1. Drug Abuse
The Truth About Drugs

2. Before We Get Started…
I am here to EDUCATE you and provide you with true, FACTUAL information (not my opinion)
Life is all about choices; I cannot make these choices for you. What I can do is provide you with factual information so that you have the ability to make informed decisions.
Knowledge = Power (sounds cheesy, but it’s true!)
(8min)

3. Statistics
_______________is the most commonly used and abused drug overall (other than caffeine)
_____________________(car accidents, alcohol poisoning, etc.) are the 2nd leading cause of teen death in the US. 1st cause= car accident
Legal drinking age: 21
Marijuana is the most commonly used __________drug

4. Why do people take drugs?
To fit in
To escape or relax
To relieve boredom
To seem grown up
To rebel
To experiment
What else? ____________________________
People believe drugs are the ___________.
But eventually, drugs become the problem.

5. Misuse vs. Abuse
Drug ____________-taking or using medicine in a way that is not intended.
Ex: taking 4 Tylenol for a headache instead of the recommended 1-2
Drug ___________-intentionally using drugs in a way that is unhealthy or illegal.
Ex: taking a prescription medicine that is not prescribed to you
Ex: taking a prescription medicine as it was not intended (taking a pain killer to achieve a “high” and not to relieve pain)
Which is worse?

6. Addiction
Despite knowing how horrible, dangerous, and expensive addiction is, people still try drugs every day. Why? They think that they are _____________—that they will not get addicted.
Addiction does not ________________— rich, poor, urban, rural, good family life, bad family life, educated, illiterate, young or old.
NO ONE is _______________.

7. How Do Drugs Work? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5f1nmqiHIII
Neurotransmission
Information is communicated in the brain via a process called neurotransmission. Neurotransmission involves a variety of chemical substances called “neurotransmitters.” One such neurotransmitter is called “dopamine.” In the normal communication process, dopamine is released by a neuron into the synapse (the small gap between neurons). The dopamine then binds with specialized proteins called “dopamine receptors” on the neighboring neuron thereby sending a signal to that neuron.

8. Vocabulary _________________-man-made
________________-leading to other drugs
_________________-when a person’s body becomes used to a drug or medicine and needs greater and greater amounts of it to feel the same effect
-Does this cause the gateway effect??
___________________-strength of drug
_________________-cancer-causing chemicals

9. Vocabulary, cont.
______________-intense feelings of wellbeing, happiness, excitement, and joy; drug users feel this during a “high”
_____________-illegal
_______________-the process of medical and psychological treatment for dependence on drugs or alcohol (helps people recover from addiction)

10. Consequences of Drug Use
Teens who use illegal drugs may stop pursuing their ___________________
May lead to other risky behaviors (such as?)
Drug use is a leading factor in teen ______________and suicide
Drug use is directly related to ______________
Drug use puts a burden on ________________.

11. 7 Categories of Drugs
__________________-Slow down activity in the brain and body; decrease heart rate and blood pressure
___________________-Speed up activity in the brain and body; increase heart rate and blood pressure
_______________________-Cause user to perceive things differently than they actually are; user may see things that are not really there

12. Categories of Drugs Cont.
__________________________-inhibit pain by cutting off the brain’s perception of pain
_____________________-relieve pain and induce euphoria; create mood changes in the user
________________-Breathable substances that produce mind-altering results and effects.
___________________-Marijuana
Active ingredient that causes high= tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)
WAY more THC in today’s marijuana than in the 60s/70s- more dangerous and addictive

13. Alcohol ________________
Short-term effects- impaired judgment, ________________, slurred speech, memory loss
Long-term effects- liver damage, increased risk of heart disease, decreased __________ function, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (pregnant motherchild)
Binge Drinking (_______drinks in a short period of time) can lead to alcoholism. What’s a “drink”?
It is illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to buy, ______________, or consume alcohol.

14. Marijuana __________. Slang terms?
Short-term effects- Memory problems, distorted perceptions (sights, sounds, time, touch), trouble thinking and problem-solving, loss of coordination, ____________heart rate, and ____________.
Long-term effects- Can cause psychotic symptoms, _____________, damage to _______________, weakens immune system and affects hormones.
Limits capacity to absorb and retain information.
Delay puberty in young men and reduce sperm production.
Inhibit menstruation in young women. Pregnant women risk babies with low birth rates and at greater risk for health problems and developmental delays.

