Health: Unit #3 Substance abuse: Any unnecessary or improper use of chemical substances for non-medical purposes o Includes: -Overuse, or multiple use of a drug -Use of an illegal drug -Use of a drug with alcohol o Leading cause of crime, suicide, and unintentional injuries 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 not permitted; a crime o Includes sale of prescription drugs to people who they are not intended for Peer pressure o The influence of your friends or social group Family members o Can help teens resist drug use Role models o Coaches, athletes, actors, and professionals who speak about the benefits of being drug-free Media messages o TV, radio, web sites, movies, and music can influence how you feel about drug use Perceptions of drug behavior o May lead teens to believe that drug use is higher than it is in reality Misleading information o Can lead teens to think that certain drug use can be beneficial PHYSICAL Overdose: A strong, sometimes fatal reaction to taking a large amount of a drug o Injecting with a needle = increase risk of hepatitis B and HIV MENTAL May impair ability to reason and think Ecstasy alters the brains structure and function Behave in ways that go against values SOCIAL Lose friendships Relationships with family members suffer Legal consequences Tolerance o A need for more and more of the drug to achieve desired effect Psychological dependence (mind) o Causes a person to believe that a drug is needed in order to feel good or to function normally Physiological dependence (body) o User develops a chemical dependence to the drug (withdrawal symptoms occur when the drug starts to wears off) Addiction o A psychological and physiological dependence on a drug (professional intervention to stop is necessary) Marijuana: A plant whose leaves, buds, and flowers are usually smoked for their intoxicating effects o All forms are mind-altering and can damage users health o Some forms combined with other drugs during processing (unpredictable) o Can lead to risky behavior and even death o Smoked (same risks as tobacco smokers) o Contains carcinogens (cancer causing chemicals) o Inhaling unfiltered smoke (respiratory problems) o Smoking (damage to immune system more susceptible to infections) THC stands for Tetrahydrocannabinol https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0IzYFHTGho https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0IzYFHTGho Inhalants: Substances whose fumes are sniffed or inhaled to give an effect o Depress the CNS (central nervous system) o Permanent loss of brain cells o To avoid accidentally inhaling fumes while doing household chores: Well- ventilated room Wear a mask o Anabolic-androgenic steroids: Synthetic substances similar to male sex hormones o Injection = increased risk for Hepatitis B and HIV o Violent behavior, extreme mood swings, depression, paranoia o Any non-medical use of steroids is illegal Male: o Shrinking testicles o Reduced sperm count o Baldness o Development of breasts Female: o Facial hair o Baldness o Menstrual cycle changes o Deepened voice Psychoactive drugs: Chemicals that affect the central nervous system and alter activity in the brain 4 main groups: o Stimulants o Depressants o Opiates (Narcotics) o Hallucinogens Club drug: A drug found at concerts, dance clubs, and drug parties, called raves o Sometimes disguised in foods, or slipped into drinks and taken without a persons knowledge Designer drugs: Synthetic drugs that are made to imitate the effects of other drugs o Examples: Ecstasy (MDMA) Rohypnol (roofies) GHB (Gamma hydroxybutyric acid) Ketamine (special K) Methamphetamine (meth) LSD (acid) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dE1PNgp1v00 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dE1PNgp1v00 (ecstasy) (bath salts) Stimulants: Drugs that speed up the central nervous system Examples: o Nicotine o Caffeine o Cocaine o Methamphetamines o Crack o Amphetamines (adderall, ritalin) Depressants: Drugs that slow down the central nervous system o Slow heart rate, respiration rate, and lower blood pressure o Shallow breathing, weak or rapid pulse, coma, death o Examples: Barbiturates (sedatives Tranquilizers (relieve anxiety, muscle spasms, sleeplessness) Rohypnol roofies (date rape drug) Gamma Hydroxybutyric Acid GHB Hallucinogens: Drugs that alter moods, thoughts and sense perceptions, including vision, hearing, smell, and touch Increase heart and respiratory rates Overload sensory controls in brain (confusion, intensified sensations, hallucinations) Altered mental states for several hours or several days Extremely unpredictable May harm themselves physically, or behave violently and harm others o Examples: Ecstasy (MDMA) Ketamine (anesthetic used to treat animals) Acid (LSD) Phencyclidine (PCP or angel dust) Dextromethorphan (DXM) Psilocybin (mushrooms) Mescaline (peyote) Opiates (Narcotics): drugs derived from the opium plant that are obtainable only by prescription and are used to relieve pain Abusing opiates: o Dulls the senses o Causes drowsiness o Slow and shallow breathing o Convulsions o Coma o Death Examples: o Morphine (very strong; used to treat severe pain) o Codeine o Oxycodone (OxyContin) o Heroin (processed form of morphine) School Efforts o Drug-free school zones: Areas within 1,000 to 1,500 feet of school and designated by signs, within which people caught selling drugs receive especially severe penalties Community Efforts o Drug Watches: Organized community efforts by neighborhood residents to patrol, monitor, report, and otherwise try to stop drug deals and drug abuse Rehabilitation: The process of medical and psychological treatment for physiological and psychological dependence on a drug o Most drug users need the help from family, friends, and counseling to end their addiction o Drug treatment centers offer a safe place to withdraw from drug use o Many centers provide medications to help with the physical and psychological effects of withdrawal