Transcript Legal and Illegal (426 – 433)

Legal and Illegal (426 – 433)
Drug
• Drug: Chemical substance that causes
changes in the body.
– Prescription drug
– Over-the-Counter
– Illicit Drug
Drugs
• Over-the-counter Drug: Medicine sold legally
in pharmacies and other stores without a
doctor’s prescription.
– Pain relievers (aspirin)
– Cold and cough remedies
– Sleep aids
Illegal Drug
• Chemical substance that people of any age
may not lawfully manufacture, possess, buy or
sell.
– Depressants
– Stimulants
– Hallucinogens
Types of Drug Use
• Drug Misuse: Improper use of medicines; either
prescription or over-the-counter.
– Taking more of the prescribed amount of a drug
– Taking drugs with the wrong foods or at wrong time
• Drug Abuse: When a drug is intentionally used
improperly or unsafely.
– Abusing prescription pain killers
– Any use of illegal drugs
– Intentionally use of drugs for nonmedical purposes.
Drug Effects on the Brain
• Psychoactive Drug: Is a chemical that affects
brain activity.
• Many psychoactive drugs trigger activity along a
“reward pathway”
– Under normal conditions dopamine travels among
brain cells causing pleasurable sensations
– On drugs, cells release extra dopamine causing a
stronger signal
– After repeated drug use, brain cells lose receptors for
dopamine. Pleasure signal weakens, causing need for
more of drung
Dangers of Drug Misuse and Abuse
• Side effects: Unwanted physical or mental
effect caused by the drug.
– Nausea, dizziness, drowsiness
• Tolerance – Dependence: Repeated use
develops tolerance which will lead to wanted
more for same effect. That leads to
dependence on a drug.
Withdrawal
• Withdrawal Symptoms: Body’s reaction to
someone who stops taking a drug who is
dependant on.
– Nausea or vomiting
– Headaches or dizziness
– Fever
– Digestion problems
– Paranoia or panic
– Tremors, seizures or death
Legal Risks and Other Costs
• Legal penalties
• Damaged relationships with family & friends
• Criminal record, prison time, heavy fines
Drug Interactions
• Antagonism: A drug antagonism occurs when
each drug’s effect is canceled out or reduced by
the other.
– EXAMPLE: Nicotine that raises blood pressure and
someone taking blood pressure medicine.
• Synergism: A drug synergism occurs when drugs
interact to produce effects greater than those
that each drug would produce alone.
– EXAMPLE: Combination of certain sleep aids with
alcohol
Other Health Risks
• Impurities: Illegal drugs at are “cut” or
“laced” with other chemicals such as rat
poison, cleaning powders.
• Hepatitis & HIV
• Risks to fetus and newborn