Chapter 17 Preventing Drug Abuse

Facts About Drug Use Different Kinds of Drugs Over-the-counter: medicine sold legally in pharmacies and other stores without a prescription. Prescription: a drug that can only be obtained with a written order from a doctor and purchased at a pharmacy. Illegal drug: a.k.a. street drugs – chemical substances that people of any age unlawfully manufacture, possess, buy, or sell. Drug Misuse: the improper use of medicine, either prescription or OTC. Example: mistakenly taking more than recommended or taking it at the wrong time of the day. Drug Abuse: intentionally using a drug improperly or unsafely. Example: taking prescribed medications or OTC medications to get “high,” or deliberately taking more than is recommended. Proper Use: using per doctor’s or label instructions. Facts About Drug Use

Your Brain On Drugs (pg. 433) Under normal conditions your brains dopamine gets released which gives us a feel good effect. This happens when you eat something you love, snuggle with a puppy, etc. When drugs are introduced the extra dopamine can cause that feeling to become stronger, causing the user to ignore the harmful effects. Flooding the brain with extra dopamine may lead to cravings for the drug when it is unavailable. After repeated use of the drugs, the brain loses it’s ability to naturally react under normal dopamine levels, causing the user to no longer feel pleasure from normal activities. Your Brain On Drugs

Dangers of Drug Misuse and Abuse Side effects: unwanted physical or mental effect caused by a drug. Examples include nausea, drowsiness, or dizziness. Dependence: when the body develops a chemical need for the drug Tolerance: as tolerance grows, the user needs larger amounts of the drug to achieve the original effect. (can lead to dependence) Withdrawal: the body’s reaction to not having a drug that it is dependent on. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, headaches, dizziness, fever, panic, paranoia, seizures, etc. Drug Interactions: user could experience a dangerous reaction – antagonism occurs when each drugs effect is canceled our or reduced by the other; synergism occurs when drugs interact to produce greater effects than those that each drug would produce alone. Example: mixing sleep medications with alcohol could lead to unconsciousness or death. Impurities: many illegal drugs are contaminated or laced with other chemicals or drugs that could cause an unknown effect each time the drug is used. Other Health Risks: overdose, death, mental disorders, disease risk, harm to unborn child. Dangers of Drug Misuse and Abuse

Factors Affecting Drug Abuse RISK FACTORS Family factors: poor relationships at home; no support, not close, alienation Social factors: drug abusing peer group, poor role models, or peer pressure Personal factors: low self-esteem, depression, death of someone close to them, negative feelings associated with stress PROTECTIVE FACTORS – having strong protective factors in your life will help you Family factors: parental awareness, clear family rules, strong and positive family bonds Social factors: supportive friends, having strong connections to school and/or other community institutions (clubs, athletics, etc.), associating with others that do not use or abuse drugs Personal factors: commitment to self and success, seek guidance and help from peers, role models, trusted adults, learn techniques to problem solve and manage stress. Factors Affecting Drug Abuse

Commonly Abused Drugs Depressants: a drug that lowers neurotransmission levels, which is to slow body functions by decreasing heart and breathing rates and lowering blood pressure. Examples: alcohol, valium, heroin, morphine, marijuana, inhalants, grey death, sizzurp, GHB, rohypnol (date rape drug) Commonly Abused Drugs

Examples: tobacco, speed, MDMA (meth), cocaine, crack, ecstacy Commonly Abused Drugs Stimulants: psychoactive drugs that speed up activities of the central nervous system. Increase heart rate, blood pressure, breathing rate, and alertness. Examples: tobacco, speed, MDMA (meth), cocaine, crack, ecstacy Commonly Abused Drugs

Commonly Abused Drugs Hallucinogens: a drug containing a psychoactive agent that distorts perception, thought, and mood. Examples: LSD (acid), PCP (phencyclidine – former anesthetic – aka – angel dust), psilocybin (shrooms), ecstacy (MDMA), ketamine Commonly Abused Drugs

Signs of Possible Drug Abuse Acknowledge the problem Behavioral Signs: major changes in behavior or personality; lying, cheating; attention-getting behavior; denial of any problems Physical Signs: poor coordination; changes in appearance; slurred speech Social Signs: friends suspected of abusing drugs; withdrawal from normal activities; poor school performance Treating Drug Abuse Acknowledge the problem Explore Treatment Options: detoxification, therapy, supervised clinics Commit to the process Commonly Abused Drugs

