SUBSTANCE USE AND ABUSE Grade 7 Health Mr. Briggs

Drug Definitions  Drug: any substance that changes the way the body or mind works. Example: illicit drugs, laxatives, vitamins, steroids, sleeping pills, everyday beverages such as pop, tea, coffee  Drug Use: act of taking drugs which may or may not interfere with ones daily activities  Drug abuse: involves use of a drug to the extent that it interferes with ones life at school, work, family, friends etc

Recreational Drugs  Taken to alter one state of consciousness with the intention of recreating positive emotions and feelings.  Drugs that are taken without any medical benefit.

Types of Drugs:  Stimulants (uppers): drugs that speed up the central nervous system and make you feel more energetic, alert and help you stay awake for long periods of time, also, decreases your appetite, make you feel euphoric Ex/ cocaine, amphetamines (speed), tobacco, caffeine, Ritalin

Types of Drugs  Depressants (downers): drugs that slow down the functions of the central nervous system and make you less aware of the events around you.  Ex/ alcohol, opiates (narcotics), sedatives, tranquillizers

Types of Drugs  Hallucinogens (psychedelics): drugs that distort the senses and ones awareness of perception of events. One might see or hear things that don’t actually exist.  Ex/ LSD (Acid), PCP (Angel Dust, Ketamine, Magic Mushrooms, Bath Salts)

Types of Drugs  Club Drugs: used as a category based on where they’re frequently encountered. Activities include taking different types of drugs such as Ecstasy, Ketamine, GHB, Rohypnol

Drug Addiction  The physical or psychological dependence on drugs.  Can result in withdrawal if the drug is taken away.

Scale of Addiction  1: No substance use  2: USE – Includes experimentation and recreational use  3: MISUSE – Problems associated with using the substance begin to appear; or, the substance (such as medication) is not being used as it was originally intended.  4: ABUSE – Use is more frequent and obsessive behaviour starts.  Dependency – choice of use is no longer an option and has become a way of life.

Non-Physical Negative Effects of Substance Use and Abuse Personal  May get the “wrong” type of attention  Creates problems with family  Against family/religious values  May lose pleasure in everyday activities  May lose self-esteem  May lose control of emotions  Does not resolve family/personal problems

Non-Physical Negative Effects of Substance Use and Abuse Social  Often groups/friends change  May let friends down  Gives false sense of confidence  May become more isolated  May say or do things you’ll regret later  May become uncharacteristically rude  May become someone no ones recognizes  May lead to negative episodes

Non-Physical Negative Effects of Substance Use and Abuse Performance at School / Work  Difficult to sleep/rest  May become very tired  May become less motivated to do well in school/at work  Memory, ability to concentrate and think clearly may be affected  Moods may change and may have difficulty controlling emotions  May lose enjoyment

Non-Physical Negative Effects of Substance Use and Abuse Financial  Cost of purchasing drugs  Difficulty keeping a job  Legal costs  Cost of repairing damages for engaging in risk-taking behaviors while under the influence

Non-Physical Negative Effects of Substance Use and Abuse Legal  Negative implications regarding possession, purchase and use of various substances  Could jeopardize opportunities for the future

Effects of Drugs  There are many different effects from the various drugs that one may encounter. We will now go through some of the more common drugs and talk about short and long term effects.

Cannabis (marijuanna, pot, grass, weed, bud)  Comes from dried tops, leaves, stems and seeds of the marijuana plant  Short-term memory, concentration and ability to think clearly may be impaired  High feeling/relaxed, talkative  May lose interest in activities  Person may become dependant on drug. DescriptionEffects

Alcohol (booze, hootch)  Depressant that slows the Central Nervous System  Relaxed, less inhibited  Reflexes become slower  Could cause cirrhosis of the liver with prolonged use  Mood may change; take more risks  Brain and nerve damage  In men, decreased sperm production  Decision-making affected DescriptionEffects

Solvents & Aerosols/Inhalants (sniff, glue, gas)  Substances manufactured by the chemical industry  I.e. Gasoline, shoe polish, varnish, etc  Feelings of euphoria  Loss of coordination  Lead poisoning  Death DescriptionEffects

Methamphetamine ( speed, meth, chalk )  Pills, powder, liquid  Addictive stimulant  Decreased appetite, increased physical activity, damage to blood vessels in the brain, strokes, irregular heart beat, respiratory problems, death DescriptionEffects

Cocaine (coke, snow, blow, ice, rock)  Powerful stimulant of the Central Nervous System  Breathing and blood pressure increase  Pupils enlarge  Nose tissues may be damaged and erode  Highly addictive  With continued use tolerance is developed and more of the drug is needed to get the same effect. This leads to the risk of overdose. DescriptionEffects

Rohypnol (roofies, peanuts, pappas, ro-shays)  Makes a person less able to resist sexual assault  Tablets turn clear beverages blue and turn dark beverages murky  Sedative  Loss of memory, impaired judgment  Periods of blackouts  Seizures  May be fatal if mixed with other drugs  Respiratory shut-down DescriptionEffects

G.H.B Gamma hydroxy butyrate (liquid ecstasy)  Makes a person less able to resist sexual assault  Looks and smells like water/also available as a white powder or capsule  Dizziness,  Nausea  Vomiting  Amnesia  Loss of consciousne ss  Seizures  Depressed breathing  Coma  Vomiting while asleep  Death DescriptionEffects

Ketamine (Special K, Kit Kat)  Makes person less able to resist sexual assault  Painkiller used mainly by veterinarians for surgery  Liquid, white powder or pill  Temporary amnesia and hallucinations  May babble  Less inhibitions  Flashbacks  Decreases oxygen to brain and muscles  Unconsciousness  Death may occur DescriptionEffects

Ecstasy (XTC, X, E, Love Drug)  Combination of hallucinogen and stimulant  Tablet or gelatin capsule form  Excited feeling  Less inhibitions  Euphoria  Overheating  Dehydration  Death due to kidney or cardiovascular failure  Loss of consciousness  Paralysis  Brain damage DescriptionEffects

Ritalin – methylphenidate ( Vitamin R, Rit)  Commonly used for ADHD  Now being used as an illegal drug  Tablet form but illegal users crush and snort if or dissolve it in water and inject intravenously  Strong stimulant effect when snorted  CNS stimulant similar to speed or cocaine  Nervousness  Loss of appetite  skin rash  Increased alertness  Abdominal pain  Digestive problems  Possible dependence  Serve depression upon withdrawal DescriptionEffects

Risk Factors  Family members who abuse drugs or alcohol  Involved at an early age  Physical trauma or abuse  Distance from parents  Unclear rules at home  Friends who encourage use  Conflict with family or friends  Bullying  Low grades  Peer pressure

Protective factors  Strong self esteem and self-confidence  Strong family values  Supportive family  Parents who monitor their children (what they are doing and with whom)  Participate in extra- curricular activities  Ability to cope with stress  Rules and expectations at home  Positive relations with family and friends  Friends who are not involved with drugs and alcohol  Having good grades