Addiction Cycle of addiction Triggers: internal/external Warning signs: physical, behavioral, psychological Addictive substances: internet, pornography, sex, work, exercise, shopping, television, video games, getting in trouble, stealing, tattooing and piercing A trigger is any form of stimuli that initiates the desire to engage in addictive behavior. During the course of a recovery program, triggers may prompt an individual to slip-up and use a substance or engage in a behavior that they otherwise are trying to avoid. There are two types of triggers: internal (occurs within us) & external (occurs outside of us). External triggers includes people, places, things, and situations that spark a desire for us to use after a period of abstinence. External examples are people, places, things, situations. Internal examples are emotions (anger, anxiety, sadness, pressure, stress), thoughts (if I don’t drink I cant fit in, I wont be able to have fun, I cant handle it this time), physical sensations (back pains, headaches, no energy). Warning signs: neglecting responsibilities, legal troubles, problems with relationships, built tolerance, thoughts and actions revolve around drug use, abandon normal activities, mood swings, blood shot eyes, changes in appetite, weight or sleep patterns, unusual smells, clothing, drop in attendance or performance, unexplained money issues, secretive/suspicious behaviors, change in friends, unexplained change in personality or atitude

The 4 D’s Deep breath Drink water Delay Do something else Deep breathing: (whether sitting, standing or lying down) is an effective way of dealing with tension. A simple deep breathing exercise that can be used just about any time or any place can help you calm down. With your mouth closed and your shoulders relaxed, inhale as slowly and deeply as you can while silently counting to seven in your head. As you do that, push your stomach out. Hold your breath while counting silently to seven. exhale slowly while counting silently to seven. Do this slow, deep breathing cycle exercises three to five minutes As the days and weeks pass, try to increase the length of your silent counts as much as you can. Drink water: Water is important for keeping your body well hydrated and free of toxins, which helps your mind to focus better. To aid in other relaxation exercises, drink plenty of water. Delay: when your are anxious, made, craving, it is possible to wait it out. After a few moments, you’ll find that the urge fades and then disappears. You can also keep track of your urges and their time Do something else: there are many activities you can do when you have the urges or are angry, anxious Review your most important reasons for quitting or not getting angry, take yourself out of the situation, exercise, alter your outine, doodle, deep breath, work on a hobby, take a shower

Marijuana

Short Term Effects Affects cells in the brain Reduces reaction time Memory Loss, reduced coordination Impairs Judgment, decision making and problem solving Increases heart rate (up to 160 beats per minute) Increases appetite, thirsty, sleepiness Distorted perception (sights, sounds, time, touch) Red eye, dry mouth and throat Marijuana is a mixture of dried, shredded flowers, buds and leaves of the hemp plant (Cannabis Sativa) Sinsemilla, hashish and hash oil are stronger forms of marijuana which come from the same plant. The main ingredient, and the main cause of intoxication, is Tetra hydrocannabinol (THC). Hashish (hash) is made from the concentrated resin, or sap, of the hemp plant. Its THC content is higher than marijuana. (THC effects the nerve cells in the brain where memory is stored) Blocks neurotransmitters

Long Term Effects Risk of mental problems: Depression, anxiety, schizophrenia May cause cancer (5 joints a day same as a pack of cigarettes) Lung-chest colds/immune system (body can’t fight off infections) Gate-way to other drugs Lack of motivation Lower sperm count or trouble ovulating Decreased blood pressure, dizzy Illegal-if caught may have record The amount of tar, carbon monoxide, and cancer causing chemicals inhaled in marijuana smoke coughing, wheezing. Users tend to have more chest colds as non-users and are at greater risk of getting lung infections like pneumonia. Acute bronchitis (brahn-KITE-uss), or chest cold, is a condition that occurs when the bronchial (BRAHN-kee-uhl) tubes in the lungs become inflamed. The bronchial tubes swell and produce mucus, which causes a person to cough. This often occurs after an upper respiratory infection like a cold. Gas exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place in the alveoli. Oxygen from the inhaled air diffuses through the walls of the alveoli and adjacent capillaries into the red blood cells. The oxygen is then carried by the blood to the body tissues.

How is marijuana used? Cigarette-joint Blunts- cigar wrappers filled with marijuana, often combined with cocaine Bong-water smoked In Food Pipe Brewed in tea form Other? All forms of marijuana are mind-altering. That is, they change how the brain works. Marijuana’s effects on the user depend on its strength or potency, which is related to the amount of THC it contains. Marijuana affects the central nervous system as a hallucinogen and as a depressant. THC is rapidly absorbed by fatty tissues in various organs. You then feel “high” which can range from feelings of calm and happiness to feeling silly and giddy or paranoid and anxious.

Street Names Aunt Mary, Boom, Chronic, Dope, Gangster, Ganja, Grass, Hash, Herb, Kif, Mary Jane, Pot, Reefer, Sinsemilla, Skunk, Weed Marijuana affects people in different ways depending on: User’s previous experience How strong the marijuana is (how much THC it has) How the marijuana is taken What the user expects to happen Where the drug is used Whether the user is drinking alcohol or using other drugs

Methamphetamine Methamphetamine (Meth) is an addictive stimulant that strongly activates certain systems in the brain.

