Illegal Substances: Drugs, Alcohol & Tobacco

Tobacco There are 4,000 chemicals in cigarettes…

The addictive chemical in cigarettes; nicotine It only takes 10 seconds for nicotine to reach the brain Nicotine is found in both cigarettes and smokeless tobacco Nicotine is absorbed through the lungs with cigarette smoke and through the mouth with smokeless tobacco It affects the brains reactions It narrows your blood vessels making it more difficult for the heart to work

Is this the new trend? Is it healthy? Any harmful side effects? E-Cigs Is this the new trend? Is it healthy? Any harmful side effects?

Guess the smokers lung…..

Drugs What are drugs? Drugs are chemicals that change the way a person's body works. There are legal and illegal drugs.

Why Would someone use drugs? Sometimes kids and teens try drugs to fit in with a group of friends. This is called peer pressure. Sometimes kids try drugs because they are upset about something and want to forget about it for a little while.

Marijuana Marijuana is the most widely used illicit drug among today's youth. While it's true that other drugs may be more addictive and cause more severe harm, many more youth use marijuana than all other illicit drugs combined.

How Marijuana affects the brain It contains THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol), which affects the nerve cells in the part of your brain where memories are formed, making it hard to remember things. It can affect your sense of time and your ability to do things that require coordination, such as driving. Marijuana affects your judgment, drains your motivation, and makes you feel anxious. Some research shows that long-term marijuana use can increase the risk of developing certain mental illnesses.

Marijuana and your health Smoking marijuana increases your risk of lung disease. A single joint contains four times as much cancer-causing tar as a filtered cigarette does. Marijuana can limit your body’s ability to fight off infection, increase your heart rate, and lead to frequent chest colds.

Inhalants….

Inhalants Inhalants are fumes from products such as glue or paint thinner that are sniffed to cause an immediate high. Inhalants can also be substances such as amyl nitrate and isobutyl nitrate (“poppers”) and nitrous oxide (“whippets”). Inhalants can kill you the very first time you use them!!

How inhalants affect the body Chronic inhalant abusers may permanently lose the ability to perform basic functions, such as walking, talking, and thinking. Inhalants can cause sudden violent, or even deadly, behavior Inhalants starve the body of oxygen and force the heart to beat irregularly and more rapidly. Using inhalants can cause you to lose your sense of smell, feel nauseous, and/or have a nosebleed. Inhalant abusers can develop liver, lung, and kidney problems. Chronic abuse can lead to muscle deterioration and reduced muscle tone and strength. Death can be instantaneous. Users sometimes die from choking on their own vomit, suffocation, or heart attack.

Over the counter drugs/ prescriptions Used appropriately, under a doctor’s supervision, prescription drugs can cure disease, alleviate pain, improve the quality of life, and even save lives. Used incorrectly or abused, prescription drugs and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs (available without a prescription) can cause serious harm, even death. Drinking alcohol or using illicit drugs while taking prescription drugs – or combining drugs without a doctor’s approval – is dangerous and sometimes fatal.

Opioids According to the National Institute on drug abuse, “Opioids are medications that relieve pain. They reduce the intensity of pain signals reaching the brain and affect those brain areas controlling emotion, which diminishes the effects of a painful stimulus. Medications that fall within this class include hydrocodone (e.g., Vicodin), oxycodone (e.g., OxyContin, Percocet), morphine (e.g., Kadian, Avinza), codeine, and related drugs. Hydrocodone products are the most commonly prescribed for a variety of painful conditions, including dental and injury-related pain. Morphine is often used before and after surgical procedures to alleviate severe pain. Codeine, on the other hand, is often prescribed for mild pain. In addition to their painrelieving properties, some of these drugs—codeine and diphenoxylate (Lomotil) for example—can be used to relieve coughs and severe diarrhea.” In 2011, nonmedical use of prescription drugs among youth ages 12 - 17 and young adults ages 18 - 25 was the second most prevalent illicit drug use category, with marijuana being first. (NSDUH 2011) • Between 2007 and 2012, the number of individuals using heroin during the past 30 days more than doubled nationwide (161,000 to 335,000). (NSDUH 2012) • The percentage of New York State high school students who reported using heroin more than doubled between 2005 and 2011 (1.8 % to 4%). (Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS))

Alcohol What is it? Alcohol is created when grains, fruits, or vegetables are fermented, a process that uses yeast or bacteria to change the sugars in the food into alcohol.

One Drink Equals

Test your understanding ( Use drinking chart to help) If Jonny has 24 ounces of beer and Cindy has 4 ounces of wine who had more to drink? If Bob has 3 ounces of liquor and Barb had 8 ounces of wine who had more to drink? If Luke had 12 ounces of beer and Lucy had 4 ounces of wine who had more to drink?

Alcohol Affects the whole body Alcohol Affects the whole body. How do you think it affects these organs?

When is it legal? The legal drinking age is 21 in NYS. Fake id - consequences ( identity theft = jail ) Drinking and Driving - DWI = BAC .08 - DUI = BAC .02 < Each drink puts your blood at a .02%

Alcohol affects many parts of the brain, but the most vulnerable cells are those associated with memory, coordination, and judgment.

Exercise? Sports Counselors What else? Brain storm  What are some healthy alternatives for middle school students to engage in instead of drinking or drugs when they are stressed? Exercise? Sports Counselors What else? Brain storm 