1. Some things you need to know.
Illegal Drugs
Some things you need to know.
Health Ed. II-Mrs. Fisher

2. 3 classes of Illegal Drugs
Class A Drugs
are the most addictive and harmful
Examples: cocaine, crack, meth, ecstasy, heroin, LSD
Class B drugs prepared for injection
Just having a class A drug in your pocket can get you up to seven years in prison.
If you sell a class A drug you will be classified as a dealer.
Someone who is caught dealing drugs could get sentenced to life in prison.

3. 3 classes of Illegal Drugs
Class B Drugs
Examples: amphetamines (speed), barbiturates, cannabis, codeine
Very harmful and addictive
If found with a Class B, can receive up to 5 years in prison.
Dealers will receive up to 14 years in prison

4. 3 classes of Illegal Drugs
Class C Drugs
Includes tranquilizers and steroids
Can get up to 2 years in prison for possession
Dealers can get up to 14 years in prison.

5. Marijuana-What is it?
Mixture of dried and shredded leaves, stems, seeds and flowers of the cannabis sativa plant.
Contains the chemical tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) along with 400 other chemicals
THC is psychoactive (mind altering)
The amount of THC determines the strength or potency of marijuana
THC content has increased since the 1970s.
From reports of confiscated marijuana in 2007, the THC content averages almost 10%

6. Marijuana-Street names
Pot
Grass
Herb
Weed
Mary Jane
Reefer
Skunk
boom

7. Marijuana-How is it used?
Most commonly smoked
“joint” or “nail”-rolled into a cigarette
“Bong”-smoked through a water pipe
“Blunt”-cigar hollowed out and filled with marijuana
some users brew it as tea or mix it with food.

8. What do they look like?
Joint blunt bong

9. Marijuana-Short term effects
Initial “high”-pleasant feelings
THC triggers release of dopamine (creates good feelings).
Loss of coordination/balance-cerebellum
Memory/learning-hippocampus
Judgment/decision making
Perception
Increase in heart rate

10. Marijuana-effects on the brain
Ability to perform complex tasks is compromised.
Early use of marijuana increases risk to develop psychosis if there is a genetic vulnerability
Loss of contact with reality, delusions (false ideas about what is happening), and hallucinations
Associated with depression and anxiety
People get addicted to the increase of dopamine (produces happy feelings)

11. Cocaine/Crack-What is it?
Stimulant
Cocaine is a powder form of a hydrochloride salt made from the leaf of a coca plant
Crack is the smokable form of cocaine
Processed with ammonia or baking soda and water
Then it is heated to remove the hydrochloride

12. Cocaine/Crack-Street Names
Blow
Coke
Snow
Nose candy
Big C
Powder

13. Cocaine/Crack-How is it abused?
Snorting-through nose. Absorbed through nasal tissues into blood stream.
Injecting
Smoking
**all three methods can lead to addiction and other health problems

14. Cocaine/Crack-short term effects
increased energy
Increase body temperature
Constricts blood vessels
reduced fatigue
mental alertness
Increase blood pressure
Increase heart rate
**all due to the fact that cocaine is a stimulant
**the faster cocaine is absorbed into bloodstream and delivered to the brain, the more intense the high

15. Cocaine/Crack-Long term effects
headaches
gastrointestinal complications such as abdominal pain and nausea
Malnourishment-tends to decrease appetite
If snorted-loss of the sense of smell, nosebleeds, problems with swallowing, hoarseness, chronically runny nose
Users can experience heart attack or stroke which can lead to sudden death

16. Methamphetamine-What is it?
Central nervous system stimulant (very powerful)
Comes in clear crystals or powder
Easily dissolves in water
Street names: ice, speed, chalk, crystal, tweak, poor man’s cocaine, stove top

17. Meth-effects on the brain
Effects short- and long-term memory by changing the structure of the brain.
Meth users have delusions and hallucinations
Hear voices, feel as though they have bugs crawling under their skin, paranoia
Highly addictive-trains the brain to think that meth is the only way to feel good
Meth brain

18. Meth-what does it do to your body?
Rots your teeth
Causes your hair to fall out
Raises body temp
Severely increases heart rate and blood pressure
Lose muscle tone and bone density
Graying skin, open sores, and acne
Involuntary muscle contractions, uncontrollable twitching, strange movements
Meth body

19. Meth-short term effects
including increased wakefulness
increased physical activity
decreased appetite
increased respiration, rapid heart rate, irregular heartbeat, increased blood pressure
hyperthermia

20. Meth-long term effects
extreme weight loss
severe dental problems (“meth mouth”)
anxiety, confusion, insomnia, mood disturbances, and violent behavior.
display a number of psychotic features, including:
paranoia, visual and auditory hallucinations, and delusions (for example, the sensation of insects crawling under the skin).

