Transcript Drug Abuse - Mississippi School Nurse Association

Shane Garrard, LMSW, CCS, CADCII
Director of Alcohol and Drug Services
Region One Mental Health
Alcohol
 Alcohol is a depressant!
 Affects every organ and can damage a developing fetus.
FASD-different levels
 Intoxication can impair brain function and motor
skills.
Alcohol
 2009- 51.9% of Americans age 12 and older had used
alcohol in the 30 days prior to being surveyed.
 23.7% of that percent had binged (5 plus drinks within
two hours).
 6.8% drank heavily
NIDA
Alcohol
 A standard drink equals 0.6 ounces pure ethanol, 12
ounces of beer, 8 ounces of malt liquor, 5 ounces of
wine or 1.5 ounces of 80 proof.
 One of the few substances that are dangerous to detox
from!
Behaviors Associated with Alcohol
 Slurred speech
 Slower reaction time
 Inhibitions lowered
 Decisions are affected
 Others?
 Think about a growing brain!
Adolescent Brain
•
Adolescence is a period of profound brain maturation.
•
We thought brain development was complete by
adolescence
•
We now know… maturation is not complete until about
age 25!
Marijuana
 Street names include: Pot, Ganga, Weed, Grass, and
420
Marijuana
Marijuana Facts
 Most commonly used illegal drug in the U.S.
 Made up of the Cannabis sativa hemp plant.
 Short term effects of marijuana use include euphoria,
distorted perceptions, memory impairment, and
difficulty thinking and solving problems.
NIDA
Use
 The most common way to use marijuana is to smoke
the substance. Can be smoked in hand made cigarettes
(joints), in pipes or water pipes (bongs) or in blunts.
 Can be ingested but is slower reacting. Usually mixed
in foods or brewed as tea.
Illicit Drug Use
Marijuana
 2009-28.5 million Americans age 12 and older had
abused marijuana at least one in the year prior to
survey.
 2010 Monitoring the Future Study: 13.7% of 8th graders,
27.5% of 10th graders, and 34.8% of 12th graders had
abused marijuana at least once in year prior.
NIDA
Myths and Facts
 Myth 1-Safe substance that grows naturally. FactIndividuals who smoke regularly potentially set
themselves up for life-altering events.
 Myth 2-There are no lasting effects to smoking.
Fact-Smoking alters cognitive abilities and social
development. Usually not seen till later in life.
 Myth 3-Non-addictive. Fact- 9% of all users
become addicted and those individuals who start
young closer to 17%. One in Six! A quarter to half
of daily users are addicted.
NIDA
Effects on Life
 Makes exiting problems worse or creates new life
problems.
 Lower life satisfaction.
 Poorer mental and physical health.
 Relationship problems.
 Less academic and career success compared to their
peers (from similar backgrounds)
Should Marijuana be Legalized
 Not enough evidence in trials
 Must be well defined and measurable ingredients
 Is used for pain and nausea
NIDA
Spice
Synthetic Marijuana
 Street names include: K2, fake weed, Yucatan Fire,
Skunk, Moon Rocks, and many others.
 Labeled “not for human consumption”
Spice Facts
 Claim to be natural but contain synthetics (or
designer) cannabinoid compounds.
 Has been sold in head shops and gas stations.
 More popular with boys than girls.
 Hard to detect in standard drug tests
 Sold as incense but resembles potpurri
Effects of Spice
 Similar to marijuana but in some cases the effects
can be stronger.
 Some users report psychotic effects like extreme
anxiety, paranoia, and hallucinations.
 Since all have different compounds the results
could differ.
 Cases reported to poison control centers include
rapid heart rate, vomiting, agitation, confusion,
and hallucinations

NIDA
Opioids
Prescription Drug Abuse
Most Commonly Used
 Pain relievers- 5.1 million
 Tranquilizers- 2.2 million
 Stimulants- 1.1 million
 Sedatives-0.4 million
Facts
 1 in 12 high school seniors reported nonmedical use of
Vicodin; 1 in 20 reported oxycotin
 70% of these seniors claimed they were given by a
friend.
