Myth Busting Alcohol Tobacco Marijuana Hilltown Charter School

Myth Busting Alcohol, Tobacco, & Marijuana Hilltown Charter School

Q. What are the MOST addictive drugs? • Nicotine • Heroin • Cocaine

Q. Is it bad to overdose on Advil? Yes • • • Gastrointestinal distress Blurred vision, ringing ears Breathing trouble Confusion, headache, dizziness Kidney damage

Q. What is Cocaine? • Cocaine is a stimulant derived from the Coca bush found in Peru • Stimulants are often abused because they make a person feel very energized and alert

Q. Is taking a shot out of a tampon trending? • • • Might be an urban legend Painful! Yeast infections Damage to mucus membranes of vagina or anus Alcohol would leak out of your body No way to vomit if too much alcohol is absorbed into blood stream so this method could lead to death

Q. What are some of the harmful effects of a drug? • • Loss of motivation Memory problems Anxiety, depression, psychosis Damaged relationships Brain damage, organ damage Addiction, antisocial behaviors Death

Q. Why do teens get into drugs? • • • Curiosity, interest Peer pressure To feel cool or sophisticated To rebel Friends, siblings or parents use Escape their problems, self-medicate Cope with emotions To relax/combat anxiety Seems harmless, socially acceptable

Q. How long do the effects of weed last? • 2 -4 hours Many factors can impact this: • First use vs. chronic use • Age, height, and weight • THC levels in weed • Method of consumption • Concurrent use with other substances • Above the Influence

Q. Is marijuana use pleasurable? Positive effects experienced by some include • Euphoria • Relaxation • Increased appetite for food and/or sex Negative effects for some include • Paranoia • Heart palpitations • Psychosis • Impaired sexual function

Q. Is smoking weed any worse than smoking cigarettes? No, it’s a lot worse… • Addiction • Losses: relationships, motivation, IQ, spirit • Damage to brain: executive functioning and short term memory • Cost

Q. How much marijuana can you legally possess? • If you are over the age of 18 and have less than 1 ounce of marijuana, it is considered a civil offense and you may be issued a $100 citation. • If you are under the age of 18, you need to complete a mandated drug education program and your parents are notified of your possession.

Q. Which drug makes you the highest? • Define “highest” • Each category of substance has a different effect on different people. • Stimulants make you alert, barbiturates make you tired, psychedelics alter your perception of reality and the effects of combining any of the above can be very unpredictable

Q. Can alcohol make you hallucinate? Yes • During acute intoxication • During withdrawal

Q. Have you ever taken a drug? Do you like alcohol?

Q. What is the worst drug you could do? • HEROIN It is cheap and plentiful, highly addictive and super easy to overdose on unintentionally.

Q. Why is there no restriction on alcohol advertising? • • Actually, there are restrictions… Why aren’t there more? Why isn’t it controlled like tobacco? http: //www. alcoholpolicymd. com/pdf/AMA_F inal_web_1. pdf

Q. Why is alcohol considered acceptable by society when it causes so much harm? • • • Excellent Question!!!!! Perceived risk vs. Actual risk $$$$$$$ Lobbying Focus on the individual, not the product

Q. How much alcohol can an adult consume before they become intoxicated? There are many factors that influence this mark: • Age, height, weight • First use, or chronic use? • Type of alcohol consumed • Speed of ingestion • Quantity consumed

Quiz Time: Test your knowledge! What is addiction? a. A personal weakness b. loss of control over drug use c. continued use despite harm d. compulsive use and craving e. b, c, & d

If someone offers you marijuana and you don’t want it, a good response is to… a. Say, “No, thanks. ” b. Make a scene and put him down for smoking pot c. Say, “I don’t like what it does to me. ” d. Say, “Thanks a lot, ” and take a hit.

Advertisers try to make you believe that drinking alcohol will… a. b. c. d. e. Make you more popular Make you throw up Make you look glamorous, sexy, or macho Get you addicted Make you have a car crash

Almost any drug, if used for a long time, causes physical or mental dependency… a. TRUE a. FALSE

Heavy and chronic drinking can harm every organ and system in your body a. TRUE b. FALSE

Having a bad ‘high’ on marijuana means you feel anxious, scared, uptight, or even terrified a. TRUE a. FALSE

Marijuana is being cultivated to contain much higher THC content than it has when it grows in the wild. THC content is often as high as 20% a. TRUE b. FALSE

If a parent or other family member is an alcoholic, you are much more likely to become an alcoholic a. TRUE b. FLASE

Because marijuana is a “natural” substance, it is a safe alternative to drugs a. TRUE b. FALSE

People who smoke don’t become addicted to cigarettes until several years after they start smoking a. TRUE b. FALSE

Smoking just one cigarette a week can cause coughing, wheezing and excessive phlegm a. TRUE b. FALSE

Some people become dependent on marijuana or alcohol as a way to feel good or to escape their problems a. TRUE b. FALSE

It’s more dangerous to drive when you are drunk than when you are high on drugs a. TRUE b. FALSE

E-cigarettes are a safe alternative to traditional cigarettes a. TRUE b. FALSE

Synthetic marijuana is a safe alternative to regular marijuana a. TRUE b. FALSE

Losing control when you are drunk or high means you may do something you wouldn’t do if you were not high a. TRUE b. FALSE

Opioids that are prescribed for pain are not addictive a. TRUE b. FALSE

Chewing tobacco isn’t bad for you a. TRUE b. FALSE

The younger a person is when they first use drugs; the more likely a person is to develop an addiction a. TRUE b. FALSE

Two thirds of adolescents who do use drugs also suffer with a mental health problem a. TRUE b. FALSE

Thank You!!!!