1. Drug Characteristics

2. Stimulants  Speed Up all activities of the body because they stimulate the brain.  Can cause hypertension  Cause irritability  Examples: Caffeine, nicotine, cocaine, speed, ecstasy, amphetamines

3. Depressants  Slow down all activities of the body because they depress the brain  Depressants put parts of the brain to sleep from front to the back. When a section of the brain is asleep, the functions that are controlled by that section are impaired.  Can cause heart rate and breathing to slow down enough to cause death.  Examples alcohol, GHB, rohypnol

4. Hallucinogens  Distort a person’s perceptions so much that they cannot tell what’s real from what is not.  People on hallucinogens may forget where they are or not be able to keep track of time.  Examples: PCP, LSD/Acid, Mushrooms

5. Marijuana  Organic drug that comes from the Indian Hemp plant.  It is not certain whether marijuana is physically addictive, but people have been known to become psychologically dependent on it.

6. Marijuana Continued…  The psychoactive ingredient in marijuana is THC.  Effects of Marijuana:  Depressive  Stimulant  Hallucinogenic  Short Term memory loss One joint is equal in carcinogens to up to 5 cigarettes.

7. Inhalants  Enter the bloodstream and travel to the brain immediately after they are inhaled.  Cause dizziness and giddiness at first, followed by fainting, nausea, and irritability.  Can freeze the alveoli and bronchi of the lungs and cause respiratory arrest.  Examples: Paint Thinners, Free on, gasoline, Nitrous Oxide

8. Narcotics  Drugs that have been derived from the Opium Poppy plant.  Some are useful medicines because they can be pain relievers, narcotics are also the most physically addictive drugs.  A narcotic that does not have medicinal purposes anymore is heroin

9. Narcotics Continued….  Since narcotics cause a fast tolerance to occur, people tend to use more of the substance at a time. Because of this, people run the constant risk of overdose on the drug.  Large doses of narcotics can depress the nervous system and lead to a loss of consciousness, coma, and even death

10. Sedatives-Hypnotics  Drugs that depress the body systems and cause drowsiness.  Tranquilizers, sleeping pills, sedatives.

11. Sedatives-Hypnotics  Barbiturates: prescribed preparations that relieve anxiety and insomnia –very addictive.  Benzodiazepines: (minor tranquilizers) prescription medications for relieving minor anxiety and insomnia – not as powerful, but still addictive

12. Steroids  There are more than 100 types of anabolic steroids which require prescriptions.  Used through oral ingestion, injection, or rubbed on the skin in the form of creams or gels.  Illicit anabolic steroids are often smuggled from Mexico or European countries to the United States.  They can also be synthesized in a clandestine laborites within the United States.

13. Steroids  Steroid abuse can cause acne, breast development in men, increased irritability and aggression, liver cancer, heart attack, and high cholesterol.  Withdrawal symptoms can include mood swings, fatigue, restlessness, insomnia, and depression which can persist for a year or more after the abuser stops the use.