 Misconception-they are given by a Dr therefore they
are safe.
Opioids
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Can be taken orally, snorting or injecting.
High risk of overdose
Highly addicting-even when taken as prescribed
Heightened HIV risk with IV drug use
Risky decisions through drug-altered judgment and
decision-making
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NIDA
Medical Model
 Methadone
 Suboxone
 Works best in unison with other approaches: CBT, MI,
and REBT
Crack
Crack
 Street name given to a processed form of Cocaine
 Form of Cocaine in a rock form which when heated
produces vapors that are smoked.
 Crack refers to the crackling sound given off when
heated.
 High only lasts for 5 to 10 minutes
Facts
 The effects of crack cocaine use only lasts a short
period therefore the individual using it must “chase
the high” for hours or days trying to obtain the same
effect as first use.
Cocaine
Administration and Effects
 Smoked as in Crack
 Snorting
 Injecting
 Intensity in use depends on the route of
administration.
 Causes increased energy, reduced fatigue and mental
alertness
Affects in the Brain
 Increases levels of dopamine
 Pleasure and movement in the reward center.
 Big release but no recycling of the chemical
 Long term effects after repeated use
Health Effects
 Constricts blood vessels, dilates pupils, and increases
body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure.
 Loss of smell, nosebleeds, problems swallowing
 Paranoia
 Adverse reactions and increased risk associated with
using in unison with other substances
Meth
Street Names
 Speed
 Meth
 Chalk
 Ice
 Crystal
 Glass
 High speed chicken feed
Effects
 Increased wakefulness and physical activity (working
mans drug)
 Produces rapid heart rate, irregular heartbeat and
increased blood pressure and body temperature
 Long term effects include mood disturbances, violent
behavior, anxiety, confusion, insomnia and severe
dental problems
Methamphetamine
 Increases the release and blocks the reuptake of
dopamine
 Changes how the brain functions
 Structural problems with emotion and memory are
reported from chronic users
Psychosis?
 Abusers display similar symptoms as an individual
with psychosis such as paranoia, visual and auditory
hallucinations, and delusions (insects under skin)
Bath Salts
Bath Salts
 Emerging family of drugs containing one or more
synthetic chemicals
 Amphetamine-like stimulant
 Labeled not for human consumption
 Growing public health and safety risk
Names for Bath Salts
 Ivory Wave
 Bloom
 Cloud Nine
 Lunar Wave
 Vanilla Sky
 White Lightning
 Scar face
 Most recently sold as jewelry cleaner or phone
screen cleaner
Effects
 Produces euphoria and increased sex drive
 Some users experience paranoia, agitation,
hallucinatory delirium
 Some display psychotic and violent behavior and
numerous deaths have been reported
 Similar to amphetamines and MDMA
 10 times more potent than cocaine
GHB
Date Rape Drug
 Central nervous system depressant
 Used in treatment of narcolepsy
 Effect GABA neurotransmitter
 Odorless, colorless, and tasteless forms that are
combined with alcohol or other beverages
 Sedates and incapacitates unsuspecting victims
GHB
 Acts on 2 sites in the brain: GABA receptors and
specific GHB binding site
 High doses may result in sleep, coma, or death
 Withdrawal effects include insomnia, anxiety, tremors
and sweating
Rohypnol
Rohypnol
 A benzodiazepine chemically similar to valium or
xanax.
 Not approved for this county
 Individuals using this substance often report blackouts
 Can produce tolerance and physical dependence
 Lethal when mixed with other substances
 Medical detox is necessary
Anabolic Steroids
Steroids
 Used legally to treat conditions resulting from
steroid hormone deficiency
 Can be taken orally or injected into the muscles or
some may be applied to skin
 Do not have the same acute effects on brain as
other drugs-do not have the rewarding high
 Does affect pathways and therefore may have
significant impact on mood and behavior.
Detox
 Mood swings, fatigue, rest-lessness, loss of appetite,
insomnia, reduced sex drive, and roid craving.
 Most dangerous is the depression which is persistent
and can lead to suicide attempts
 Be careful of Roid Rage!