Transcript Drug Abuse

Drug Abuse
Objectives
Legal vs. Illegal
 Reasons for Starting
 Dependence
 Short and Long term effects
 Types of drugs and signs of abuse
 Drug withdrawal and programs
 Legal Consequences
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Definitions
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Drugs-a chemical that changes the body that can be
swallowed, inhaled, injected or applied to the skin
Drug abuse-use of a drug for other than medical reason,
for mental escape.
Synthetic Drug-made in a lab
FDA-government agency that regulates the sale of drugs
Legal drugs- useful enough to be available for sale,
designed to treat medical problems
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Over the counter
Prescription
Overdose- too much of a drug
Illegal drug harmful drugs not for sale, grown or created
from chemicals
Why Start?
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If you ask 10 different people you will get
10 different answers…but the top answers
are
 Peer
Pressure
 To forget problems
 Seek a thrill
 Family problems
 poverty
Effects of Drugs
Chief Effect-the physical or mental change
 Side Effect- bad reaction
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 Habit
forming
 Birth defect
 Effect can vary from person to person
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Dependence- “addiction” psychological or
physical. Must have to function
Stages of Drug Abuse
1.
2.
3.
4.
Experimental-curious about effect (expects to
try 1 or 2 times, then quit)
Occasional use- social events. Peer approval
or disapproval
Regular Use-used to feel the effect,
psychological dependence. Drug interferes with
normal activity.
Addiction-Must have drugs. Discomfort with
withdrawal. Will steal money to support habit
Withdrawal Symptoms
Nervousness
 Irritability
 Sudden mood changes
 Nausea
 Vomiting
 Sweating
 Hallucinate
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Types of Drugs
I. Stimulants- speed-up body processes,
increase heart rate, b.p., rate of
breathing
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Amphetamines-strong stimulant, used for
sleep disorders, eating habits, hyperactivity
A.Speed-pills, powder, shots
B. Uppers
Cocaine is an upper
Stimulants
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Effects
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Euphoria-feeling of Great Happiness
Short Lived
Crash
Causes
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Psychological Dependence
Depression
Mental illness
Nervous Aggression
Seizures
Coma
Death
Depressants
Slows down body processes
 Low Blood Pressure, body temp., heart
rate
 Used to calm people down.
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Types of Depressants
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Barbiturates-very strong, helps people
relax
 “Downers”
 Effects
vary…stagger, slur speech, blur vision,
cannot sleep without, psychological and
physical dependence
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Tranquilizers-slows down nerve activity,
relaxes muscle tension, causes drowsiness
Hallucinogens
See hear feel things that do not exist.
 LSD- “acid”
 PCP- animal anesthetic “Angel Dust”
 Peyote-cactus that grows in S. West and
Mexico effects are like Acid
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Marijuana
Comes from Indian Hemp Plant
 Is a stimulant, depressant, hallucinogen
 Effects
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Can cause lung damage
Light headed and giddy
Friendly and peaceful
Silent and withdrawn
Blood shot eyes
Dry mouth
Hunger
Memory and learning is effected
Reduced sperm production
Hashish
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Purified Marijuana-stronger and can be
smoked, chewed or drunk
Narcotics
Come from opium poppy
 Causes sleepiness
 Both psychological and physically addicting
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Codeine-weak pain killer
OpiumMorphine-very strong pain killer
Herion-made from morphine, 2-3 times stronger
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Can be inhaled, smoked or injected
Addiction to heroin
After 2 weeks of Daily use
 Take to avoid withdrawal symptoms
 12-16 hours after use
 Sweating, shakes, chills, nausea, diarrhea,
cramps.
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Inhalants
Over the counter-legal
 Household products
 Can be very dangerous and psychological
Addicting
 Exp.
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Nail polish, glue, paint thinner, dry cleaning fluids,
gasoline, glues, rubber cement spray paint, lighter
fluid
Effects-15 min to hour
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Dizziness, loss of muscle control, slurred speech,
blurred vision, depression seizures, death
Steroids
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Used for physical effects
Many different kinds, but they are a generic form of
male sex hormone testosterone
Long term effects still under study
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added risk of contracting or transmitting HIV/AIDS or hepatitis,
which causes serious damage to the liver.
Short term effects include
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For men - shrinking of the testicles, reduced sperm count,
infertility, baldness, development of breasts, increased risk for
prostate cancer.
For women - growth of facial hair, male-pattern baldness,
changes in or cessation of the menstrual cycle, enlargement of
the clitoris, deepened voice.
Living Drug Free
Contrary to popular belief…most
Americans are against illegal drugs.
 58 percent of high school students have
never tried marijuana and more than 90
percent have never tried cocaine.
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Commitment to be Drug Free
Make a firm and deliberate decision
 The only way to avoid pitfalls is to be fully
committed to refusing them before they
become an issue
 Refusal skills- learn to say no!
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Getting Help
Outpatient Drug Free Treatment-programs
usually do not include medications and often
consist of individual or group counseling
 Short Term- include residential, medication, and
outpatient treatment
 Maintenance Therapy-for heroin addicts this
treatment usually includes medication
 Therapeutic Communities-These are residences
for people with a long history of drug abuse.
Includes highly structured programs that usually
last from 6-12 months
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Community Efforts
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Drug free school zones-areas w/in 1000 ft
of schools and drug trafficking is punished
more severely
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Drug watches- organized community
efforts by neighborhood residents to patrol
, monitor, report, and otherwise try to stop
drug deals and abuse.