THE DRUGS THAT ARE BEING USED By: Bonnie Simonelli Parma City Schools

WHO IS USING? In the old days, a user looked like a user… In the old days, a user looked like a user…

You Just Never Know Now the jock, the brain, the average kid is using, there is no “one type” or look we can identify as a user… Now the jock, the brain, the average kid is using, there is no “one type” or look we can identify as a user…

POT/WEED The number one drug of choice among our youth is pot. The number one drug of choice among our youth is pot. Most kids in treatment are there for pot addiction, more than all other drugs combined. Most kids in treatment are there for pot addiction, more than all other drugs combined. Smoking pot on a weekly basis, can double the risk for depression and mental health problems latter in life, including schizophrenia. Smoking pot on a weekly basis, can double the risk for depression and mental health problems latter in life, including schizophrenia. Pot contributes to low sperm count in men. Pot contributes to low sperm count in men. People claim that it is a “safe” drug since it’s from the earth, is it really safe, with over 4,000 chemicals?? People claim that it is a “safe” drug since it’s from the earth, is it really safe, with over 4,000 chemicals?? They don’t call it wasted for nothing. They don’t call it wasted for nothing.

THE WAY IT IS USED Pot is usually smoked in joints, bowls, bongs, and blunts… Pot is usually smoked in joints, bowls, bongs, and blunts… Soda cans can be used as a make- shift bowl. Soda cans can be used as a make- shift bowl. Tin foil is also used to make a pipe called a tinnie Tin foil is also used to make a pipe called a tinnie A blunt is a cigar wrapper packed with marijuana. A blunt is a cigar wrapper packed with marijuana.

ALCOHOL Another very popular drug our kids are abusing. Another very popular drug our kids are abusing. Kids are buying, stealing, and given alcohol by friends and sadly adults. Kids are buying, stealing, and given alcohol by friends and sadly adults.

THE WAY IT IS USED Alcohol is drank, and that is not news.. Alcohol is drank, and that is not news..

BINGE DRINKING Our youth are drinking to get drunk, really drunk. Our youth are drinking to get drunk, really drunk. Games like beer pong and quarters are very popular. Games like beer pong and quarters are very popular. Kids will also use a “beer bong” to drink large amounts really fast. Kids will also use a “beer bong” to drink large amounts really fast. Emergency room admissions for alcohol poisoning have increased over the past 10 years. Emergency room admissions for alcohol poisoning have increased over the past 10 years.

THE SAD REALITY Alcohol related crashes are the number one killer of our youth between the ages of Alcohol related crashes are the number one killer of our youth between the ages of Deaths due to alcohol poisoning have escalated over the past ten years. Deaths due to alcohol poisoning have escalated over the past ten years. Many youth will take the risk to get home over being safe and calling a sober person to get them. Many youth will take the risk to get home over being safe and calling a sober person to get them.

MUSHROOMS AKA “shrooms”. AKA “shrooms”. Can be found growing in cow manure. Can be found growing in cow manure. Long and psychedelic high called tripping. Long and psychedelic high called tripping. Also considered “safer” by users since it is from the earth. Also considered “safer” by users since it is from the earth. In reality it is very dangerous since we do not know the entire long-term effects and how long it remains in the body. In reality it is very dangerous since we do not know the entire long-term effects and how long it remains in the body. Causes serious damage to the brain in the way it reacts to the chemicals. Causes serious damage to the brain in the way it reacts to the chemicals. Sold in ounces. Sold in ounces.

ACID Totally synthetic man made substance. Totally synthetic man made substance. Causes the brain to hallucinate, thus called a hallucinogenic. Causes the brain to hallucinate, thus called a hallucinogenic. Made from very dangerous ingredients such as strychnine or rat poison. Made from very dangerous ingredients such as strychnine or rat poison. Very dangerous and addictive. Very dangerous and addictive. Use shows an increase of heart rates and blood pressure and can put the user into a coma. Use shows an increase of heart rates and blood pressure and can put the user into a coma. It alters your perception of time, reality, and the environment around you. It alters your perception of time, reality, and the environment around you. Some research indicates that acid never entirely leaves the body. Some research indicates that acid never entirely leaves the body. This type of high is like a self-induced schizophrenia. This type of high is like a self-induced schizophrenia. Long lasting high of up to 8 hours called tripping. Long lasting high of up to 8 hours called tripping. Many users report “flash-backs” long after they have stopped taking acid. Many users report “flash-backs” long after they have stopped taking acid. Sold on small pieces of paper or in sugar cubes. Sold on small pieces of paper or in sugar cubes.

