Transcript The Downward Spiral: Alcohol & Drug Abuse

Drug Abuse
Prepared by: Aatika Mujeeb
Know the Facts About drugs!
• Drug is a contributing factor in at least half
of all murders, suicides, and car accidents.
• Heavy drinking along with drunk driving
increases your chances of serious injury or
death.
• Heavy drinking is also linked with physical
fighting, destroyed property, school and job
problems, and trouble with law enforcement
authorities.
It won’t affect me…
• Drug abuse leads to:
– Loss of coordination
– Poor judgment
– Slowed reflexes
– Distorted vision
– Memory lapses
– Blackouts
– Lowered inhibitions
Effects of Drug Use…
Bleeding Pancreas of an Alcoholic,
he’s now dead!
How do you think these people turned out?
Signs of drug Abuse
• Problems remembering things you recently said
or did
• Getting drunk on a regular basis
• Lying about how much alcohol you are drinking
• Thinking that drug is necessary to have fun
• Having frequent hangovers
• Feeling run-down, depressed, or even suicidal
• Having "blackouts"--forgetting what you did while
drinking
• Having problems at work or getting in trouble
with the law
Who’s drinking?
• 84% of people ages 12 to 17 have chosen
not to drink in the past month.
• People who begin drinking
before age 15 are 4 times
more likely to develop
alcoholism than those
who begin at age 21.
Refuse drug:
• The majority of teens don't drink
alcohol. It's not as hard to refuse as
you might think. Try:
•
•
•
•
"No thanks,"
"I don't drink,"
"I'm not interested,” or
“It’s not for me.”
What are the Stats?
• In 1998, 35.8% of traffic deaths of 15to 20-year-olds were alcohol-related.
• "Binge" drinking means having 5 or
more drinks on one occasion. About
15% of teens are binge drinkers in any
given month.
• Approximately 100,000 deaths result
each year from the misuse of drugs.
Know the Facts!
• One drink can make you fail a breath test.
• In some states, people under the age of 21
who are found to have any amount of
alcohol in their systems can lose their
driver's license, be subject to a heavy fine
$$$, or have their car permanently taken
away!
• It is illegal to buy or possess alcohol if
you are under 21.
Know the Facts About Drugs
• Marijuana is the most widely used
illegal drug in the United States.
• Cocaine, heroin and
methamphetamines are illegal in all
states and highly dangerous.
• It is illegal to buy or sell ecstasy.
Marijuana
• Street names include pot, herb,
weed, boom, Mary Jane, and chronic
• Average age of first use is 14
• The amount of tar inhaled and the level
of carbon monoxide absorbed are 3-5
times greater than cigarette smokers.
Effects of Marijuana Use
• Physical Effects of use: Dry mouth,
nausea, headache, decreased
coordination, increased heart rate,
reduced muscle strength, increased
appetite and eating
• Mental Effects of use:
Anxiety, confusion,
anger, tiredness,
possible suicidal
thoughts
Cocaine & Heroin
• Both drugs can be snorted, smoked or
injected by needle into a vein.
• Prolonged cocaine snorting
can result in sores of the
inside of the nose and can
damage the cartilage enough
to cause it to collapse.
• Heroin is ranked second as the most
frequently mentioned drug in drug-related
deaths.
Cocaine & Heroin
• The IV drug user is at risk for
transmitting or acquiring HIV
infection/AIDS if needles or other injection
equipment are shared.
• Bad Effects: Infected veins, hepatitis liver
disease, pneumonia, heart infections,
paranoia, depression, miscarriage,
overdose and even death!
• Good News: According to a 1998 study,
less than 1% of teens are regular cocaine
users. In fact, 98% of teens have never
even tried cocaine.
Physical Effects of Drug Use
1990
1995
Same user of Methamphetamines 5 years later
Infection from drug use
Drug Abuse Treatment Can Work
• No single treatment is appropriate for all
individuals.
• Treatment needs to be readily available.
• Treatment must attend to multiple needs of the
individual, not just drug use.
• Multiple courses of treatment may be required
for success.
• Remaining in treatment for an adequate period
of time is critical for treatment effectiveness.
What’s Your Anti-Drug?
Some popular anti-drugs: music,
dancing, computers, basketball,
family, singing, friendship, life,
football, track, rock climbing,
volunteering.
THANK YOU