Drug Unit Medicine and Illegal Drugs Ms. Kramer 8th Grade Health

What are Drugs? Drugs - are any chemical substance that cause a change in a person’s physical or psychological state.

Do not copy: Thanks to medical and drug research, there are thousands of drugs that help people. Antibiotics and vaccines have revolutionized the treatment of infections. Medicines can lower blood pressure, treat diabetes, and reduce the body's rejection of new organs. Medicines can cure, slow, or prevent disease, helping us to lead healthier and happier lives. There are also a lot of illegal and harmful drugs that people take to help them feel good or have a good time.

Drugs can make a person feel good at first but they end up harming the body and the brain. The chemical substance in drugs may have effects on perception, consciousness, personality, and/or behavior.

How drugs get into the body: . Nose, tongue, ears, eyes Transdermal patches (absorbed through the skin then into the bloodstream). Smoked or Inhaled Injected Swallowed Orally

Do not copy: Have you ever taken medicine before? How did it make your body feel? What do you know about illegal drugs? Why do some people take them?

Using Drugs as Medicine Medicine – any drug used to cure, prevent, or treat illness or discomfort. -Instructions for taking the drug are very important.

What are the differences & similarities between: Prescription medicine Over –the -counter medicine Prescription Medicine - can be bought only with a written order from a doctor. Over the counter (OTC)- legal medicine that can be bought without a prescription.

Drug Interactions The effect of a drug can be different from expected if the drug is taken at the same time as another drug. Can cause serious problems Consult a doctor or pharmacist before taking additional medication.

Side Effects Side effects- an effect caused by a drug that’s different from the drug’s intended effect. Examples: dry mouth, drowsiness, headache, nausea, hair loss, dizziness, and exhaustion. -Most packages list the side effects -Anything unexpected contact your doctor

Drug Allergies Drug Allergy- a bad reaction to a specific medicine. Minor -rash Major - inability to breath Be sure to let your doctor know what you are allergic to before he/she prescribes you a medication.

Tolerance - The body’s ability to resist the effects of a drug Overdose- Taking a larger amount of a drug than a person’s body can safely process. This can result in a coma, brain damage, or death

What is the FDA? The Food and Drug Administration A government agency that controls the safety of food and drugs in the US. Before a drug can be sold as medicine in the US it must first be approved by the FDA

The Food and Drug Administration Drug Approval Process: Scientists develop or discover a new drug Scientists test the drug on animals If safe, testing begins on healthy humans. The drug is then tested on a human with the disorder Drug creators apply to the FDA for approval. FDA reviews the research and either APPROVES OR REJECTS. Sometimes, drugs that have been approved have to be recalled.

Drug Abuse and Addiction What is Drug addiction? Can start off as recreational use, which can lead to addiction and dependence (person needs the drug in order to function).

~Drug Dependence~ Physical & Psychological Physical Dependence The body’s chemical need for a drug Psychological Dependence Person’s emotional or mental need for a drug

Withdrawal - The process that occurs when an addicted person stops taking a drug. Why does this happen? Symptoms: anxiety, fever, cramps, nausea, seizures, depression, nervousness, sleeplessness, irritability.

Drug Addiction and Relationships Who is affected when a person has a drug problem? Close friends Families Girlfriend, boyfriend The family and friends are usually affected more than anyone else is, including the addict. Why do you think this is?

The Cost of Drug Addiction Drugs can become very expensive Addicts spend hundreds of dollars EACH DAY To support their habit they need to find other ways to get money because they cannot keep a job. How might a person with a drug addiction get cash to feed their addiction? In 2009, 32% of prisoners in state prisons said that they were under the influence of drugs when they committed the crimes for which they were serving time.

School Problems Due to Drug Addiction Difficulty focusing Grades drop Failure in school Expulsion Repeat grade Failure getting into college Failure getting a job