1. Narcotics, Stimulants, and Depressants
In this lesson, you will Learn About…
The difference between drug misuse and drug abuse.
How narcotics affect the body.
The effects of stimulants on the body.
What depressants do to the body.

2. Narcotics, Stimulants, and Depressants
The Vocabulary terms in this lesson are:
Narcotics.
Addiction.
Stimulants.
Amphetamine.
Methamphetamine.
Depressants.
Click each term to display its definition.

3. Drug Misuse and Abuse
Drug misusers take legal drugs in an improper way.
Examples of drug misuse:
Using a drug without following the directions
Combining medicines without a physician’s advice
Taking more of a drug than the doctor ordered
Using a drug prescribed for someone else
Giving your prescription to someone else
Using a drug for longer than a physician advises

4. Drug Misuse and Abuse (cont’d.)
Drug abusers take substances that are against the law or are not supposed to be taken into the human body.
Examples of drug abuse:
Using any illegal drug
Using a medicine when you do not need it
Taking a substance that was not meant to enter the body
Using a drug for purposes other than medical treatment
Faking health problems to obtain or renew a prescription

5. Narcotics
Narcotics are specific drugs that are obtainable only by prescription and are used to relieve pain. Narcotics can be safe when taken under a physician’s supervision, but they are so likely to cause addiction that their sale and use is controlled by law.
Doctors may prescribe the narcotics morphine or codeine to relieve extreme pain. Narcotics can be safe when taken under a physician’s supervision, but they are so addictive that their sale and use is controlled by law. People with an addiction have a physical or psychological need for a drug. Another name for drug addiction is chemical dependency. Pharmacists must keep records of all sales of narcotics.
Heroin
Heroin is an illegal narcotic that is made from morphine. It is the most commonly abused narcotic and is highly addictive. When users do not get the heroin they need, they feel severe pain. Heroin depresses the central nervous system and can lead to coma and even death.
Because drug users often share dirty needles, users of heroin and other injected drugs are at increased risk of contracting HIV. According to recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, half of all new HIV infections occur among abusers of injected drugs.

6. Stimulants
Stimulants make the heart beat faster, increase breathing rate, and raise blood pressure. High doses of strong stimulants may cause blurred vision, dizziness, anxiety, loss of coordination, or collapse.
Examples of stimulants include:
Amphetamine
Methamphetamine
Cocaine
Crack
Some stimulants may be prescribed to help people with certain physical or emotional problems. Stimulant abuse can be very dangerous, however. Stimulants such as amphetamine, cocaine, and crack can also become habit-forming, and users can become addicted quickly.
Amphetamine. Amphetamine is a drug that stimulates the central nervous system. Doctors may prescribe amphetamines to treat hyperactive children. Amphetamines are highly addictive, however. People who use or abuse amphetamines can develop a dependence on the drugs, needing larger and larger doses to get the desired effect.
Methamphetamine. Methamphetamine is a stimulant similar to amphetamine. Doctors prescribe methamphetamines to treat diseases such as narcolepsy, Parkinson’s disease, and obesity. In recent years, methamphetamines have appeared in “club drugs”—dangerous, illegal substances available at dance clubs and all-night parties.
Cocaine. Cocaine is a powerful, illegal stimulant. Its abuse has become a major health problem in the United States. Some people use cocaine because it makes them feel happy and energetic. This feeling is short-lived, however, and is followed by depression as the drug wears off. Users often take more cocaine to relieve the depression, thus forming an addiction to it. Cocaine is a dangerous drug, and an overdose can be fatal.
Crack. Crack is a concentrated form of cocaine that can be smoked. Smoking crack has the same effects on the body as using cocaine, only stronger. Crack reaches the brain within seconds and produces an intense high. The high lasts only for a few minutes, though, and is followed by an equally intense low. The user then craves more of the drug to relieve the intense bad feelings.

7. Depressants
Depressants lower blood pressure and slow down heart rate and breathing.
There are three main kinds of depressants:
Tranquilizers can help reduce anxiety and relax muscles.
Barbiturates are powerful depressants that produce a feeling of relaxation.
Hypnotics are very strong drugs that bring on sleep.
Depressants are often called sedatives. They should be taken only under a doctor’s supervision. If taken over an extended period, they can cause dependence and a need for more and more of the drug.
Depressants produce effects similar to those produced by alcohol, which itself is a type of depressant. When depressants are combined with alcohol, the effects increase and the risks multiply. The results can be deadly.

8. Reviewing Terms and Facts
An ________ is a physical or psychological need for a drug.
addiction
Click to show the correct answer.

9. Reviewing Terms and Facts
List two types of stimulants, and describe their effects on the body.
Sample answer: The types of stimulants are:
Amphetamine
Methamphetamine
Cocaine
Crack
Stimulants are substances that speed up the body’s functions. Stimulants make the heart beat faster, increase breathing rate, and raise blood pressure.
Accept all correct variations.

10. Thinking Critically
How do the effects of stimulants differ from those of depressants?
Stimulants are substances that speed up the body’s functions. Stimulants make the heart beat faster, increase breathing rate, and raise blood pressure. Depressants, which are often called sedatives, lower blood pressure and slow down heart rate and breathing.
Click to show the correct answer.

11. Vocabulary Review
Narcotics are specific drugs that are obtainable only by prescription and are used to relieve pain.
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12. Vocabulary Review
An addiction is a physical or psychological need for a drug.
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13. Vocabulary Review
Stimulants are substances that speed up the body’s functions.
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14. Vocabulary Review
Amphetamine is a drug that stimulates the central nervous system.
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15. Vocabulary Review
Methamphetamine is a stimulant similar to amphetamine.
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16. Vocabulary Review
Depressants are substances that slow down the body’s functions and reactions.
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