21. Inhalants-What are they?
Chemical vapors that are inhaled in order to get high
Come from a variety of products that are found in the home and workplace
More commonly abused by younger adolescents because of availability/access
Categorized into 4 categories

22. Inhalant Categories
Volatile Solvents-liquids that vaporize at room temperature
paint thinner, nail polish remover, degreaser, gasoline, white out, markers
Aerosols-sprays that contain propellants and solvents
Spray paint, hair spray, cooking spray
Gases-household or commercial products, or used as medical anesthetics
Whipped cream dispensers, butane lighters, propane tanks, nitrous oxide, chloroform
Nitrites-used primarily as sexual enhancers
amyl, butyl, and cyclohexyl nitrites

23. Inhalants-Street Names
"laughing gas" (nitrous oxide)
"snappers" (amyl nitrite)
"poppers" (amyl nitrite and butyl nitrite)
"whippets" (fluorinated hydrocarbons, found in whipped cream dispensers)
"bold" (nitrites)
"rush" (nitrites)

24. Inhalants-How are they abused?
Vapors inhaled through nose or mouth by one of the following ways:
"Sniffing" or "snorting" fumes from containers
Spraying aerosols directly into the nose or mouth
Sniffing or inhaling fumes from substances sprayed or placed into a plastic or paper bag ("bagging")
"Huffing" from an inhalant-soaked rag stuffed in the mouth
Inhaling from balloons filled with nitrous oxide
The “high” lasts only a few minutes,
Inhalers try to make the high last longer by inhaling repeatedly over several hours

25. Inhalants-Long Term effects
Break down myelin-nerve cells unable to transmit messages as efficiently
Brain damage-prevents cells from absorbing oxygen
Heart damage
Liver failure
Muscle weakness
Irregular or rapid heart rhythms

26. Inhalants-Lethal effects
can cause irregular or rapid heart rhythms and can lead to heart failure and death within minutes.
This "sudden sniffing death" is particularly associated with the abuse of butane, propane, and chemicals in aerosols.
death from suffocation-inhalant vapor takes the place of oxygen in the lungs and brain
inhaling from a paper or plastic bag or in a closed area greatly increases the chances of suffocation.
can die by choking on their own vomit or by fatal injury from accidents, including car crashes.

27. Hallucinogens-What are they?
distort the way you perceive reality
Can make you see, hear, and feel things that don’t exist
Examples:
LSD-an odorless, colorless chemical that comes from ergot, a fungus that grows on grains.
Mushrooms-chemical found in approximately 190 species of edible mushrooms.
Mescaline-occurs naturally in certain types of cactus plants, including the peyote cactus.
PCP-synthetic drug in tablet, capsule, or powder form

28. Hallucinogens-Street names
LSD-Acid, blotter, cubes, microdot, yellow sunshine, blue heaven
Mushrooms (Psilocybin)-Simple Simon, shrooms, silly putty, sherms, musk, boomers
Mescaline-Cactus, cactus buttons, cactus joint, mesc, mescal, mese, mezc, moon, musk, topi
PCP-Angel dust, ozone, wack, rocket fuel

29. Hallucinogens-short term effects
can cause rapid, intense emotional mood swings
twist and alter the way your brain processes your senses, feelings and visual information.
When unable to get a grip on reality, normal events and situations can take on an unreal and frightening quality.
Anxiety, fear, paranoia (sometimes verging on psychosis

30. Hallucinogens-Long term effects
all hallucinogens can cause flashbacks—feelings and thoughts that replay the effects of being on the drug weeks or even years after taking them.
risk of developing long-lasting psychoses or mental disorders

31. Club drugs-what are they?
Includes GHB, rohypnol, ketamine, LSD, and ecstasy

32. Club drugs-street names
Ketamine: special K, vitamin K, jet
GHB-liquid ecstasy, Georgia Home Boy, G
Rohypnol: roofies, forget me pill
Ecstasy: X, XTC, love drug, hug
LSD: acid, blotters, dots

33. GHB
central nervous system depressant: usually ingested in liquid, powder, tablet, and capsule forms.
Effects:
May last up to 4 hours, depending on the dose used.
Slows breathing and heart rates to dangerous levels.
sedative and euphoric effects that begin up to minutes from ingestion.
Use in connection with alcohol increases its potential for harm.
Overdose can occur quickly-sometimes death occurs.

