Drug Use Health II October 2014 Health II October 2014

What is a Drug? A chemical that causes a change in a person’s body or behavior. It directly effects the Central Nervous System –CNS: a system that coordinates your thoughts, actions, body functions, and consists of your brain, spinal cord, and nerves. A chemical that causes a change in a person’s body or behavior. It directly effects the Central Nervous System –CNS: a system that coordinates your thoughts, actions, body functions, and consists of your brain, spinal cord, and nerves.

What is Drug Use? When drugs are taken as directed to treat illnesses. Examples: when physicians write prescriptions and consumers take as directed consumers buy non-prescription drugs and take according to instructions When drugs are taken as directed to treat illnesses. Examples: when physicians write prescriptions and consumers take as directed consumers buy non-prescription drugs and take according to instructions

What is Drug Misuse? The improper use of drugs, when taken not as directed. –Examples: Taking more than the prescribed amount. Taking with the wrong foods or at the wrong time of day. Not taking them for the correct period of time. The improper use of drugs, when taken not as directed. –Examples: Taking more than the prescribed amount. Taking with the wrong foods or at the wrong time of day. Not taking them for the correct period of time.

What is Drug Abuse? The intentional misuse of any kind of drug for non-medical purposes Can lead to tolerance and dependence. The intentional misuse of any kind of drug for non-medical purposes Can lead to tolerance and dependence.

Drug Interactions Medicines have different effects on or cause different reactions in different people. Reactions depend on how the drug mixes with the chemicals in his or her body. Most medicines cause side effects –(reactions to the medicine other than the one intended) Medicines have different effects on or cause different reactions in different people. Reactions depend on how the drug mixes with the chemicals in his or her body. Most medicines cause side effects –(reactions to the medicine other than the one intended)

Additive interaction When medicines work together in a positive way.

Synergistic effect The interaction of 2 or more drugs that results in a greater effect than when the drugs are taken independently, which can lead to life threatening situations and shock.

Antagonistic interaction When the effect of a drug (medicine) is canceled or reduced when taken with another medicine or drug.

Levels of Addiction: Drug Use: –Drug use activates the brain reward system. Drug Use: –Drug use activates the brain reward system.

Levels of Addiction: Tolerance: –The drug user needs more of the drug to produce the same effect. Tolerance: –The drug user needs more of the drug to produce the same effect.

Levels of Addiction: Dependence: –The drug user experiences uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms if he or she tries to stop using the drug. Dependence: –The drug user experiences uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms if he or she tries to stop using the drug.

Levels of Addiction: Addiction: –The drug user has lost control of his or her drug-taking habit. Addiction: –The drug user has lost control of his or her drug-taking habit.

Withdrawal The process that occurs when a person stops using a medicine or other drug to which he or she has a physiological dependence, and a craving occurs.

Psychoactive Drugs This describes drugs or medicine that affects the brain and changes how a person perceives, thinks, or feels.

Medicines vs. Drugs Always remember “All medicines are drugs….but, not all drugs are medicine”.. What does that mean? Ex- Taking a Rx drug for pain that is prescribed to you properly is considered a medicine. Taking that same Rx drug for pain plus more than is prescribed because it feels good is abusing the drug. This is no longer considered a medicine for you it is now drug abuse. Always remember “All medicines are drugs….but, not all drugs are medicine”.. What does that mean? Ex- Taking a Rx drug for pain that is prescribed to you properly is considered a medicine. Taking that same Rx drug for pain plus more than is prescribed because it feels good is abusing the drug. This is no longer considered a medicine for you it is now drug abuse.

Drugs of Abuse There are four main categories of pyschoactive drugs These categories include –Stimulants –Depressants –Hallucinogens –Narcotics There are four main categories of pyschoactive drugs These categories include –Stimulants –Depressants –Hallucinogens –Narcotics

Stimulants These are drugs that temporarily speed up a person’s CNS and increase energy and alertness Some examples include –Caffeine –Nicotine –Ritalin –Amphetamines –Cocaine/Crack These are drugs that temporarily speed up a person’s CNS and increase energy and alertness Some examples include –Caffeine –Nicotine –Ritalin –Amphetamines –Cocaine/Crack

Stimulants Caffeine and nicotine are legal and relatively mild stimulants Ritalin is a prescribed drug used as a medicine to treat ADHD behavior Cocaine and methamphetamines are potent illegal drugs and are addictive and dangerous Caffeine and nicotine are legal and relatively mild stimulants Ritalin is a prescribed drug used as a medicine to treat ADHD behavior Cocaine and methamphetamines are potent illegal drugs and are addictive and dangerous

