Chapter 22 Illegal Drugs

Lesson 1 – Drug Use A High Risk Behavior Substance Abuse – unnecessary use of chemical substances for non medical purposes Illegal drugs – street drugs Against the law to possess, sell, buy Synthetic drugs – chemical substances produced artificially in a lab (very deadly) Gateway drugs – drugs that lead to other drug use

Trends in Teen Use Starting younger than ever before Use among 12 – 17 year olds has doubled 11% of Americans 12 and up were users in 1998 Heroin use has become widespread 9% of teens used marijuana in 1998 Teens mistakenly consider marijuana as a safe drug

Why People Begin Using See others using Feel pressured/can’t say no To fit in or look older Drugs are glamorized on TV, movies, videos, and in song lyrics Boredom or new thrills Escape from problems

Dangers of Abuse Deadly side effects Synergistic effects when combining drugs No way to regulate illegal drugs Overdose Hepatitis or HIV when using needles Unprotected sex/STD’s

Abuse Tolerance – need more to feel the same Physiological Dependence – body has a chemical need Withdrawal – nervousness, insomnia, nausea, headaches, chills, vomiting, death Psychological dependence –thinking they need the drug Addiction – dependence (psychological and physiological)

Costs of Abuse Affects teens performance, health, and can lead to trouble with the law Costs the American society 67 billion dollars per year in health, social, and criminal costs Birth defects, addiction, withdrawal symptoms

Lesson 2 – Psychoactive Drugs Stimulants – speed up the central nervous system Increased heart rate, high blood pressure, decreased appetite Sweating, headaches, blurred vision, sleeplessness Psychological effects – moodiness, restlessness, anxiety, hallucinations, delusions, and paranoia

Types of Stimulants Amphetamines (Uppers) People use to stay awake, improve athletic performance, lose weight, and for euphoric effects Tolerance develops easily Exhaustion occurs when drug wears off

Types of Stimulants Methamphetamine (crank, speed, ice) Can be snorted, injected, smoked, or swallowed Paranoia and violence Long lasting effects (food and water unimportant)

Types of Stimulants Cocaine Fast acting High can last 20 minutes to a few hours Increases confidence and causes huge letdown after the high Can cause tissue damage in nose, , depression, edginess, weight loss, malnutrition, heart attack

Types of Stimulants Crack Form of cocaine that is smoked Effects are felt within seconds Extremely addictive and dangerous

Depressants Slow down central nervous system Relax muscles, relieve feelings of tension and worry, bring on sleep Slow heart and breathing rates and reduce blood pressure

Types of Depressants Barbiturates – induce sleep Cause mood changes, excess sleep, coma Used to counteract effects of stimulants Can be fatal when combined with alcohol

Types of Depressants Tranquilizers – muscle relaxers Reduce muscular activity, coordination, and attention span Methaqualone – prescribed to reduce anxiety and insomnia Temporary euphoria Withdrawal is extremely unpleasant Rapid dependence, headaches, diarrhea, convulsions, coma, death

Narcotics Drugs derived from the opium plant Morphine, heroin, opium, codeine Cause drowsiness, sleep that can depress respiration, and can be used to relieve pain

Types of Narcotics Morphine Codeine – weaker morphine Used to reduce severe pain Can act as an appetite suppressant, causes constipation, and severe addiction Codeine – weaker morphine Used in cough medicine and can lead to dependence

Types of Narcotics Heroin No medical purpose/illegal Made from morphine Depresses central nervous system Tolerance develops quickly and withdrawal is painful Use has moved from the inner city to suburbs and rural areas

Hallucinogens Alter moods, thoughts, and sense perceptions PCP, LSD, Mescaline

Types of Hallucinogens PCP – angel dust 1 of the most dangerous drugs Makes the user feel detached from their surroundings Times passes slowly, body movements slow down, sensations of touch and pain are reduced Makes the user feel strong and powerful

Types of Narcotics LSD – acid Colorless, odorless, tasteless liquid, capsule, or tablet Wildly unpredictable effects Users might possibly think they can fly or stop trains Use leads to panic, anxiety, accidental suicide

Types of Hallucinogens Mescaline Psychoactive ingredient in the peyote cactus Can lead to bad trips, frightening phenomena, vicious stomach cramps, and vomiting

Lesson 3 – Steroids and Other Dangerous Drugs Steroids – synthetic derivatives of the male hormone testosterone Build muscle Cause mood swings, violent, and aggressive behavior Effects – high blood pressure, acne, baldness, liver damage, heart disease, increased growth of body and facial hair, stroke

Cannabis Derivatives Cannabis –hemp plant Types – Marijuana and hashish Marijuana – smoked, eaten, or drunk Hashish – dark brown resin collected from the top of the cannabis plant. Sold in small brown chunks and smoked through a pipe

Effects of Cannabis Hallucinogen that has stimulant and depressant effects Alters senses, coordination, and reaction time Causes personality problems that includes loss of willpower and motivation, lack of energy, and paranoia Affects memory and attention

Inhalants Substances sniffed or inhaled to give hallucinogenic or mind altering highs Glue, spray paint, aerosols, lighter fluids, and gasoline Depress central nervous system Nausea, nosebleeds, lack of coordination, kidney damage, change in bone marrow, hearing loss, limb damage, coma, death

Designer Drugs Synthetic substances that give effects of hallucinogens and narcotics Ecstasy or MDMA – combination of a stimulant and hallucinogen Euphoria, confusion, depression, paranoia, psychosis Symptoms of use- uncontrollable tremors, drooling, impaired speech, paralysis, irreversible brain damage

Look – Alike Drugs Made to resemble illegal drugs User never knows what they are getting Each dose has the potential to be deadly