Drug Use and Abuse

Types of Drugs and their Effects

What are Drugs?

Drugs are substances, other than food, that affect a persons mental, emotional, or physical state.

The Continuum of Drug Use & Abuse

Activity
Draw the Continuum of Drug Use in another format of your choice.

Types of Drugs: #1 Hallucinogens

Hallucinogens
Alters

users perceptions of the world around them, causing distortions in their senses Overdoses are rare Accidents and injuries very common because they distort what the user experiences Flashbacks later in life are common Examples - LSD, psilocybin (magic mushrooms), mescaline, and ecstasy

Hallucinogens: LSD

LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide)

Effects are unpredictable Emotional reactions can change rapidly between

euphoria, sadness, and fear Bad trip involves anxiety, terrifying thoughts and feelings, and disorienting sensations Regular users can experience upsetting flashbacks without taking the drug again

Hallucinogens: Ecstasy

Short-term effects:
Dilated

Long-term effects:
Impaired short-term

pupils Tightening of the jaw Nausea Sweating Dry mouth and throat Increased blood pressure and heart rate Loss of appetite

memory Depression Mood changes Disrupted sleep patterns

Types of Drugs: #2 Depressants

Depressants
Slow

down the CNS and reduce inhibitions Examples alcohol, solvents (i.e. glue, gasoline), opiates (heroin), painkillers, tranquilizers and sleeping (i.e. club & date rape drugs GHB, and Rohypnol)

Depressants: Heroin and Other Opiates

Low doses cause:

Reduced

High doses cause:

Euphoria Impaired

physical and emotional pain Dizziness Reduced mental alertness Drowsiness Nausea and vomiting

concentration Slower breathing Low blood pressure Contraction of pupils Constipation Coma Death

Depressants: Inhalants and Prescribed CNS Depressant Medication

Inhalants:
Paint

thinners, modelling glue, gasoline, and cleaning fluids Produce feelings of euphoria and light-headedness Can result in brain damage, suffocation, and death

Prescribed CNS Depressant Medications:

Barbiturates and tranquilizers Used to treat anxiety,

muscles Discontinuing use can lead to withdrawal symptoms

nervousness, sleep problems, and to relax

Depressants: Date-Rape Drugs

Rohypnol
Colourless, tasteless, and odourless Leaves people with little or no memory of events while

drug

on the

GHB (liquid E)
Tastes slightly salty High doses cause extreme fatigue and unconsciousness

Ketamine (Special K, K)
Produces numbness and paralysis High doses can lead to unconsciousness

How to Protect Yourself from DateRape Drugs

Always party with friends Know who is pouring your drink Watch your drink Tell someone you trust if you feel overly intoxicated or have lost control of yourself Dont plan to go home by yourself

Types of Drugs: #3 Stimulants

Stimulants
Speed

up body systems such as the CNS and the cardio-respiratory system, delay fatigue, and may produce hyperactivity Examples nicotine, caffeine, diet pills, Ritalin, cocaine, crack, speed, and methamphetamine

Stimulants: Amphetamine-Type Stimulants (ATS)

Effects:
Increased alertness and

Increased blood

energy
Feeling of well-being
Decreased appetite Rapid heart beat and

breathing

pressure Sweating Dilated pupils Dry mouth Euphoria Dependence

Crystal Methamphetamine and Tablets

Stimulants: Cocaine and Crack

Physical effects: Rapid heart beat Dilated pupils, sweating Decreased appetite Muscle spasms, tremors Headache, pressure in the chest Nausea and fever Blurred vision convulsions

Emotional effects: Euphoria Severe agitation Paranoid thinking Erratic or violent behaviour Hallucinations

Types of Drugs: #4 Cannabis

Cannabis
Marijuana

is the most popular form Has its own classification Acts mostly as a hallucinogen, but also has depressant effects (slows response time and memory) and a stimulant effect (raises heart rate) Examples marijuana, hashish, hash oil, and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)

Consequences of Marijuana Use

Physical and Psychological Effects:

Damages the respiratory system Causes problems with memory, concentration, and the

brains ability to organize and process complex information Threat to mental and emotional health Threat to child if smoked by pregnant women Users develop tolerance and become dependent

Effects of Marijuana Use

Question #1
Name the four main types of mood-altering drugs and give examples of each.

Question # 2
List the known physical and psychological consequences of prolonged marijuana use.