What goes into meth? Some examples of chemicals used to make meth include: Ether - Benzene - Methanol - Methylene Chloride - Trichloroethylene - Toluene - Muriatic Acid - Sodium Hydroxide - Table Salt - Ammonia - Pseudoephedrine - Hydrochloric Acid - Drain Cleaner - Battery Acid - Lye - Lantern Fuel - Anti-Freeze - Anhydrous Ammonia - Red Phosphorous - Iodine - Reactive Metals Affects nervous system, it is a stimulants. It’s a powerful stimulant that starts as a transparent white powder, which can be snorted. The powder is also often formed into pills to be swallowed, or into a liquid to be injected. Crystal meth is a solid form of the drug that looks something like shards of glass, and can be smoked.

What does it look like? Crystal-like powdered substance that sometimes comes in large rock-like chunks. Meth is usually white or slightly yellow, depending on the purity. Meth stimulates specific chemicals in your brain and nervous system, making you feel energetic, happy, and confident. The effects of meth generally last from 6 to 8 hours. When the powder flakes off the rock, the shards look like glass, which is another nickname for meth.

What are the street names/slang terms? Chalk, Crank, Croak, Crypto, Crystal, Fire, Glass, Meth, Tweek, White Cross, Speed

What are its short-term effects? Violent behavior. Bell Rung wakefulness Insomnia Decreased appetite Irritability/aggression Anxiety Convulsions and heart attack Snorting or swallowing meth produces high agitation that in some individuals can lead to violent and hostile behavior Taking meth may cause you to feel restless, anxious, dizzy, conf used, and shaky. Meth can give you seizures, a heart attack, or a stroke, which may lead to death Crystal meth can produce acne-like sores on your skin, severe stomach pain, convulsions, and headaches. You may also feel depressed and even suicidal. Help stay awake for prolonged periods of time and sleep patterns can be disrupted for weeks experience a severe “crash” or physical and mental breakdown after the effects of the drugs wear off. decreases natural feelings of hunger, users can experience extreme weight loss Other serious effects can include insomnia, confusion, hallucinations, anxiety and paranoia.

What are its long-term effects? Methamphetamine is addictive Develop a tolerance Skin Lesions Risky Situations Damage the heart Liver, kidney, lung damage Damage the brain causing strokes and death. First, you can become addicted quickly. They can suffer from paranoia, delusions, and hallucinations in both their vision and hearing. Many meth users experience disturbing hallucinations of insects crawling underneath their skin, which causes them to scratch at themselves, leading to large lesions and skin infections. quickly, needing larger amounts to get high. damage to the brain. Scientists say that up to half the cells in the brain that produce dopamine and serotonin can be damaged or destroyed by meth use. When using needles run the risk of hepatitis or contracting HIV can cause irreversible harm: increased heart rate and blood pressure; damaged blood vessels in the brain that can cause strokes or an irregular heartbeat that can, in turn, cause cardiovascular collapse or death; and liver, kidney and lung damage. Memory gaps and extremely moody

You can become quickly addicted to meth, and stopping use of methamphetamine isn’t easy. You might feel depressed, anxious, tired, paranoid, or aggressive, all the wh ile experiencing intense cravings for th e drug. This often leads to a cycle of “binging” (using the drug a lot) and then “crashing” (feeling depressed and exhausted).

“I started using crystal meth when I was a senior in high school “I started using crystal meth when I was a senior in high school. Before my first semester of college was up, meth became such a big problem that I had to drop out. I looked like I had chicken pox, from hours of staring at myself in the mirror and picking at myself. I spent all my time either doing meth, or trying to get it.”  —Anne Marie

Review Alcohol: Alcohol as a drug that does not contain any nutrients for the body. Tobacco: contains nicotine, a chemical substance which is addictive when smoked or chewed Depressants: a form of drug with effects in many ways similar to alcohol, such as barbiturates and tranquilizers Heroin: a form of narcotic, a drug which initially produces euphoria then drowsiness, nausea, and vomiting: codeine, morphine and opium Cocaine: a drug which stimulates the ventral nervous system Crack: a highly addictive form of cocaine which is smoked Inhalants: chemicals in the form of vapors which are inhaled, such as gasoline, glue, aerosol, propellants Stimulants: drugs which cause increased heart and respiratory rates, such as amphetamines, and methamphetamines Cannabis: a chemical in drugs such as marijuana and hashish, which impair short term memory, concentration and coordination and alter the sense of time Anabolic Steroids: drugs related to the male sex hormone testosterone which are used to accelerate physical development with severe physical and psychological side effects Hallucinogens: a group of drugs which include LSD, psilocybin mushrooms and PCP, which produce hallucinations, visual and auditory sensations which aren’t real Caffeine: a stimulant contained in coffee, chocolate, and certain soft drinks