Chapter 12 Illegal Drugs

How many of you have used Drugs before?

Everyone has used drugs Drug Use- taking of a drug for its medically intended purpose, in the correct amount, frequency and manner Caffeine Caffeine Aspirin Aspirin Antibiotics Antibiotics Cough syrup Cough syrup

Drug Abuse- deliberate taking of a drug not intended for a medical purpose that can result in damaging a person’s health and impair the ability to function. CocaineCocaine MethMeth HeroineHeroine Sniffing GlueSniffing Glue MarijuanaMarijuana

Drug Misuse- deliberate taking of a drug not intended for a medical purpose that can result in damaging a person’s health and impair the ability to function. PainkillersPainkillers Cold MedicineCold Medicine

Basic Reasons People Take Drugs Searching for pleasure Relieve stress, tension, or depression Peer pressure Enhance social experiences Enhance work/athletic performance Relieve pain Can you think of other reasons?Can you think of other reasons?

Five Reasons Why Drug Use Is More Serious Today Since the 1960s drug use is more widespread Drugs are more potent than they were years ago Meth and other manufactured “newer” drugs offer potent effects at low cost Drug use endangers the future of a society by harming its youth and potentially destroying the lives of many young men and women Drug use and especially drug dealing is becoming a major factor in the growth of crime rates among the young

Euphoria- Pleasurable “high” feeling that is brought on by some drugs

Dysphoria - Unpleasurable “low” feeling after the drug wears off.

Drug Addiction Physical addictionPhysical addiction- The body has gotten used to the drug and needs it to operate Psychological addictionPsychological addiction- The brain needs the drug to function

Withdrawal Withdrawal- physical and psychological symptoms that occur when a drug is being cleared from the body Symptoms could include: Headaches Tremors/convulsions Insomnia Irritability Nausea

6 Classifications of Drugs Narcotics- Drugs mainly from the Opium Poppy Plant = Examples: Heroin, Morphine, Codeine

6 Classifications of Drugs SLOW DOWN Depressants- Drugs that SLOW DOWN the nervous system Examples: Alcohol, Valium, and Quaaludes, Rohypnol (date rape drug),

6 Classifications of Drugs SPEED UP Stimulants- Drugs that SPEED UP the nervous system Examples: Cocaine, Crack, Speed, Meth

6 Classifications of Drugs Hallucinogens- mind altering drugs that give false perceptions, sights, sounds, smells, and other feelings. Examples: LSD, PCP, Ecstasy, acid

6 Classifications of Drugs Inhalants- everyday household items that give off a fume or vapor. These fumes go into the bloodstream and alter the brain activity. Examples: glue, gasoline, cleaners

Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome

6 Classifications of Drugs Cannabis- drugs from the cannabis plant, most commonly called Marijuana. Examples: marijuana

Why focus on marijuana? Most widely used illicit drug among youth Challenges to seeing the risks: –Normalization in popular culture –Medical marijuana & legalization efforts –Widespread misinformation among youth and parents

TRUE or FALSE? Marijuana is not all that harmful. False

TRUE or FALSE? Marijuana, unlike some other illegal drugs, is not addictive. False

TRUE or FALSE? Kids are more likely than adults to become dependent on marijuana. True

TRUE or FALSE? Marijuana is less popular among kids today because of ecstasy and other new club drugs. False

TRUE or FALSE? Smoking pot only makes people feel mellow. False

TRUE or FALSE? Marijuana does not have any long-term effects. False

Smoking one marijuana joint is as harmful as smoking how many cigarettes?  FIVE?  FOUR?  TWO?  ONE?

Smoking one marijuana joint is equal to smoking FIVE cigarettes.

What percentage of 12th graders say that marijuana is “sort of” easy or “very” easy to obtain?  27%  39%  52%  74%

74% of high school seniors find marijuana “fairly” or “very” easy to obtain. More than one-third of teens ages say they could purchase marijuana within a couple of miles from their house.

The majority of kids who enter drug treatment are there for addiction to: CocaineCocaine HeroinHeroin EcstasyEcstasy MarijuanaMarijuana AlcoholAlcohol

More teens enter treatment for marijuana use each year than for all other illicit drugs combined. SAMHSA, TEDS, 2001

A marijuana joint can contain: PCP LSD Pesticides Cocaine or Crack All of the above

All of the chemicals listed: PCP, pesticides, LSD, cocaine and crack can be added to marijuana leaves without users knowing it.

Marijuana use has been associated with: CancerCancer School FailureSchool Failure Traffic accidentsTraffic accidents Sexually transmitted diseasesSexually transmitted diseases All of the aboveAll of the above

Marijuana use has been associated with cancer, school failure, traffic accidents and sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS.

What happens when a person uses marijuana, other than feeling high? Loss of motor coordination Distorted perception Increased heart rate Trouble with thinking & problem solving All of the above

A person who uses marijuana experiences all these effects. The effects are even greater when other drugs are mixed with marijuana. Multiplier Effect

How long does marijuana stay in the body? Up to 3 daysUp to 3 days Up to 10 daysUp to 10 days Up to a few weeksUp to a few weeks Up to several monthsUp to several months

Even after users stop feeling the effects of marijuana, the drug can linger in the body for a few weeks. That means it can be detected by a standard drug test long after its initial use.

According to kids ages 13-17, what’s the #1 reason they do NOT smoke marijuana or use other drugs? Risk of getting kicked off a sports team Losing their parent’s respect Worry they’ll look silly or stupid in front of their friends Concern about being suspended from school

Parents are the most important influence on children when it comes to drugs. Two-thirds of youth say losing their parents’ respect is one of the main reasons they don’t smoke marijuana or use other drugs.