15. Marijuana Vs. Cigarettes
________________ still has carcinogens, just like ciggs
5 joints=full ___________of cigarettes (more smoke, deeper inhalation, etc)
Medical use?
For the average, healthy person, marijuana has ________ health benefits (see above)
The only time marijuana is helpful medically is when a person is ________________.For example, cancer patients may need it in order to have an appetite/be able to eat. Would you want to get chemo as a healthy person?
Gateway or Stepping Stone Drug?
Teens who smoke MJ times more likely to use cocaine/heroin.
Teens who smoke MJ are more exposed to other drugs and therefore more likely to have the availability to try them.

16. Heroin Pain killer; extremely _________
Short-term effects- Clouded thinking, nausea and _____________, heart functions and breathing severely ___________; user can become addicted after just ____________
Long-term effects- Collapsed veins, soft-tissue infections, _______________damage, diseases from injection (HIV/AIDS) and _________from overdose

17. Prescription Drugs Must be _____________by a medical professional
OxyContin- painkiller just as addictive and potent as ____________
Vicodin- ____________
Valium- ______________
_____________are responsible for more overdose deaths in the US than cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and amphetamines ________.
Painkillers-slowed breathing, nausea and unconsciousness.
Depressants-heart problems, slurred speech.
Stimulants-Increase Blood pressure and heart rate, hostility and paranoia
Antidepressants-Irregular heart beat, paranoid reactions, violent or suicidal thoughts and halluciniations.

18. Pain Killers
Pain Killers only mask the pain for which they are taken and do not “________” anything.
Short-term effects- physical dependence with severe withdrawal symptoms ; severe pain until ________________
Long-term effects- Liver damage, mood changes, and _________________
One of the _________________to ‘kick’

19. Inhalants Inhalant category– obviously 
Short-term effects- slurred speech, impaired judgment, __________, coughing, nosebleeds, fatigue, and lack of coordination; death by _________________; Starves body of oxygen.
Long-term effects- Lose sense of ________, nausea and nosebleeds, may develop liver, ______and kidney problems. Loss of muscle mass, tone and strength.

20. Ecstasy ______________; synthetic drug made in laboratory
Also known as MDMA, Molly, etc.
Mixing Ecstasy & alcohol is extremely ____________
Short-term effects- Impaired judgment, confusion, depression, anxiety, ___________, teeth clenching, sweating, and severe dehydration which can lead to ___________after first use
Long-term effects- Permanent ___________damage affecting the person’s judgment and thinking ability.

21. Methamphetamines (Crystal Meth)
Stimulant; _______________
Short-term effects- aggression, irritability, anxiety, hyperactivity,__________of power, hallucinations, paranoia and convulsions resulting in _____________.
Long-term effects- Increased heart rate and blood pressure, damage to blood vessels in brain leading to ___________or irregular heartbeat and __________. Liver, kidney and lung damage. __________damage including memory and inability to grasp thoughts. Severe mood swings.

22. Crystal Meth Ingredients
Acetone
Anhydrous Ammonia
___________
Chloroform
_________Cleaner
Freon
______________
Iodine
One of the ___________addictions to break
Acetone-nail polish, removes superglue
AA-fertilizers, explosives
Chloroform-Pesticides not used as much because it damages the CNS
Freon-

23. Cocaine _____________
Short-term effects- can’t sleep or eat properly. _______________heart rate, muscle spasms and seizures. Paranoia, _________, anxiety. Heart attack and stroke that can cause immediate ____________.
Long-term effects- Irritability, mood disturbances, hallucinations, paranoia, ______________

24. Crack _____________; most ________form of cocaine
Short-term effects- same as cocaine
Long-term effects- damage to heart, liver and kidneys. Sleep deprivation and malnutrition. Extreme ___________build up
Crack is whack… duh

25. LSD and PCP
____________________-derived from an extremely poisonous ____________plant
Short-term effects- High body temperature, increase heart rate and blood pressure, loss of appetite, tremors (intense body ____________). Severe, _______________thoughts and feelings, fear of losing control, fear of insanity and death, and feelings of despair. May commit _________due to a bad “trip”
Long-term effects- Flashbacks, long lasting _____________(basically being out of touch with reality, not being able to communicate clearly; a permanent feeling of being “out of it”)

26. Drugs are NOT cool. The kids your age who THINK they are cool are going to be living in their parents’ basement at age 30 and will be total LOSERS…. Trust me. If you mess around with drugs, assume you will become an addict, or worse…