitted into schools and the military.

Many drug abusers commit other crimes to support their drug addiction.

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A drug abuser may

Effects on Family and Friends

have unpredictable mood swings

become violent

withdraw from relationships and responsibilities

The interests and activities that helped bind the person with family and friends may no longer exist.

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The United States government has spent billions of dollars in efforts to stop illegal drug manufacture and sales.

Costs to Society

Significant financial resources go toward drug abuse

prevention

education

treatment

rehabilitation programs

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Consider a few of the other costs of drug abuse

Costs to Society

the cost of incarcerating thousands of people for drug-related crimes

medical costs for drug-related illnesses and injuries, including many of the nation’s cases of HIV/AIDS

premature deaths from drug-related homicides and motor vehicle crashes

lost work productivity because of drug dependency

1) What is the difference between an over-the-counter drug and a prescription drug?

2) What is the neurotransmitter involved with the ‘Reward Pathway’ of the brain?

3) How do drugs change the way a person’s brain functions over time?

4) What are some possible symptoms of withdrawl?

5) What are two risks associated with drug use? (emotional, financial, social, legal)

Slide 1 of 32 If drugs are not used as directed, serious health problems can result. Facts About...

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