1. Principles and Strategies for Health and Well-Being

2. Stress & How to Manage It What triggers stress in teens? What are positive stress relievers?

3. What is a drug?

4. “A drug is any substance that alters the normal function or processes of the body.”

5. Alcohol

6. How it works Alcohol is a depressant Slows down the processing of information Inhibits thought processes Depresses the behavioral inhibitory centers People often think it is a “pick-me-up” because it causes drinkers to become more animated and less reserved

7. Blood Alcohol Level 1 drink = ~10 g EtOH = 1 12 oz. beer, 4 oz wine, 1.25 oz hard liquor California DUI: >0.08% (>21) & >0.01% (<21)

8. Alcohol slows down brain Altered speech Hazy thinking Slowed reaction time Dulled hearing Impaired vision Weakened muscles Foggy memory

9. Alcohol’s affect on the brain Decreases a person’s inhibitions and slows down thought processes as well as the processing of incoming visual and auditory information The cerebellum, the center of balance, is affected, leading to the staggering walk of a drunk Acts on the medulla to slow a person’s breathing and decrease body temperature, which can cause death Alcohol can damage or kill neurons, changing the development of those parts of the teenage brain that are still developing

10. Other effects of Alcohol Liver damage (inflammation or scarring of the liver destroys its ability to function) Heart damage leading to heart disease, high blood pressure, and some types of stroke Stomach ulcers Cancer of the esophagus, larynx, and mouth

11. Alcohol abuse If alcohol abuse runs in your family, then you are at greater risk for having problems with it too Drinking habits also influenced by environment and life situations, such as friends or stress levels

12. Marijuana

13. How it works Marijuana’s main active ingredient is THC We have receptors in our brain and body where marijuana acts These chemicals called cannabinoids exert their influence by regulating how cells communicate (how they send, receive, or process messages) These chemicals act like a type of “dimmer switch,” slowing down communication between cells

15. How does THC affect behavior? It depends on where the cannabinoids receptors are in the brain

17. Cerebral cortex Allows us to be aware of, pay attention to, and respond to our surroundings Powers the ability to think, plan, solve problems, and make decisions The cerebral cortex does not fully develop until a person is about 25 years old

18. How does marijuana affect a person’s ability to think? It affects the prefrontal cortex and the hippocampus- areas of the brain involved in thinking, memory, and learning Marijuana abuse can make it hard to remember what you just said or did, and impossible to perform complicated tasks, since it affects the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus (brain areas responsible for thinking and memory)

19. Marijuana is addictive Main active ingredient, THC, stimulates brain cells to release the chemical dopamine, which creates a feeling of pleasure This effect is partly responsible for the “:high” a person feels It is one of the main reasons people use marijuana again and again, which can lead to addiction The younger someone starts smoking, the high the risk for addiction 1 in 6 people who start in their teens will become addicted

20. Marijuana use can negatively affect your performance in school & athletics THC affects a part of the brain called the hippocampus, which is critical for processing and storing new information, making it difficult to learn THC affects attention, impairing ability to do complex tasks that require focus and concentration Effects can last even after the high is long gone THC affects parts of the brain that control timing, movement, and coordination which diminishes athletic performance and puts you at risk for serious injury Chronic marijuana users develop coughs, excess phlegm, and bronchitis because of the toxic mid of gases and particles in smoke

21. Driving under the influence The skills you need to drive safely- alertness, concentration, coordination, judgment, and reaction time- are controlled by the parts of your brain affected by THC Marijuana affects the cerebellum, which controls coordination Also affects attention and reaction time A person needs all of these to drive safely Smoking and drinking increases the likelihood of a car accident

22. Drinking & smoking marijuana can hurt your ability to… Concentrate Remember what you learned Focus on projects or tasks React quickly while driving Perform in sports owing to effects on coordination

23. Take-home questions What are some stress triggers and positive stress relievers? How does alcohol or marijuana abuse effect learning and memory? How does a student identify when they or a friend are self medicating to deal with stress?