Chapter 23 Lessons 3 and 4 Warm Up: Make a list of at least 5 illegal drugs that you know of.

Marijuana  Marijuana is really an Indian hemp plant called cannabis.  It’s a plant whose leaves, buds, and flowers are smoked for their intoxicating effects.  The most widely used illegal drug.  Persons who use marijuana are 17 times more likely to use cocaine than people who have never used marijuana.  It is mind altering and can damage the user’s body.

continued  It can become addictive, raising the levels of a brain chemical called dopamine to produce a pleasurable feeling.  It contains more cancer-causing chemicals than tobacco smoke.  There are mental and emotional health consequences.  Users may suffer from slow mental reflexes and feelings of anxiety and paranoia.  Users often lose coordination and have trouble thinking.

continued  Users face physical consequences, such as risks to the reproductive organs.  Drivers under the influence of marijuana have impaired judgment and slower reflexes, resulting in accidents and arrests.

Inhalants  Substances whose fumes are sniffed and inhaled to achieve a mind-altering effect are called inhalants.  Most inhalants cause brain damage, actually killing brain cells.  Inhalants include solvents and aerosols.  All inhalants are extremely dangerous, causing permanent damage to the nervous system.

Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids  Synthetic substances that are similar to the male sex hormone testosterone are called anabolic-androgenic steroids.  Anabolic refers to muscle building.  Androgenic refers to increased male characteristics.  These steroids help build muscles.

continued  They can cause mood swings, impaired judgment, and paranoia.  They need to be prescribed by a physician; otherwise, they are dangerous.  Steroid users often turn to illegal, addictive drugs to fight the side effects of steroids.  The nonmedical use of steroids is illegal for people of all ages in the United States.

Lesson 4 – Classification of Psychoactive Drugs  Stimulants are one class.  Depressants are another class.  Narcotics are a third class.  Hallucinogens are a fourth class.

Health Risks of Stimulants  Caffeine and nicotine speed up the central nervous system.  Using cocaine can lead to depression, paranoia, and physiological dependence as well as cause malnutrition and cardiac problems.  Crack is a very pure form of cocaine.  It drastically increases the heart rate and blood pressure.  Mixing cocaine and alcohol can lead to death from liver failure.

continued  Amphetamines given through prescriptions reduce fatigue, drowsiness, and appetite, yet many people take them illegally to stay alert and run the risk of irregular heartbeats, paranoia, and other damage to the body.  Methamphetamine is used to treat obesity and other diseases, yet when taken illegally can cause depression, paranoia, and even death.

Health Risks of Depressants  Depressants are sedatives that tend to slow down the Central Nervous System.  They can slow the heart rate.  They can lower blood pressure to dangerous levels.  They can affect breathing.  Barbiturates are sedative-hypnotic drugs.  They induce sleepiness, mood changes, and can result in a coma.

continued  Tranquilizers reduce muscular activity, coordination, and attention span.  When overused, users can become physiologically and psychologically dependent on them.  Users can experience withdrawal symptoms, such as severe shaking and even a coma or death.  Rohypnol is ten times as strong as tranquilizers.  It is a drug used in date-rape crimes.  It is used in crimes of dating violence.  Gammahydroxy butyric acid (GHB) is used in date-rape crimes

Narcotics  These are specific drugs made from the opium plant.  They are given only by prescription and used to relieve pain.  They are addictive.  Heroin is a highly addictive narcotic.  Depresses the CNS, slows breathing and pulse rate, can cause infection of the heart lining and valves, withdrawal is VERY painful.

Hallucinogens  PCP distorts time and space, increases muscle strength, and causes the inability to feel pain.  LSD causes severe distortions of sound and color as well as causes the risk of convulsions, coma, and heart and lung failure.  Ketamine causes dreamlike states and may result in respiratory failure.

Ecstasy and Other Dangerous Drugs  Designer Drugs are synthetic substances meant to imitate the effects of dangerous drugs.  Ecstasy is a designer drug that gives a short- term euphoric feeling, yet often causes confusion, depression, paranoia, and other harmful effects.  There are consequences of drug use, such as leading to unsafe situations, violence, and accidents.