Risks of alcohol and other drugs

What Is a Drug? Any chemical substance that causes a physical or psychological change is called a drug. Drugs are classified by their effects. When used correctly, legal drugs can help your body heal. When used illegally or improperly, drugs can do great harm. How can drugs be harmful? Addiction is dependence on a substance. Many drugs can cause addiction. Many drugs can cause physical dependence or need for a drug. If the body does not get the drug, it can show withdrawal symptoms (nausea, vomiting, pain, shakes) Some people also form psychological dependence. This means they have strong craving for the drug.

Types of Drugs HERBAL MEDICINES PRESCRIPTION AND OVER-THE-COUNTER DRUGS TOBACCO ALCOHOL MARIJUANA COCAINE NARCOTICS AND DESIGNER DRUGS HALLUCINOGENS

HERBAL MEDICINES Some plants called herbs contain chemicals with healing properties. Even though they come from plants, herbs are drugs and should be used carefully. The FDA (United States Food and Drug Administration) does not regulate herbal medicines or teas; that means it cannot guarantee that these roducts are safe to use.

PRESCRIPTION AND OVER-THE-COUNTER DRUGS Many drugs need a prescription from a doctor. A prescription describes the drug, how to use it, and how much to take. Some drugs such as aspirin, can be bought without a prescription. This are called over-the-counter drugs (OTC) Prescription and OTC drugs can cause side effects such as headache, nausea, or sleepiness.

Tobacco Cigarettes are addictive, and smoking has serious health effects. Nicotine (is a chemical in tobacco that increases heart rate and blood pressure and is extremely addictive. Like cigarettes, smokeless, or chewing, tobacco is addictive and can cause health problems. Nicotine is absorbed through the lining of the mouth. Smokeless tobacco increases the risk of several cancers, including mouth and throat cancer.

ALCOHOL It is illegal in most of the United States for people under the age of 21 to use alcohol. Alcohol slows down the central nervous system and can cause memory loss. Exces sive use of alcohol can damage the liver, pancreas, brain, nerves, and cardiovascular system. In very large quantities, alcohol can cause death. Alcohol also affects decision making and can lead you to take unhealthy risks. Alcoholism is considered a disease, and genetic factors are thought to influence the development of alcoholism in some people.

MARIJUANA Marijuana is an illegal drug that comes from the Indian hemp plant. Marijuana affects different people in different ways. It may increase anxiety or cause feelings of paranoia. Marijuana slows reaction time, impairs thinking, and causes a loss of coordination.

COCAINE Cocaine and its more purified form, crack, are made from the coca plant. Both drugs are illegal and highly addictive. Users can become addicted to them in a very short time. Cocaine can produce feelings of intense excitement followed by anxiety and depression. Both drugs increase heart rate and blood pressure and can cause heart attacks, even among first-time users.

NARCOTICS AND DESIGNER DRUGS Drugs made from the opium plant are called narcotics. Some narcotics are used to treat severe pain. Narcotics are illegal unless prescribed by a doctor. For example, heroin is one of the most addictive narcotics and is always illegal. Heroin is usually injected, and users often share needles. Therefore, heroin users have a high risk of becoming infected with diseases such as hepatitis and AIDS. Heroin users can also die of an overdose of the drug. Designer drugs are made by making small changes to existing drugs. Ecstasy, or “X,” is a designer drug that causes feelings of well-being. Over time, the drug causes lesions or holes, in a user’s brain.

HALLUCINOGENS Hallucinogens distort the senses and cause mood changes. Users have hallucinations, which means that they see and hear things that are not real. LSD and PCP are powerful, illegal hallucinogens. Sniffing glue or solvents can also cause hallucinations and serious brain damage.

Drug Abuse A drug user takes a drug to prevent or improve a medical condition. The drug user obtains the drug legally and uses the drug properly. A drug abuser does not take a drug to relieve a medical condition. An abuser may take drugs for the temporary good feelings they produce, to escape from problems, or to belong to a group. The drug is often obtained illegally, and it is often taken without knowledge of the drug’s dangers.