Drug Use and Abuse PPL 10 Grade 9 ~ Mrs. Longval

What are Drugs? Drugs are substances, other than food, that affect a person’s mental, emotional or physical state. Psychoactive drugs (mood altering) affect our mental and emotional state.

Use and Abuse – What’s the difference? ABUSE is when…… A person’s substance use makes it difficult to carry on with the rest of his or her life If a person is using to “cope” with other problems If a person is using for medical reasons without the supervision of a doctor – or if the use does not match the prescription

Use and Abuse – What’s the difference? Many people consider ANY illegal drug use to be drug abuse

The drug : the way the drug is….. a) prepared (weak vs strong) 3 main factors to keep in mind when considering the risk of using drugs…… The drug : the way the drug is….. a) prepared (weak vs strong) b) the way it is used (swallowing, sniffing, injecting) c) the actual amount of drug taken

the physical traits of the person using the drugs such as .. 3 main factors to keep in mind when considering the risk of using drugs…… 2. The user: the physical traits of the person using the drugs such as .. weight, gender, metabolism etc. - Higher risk when a person drinks or uses drugs to cope with anger, stress, or sadness

3 main factors to keep in mind when considering the risk of using drugs…… 3. The context: the setting or situation in which people are using drugs - Driving a car, using machinery, playing sports, before engaging in sexual activity, or when sick or using other substances

Our brain and addiction Mood altering drugs affect the body’s central nervous system which sends information about what we are sensing or feeling to the body. The brain is the command center of your body. It controls just about everything you do, even when you are sleeping

How Does Someone Become Addicted to Drugs? Think about how you feel when something good happens—maybe your team wins a game or you're praised for something you've done well—that's your limbic system at work. Because natural pleasures in our lives are necessary for survival, the limbic system creates an appetite that drives you to seek out those things.

The first time someone uses a drug of abuse, he or she experiences unnaturally intense feelings of pleasure. The reward circuitry is activated—with dopamine carrying the message.

But the brain starts changing as a result of the unnatural flood of neurotransmitters. Because they sense more than enough dopamine, neurons may begin to reduce the number of dopamine receptors or simply make less dopamine. The result is less dopamine signalling in the brain, what the scientists call “down regulation.” Because most drugs are toxic, some neurons also may die.

As a result, dopamine’s ability to activate circuits to cause pleasure is severely weakened. The person feels flat, lifeless, and depressed. In fact, without drugs, life may seem joyless. Now the person needs drugs just to bring dopamine levels up to normal.

Larger amounts of the drug are needed to create a dopamine flood, or “high”—an effect known as “tolerance.” These brain changes drive a person to seek out and use drugs compulsively, despite negative consequences such as stealing, losing friends, family problems, or other physical or mental problems brought on by drug abuse—this is addiction.

Although we know what happens to the brain when someone becomes addicted, we can’t predict how many times a person must use a drug before becoming addicted. A person's genetic makeup, the genes that make each of us who we are, and the environment each play a role. What we do know is that a person who uses drugs risks becoming addicted, craving the drug despite its potentially devastating consequences.

The Continuum of Drug Use Using drugs for non-medical reasons always poses a degree of risk. Risk can vary from very low to very high. There are different types of levels of drug use, and each of these has a certain level of risk that accompanies it:

Continuum of Drug Use Dependant Use Heavy Use Binge Use Social Use Non Use Experimental Social Use Binge Use Heavy Use Dependant Use

Non-use is the healthiest choice, because it involves zero risk

Experimental Experimental use occurs because of curiosity and may not occur again. The risk is usually low.

Social Use This is ongoing drug use with moderate consumption Risk can be low to moderate

Binge Use This is use of a large amount of a substance at one time, even on a single occasion the risk of harm is high

Heavy Use Ongoing use that results in problems in one or more areas of a person’s life. Risk of significant and lasting harm is high

Dependant use Compulsive and excessive use that continues despite problems in various life areas. Risk is VERY HIGH

What’s the HARM in it? Society doesn’t present a very consistent message about risks of substance use and abuse. All drugs, including readily available , socially acceptable, carry RISKS for users and abuses.

SAFETY Most substances affect the user’s judgment and motor coordination. Intoxication can cause users to make unsafe choices.

Long Term Physical Health Problems Introducing a foreign substance into the body may have long term physical effects. The long term effects of most drugs are not always known. Very high risk of long term irreversible health affects to your mind & body.

Mental Health Problems Casual use of some drugs can cause short term anxiety. Longer use can lead to much more serious mental health problems. Self medicate – and can aggravate existing mental health issues.

Cognitive Problems Drugs have a clear effect on the way users perceive and understand what is going on. Short term memory loss, inability to concentrate. These could have an effect on how someone succeeds and develops a positive identity and learn coping skills.

Impairs judgment – which may lead to violent behavior. Violence & Crime Many substances reduce inhibitions – giving users a sense of self-confidence and invulnerability. Impairs judgment – which may lead to violent behavior.