34. MDMA-aka Ecstasy
amphetamine-based, hallucinogenic type drug that is taken orally, usually in a tablet or capsule form.
Effects:
Lasts 3-6 hours.
Enables dancers to dance for long periods of time.
Increases the chances of dehydration, hyper tension, heart or kidney failure, and increased body temperature, which can lead to death.
Long-term effects include confusion, depression, sleep problems, anxiety, paranoia, and loss of memory.

35. Ketamine injectable anesthetic used primarily by veterinarians
found either in liquid form or as a white powder that can be snorted or smoked, sometimes with marijuana.
Effects:
Causes reactions similar to those of PCP, a hallucinatory drug.
Results in impaired attention, learning, and memory function. In larger doses, it may cause delirium, amnesia, impaired motor function, high blood pressure, and depression.

36. Rohypnol
Tasteless and odorless sedative: easily soluble in carbonated beverages, with toxic effects that are aggravated by concurrent use of alcohol.
Effects:
Can cause anterograde amnesia, which contributes to Rohypnol's popularity as a "date rape" drug.
Can cause decreased blood pressure, drowsiness, visual disturbances, dizziness, and confusion.

37. Bath Salts-what are they?
substituted cathinones-synthetic, concentrated versions of the stimulant chemical in Khat.
Methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV), mephedrone and methylone are the chemicals most often found in Bath Salts.

38. Bath Salts-what does it look like?
sold in powder form in small plastic or foil packages of 200 and 500 milligrams under various brand names.
Mephedrone is a fine white, off-white or slightly yellow-colored powder.
It can also be found in tablet and capsule form.
MDPV is a fine white or off-white powder.
K2 is typically sold in small, silvery plastic bags of dried leaves and marketed as incense that can be smoked.
It is said to resemble potpourri.

39. Bath Salts-”brand names”
Bliss * Meow Meow
Blue Silk * Ocean Burst
Cloud Nine * Pure Ivory
Drone * Purple Wave
Energy-1 * Red Dove
Ivory Wave * Snow Leopard
Lunar Wave * Vanilla Sky
Stardust * White Knight
White Dove * White Lightning

40. Bath salts-how are they used?
usually ingested by sniffing/snorting.
can also be taken orally, smoked, or put into a solution and injected into veins.

41. Bath Salts-short term effects
very severe paranoia-can sometimes cause users to harm themselves or others.
suicidal thoughts, agitation, combative/violent behavior, confusion, hallucinations/psychosis
increased heart rate, hypertension, chest pain, death or serious injury
The speed of onset is 15 minutes, while the length of the high from these drugs is 4-6 hours.

42. Bath Salts-long term effects
None have been proven because the effects differ from person to person
People claim to see demons/evil spirits or other horrible visions and end up causing physical harm to themselves or others
Examples: a person saw 25 police cars outside of his house and used a butcher knife to slit his own throat. Another left their 2-year old daughter in the middle of a highway because she “had demons”.

43. Tobacco-what is it? Agricultural crop Active ingredient is nicotine
Classified as a stimulant
Usually smoked
Sometimes “dipped” or “chewed”-nicotine is then absorbed through the gums

44. Tobacco-street names Chew Dip Smoke

45. Tobacco-short term effects
body responds immediately to the chemical nicotine in the smoke.
Nicotine causes a short-term increase in blood pressure, heart rate, and the flow of blood from the heart.
causes the arteries to narrow.
Carbon monoxide reduces the amount of oxygen the blood can carry.
creates an imbalance in the demand for oxygen by the cells and the amount of oxygen the blood is able to supply.

46. Tobacco-Long term effects
chronic lung disease, coronary heart disease, and stroke, as well as cancer of the lungs, larynx, esophagus, mouth, and bladder.
smoking is known to contribute to cancer of the cervix, pancreas, and kidneys. Researchers have identified more than 40 chemicals in tobacco smoke that cause cancer in humans and animals.
Smokeless tobacco and cigars can cause lung, larynx, esophageal, and oral cancer.
Women who use tobacco during pregnancy are more likely to have adverse birth outcomes, including babies with low birth weight, which is linked with an increased risk of infant death and with a variety of infant health disorders.

47. Tobacco-something to think about
Effects of tobacco use do not just effect the user
All people are effected by environmental tobacco smoke
This is actually more dangerous because it is not necessarily filtered
If you use tobacco products, please be considerate of others around you.

48. Alcohol-what is it? Classification: depressant
Active ingredient-Ethanol
Proof-the amount of ethanol found in alcohol.

