Drug AbuseDrug Abuse

88thth Grade Health Grade Health

Hillcrest Middle SchoolHillcrest Middle School

Mr. De OliveiraMr. De Oliveira

Substance AbuseSubstance Abuse Substance AbuseSubstance Abuse – –

using an illegal substance.using an illegal substance.using a legal substance in the wrong wayusing a legal substance in the wrong way. .

You can abuse a drug without having an You can abuse a drug without having an addiction. addiction.

For exampleFor example: Just because Sarah smoked : Just because Sarah smoked marijuana on a few occasions it does not marijuana on a few occasions it does not mean that she has an addiction, but it does mean that she has an addiction, but it does mean that she's abusing a drug that could mean that she's abusing a drug that could lead to an addiction or trouble with the law. lead to an addiction or trouble with the law.

AddictionAddiction

AddictionAddiction – – occurs when a person has no occurs when a person has no control over whether he or she uses a drug control over whether he or she uses a drug or drinks. Someone who is addicted to a or drinks. Someone who is addicted to a drug has become so use to that drug that drug has become so use to that drug that he or she must have ithe or she must have it. . Addictions can Addictions can bebe physical, physical, psychological psychological oror both. both.

Addiction begins as abuseAddiction begins as abuse, or using a , or using a substance like marijuana or cocaine.substance like marijuana or cocaine.

People can get addicted to many different People can get addicted to many different substances.substances.

Signs of Early AddictionSigns of Early Addiction

Relying on the substance to have fun, Relying on the substance to have fun, forget problems, or to relaxforget problems, or to relax

Blackouts Blackouts Using substances alone Using substances alone Withdrawing or keeping secrets from Withdrawing or keeping secrets from

friends or family friends or family Losing interest in activities that used to be Losing interest in activities that used to be

important important Performing poorly in school (such as Performing poorly in school (such as

grades dropping and frequent absences)grades dropping and frequent absences)

Addiction ContinuedAddiction Continued

Eventually the person builds an Eventually the person builds an increased increased tolerancetolerance to alcohol or to alcohol or drugs — gradually drugs — gradually needing more and needing more and more of the substance to get the more of the substance to get the same feelingsame feeling. .

The individual may start lying, The individual may start lying, stealing, or selling to get money for stealing, or selling to get money for drugs or alcohol drugs or alcohol

Physical AddictionPhysical Addiction A A physical addictionphysical addiction occurs when – occurs when –

a person's a person's bodybody actually becomes dependent actually becomes dependent and cannot function without the substanceand cannot function without the substance (even smoking is physically addictive). (even smoking is physically addictive).

It also means building It also means building tolerancetolerance to that to that substance, so that a substance, so that a person needs a larger person needs a larger dose than ever before to get the same effectsdose than ever before to get the same effects..

Someone who is physically addicted and stops Someone who is physically addicted and stops using substances like drugs, alcohol, or using substances like drugs, alcohol, or cigarettes may experience cigarettes may experience withdrawalwithdrawal symptomssymptoms..

Common symptoms of withdrawal are diarrhea, Common symptoms of withdrawal are diarrhea, shaking, and generally feeling awfushaking, and generally feeling awful.l.

Psychological AddictionPsychological Addiction Psychological AddictionPsychological Addiction occurs when occurs when

when the when the cravingscravings for a drug are psychological or for a drug are psychological or emotionalemotional ( (feel good affectfeel good affect)). People who are . People who are psychologically addicted feel overcome by the psychologically addicted feel overcome by the desiredesire to to have a drug. They may lie or steal to get it.have a drug. They may lie or steal to get it.

A person crosses the line between abuse and A person crosses the line between abuse and addiction when he or she is no longer trying the addiction when he or she is no longer trying the drug to have fun or get high, but has come to drug to have fun or get high, but has come to depend on it. depend on it.

His or her whole life centers around the need for His or her whole life centers around the need for the drug. the drug.

An addicted person whether no longer feels like An addicted person whether no longer feels like there is a choice in taking a substance they must there is a choice in taking a substance they must have it.have it.

Signs of AddictionSigns of Addiction The most obvious sign of an The most obvious sign of an

addiction is the need to have a addiction is the need to have a particular drug or substance. particular drug or substance.

Physical SignsPhysical Signs – – changes in sleeping habits changes in sleeping habits feeling shaky or sick when trying to stop feeling shaky or sick when trying to stop needing to take more of the substance needing to take more of the substance

to get the same effect to get the same effect changes in eating habits, including changes in eating habits, including

weight loss or gain weight loss or gain

Psychological signs Psychological signs Using the substance to forget problemsUsing the substance to forget problems Withdrawal or keeping secrets from family Withdrawal or keeping secrets from family

and friends and friends Loss of interest in activities that used to be Loss of interest in activities that used to be

important important Problems with schoolwork, such as slipping Problems with schoolwork, such as slipping

grades or absences grades or absences Changes in friendships. Changes in friendships. Spending a lot of time figuring out how to Spending a lot of time figuring out how to

obtain drugs obtain drugs Stealing or selling belongings to be able to Stealing or selling belongings to be able to

afford drugs afford drugs Anxiety, anger, or depression Anxiety, anger, or depression Mood swings Mood swings

WHAT ARE DRUGS?WHAT ARE DRUGS? Drugs-Drugs-are chemicals or substances that are chemicals or substances that

change the way the body works. change the way the body works. Drugs can be in 3 ways Drugs can be in 3 ways swallowed, swallowed,

inhaled or injected. inhaled or injected.

