What is Substance Abuse?  Substance abuse is any unnecessary or improper use of chemical substances for non-medical purposes.  Substance abuse includes overuse or multiple use of a drug, including alcohol, taken in combination with other drugs

 Culture and Media  Curiosity  Social Acceptance  Lack of Knowledge About the Risks  Celebrations and Religious Observances  Everyday Emotional Pressure  Mental Health Problems

 Popular culture, which sometimes glamorizes the use of alcohol and other drugs, influences young people in Canada and around the world through the internet, television, and movies.  An example of this is the powerful advertising messages that link the consumption of alcoholic beverages with images of good times, popularity, and success

 Drug issues are often in the news and frequently a topic of conversation among adults and teenagers.  Curiosity is natural in young people (and is most often a positive trait), so it is not surprising that some teens become curious enough to experiment with alcohol and other drugs.

 Some young people may feel pressure to smoke, drink, or use other substances if their friends do, and some believe that substance use is a way to gain acceptance to a particular social group

 Information is important. Young people may use a new drug heavily before good information is available about the risks.  Conversely, fewer young people will choose to use a potentially harmful drug if they have believable, accurate information about its risks

 Drugs (alcohol, for example) are often a part of family or community celebrations and religious services.  These are events in which people tend to value drugs more for their symbolic importance than for their effect

 Mood-altering substances hold the promise temporarily improving feelings  That is why some stressed or anxious people—young or old—may find legal and/or illegal substances appealing

 Up to 15% of Canadian children and adolescents may experience clinical mental health problems such as anxiety disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression, or schizophrenia.  People with such problems are at risk for substance abuse because they may look to various drugs to “self-medicate” for the distress they feel.

 Mood-altering drugs affect the body’s central nervous system (CNS), which sends information about what we are sensing or feeling to the body.  We can classify mood-altering drugs according to the specific effects they have on our minds and bodies: 1.Marijuana 2.Hallucinogens 3.Depressants 4.Stimulants 5.Anabolic Steroids

 Marijuana is placed in a class of its own because it acts mostly as a hallucinogen, but also has depression effects (it slows response time and affects memory) and a stimulant effect (it raises the heart rate).  Common sources of cannabis are marijuana, hash, and THC (tetrahydrocannabibol)

 Hallucinogens alter users’ perceptions of the world around them, causing distortions in the way they sense their surroundings.  While overdoses are rare, these drugs can pose a risk of accidents and injuries because they distort what the user experiences.  Hallucinogens include LSD, mushrooms, and ecstasy

 Depressants slow down the CNS and reduce inhibitions  Like stimulants, many depressants can be easy to obtain; however, this does not make them harmless  Examples of typical depressants are alcohol, solvents (gasoline), opiates (heroin), pain- killers, tranquilizers, and sleeping pills.

 Stimulants speed up body systems such as the CNS and the cardiorespiratory system, delay fatigue, and may produce hyperactivity.  Common stimulants include nicotine, caffeine, diet pills, Ritalin, cocaine, crack, and speed.

 Anabolic steroids are commonly used to treat certain medical conditions  Non-medically, steroids can help increase training endurance and build muscles, and so people use them to enhance athletic performance and body image  Because they are a controlled substance, using them without a prescription is illegal

Drug Dependence ◦ The continued compulsive use of a substance, even in the face of growing problems in a number of life areas (ie. Work, family, legal problems) Two Types: 1.Physical Dependence 2.Psychological Dependence

Once the body becomes accustomed to a drug, people experience physical symptoms of withdrawal if they try to go without it. When users develop a tolerance for a substance, they find that they need to take larger amounts of the substance in order to feel the same effects. Symptoms of withdrawal often include: depression, cravings, and anxiety.

Some people may find that their drug use begins to play a larger part of their lives, and that they cannot find an easy way to quit. Despite the lack of physical withdrawal symptoms, the person’s addictive behaviour is driven by an overwhelming desire to repeat the effects of the drug rather than by the physical need to relieve the pain of withdrawal

SubstanceBrain CNSHeartLiverMouth/ Throat Lungs Reproductive System Cannabis-Short-term memory problems -Anxiety -Increase in heart rate -Dry mouth-Increase risk of cancer Males: -Decrease testosteron e levels -Decreased sperm count

SubstanceBrain CNSHeartLiverMouth/ Throat Lungs Reproductive System Steroids-May cause anxiety, mood changes, aggression -Risk of heart attack -Hardening of the arteries -Causes an enlargemen t of the heart -Risk of hepatitis -Increased risk of liver cancer Males: -May decrease the size of the testes Females: -May disrupt menstrual cycle

SubstanceBrain CNSHeartLiverMouth/ Throat Lungs Reproductive System Ecstasy-After initial effect have worn off, may experience “hang-over” effects such as confusion, irritability, anxiety, paranoia, depression, memory impairment or sleep problems -Increase in heart rate and blood pressure -Increased body temp -Increased risk of heart or kidney failure, strokes, or seizures -Increased risk of jaundice and liver damage -Grinding of teeth or jaw pain -Still unknown at this time

SubstanceBrain CNSHeartLiverMouth/ Throat Lungs Reproductive System Alcohol-Increases cell degeneration -Slows CNS -Dependence -Increase in heart rate and blood pressure -Degen. of heart muscle -Becomes fatty and enlarged -Cirrhosis Males: -Lowers test. Levels -Risk of impotence Females: -Variety of menstrual difficulties -Increased risk of harm to fetus in pregnancy

SubstanceBrain CNSHeartLiverMouth/ Throat Lungs Reproductive System Chewing Tobacco -See tobacco -Increased risk of cancer -Receding gums -Tooth loss -Lips and gums may crack, wrinkle, bleed -Bad breath -Decreased sense of taste and smell -Pre- cancerous or cancerous lesions -Increased risk of cancer

SubstanceBrain CNSHeartLiverMouth/ Throat Lungs Reproductive System Tobacco-Decreases body’s ability to produce these feel good hormones (endorphins) -Dependence -Increased heart rate -Increased blood pressure -Narrows arteries -Irregular heartbeat -Decreased blood flow to hands and feet -Decreased oxygen supply -Increased risk of heart attack -Increased risk of cancer -Abnormal irritation and thickening of membranes -Develop smoker’s cough -Pre- cancerous or cancerous lesions -Increased risk of throat cancer -Increased respiratory rate -Increased risk of respiratory illnesses -Decreased flexibility -Thickens lining -Weakens cells -Increased risk of throat cancer Males: Decreased sperm count Females: -Decreased fertility -Earlier menopause -Can harm the fetus in pregnancy