Preventing Drug Abuse Differences in drugs Medicine legal

Preventing Drug Abuse

Differences in drugs �Medicine- legal drug used to help the body fight injury, illness or disease Over-the-counter- medicine that is sold legally in pharmacies without a doctor’s prescription Prescription drug- drug that can be obtained only with a written order from a doctor

Differences in drugs �Illegal drug- a chemical substance that people may not lawfully manufacture, possess, buy or sell �Drug abuse- when a drug is intentionally used improperly or unsafely Occurs when people intentionally use any kind of drugs for nonmedical purposes

Depressants �Slow body functions by decreasing heart & breathing rates & lowering blood pressure Alcohol Opiates ▪ Heroin: illegal drug made from morphine ▪ Abusers seem dazed & disoriented ▪ Nausea, vomiting, decreased alertness, depressed respiration

Stimulants �Increase heart rate, blood pressure, breathing rate, and alertness �Sometimes prescribed to treat ADD or ADHD Amphetamines: produce feelings of well-being & high energy; effects wear off quickly; ‘speed’ Methamphetamines: ‘meth’ ‘ice’; made from lots of over-the-counter medications; produces a ‘rush’; users become shaky, nervous, paranoid & psychotic; strokes are common; brain damage Cocaine: highly addictive; tolerance develops fast; seizures & heart attack can occur during first use; crack

Hallucinogens �Drug that distorts perception, thought & mood �Overload the brain with sensory information, causing a distorted sense of reality �Illegal & have no medical use LSD: effects are unpredictable; can experience bad episodes (bad trip); flashbacks can occur years later Shrooms: psilocybin (chemical); like LSD but not as strong PCP: was once used as a pain killer for large animals; users will develop signs of schizophrenia; ‘angel dust’

Marijuana �The leaves, stems & flowering tops of the hemp plant �Is one of the most frequently abused psychoactive drugs- main ingredient changes the way information reaches & is acted upon by the brain

Marijuana �Effects: Distorted perceptions- sights, sounds, time & touch Difficulties with thinking & problem solving Loss of motor coordination Increased heart rate Feelings of anxiety or paranoia

Marijuana �Gateway drug? Phrase reflects the fact that marijuana use is often a gateway to using other ‘harder’ drugs, such as cocaine Studies show that most young people who use other illegal drugs first starting by using marijuana

Club Drugs �Strength & quality are unpredictable �Effects are different from person-to-person Ecstasy- stimulant & hallucinogen; increased heart rate & blood pressure; high temperature can lead to organ failure; severe sweating & chills ‘Roofies’- depressant; decreased blood pressure; confusion; memory loss; ‘date rape drug’ Ketamine- hallucinogen; numbness & impaired motor function; can cause respiratory problems

Inhalants �A breathable chemical vapor that produces mind-altering effects �Produce brief feelings of excitement or giddiness Liver & kidney damage Permanent hearing loss Loss of consciousness Coma Death