Illegal Drugs CHAPTER 22 LESSON 1 HEALTH RISKS

Illegal Drugs CHAPTER 22, LESSON 1 HEALTH RISKS OF DRUG USE

Substance Abuse • Substance abuse: • Any unnecessary or improper use of chemical substances for non-medical purposes • Illegal drugs: • Chemical substances that people of any age may not lawfully manufacture, possess, buy, or sell • Illicit drug use: • The use or sale of any substance that is illegal or otherwise is not permitted Illegal drug use can lead to death.

Factors that influence Teens • Peer pressure • Family members • Role models • Media messages (TV, Radio, websites, movies, music) • Perceptions of drug behavior • Misleading information (beneficial? Ex: steroid use boosts sports performance)

How drugs affect your health • Physical Health Overdose – strong, sometimes fatal reaction Increased risk of disease – HIV, hepatitis B • Mental Health Alters brain structure and function – Ecstasy Impairs ability to reason and think Lowers inhibitions – illegal or dangerous • Social Health Loss of friendships and other relationships Legal consequences (leading cause of crime, suicide, and unintentional injuries)

Other Effects of Drug Use Reactions can occur from one time use or multiple uses… • Tolerance • Psychological dependence • Physiological dependence • Addiction – great difficulty stopping use Illegal drugs are not regulated, so compounds and ingredients may be different in each batch made by manufacturer.

Individual Consequences of Drug Use • Reasoning is clouded – domino effect – • • one bad decision leads to another… examples? Interests and goals unattained Leading factor in teen depression and suicide Increased violence, crime, accidental death More likely to be arrested - jail

What about Friends/Family and others? • Drug use affects everyone in person’s life • Family feels burden of the emotional and financial costs • Spending time with friends is halted • Drugs passed from mother to developing fetus…born with birth defects, behavioral problems, or drug addiction • How would you feel losing a friend to drugs?

Consequences for Society • Causes harm to society (drug-related crime and violence) • DUI/DWI – collisions cause injuries/deaths • Affects Nation’s economy: • $180 billion/year • Lost work hours/productivity – drug-related illnesses, jail time, accidents, deaths • Health care costs and legal fees • Law enforcement costs/insurance costs

Illegal Drugs CHAPTER 22, LESSON 2 MARIJUANA, INHALANTS, AND STEROIDS

Marijuana Mind-altering and can damage user’s health; leads to risky behavior (“gateway drug”) Influenced by mood and surroundings: • Hallucinations and paranoia • Impaired short-term memory, reaction time, concentration • • & coordination Decreased initiative and ambition Lung irritation – heart and lung damage Weakened immunity to infection Females=risk of infertility; Males=low sperm count & testosterone levels

Marijuana • Physical consequences: Same health risks as tobacco smokers Contains more cancer-causing chemicals than tobacco smoke (421 different chemicals) • Mental and Emotional consequences: Raises levels of dopamine in brain (high then low) Paranoia – irrational, suspicious or distrust Very sleepy – driving? • Social consequences: Injury/death to others if driving impaired Legal prosecution; loss of privileges

Inhalants • Substances whose fumes are sniffed or inhaled to give effect (i. e. solvents, aerosols, glues, paints, varnishes, and gasoline = brain damage) • Depress central nervous system with effects: • • Glassy stare, slurred speech, impaired judgment Nausea, coughing, nosebleeds, fatigue, lack of coordination Extremely dangerous – labeled as poisons – work in wellventilated room and wear a mask if long exposure is required

Steroid Use • Anabolic-androgenic Steroids synthetic substances similar to male sex hormones (anabolic = muscle building; androgenic = male characteristics) - Effects on males: - Effects on females: - Shrinking testicles Reduced sperm count Baldness Development of breasts Increased risk of prostate cancer - facial hair - baldness - menstrual cycle changes - deepened voice

Steroid Use When used without medical supervision, illegal & dangerous! • Unnatural muscle growth • Weight gain, acne, high blood pressure, liver & kidney tumors • Violent behavior, mood swings, depression, paranoia • Injected increases risk of HIV, hepatitis B • Athletes face team/event expulsion, fines, tarnished reputation, jail time

Illegal Drugs CHAPTER 22, LESSON 3 PSYCHOACTIVE DRUGS

Effects of Psychoactive Drugs • Psychoactive Drugs Chemicals that affect the central nervous system and alter activity to the brain Four main groups: stimulants, depressants, opiates, hallucinogens

Club Drugs, Stimulants, Depressants Club Drug – “designer drugs” made to imitate other drugs; can be 700 x stronger • Rohypnol – “roofies” – depressants (colorless, odorless, tasteless), slows CNS. Also called the “date rape” drug. Criminal offense to engage sexual activity with someone under the influence… • GHB (gamma hydroxybutyic acid) – depressant “date rape” Never allow a stranger to handle your drink…

Stimulants Drugs that speed up the CNS – can lead to death • Methamphetamine “Meth” (street name) • LSD (acid) • Nicotine (found in tobacco products) • Caffeine (coffee, tea, soda, power drinks) • Cocaine – can cause malnutrition, cardiac problems • Crack – mixed with alcohol can be fatal • Amphetamines – highly addictive

Depressants - Drugs that slow the CNS – negative and sometimes deadly effects • Barbiturates – sedatives rarely used for medical purposes that used with alcohol can be fatal • Tranquilizers – relieves anxiety, muscle spasms, sleeplessness, and nervousness. When overused, could cause physiological and psychological dependence, coma, and death • Alcohol – commonly used; mixed with other drugs can be deadly

Hallucinogens Serious mental/emotional and physical consequences; altering moods, thoughts, sense perceptions (vision, smell, hearing, touch); can last for hours or days – extremely unpredictable Examples include: - Ecstasy – stimulant and hallucinogen causing short-term euphoria - PCP – “angel dust”; most dangerous - Mushrooms and Peyote – poisoning and death when harvest with toxic species

Opiates (Narcotics) Derived from opium plant, obtainable only through prescription; used to relieve pain • Morphine • Codeine • Oxycodone – also known as “Oxy. Contin” • Heroin

Illegal Drugs CHAPTER 22, LESSON 4 LIVING DRUG-FREE

Resisting Pressure… “Everybody is NOT doing it!” – almost 62% of high school students have never tried marijuana and 90% have never tried cocaine. Commit to be drug free – choose friends with same values; avoid places of availability Refusal Skills – plan ahead, what will you say? Healthy Alternatives – hobbies, sports, community activities, school organizations/clubs

Becoming Drug Free Recognize warning signs – page 614, Figure 22. 15 Identify help in community Talk to person when he/she is sober; express concern and care without being judgmental Listen to response – be prepared for anger and denial Offer support

Getting Help ü Outpatient drug-free treatment ü Short-term treatment ü Maintenance therapy ü Therapeutic communities ü Behavioral change strategies through counseling; adjusting to life w/o drugs ü Support groups – long-term support ü Family support

What is the CNS and what is its function? Central Nervous System Functions: brain and spinal cord receives impulses to/from nerves to body coordinating all body activities (breathing, digesting food, sensing pain, feeling fear; moving fingers, legs, speaking, swallowing, thinking, doing…)