Staying Drug Free Practicing refusal skills and refusing drugs when you are faced with pressure to take them. Seeking help when you need it, find someone to talk to. Teachers, nurses, parents, health center, guidance counselor, call a hotline 1-877-659-2502. Getting involved in drug-free activities such as athletics, volunteering to help others, joining a youth group, etc. Staying Drug Free

Chapter 15 Alcohol

Depressant: a drug that slows brain and body reactions. Drug: a chemical substance that is taken to cause changes in a person’s body or behavior. Depressant: a drug that slows brain and body reactions. In slowing the body’s normal reactions, alcohol may cause confusion, decreased alertness, poor coordination, blurred vision, and drowsiness. Drug: a chemical substance that is taken to cause changes in a person’s body or behavior. Depressant: a drug that slows brain and body reactions. In slowing the body’s normal reactions, alcohol may cause confusion, decreased alertness, poor coordination, blurred vision, and drowsiness.

Alcohol Content Not all alcoholic beverages contain the same amount of alcohol. To calculate alcohol content from proof, divide by two. Example: 100 proof vodka = 50% alcohol. Alcohol Content

Major Factors that Influence Underage Drinking Family Peers Media How can the 3 factors influence underage drinking? Risks of Underage Drinking Being injured or killed in an accident such as a car accident; a bad decision, etc. Committing or being the victim of sexual assault or other violence. Long-term brain damage. Problems with alcohol later in life. Suspension from school, sports teams, or other activities. Illegal Major Factors that Influence Underage Drinking

Effects of Alcohol on the Body Alcohol has effects on the body systems, and behaviors. Intoxication: the state in which a person’s mental and physical abilities are impaired by alcohol or another substance. ( See worksheet for body system effects) Blackout: period of time that the drinker cannot recall. Other effects: loss of judgment, loss of self control, loss of inhibitions, loss of ability to reason, dilation of blood vessels.

Effects of Alcohol on the Body

Blood Alcohol Concentration B.A.C. – the amount of alcohol in a person’s blood. Expressed as a percentage. 0.1% means that 1/10th of 1% of the fluid in the blood is alcohol. The higher a person’s blood alcohol concentration, the more severe the physical and behavioral effects. 0.02 – 0.03: slightly affected; reflexes and alertness decline (.02 is legally intoxicated for teens) 0.04 – 0.06: impaired; judgment and self-control impaired; reaction time slows 0.08 - 0.25: intoxicated; muscle coordination decreases; vomiting may occur; disorientation; blackouts are typical (legal limit is 0.08 for over 21) 0.30 +: lose control; may pass out; death may occur Blood

If you’re a WOMAN, your Blood Alcohol Level is: # of drinks in one hour Weight 100 lbs. 120 lbs. 140 lbs. 160 lbs. 180 lbs. 200 lbs. 1 drink .05 .04 .04 .03 .03 .03 2 drinks .10 .08 .07 .06 .06 .05 Compare this chart with the B.A.C. chart on pg. 382 If you’re a MAN, your Blood Alcohol Level is: # of drinks in one hour Weight 100 lbs 120lbs 140 lbs. 160b ls. 180 lbs. 200 lbs. 220 lbs. 240 lbs. 1 drink .04 .04 .03 .03 .02 .02 .02 .02 2 drinks .09 . 07 .06 .05 .05 .04 .04 .04 Blood Alcohol Concentration

Amount of food in stomach Factors Affecting B.A.C. Rate of consumption Gender: males will generally have a lower BAC than females at the same rate and amount of consumption. Body size Amount of food in stomach After drinking ends, the only way to “sober up” is time. Factors Affecting B.A.C.

Life-Threatening effects: Everything else….. Hangover: used to describe the after effects of drinking too much alcohol. Symptoms include upset stomach, headaches, nausea… Life-Threatening effects: Motor-vehicle crashes – D.W.I. (driving while intoxicated) Overdose – taking an excessive amount that leads to a coma or death – can be caused by binge-drinking. Interactions with other drugs Everything else…..