What is ADDICTION?? A drug or alcohol addiction has two basic qualities-- 1) You sometimes use more than you would like to use 2) You continue to use despite negative consequences People use drugs or alcohol to escape, relax, or to reward themselves. But over time, drugs and alcohol make you believe that you can’t cope without them, or that you can’t enjoy life without using.

Addiction meets at least 3 of the following… 1. Tolerance. 2. Withdrawal - Physical & Emotional/Mental. 3. Limited control over intake. 4. Negative consequences and continue to use. 5. Neglected or postponed activities. 6. Significant time or energy spent. 7. Desire to cut down.

How Does Addiction Feel? An addictive substance feels good because it stimulates the pleasure center of the brain through neurotransmitters – DOPAMINE. If you have a genetic predisposition, addictive substances don’t just feel good. They feel so good that you will want to chase after them. You become willing to suffer negative consequences in order to get more and to continue to feel the high. Addictive substances feel different inside an addict’s brain than they do to a non-addict. This is why the two sides have difficulty understanding each other. In someone who is not addicted, drugs and alcohol only produce a mild high. Therefore a non-addict cannot understand why the addict would go to such lengths, when it is clearly destroying their life. Denial is a big part of addiction. Because addictive substances feel good, an addict will initially deny that they have a problem. In the long-run addiction isolates you from the people and activities and that mean the most to you. The Cycle of Addiction

Why do teens begin using drugs Why do teens begin using drugs? What are the common drugs used in today’s society?

Marijuana Do you think Marijuana is a “gateway” drug??

Prescription Drugs Which Prescription Drugs Are Commonly Abused? Opiods – such as (Oxycotin, Vicodin, Percocet) which are used to treat pain. CNS Depressants - such as benzodiazepines (Xanax, Valium, Ativan, Klonopin) which are used to treat anxiety. Stimulants - such as amphetamine and dextroamphetamine (Adderall) or methylphenidate (Concerta, Ritalin) which are used to treat ADD.

Heroin Heroin is a central nervous system depressant. At high doses, heroin can slow the heart rate and respiration to a dangerous level, causing unconsciousness and death. Heroin is used in various ways. It can be injected, snorted, sniffed and smoked, depending mainly on the purity of the drug and the preference of the user. Heroin can be injected into a vein or a muscle. It can be smoked in a pipe or mixed with a marijuana joint or a regular cigarette. Its smoke can be inhaled through a straw, a process known as "chasing the dragon." As a powder, it can be snorted.

The power of heroin… Heroin is a powerful opiate that has led many users to dependence and addiction. The FIRST TIME use can be the start of a compulsive cycle that quickly leads to addiction. The more frequently you use the drug, the more rapidly your brain and nervous system adjust to the chemical changes that it causes.

From Pills to Heroin… http://safe-communities-coalition.eggzack.com/survey

What are things that can be done to decrease the horrific drug problem we are facing today?? Why do you think the problem is getting so out of hand? Is there a direct correlation between mental illness and drug/alcohol abuse? Anyone can turn to drugs to escape reality…. It takes a STRONG person to find other ways to cope with hardships and SAY NO!

What is YOUR Natural High?? http://naturalhigh.org/education-network/ Corbin Bleu Donald Brown Queen Harrison Travis Pastrana