ECSTASY AKA XTC or X. AKA XTC or X. Sold in a pill form for about $25. Sold in a pill form for about $25. Totally synthetic man-made and dangerous impossible to know what chemical were used to produce this drug. Totally synthetic man-made and dangerous impossible to know what chemical were used to produce this drug. Very-very addictive. Very-very addictive. Increases the users heart rate, blood pressure, and can lead to kidney failure. Increases the users heart rate, blood pressure, and can lead to kidney failure. Can damage the neurons in the brain causing actual holes. Can damage the neurons in the brain causing actual holes. It can kill you the first time it is used, by effecting your breathing and putting you into a coma. It can kill you the first time it is used, by effecting your breathing and putting you into a coma. The high will last up to 6 hours. The high will last up to 6 hours. Called rolling. Called rolling.

CRACK/COCAINE Both are stimulants and are very addictive. Both are stimulants and are very addictive. Both can result in death with the first use. Both can result in death with the first use. Crack is smoked in a crack pipe and it costs about $15 a rock. Crack is smoked in a crack pipe and it costs about $15 a rock. Coke is usually snorted, but can be smoked with pot in a joint or bowl called primo. Coke is usually snorted, but can be smoked with pot in a joint or bowl called primo.

CRYSTAL METH Another very addictive stimulant. Another very addictive stimulant. Addiction often happens with first use. Addiction often happens with first use. Main ingredients include ephedrine and ingredients found in cold meds. Main ingredients include ephedrine and ingredients found in cold meds. Makes the user feel like “superman”. Makes the user feel like “superman”. Also smoked in a pipe. Also smoked in a pipe. Cost about $25 for one high. Cost about $25 for one high. High will last about 2 hours. High will last about 2 hours.

WHAT METH CAN DO This is a picture of a woman who abused meth for five years, she was only 35 at the time the last picture was taken. This is a picture of a woman who abused meth for five years, she was only 35 at the time the last picture was taken.

METH MOUTH

WOO/WET A very strange drug made out of formaldehyde and smoked in a cigarette or in a joint. A very strange drug made out of formaldehyde and smoked in a cigarette or in a joint. Formaldehyde is used to preserve dead people. Formaldehyde is used to preserve dead people. Very addictive. Very addictive. A cigarette laced with woo will cost about $15. A cigarette laced with woo will cost about $15. A very psychedelic high which will last up to 8 hours. A very psychedelic high which will last up to 8 hours. Another “lovely” drug which induces mental illness and schizophrenia. Another “lovely” drug which induces mental illness and schizophrenia.

HEROIN This “drug from the past” is making an appearance again. This “drug from the past” is making an appearance again. It is usually injected, but can be smoked. It is usually injected, but can be smoked. It especially effects the part of the brain which triggers physical dependence. It especially effects the part of the brain which triggers physical dependence. A very violent withdrawal occurs when trying to quit. A very violent withdrawal occurs when trying to quit. Very, very addictive and deadly. Very, very addictive and deadly.

How Heroin is Used When junkies no longer have useable arm veins, they shoot up in their groins, or their feet and toes. When junkies no longer have useable arm veins, they shoot up in their groins, or their feet and toes. Because of sharing needles, HIV and AIDS are linked to heroin addicts. Because of sharing needles, HIV and AIDS are linked to heroin addicts. So are violent crimes. So are violent crimes.

OVER THE COUNTER AND PRESCRIPTION DRUGS Our youth are using meds we have in our homes both prescribed and not. Our youth are using meds we have in our homes both prescribed and not. They are selling their Adderall and Ritalin (ADD meds) to each other for $5-$20 a pill. They are selling their Adderall and Ritalin (ADD meds) to each other for $5-$20 a pill. Vicodin, Demerol, Oxycontin, Percocets (pain meds) are all being sold and abused. Vicodin, Demerol, Oxycontin, Percocets (pain meds) are all being sold and abused. Xanax (anti-anxiety) are being sold and abused. Xanax (anti-anxiety) are being sold and abused. Coricidin and Robitussin (cold and cough meds) are also being abused for the high. Coricidin and Robitussin (cold and cough meds) are also being abused for the high. These drugs are being used every day for the high they produce. These drugs are being used every day for the high they produce. Many kids will mix these drugs, or use them with alcohol, which HAS CAUSED THEIR DEATH. Many kids will mix these drugs, or use them with alcohol, which HAS CAUSED THEIR DEATH.

INHALENTS Very popular among the younger kids called huffing. Very popular among the younger kids called huffing. Easy to find in the home spray-paint, dust-off, gasoline, markers. Easy to find in the home spray-paint, dust-off, gasoline, markers. Effects every major organ of the body at one time. Effects every major organ of the body at one time. Can cause death the very first time by starving the brain of oxygen. Can cause death the very first time by starving the brain of oxygen.

WHAT CAN WE DO??? We need to be aware and know the drugs they are using. We need to be aware and know the drugs they are using. We need to watch our children. We need to watch our children. We need to know their friends and their friends parents. We need to know their friends and their friends parents. We need to look for the behaviors and changes that go along with drug use. We need to look for the behaviors and changes that go along with drug use. We need to talk to them and listen to what they are not saying. We need to talk to them and listen to what they are not saying. We need to be their parents…. We need to be their parents….

NOT THE END Just the beginning