49. Alcohol Short-term effects
Slurred speech
Drowsiness
Vomiting
Distorted vision and hearing
Impaired judgement
Unconsciousness
Coma
Blackouts

50. Alcohol Long-term effects
Unintentional injuries (falls, burns, crashes)
Intentional injuries (sexual assault, firearm injuries, domestic violence)
Alcohol poisoning
Family/relationship problems
Brain damage

51. Alcohol-Physical effects
Cirrhosis of the liver
Cancer
Strokes
Stomach ulcers
High blood pressure
Nerve problems
Dementia

52. Alcohol-mental effects
Depression
Anxiety
Repeated alcohol withdrawal can trigger:
Panic attacks
phobias

53. Alcohol-addiction facts
Alcoholism is a disease.
Most difficult and dangerous drug to quit
1 out of 3 who try to quit w/o medical help die from the withdrawal effects
Big problem among teens
20% labeled as “problem drinkers”
25% alcohol consumed is done so by underage people
Children of alcohol addicts are 4X more likely to suffer from alcohol addiction.

54. Alcohol-additional information
The amount of alcohol in someone’s system is measured by their blood alcohol concentration (BAC)
Legal limit for someone 21 and over-.08%
Legal limit for someone under %
While it is a Zero Tolerance Law, this takes into consideration that some items contain alcohol (mouth washes, cough medicines, etc.)

55. What affects a person’s BAC
Gender-Female bodies contain a higher fat to water ratio than males. With less water to dilute the alcohol, the BAC will be higher.
Weight-A larger person will have more water in their body to dilute the alcohol than a smaller person and therefore the BAC will be lower.

56. What affects a person’s BAC?
3. Food Consumption-The presence of food in the stomach slows the rate at which alcohol leaves the stomach and enters the intestines. This generally results in a lower BAC in the short term, however alcohol will remain in the bloodstream for a longer period.
4. Rate of Consumption (Time)-If liquor is consumed at a rate faster than one standard drink per hour, the BAC will rise as the body can only process one standard drink per hour.

57. Alcohol-Street names Booze Liquid Sauce brew

58. Heroin-what is it? Highly addictive Derived from morphine
Classification: depressant or “downer”
Affects the brain’s pleasure systems
Interferes with brain’s ability to perceive pain

59. Heroin-how is it used? Injected into vein = “mainlining”
Injected into muscle
Smoked in a water pipe or standard pipe
Mixed in a marijuana joint or regular cigarette
Inhaled as smoke through a straw = “chasing the dragon”
Snorted as a powder through the nose

60. Heroin-street names Big H Black tar Brown sugar Dope Horse Junk Skag
Smac

61. Heroin-short term effects
Appear soon after a single dose and disappear after a few hours
Initial feelings:Surge of euphoria (“rush”), heavy extremities, and flush skin
2nd stage: user goes “on the nod” (alternately drowsy and wakeful state)
Slurred speech, impaired night vision, droopy eyelids

62. Heroin-Long term effects
Appear after repeated use for some period of time.
Collapsed veins, infection of heart lining and valves, abscesses, liver disease
Street heroin may contain additives that do not dissolve and result in clogging the blood vessels that lead to the lungs, liver, kidneys, or brain
Can cause infection or death of patches of cells in vital organs

63. Heroin-addiction facts
Tolerance develops with regular heroin use
More of the drug is needed to feel the desired result
As higher doses are used, physical dependence and addiction occur
With physical dependence-body has become accustomed to having the drug in the body and withdrawal symptoms occur if the drug is reduced or stopped

64. Heroin-addiction facts cont’d
In regular abusers, withdrawal can occur a few hours after taking the drug
Symptoms: drug craving, restlessness, muscle and bone pain, diarrhea, vomiting, cold flashes, and kicking movements
Major withdrawal symptoms occur hours after last dose and subside after a week
Sudden withdrawal by heavy users can be fatal

65. Heroin-mental effects
Alters perception of reality
Suppresses emotions
Person makes irrational decisions
Causes depressions
Lack of motivation

66. Heroin-physical effects
Slow heart beat
Slow breathing rate
Dry, sticky mouth
Decrease in muscle tone and strength
Sluggish movements
Slurred speech
Delayed reactions
Lack of coordination

67. Quotes from heroin addicts
“Once you have tried Heroin, the cravings for more can be so intense you feel out of control!”
“It’s like having 100% tunnel vision. You simply must fulfill the urge and feed the cravings…”
“It’s like being a puppet on strings! The drug makes you do things you never thought you’d do… like stealing from the people you love and selling everything you own!”
“It’s like being completely possessed by an evil spirit! It turns you into a selfish, horrible monster!”
“It becomes the be all and end all of your life. Nothing else matters but getting that shot of heroin”.