Transcript Fact - Kintera

Stephen A. Landers, M.D.
2009 Circle Ten University of Scouting
Second Class Scout Requirement
8a States:
“Participate in a school, community, or troop program
on the dangers of using drugs, alcohol, and tobacco,
and other practices that could be harmful to your
health. Discuss your participation in the program with
your family.”
Understanding Drug Abuse and Addiction
 Addiction is a chronic, often relapsing brain disease.
 Abuse of drugs leads to changes in the structure and
function of the brain.
 The initial decision to take drugs is voluntary.
 Over time, changes in the can affect the person’s self
control and ability to make sound decision, and at the
same time send intense impulses to take drugs.
What happens to your brain when
you take drugs?
Drugs are chemicals that tap into the brain’s
communication system and disrupt the way
nerve cells normally send, receive, and process
information.
1. Imitate the brain’s natural chemical messengers.
(examples: marijuana and heroin)
2. Over stimulate the “reward circuit” of the brain.
(examples: cocaine and methamphetamine)
Mechanism of Action for Drugs
 Nearly all drugs, directly or indirectly, target the brain’s
reward system by flooding the circuit with dopamine.
 Dopamine is a neurotransmitter present in the
regions of the brain that control movement, emotion,
motivation, and feelings of pleasure.
 As the person continues to abuse drugs, the brain
adapts to the overwhelming surges in dopamine by
producing less dopamine or by reducing the number
of dopamine receptors in the reward circuit.
Mechanism of Action for Drugs
 As dopamine’s impact on the reward circuit is
lessened, it compels those addicted to drugs to keep
abusing drugs in order to attempt to bring their
dopamine function back to normal.
 Tolerance is the effect that an individual requires
larger amount of the drug than they first did to achieve
the dopamine high.
Long-term Abuse Changes
 Long-term abuse causes changes in the brain chemical
and circuits.
 Glutamate is a neurotransmitter which is altered by
long-term abuse.
 Altered concentrations of glutamate cause impaired
cognitive functions.
 Brain-imaging studies of drug-addicted individuals
show changes in areas of the brain that are critical to
judgment, decision-making, learning, memory, and
behavior control.
Why do some people become
addicted and others do not?
No single factor can predict whether or not a person will
become addicted to drugs.
Risks for addiction is influenced by a person’s:
1. Biology – genetic factors account for about half of their
addiction-vulnerability.
2. Environment – socioeconomic status, influence of friends
and family, peer pressure, physical and sexual abuse, stress,
and parental involvement influence the course of drug
abuse and addiction in a person’s life.
3. Development – adolescents’ brains are still developing in
the areas that govern decision-making, judgment, and selfcontrol. They are especially prone to risk-taking behaviors,
including trying drugs of abuse.
Prevention is the Key
 Drug addiction is a preventable disease.
 National Institute of Health-funded research has
shown that prevention programs that involve families,
schools, communities, and the media are effective in
reducing drug abuse.
 Although many events and cultural factors affect drug
abuse trends, when youths perceive drug abuse as
harmful, they reduce their drug taking.
 The initial decision to take drugs is voluntary.
Drugged Driving
 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
reports that more than 17,000 people were killed in
alcohol-related crashes in 2006.
 Studies have also found that drugs are used by 10 to 22
percent of the drivers involved in crashes.
 An estimated 7.3% of youth 16 years of age have driven
under the influence.
 A peak incidence of 31.8% of adults 22 years of age
have driven under the influence.
 Rates show a general decline with increasing age.
Cigarettes and Tobacco Products
 Center for Disease Control indicate that tobacco use
remains the leading preventable cause of death.
 440,000 premature deaths annually in the U.S. from
tobacco use.
 Over the past 4 decades, cigarette smoking has caused
an estimated 12 million deaths.
4.1 million deaths from cancer
5.5 million deaths from cardiovascular disease
2.1 million deaths from respiratory disease
94,000 infant deaths related to mothers smoking
Second Hand Smoke
 Environmental tobacco smoke is a complex mixture
containing many chemicals such as formaldehyde,
cyanide, carbon monoxide, ammonia, and
nicotine.
 Nonsmokers exposed to secondhand smoke at home
or work increase their risk of developing heart disease
by 25-30% and lung cancer by 20-30%.
 Children exposed to secondhand smoke are at
increased risk for sudden infant death syndrome,
acute respiratory and ear infections, and asthma.
Nicotine
 Nicotine is an addictive drug.
 Nicotine provides an almost immediate “kick” because
it causes a discharge of epinephrine from the adrenal
cortex. This stimulates the central nervous system and
endocrine glands causing a sudden release of glucose.
 Stimulation is then followed by depression and
fatigue, leading the user to seek more nicotine.
 Daily tobacco users accumulate nicotine in the body.
 Nicotine, like cocaine, heroin, and marijuana,
increases the level of dopamine which affects the
brain pathways that control reward and pleasure.
Performance - Enhancing Drugs
 Anabolic steroids have two main effects:
Anabolic effect promotes muscle building
Androgenic effects are responsible for male traits
 Side effects include:
baldness and acne
liver abnormalities & tumors
prominent breasts
increase in LDL cholesterol
shrunken testicles
aggressive behavior and rage
higher voices in males depression
infertility
drug dependence
Performance – Enhancing Drugs
 Androstenedione (andro) is a hormone produced by the
adrenal glands, testes, and ovaries.
 Andro is a precursor hormone that is normally converted
to testosterone and estrogen in both men and women.
 Recent studies have shown that supplemental andro can
actually decrease the level of testosterone and increase the
level of estrogen in males.
 Creatine is a compound produce by the body to help
release energy in the muscles (ATP)
 High doses of creatine may potentially damage the
kidneys, liver, and heart.
Alcohol Facts and Fiction
 Myth: White wine is a good choice for a person who
wants a light drink with less alcohol.
 Fact: A standard drink equivalent is:
12-ounce bottle or can of regular beer
5-ounce glass of wine
1 ½ -ounce of 80 proof distilled spirits
Alcohol Facts and Fiction
 Myth: Switching between beer, wine, and spirits will
lead to intoxication more quickly than sticking to one
type of alcoholic beverage.
 Fact: The level of alcohol content is what determines
sobriety or intoxication. A standard drink of beer,
wine, or spirits, contain equivalent amounts of alcohol.
Alcohol is alcohol.
A drink is a drink.
Alcohol Facts and Fiction
 Myth: Alcohol is an increasing problem among young
people.
 Fact: Heavy alcohol use among people in the U.S. 17
years of age or younger actually dropped by an
amazing two-thirds (65.9%) between 1985 and 1997
according to federal government research. Deaths
associated with young drinking drivers age 16 – 24
decreased almost half (47%) in a recent 15-year period.
Alcohol Facts and Fiction
 Myth: Bottles of tequila contain a worm.
 Fact: There is no worm in tequila. It’s mescal, a spirit
beverage distilled from a different plant. It’s not
actually a worm, but a butterfly caterpillar (Hipopta
agavis) called a gurano.
Alcohol Facts and Fiction
 Myth: A “beer belly” is caused by drinking beer.
 Fact: A “beer belly” is caused by eating too much
food. No beer or other alcoholic beverage is necessary.