Intro to Substance Abuse Drugs and Addiction

Each student will: – Discuss the cycle of addiction – Reason why teens are more likely to develop addiction over adults.

What are drugs? A chemical substance that: affects the processes of the mind or body; may be used in the diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of disease, used recreationally for its effects on the central nervous system.

Why can drugs be bad for your mind and body? Drugs used for medical purposes can be beneficial but still can have negative effects Drugs alter the chemical state of a person’s mind and body. They affect a person’s – Appearance – Physical health – Social life – Financial life

What are gateway drugs? A gateway drug is a drug that opens the door to other, harder drug use. What are examples of gateway drugs? Alcohol, Tobacco, Marijuana

Drugs can be separated into Types and Categories Types of Drugs: – Prescription Drugs – Over-the-Counter (OTC) Drugs – Recreational Drugs alcohol, tobacco, caffeine – Illicit Drugs Illegal Most are psychoactive – changes brain chemistry Types of Drugs

Stimulants Depressants Opiates Hallucinogens Designer Drugs Inhalants Steroids Categories of Drugs

Your Lifeline… Examine the meaningful events that will happen to you in your lifetime. 1.Along the lifeline place all the significant events that have ALREADY occurred at the appropriate age. 2.Also place the events that will occur during your lifetime. (Dreams, Goals, Plans). Place these events along the line at the age you estimate they will occur.

Lifeline Reflection Gateway drug use often lead to harder drug use. If you became an addict and wasted all you time and money worrying about drugs, how would that affect your lifeline?

Teen Addiction

Changes in Brain chemistry occur dependent on the method of administration. Methods include: Oral Ingestion Injection (can be into the intramuscular or intravenous) Smoke Inhalation Absorption The quicker the drug reaches the brain the more likely the user is to become addicted. 11 Methods of Administration

Synapses…

How Addiction Happens… Once a drug reaches the brain, it acts on one or more neurotransmitters, either increasing or decreasing their concentration and actions. Neurotransmitters include substances such as serotonin and dopamine that are released from your brain to make you feel good.

Dopamine and Serotonin

Addiction Besides drugs what else could someone be addicted to?

Potato Chip Activity How does it feel to stop after just one chip? How many of you would like another chip? How do cravings for potato chips differ from cravings for tobacco, alcohol or other drugs? How might your body react if you stopped eating potato chips? What if you stopped using tobacco, alcohol, or some other drug after you are addicted?

Dopamine and the brain

Downward Spiral of Addiction Experimentation Recreational or Social Use Tolerance Compulsive Craving Addiction Withdrawal

Downward Spiral of Addiction Use of a substance just to see what it is like; Peers, family, media may all be an influence Experimentation

Downward Spiral of Addiction Use of a substance makes user feel good; think he/she is having fun and fitting in which often leads to using more frequently Recreational or Social Use

Downward Spiral of Addiction The body needs more of a substance because it requires more to get the same effect Tolerance

Downward Spiral of Addiction Beginning to have uncontrollable need for the substance Compulsive Craving

Downward Spiral of Addiction Use becomes habitual (regular) and out of control; User is dependent on the substance Addiction

Downward Spiral of Addiction Changes that occur when drug use stops Withdrawal

How quickly someone becomes addicted depends on several factors: – Genetic connection to addiction – Stress, worry, tension – the more there is, the more likely you are to look for so-called relief. – Drug being used. Some drugs cause addiction after just one or a few uses.

Withdrawal When someone tries to give up tobacco, alcohol, or other drugs, they may suffer through a combination of symptoms. RestlessnessDepressionDifficulty concentrating Eating more than usual Loss of Energy/Fatigue Tremors ImpatienceStomach or Bowel problems Heart palpitations Frustration and Anger HeadachesSweating

Dependence When a user needs the drug to be able to function normally.

Tolerance When the person needs more and more to get the same effect

Other Drug Vocabulary Relapse – the tendency to return to addictive behavior after a period of abstinence. Euphoria – “high” Synesthesia – an effect where sensory messages are incorrectly assigned (hear a taste, smell a sound) Flashbacks – perceptual distortions and bizarre thoughts that occur after the drug has been eliminated from the body

Addiction to a drug can affect someone physically, socially, and mentally.

Symptoms of a Drug User Personality Becomes disrespectful, verbal and physical abuse Is angry a lot, acts paranoid or confused, extreme mood swings Seems depressed and less out-going than usual. Is secretive, lies about what s/he is doing and where s/he is going. Steals or “loses” possessions s/he used to value. Seems to have a lot of money or is always asking for money

Symptoms of a Drug User Physical Appearance Not taking care of hygiene and grooming. Not sleeping or sleeping too much. Loss of appetite Weight loss or weight gain. Too hyperactive or too little energy.

Symptoms of a Drug User Social Activity/School Performance Drops old friends and activities. Skips school Loses interest in school work and is getting low grades Sleeps in class Loses concentration and is having trouble remembering things.

Tolerance, Dependence or Addiction? Does the scenario represent Tolerance, Dependence or Addiction?

Tolerance, Dependence, or Addiction 1. Tolerance 2. Dependence 3. Addiction 4. Addiction 5. Dependence 6. Tolerance 7. Addiction 8. Dependence 9. Tolerance 10. Addiction