The Gateway Theory

Theory proposes that someone who uses marijuana is more likely than a non-user to go on to use harder drugs (i.e. cocaine and heroin) 2 main facts to support theory:
Almost

all people who used both marijuana and "hard" drugs used marijuana first Marijuana users are more likely to try other drugs

The Gateway Theory con't

The other side of the debates says:

Opportunities

to use marijuana arise earlier in life than the opportunities to use other drugs Some individuals are simply more likely to use drugs in general (any drug). The vast majority of marijuana users do not go on to use heroin or cocaine

Activity Think, Pair, Share

The Gateway Theory proposes that use of marijuana leads to use of other drugs. Debate whether or not the same could be said for alcohol or tobacco use.

Types of Drugs: #5 Anabolic Steroids

Anabolic Steroids
Commonly

used to treat certain medical

conditions Non-medically, increase training endurance and muscle building Used to enhance athletic performance and body image Both natural and synthetic forms

A Reality Check on Steroids

What are anabolic steroids?

Performance-enhancing drugs Include testosterone, and synthetic drugs chemically

related to testosterone Prescribed by doctors to treat specific injuries, illnesses, and other medial conditions Come in pills, capsules, muscle injections, and gels and creams that are rubbed into the skin

Effects of Steroids on the Body

Specifically in Boys and Men:

Shrunken

Specifically in Girls and Women:

Irregular periods,

testicles, leading to impotence Impaired sperm production, leading to infertility Breast growth and tenderness Hair loss

or loss of periods, leading to infertility Deepening of the voice Growth of facial and body hair Shrinkage of breasts Growth of clitoris

Effects of Steroids on the Body

In Men and Women: Severe acne Stunted growth Muscle spasms Decreased flexibility Water retention Nose bleeds

Kidney

damage Liver damage Weakened immune system Increased blood pressure Increased cholesterol

Drugs: Whats the Harm in It?

Safety Concerns
Most

substances affect the users judgment and motor coordination Intoxication can cause users to make unsafe choices Activities like using equipment and machinery to playing sports become very dangerous

Whats the Harm in It?

Long-Term Physical Health Problems

Chronic

use of a substance may have longterm physical effects Some risks decrease greatly when a person stops using the substance (i.e. tobacco) Some substances, such as methamphetamine and anabolic steroids, have irreversible effects

Whats the Harm in It?

Mental Health Problems

Some

drugs such as amphetamines, ecstasy, and crystal meth can cause short-term anxiety Substance use sometimes used to selfmedicate mental health problems. This can lead to ultimately aggravating the mental health issue.

Whats the Harm in It?

Cognitive Problems
Some

substances can affect the way users perceive and understand what is going on. Example short term cannabis use has shown to impair short-term memory and the ability to concentrate

Whats the Harm in It?

Violence and Crime

Some

substances reduce inhibitions Users experience a sense of self-confidence & invincibility, but with impaired judgment. 40%-50% of violent crimes by inmates in Canadian correctional facilities involved alcohol

Whats the Harm in It?

No Quality Control for Illegal Drugs

Many

drugs such as crystal meth and MDMA (ecstasy), are manufactured in secret labs found in barns, mobile homes, motel rooms, houseboats, storage sheds, and basements by drug dealers, not chemists No quality control over their production Labs are usually dirty Many errors are made, leading to poisonous drugs

Whats the Harm in It?

The Risk of an Overdose

Risk

always present Heroin users develop a tolerance to the drug which increases the risk of overdose because the user needs to take higher doses to get the same effect. Eventually they take so much of the drug that their body cant cope. Mixing drugs can greatly increase the possibility of overdose due to them working together to produce a stronger reaction

How Drug Use Begins

Culture and Media

Glamorization

of drug use by popular culture through the Internet, TV, and movies Examples messages of alcoholic beverage consumption with images of good times, popularity, and success

How Drug Use Begins

Curiosity
want

to know how it feels

Social Acceptance
Pressure

from friends Want to gain acceptance to a particular social group

How Drug Use Begins

Lack of Knowledge About the Risks

Knowledge

is power Not knowing risks may lead to teens using a new drug heavily and vice versa

Celebrations and Religious Observances

Drugs

(alcohol especially) are often a part of family or community celebrations and religious services

How Drug Use Begins

Everyday Emotional Pressures

Some

substances temporarily improve feelings of stress, anxiety, and fatigue

Mental Health Problems

Such

as anxiety disorder, ADHD, depression, or schizophrenia Look to various drugs to self-medicate

Reasons Teens Use Drugs

Questioning Authority:
Demonstrating

independence Trying out new, exciting, and possibly risky experiences Desire to establish your own identity Tendency to act on impulse without thinking through the consequences

Question #3
Outline three reasons why someone might try using drugs, and for each reason, present an argument against using drugs.

Activity
Divide into groups and debate the issue of whether or not all drugs should be legal, but regulated. Be sure to consider both sides of the argument. Create a chart listing your arguments for and against legalization of all drugs.
Materials Needed: chart paper, markers

Video's

The Truth About Drugs (dvd)