DRUG ADDICTION PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL Presented by FRANK GRIFFITTS

WHAT are drugs? Chemical substance that cause: Mental or psychological dependence Physical dependence Or Both

Are ALL drugs bad? Medicinal use FDA approved Over-the-counter Prescription Abuse Illegal Drugs

Top THREE drugs abused by teens Alcohol-ethanol Tobacco-nicotine Marijuana-THC

Street names for Marijuana Skunk Joint Blunt Doobie Roach Green Gangster Herb Reefer Mary Jane MJ Ganja Pot Weed Grass Bud Chronic Dope

WHY do teens do drugs? Stress Boredom Curiosity Peer Pressure Pleasure?

What is the difference between MENTAL and PHYSICAL addiction? MENTAL Less recovery time Limited withdrawal symptoms Desire to return to drug use because it “feels good” Inability to cope with stress Inability to make long term plans or goals

PHYSICAL Longer recovery time Intense withdrawal symptoms Desire to return to drug use because it your body needs the chemical Inability to cope with stress Inability to make long term plans or goals What is the difference between MENTAL and PHYSICAL addiction?

Why do drugs have such negative SIDE EFFECTS? Your body produces natural chemicals called neurotransmitters These chemicals are vital to the development of your brain and your nervous system Drugs seriously disrupt your body’s ability to produce and regulate these chemical neurotransmitters

How does your BRAIN work? Some of the neurotransmitters your brain produces and regulates are GABA, Anandamide, Acytelcholine, Dopamine and Serotonin.

GABA-Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid Among other things, GABA is a neurotransmitter responsible for inhibiting or slowing down some neural processes Alcohol increases the production and regulation of GABA The effects are long lasting or permanent on the developing brain (kids and teens)

ACYTELCHOLINE Among other things, Acytelcholine facilitates concentration, learning and memory Nicotine increases the production and disrupts the regulation of Acytelcholine The effects are long lasting or permanent on the developing brain (kids and teens)

ANANDAMIDE Among other things, Anandamide is a neurotransmitter responsible for stimulating and regulating pleasure and pain tolerance THC, the psychoactive drug in marijuana, disrupts the body’s ability to produce and regulate Anandamide The effects are long lasting or permanent on the developing brain (kids and teens)

Units of Pleasure over Time BASELINE PLEASURE SPIKE DEPRESSION SPIKE

Is Physical Addiction more dangerous than a Psychological Addiction? Physical Addictions cause immediate, often life threatening dangers Mental Addictions often take longer to show up, but often lead to physical addictions