Drinking alcoholDrinking alcohol, , smoking tobaccosmoking tobacco, , taking illegal taking illegal drugsdrugs, and , and sniffing inhalantssniffing inhalants can severely can severely impair a person's ability to make healthy impair a person's ability to make healthy choices and decisions. choices and decisions.

““Teens who drink are more likely to get Teens who drink are more likely to get involved in dangerous situations, such as involved in dangerous situations, such as driving under the influence or having driving under the influence or having unprotected sex”unprotected sex”

Drugs are essentially poisons. The amount taken Drugs are essentially poisons. The amount taken determines the effect. determines the effect. A small amount acts as a stimulantA small amount acts as a stimulant

(increases activity). (increases activity). A greater amount acts as a sedativeA greater amount acts as a sedative

(suppresses activity). (suppresses activity). An even An even larger amount poisons and can killlarger amount poisons and can kill..

This is true of any drug. This is true of any drug. Only the Only the amount needed to achieve the effect amount needed to achieve the effect

differsdiffers. .

HOW DO DRUGS WORK?HOW DO DRUGS WORK?

DRUGSDRUGS A drug may be A drug may be helpfulhelpful or or harmfulharmful.. The effects of drugs can vary depending uponThe effects of drugs can vary depending upon::

the the kind of drugkind of drug taken taken how muchhow much is taken is taken how oftenhow often it is used it is used how quickly it gets to the brainhow quickly it gets to the brainwhat other what other drugs, food, or substancesdrugs, food, or substances

are taken at the same time. are taken at the same time. Effects can also varyEffects can also vary based based on the on the

differences in differences in body sizebody size, , shapeshape, and , and chemistrychemistry..

To fit inTo fit inTo escape or relaxTo escape or relaxBecause they are boredBecause they are bored It makes them seem grown upIt makes them seem grown upTo rebelTo rebel To experiment & Curiosity To experiment & Curiosity

They think drugs are a solutionThey think drugs are a solution. . But But eventually, the drugs become the problemeventually, the drugs become the problem..

WHY DO TEENS TRY WHY DO TEENS TRY DRUGS?DRUGS?

““My goal in life wasn’t living…. It was getting My goal in life wasn’t living…. It was getting high. I was falling in a downward spiral high. I was falling in a downward spiral towards a point of no return. Over the years, towards a point of no return. Over the years, I turned to cocain, marijuana and alcohol I turned to cocain, marijuana and alcohol under a false belief it would allow me to under a false belief it would allow me to escape my problems. It made things worse. I escape my problems. It made things worse. I had everything, a good job, money a loving had everything, a good job, money a loving family, yet I felt so empty inside. As if I had family, yet I felt so empty inside. As if I had nothing. Over 20 years of using, nothing. Over 20 years of using, I kept saying I kept saying to myself, I’m going to stop permanently to myself, I’m going to stop permanently after using this last timeafter using this last time. . It never happened.It never happened. There were even moments I had thought of There were even moments I had thought of giving up on life.” giving up on life.” –John–John

JOHN’S STORYJOHN’S STORY

The truth is, drugs The truth is, drugs DON’TDON’T solve solve problems. problems.

Drugs simply Drugs simply HIDEHIDE feelingsfeelings and and problemsproblems. When a drug wears off, the . When a drug wears off, the feelings and problems remain - or feelings and problems remain - or become worse.become worse.

Drugs can ruin every aspect of a Drugs can ruin every aspect of a person's life.person's life.

THE TRUTH ABOUT THE TRUTH ABOUT DRUGSDRUGS

Drug Addiction Video Drug Addiction Video clip!!!!!!clip!!!!!!

http://www.brainpop.com/health/personalhealth/addiction/

Getting HelpGetting Help

It's usually hard for people to recognize It's usually hard for people to recognize they have a problemthey have a problem, which is why friends , which is why friends or family often step in. or family often step in.

People who are addicted to drugs or alcohol People who are addicted to drugs or alcohol may may promise over and over that they'll promise over and over that they'll stopstop. But quitting is hard to do, and . But quitting is hard to do, and many many people find they can't do it without helppeople find they can't do it without help. .

The best thing you can do is to The best thing you can do is to talk to talk to someone you trustsomeone you trust — preferably — preferably an adult an adult who can support youwho can support you — — so you don't have so you don't have to deal with your problem alone.to deal with your problem alone.

Getting Help ContinuedGetting Help Continued If you think you're addicted to drugs or If you think you're addicted to drugs or

alcohol, alcohol, recognizing that you have a recognizing that you have a problem is the first step in getting helpproblem is the first step in getting help..

A lot of people think they can kick the A lot of people think they can kick the problem on their own, but that doesn't problem on their own, but that doesn't work for most people. work for most people.

If you can't talk to your parents, you might If you can't talk to your parents, you might want to approach a want to approach a school counselorschool counselor, , relativerelative,, doctor doctor,, favorite teacher favorite teacher,, or or religious leaderreligious leader..

Substance abuse is a difficult habit to kick, Substance abuse is a difficult habit to kick, help is often needed.help is often needed.