Effects include Psychological (mind) Increased alertness Anxiety Euphoria Panic Confusion Nervousness Psychological (mind) Increased alertness Anxiety Euphoria Panic Confusion Nervousness

Effects Cont. Physical (body) –Loss of appetite –Hyperactivity –Sleeplessness –Increased heart rate –Increased breathing rate –Heart failure –Liver damage –Death Physical (body) –Loss of appetite –Hyperactivity –Sleeplessness –Increased heart rate –Increased breathing rate –Heart failure –Liver damage –Death

Depressants These are drugs that cause relaxation and sleepiness. Depressants slow down a persons CNS, including breathing and reducing brain activity. Most depressants are prescribed to treat disorders such as anxiety, sleep disorders, and seizures These are drugs that cause relaxation and sleepiness. Depressants slow down a persons CNS, including breathing and reducing brain activity. Most depressants are prescribed to treat disorders such as anxiety, sleep disorders, and seizures

Depressants Examples of depressants include –Tranquilizers (treats mild anxiety) –Hypnotics (used to treat sleep disorders and seizures) Rohypnol (roofies) –Alcohol (drug in wine, beer, and liquor that causes intoxication) –DXM (main ingredient in cough medicine) Examples of depressants include –Tranquilizers (treats mild anxiety) –Hypnotics (used to treat sleep disorders and seizures) Rohypnol (roofies) –Alcohol (drug in wine, beer, and liquor that causes intoxication) –DXM (main ingredient in cough medicine)

Effects Psychological (mind) –Euphoria –Reduced anxiety –Confusion –Loss of memory –Hallucinations –Loss of consciousness Psychological (mind) –Euphoria –Reduced anxiety –Confusion –Loss of memory –Hallucinations –Loss of consciousness

Effects cont Physical (body) –Loss of inhibitions –Drowsiness –Loss of coordination –Slurred speech –Slowed heart rate –Dangerously slow breathing –Coma –Death Physical (body) –Loss of inhibitions –Drowsiness –Loss of coordination –Slurred speech –Slowed heart rate –Dangerously slow breathing –Coma –Death

Narcotics A group of highly addictive drugs that are used to relieve pain or as anesthetics and sedatives. Can be both highly valuable medicines and a deadly drug of abuse. Natural narcotics are derived from the opium poppy plant Tolerance / addiction develops rapidly A group of highly addictive drugs that are used to relieve pain or as anesthetics and sedatives. Can be both highly valuable medicines and a deadly drug of abuse. Natural narcotics are derived from the opium poppy plant Tolerance / addiction develops rapidly

Opiates Opiates come from the poppy plant. When used as medicine, opiates reduce pain, relieve diarrhea, suppress coughing, and induce relaxation. –Examples include Codeine(Legal) Oxycodone (Legal) Morphine (Legal) Percocet (Legal) Oxycontin(Legal) Vicadin (Legal) Heroin(Illegal) Opium(Illegal) Opiates come from the poppy plant. When used as medicine, opiates reduce pain, relieve diarrhea, suppress coughing, and induce relaxation. –Examples include Codeine(Legal) Oxycodone (Legal) Morphine (Legal) Percocet (Legal) Oxycontin(Legal) Vicadin (Legal) Heroin(Illegal) Opium(Illegal)

Effects Psychological (mind) –Euphoria –Feelings of well-being –Confusion –Coma –Loss of consciousness Psychological (mind) –Euphoria –Feelings of well-being –Confusion –Coma –Loss of consciousness

Effects cont Physical (body) –Vomiting –Drowsiness –Constipation –Dangerously slowed breathing –Pain relief –Relaxation –Death –Coma Physical (body) –Vomiting –Drowsiness –Constipation –Dangerously slowed breathing –Pain relief –Relaxation –Death –Coma

Hallucinogens Hallucinogens are drugs that distort perception and cause the user to experience things that are not real. While a person is on hallucinogens, his or her emotional experiences seem deeper and more important. Hallucinogens are drugs that distort perception and cause the user to experience things that are not real. While a person is on hallucinogens, his or her emotional experiences seem deeper and more important.

Hallucinogens Examples include LSD (acid) and Psilocybin (hallucinogenic mushrooms),

Effects Psychological (mind) –Sensory illusions –Enhanced emotions –Feelings of being outside of the body –Panic –Reoccurring distortions of perceptions (flashbacks) –Chronic mental disorders Psychological (mind) –Sensory illusions –Enhanced emotions –Feelings of being outside of the body –Panic –Reoccurring distortions of perceptions (flashbacks) –Chronic mental disorders

Effects Physical (body) –Dizziness –Weakness –Self injury Physical (body) –Dizziness –Weakness –Self injury