Legal & Illegal Drugs Objectives Warm-up Define drug abuse & distinguish it from both appropriate use & misuse. Describe how psychoactive drugs affect the brain. Summarize the risks of drug abuse. Myth: Medicines from drugstores can’t harm you. Fact: Medicines can be just as dangerous as street drugs if they are used inappropriately. Writing: What other myths do teens believe about drugs? Write down some statements you have heard from your peers. Which are true? False?

Legal & Illegal Drugs Facts About Drug Use Medicines—legal drugs that help the body fight injury, illness, or disease Over-the-Counter (OTC) Drugs—medicine sold legally without a prescription Prescription Drugs—drugs that can only be obtained with a written order from a physician & can only be purchased at a pharmacy Illegal Drugs—chemical substance that people of any age may not manufacture, possess, buy, or sell

Legal & Illegal Drugs Facts About Drug Use Proper Use Using per label instructions to treat a couch Misuse Mistakenly taking more than is recommended to treat a cough Facts About Drug Use Drug Misuse—improper use of medicines Drug Abuse—when a drug is intentionally used improperly or unsafely Using any kind of drug for nonmedical purposes Abuse Deliberately taking more than is recommended or taking for purposes other than a couch

Legal & Illegal Drugs Drug Abuse & the Brain Psychoactive Drug—mood-altering drug that affects brain activity The Reward Pathway—area of the brain that releases dopamine, which makes us feel pleasure The extra dopamine released during drug use can cause user to ignore the harmful effects of the drug and want to continue using it Flooding the Reward Pathyway with dopamine may lead to intense craving for the drug when it is not available After a time, drug abuse can dull brain’s reactions to natural levels of dopamine. The user no longer feels pleasure from normal activities

Illegal & Legal Drugs Drug Abuse & the Brain, cont. Addiction Compulsive use of a drug regardless of cost to health, family, or social standing Abuse of psycho active drugs leads to addiction A disease that changes the structure & chemistry of the brain

Legal & Illegal Drugs Dangers of Drug Misuse & Abuse Side Effects Unwanted physical or mental effect caused by a drug Examples Nausea Dizziness Drowsiness Can vary from person to person Tolerance & Dependence Tolerance—when a person uses a drug repeatedly, they need more to get desired effect Dependence—body’s chemical need for a drug to function normally

Legal & Illegal Drugs Dangers of Drug Misuse & Abuse Withdrawal Drug interactions Nausea Vomiting Headaches Dizziness Fever Digestion problems Paranoia Panic Tremors, seizures, death Drug Antagonism—each drug’s effect is cancelled out or reduced by the other neither drug has desired effect Drug Synergism—drugs interact to produce effects greater than those that each drug would produce alone

Legal & Illegal Drugs Dangers of Drug Misuse & Abuse Impurities No regulation of illegal drugs = no guarantee that they are pure Could be “cut” or diluted with another substance Can vary from batch to batch in concentration = can’t predict what effect drug will have each time Other Health Risks Hepatitis & HIV—blood borne pathogens that are transmitted through contaminated needles Risks to Fetus & Newborn Broad range of developmental problems Baby born with drug dependency Drugs can also pass through breast milk

Legal & Illegal Drugs Legal Risks Effects on Family & Friends Criminal Record Hard to get into schools, military, jobs Prison Terms Fines May Commit Other Crimes Shoplifting Robbery Assualt Effects on Family & Friends Strained relationships b/c behavior & personality of drug abuser Interests & activities that helped bind relationships no longer exist Family & Friends drift away

Legal & Illegal Drugs Costs to Society US Government spends billions to stop illegal drug manufacturing & sales Billions spent in prevention, education, treatment & Rehabilitation Other Costs: Cost of imprisoning thousands of people for drug-related crimes Medical Costs for drug-related illnesses & injuries Premature deaths from drug-related homicides & accidents Lost work productivity because of drug dependency

Key Questions How is an over-the-counter drug different from a prescription drug? Define drug abuse. Give an example. Briefly describe how psychoactive drugs affect the brain. What is a side effect? List three (3) health risks & two (2) other risks that drug abusers face.