What Is A Drug?  A chemical substance which alters the way the human body naturally functions.

Why Do People Use Drugs?  Lack of self-esteem (I’m dirty, rotten, stinky, no good).  Problems (I feel better when I’m stoned).  Peer pressure (I wanna be like…).  Rebellion (I’ll show them).  Curiosity (is it true what they say?)

What types of problems can result from drug use?  Mental Problems  Physical Problems  Problems at school  Problems at work  Violence between family members  money problems To the individual...To the family...

According to the FBI, a large portion of criminal acts are committed by people under the influence of drugs  One murder every 29 minutes  One aggravated assault every 31 seconds  One violent crime every 19 seconds  One crime every 2 seconds  One property crime every 3 seconds

What are four main drugs commonly used and distributed? (Nationally) Marijuana Cocaine (Crack) Alcohol Inhalants

Effects of Marijuana on the Brain.  problems with memory and learning  distorted perception  difficulty in thinking and problem-solving  loss of coordination  increased heart rate  anxiety  panic attacks.

Physical effects.  constricted peripheral blood vessels  dilated pupils  increased body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure.  Some cocaine users report feelings of restlessness, irritability, and anxiety, both while using and between periods of use.  An appreciable tolerance to the high may be developed, and many addicts report that they seek but fail to achieve as much pleasure as they did from their first exposure.

Paranoia and aggression.  High doses of cocaine and/or prolonged use can trigger paranoia.  Smoking crack cocaine can produce particularly aggressive paranoid behavior in users.  When addicted individuals stop using cocaine, they may become depressed. This depression causes users to continue to use the drug to alleviate their depression.

Long-term effects.  Prolonged cocaine snorting can result in ulceration of the mucous membrane of the nose and can damage the nasal septum enough to cause it to collapse.  Cocaine-related deaths are often a result of cardiac arrest or seizures followed by respiratory arrest.

ALCOHOL

 In low doses, alcohol produces:  A relaxing effect  Reduced tension  Lowered inhibitions  Impaired concentration  Slowed reflexes  Impaired reaction time  Reduced coordination  In medium doses, alcohol produces:  Slurred speech  Drowsiness  Altered emotions  In high doses, alcohol produces:  Vomiting  Breathing difficulties  Unconsciousness  Coma  DEATH

Alcohol may be the world's oldest known drug.

The Path of Alcohol in the Body  1. Mouth: alcohol enters the body.  2. Stomach: some alcohol gets into the bloodstream in the stomach, but most goes on to the small intestine.  3. Small Intestine: alcohol enters the bloodstream through the walls of the small intestine.  4. Heart: pumps alcohol throughout the body.  5. Brain: alcohol reaches the brain.  6. Liver: alcohol is oxidized by the liver at a rate of about 0.5 oz per hour. Alcohol is converted into water, carbon dioxide and energy.

Inhalants use

Effects of Inhalants on the Nervous System  When vapors are inhaled (1), they are absorbed through the lungs (2) and enter the bloodstream (3). Once in the bloodstream, the chemicals travel to the brain (4) and other tissues throughout the body. Most inhalants that are abused depress the functioning of the nervous system. However, the effects of each inhalant are difficult to determine because each product is made up many different chemicals and each person may breathe in different amounts of each chemical. Nevertheless, these chemicals do have significant effects on the nervous system.

The immediate effects of inhalants include:  relaxation  slurred speech  euphoria  hallucinations  drowsiness  dizziness  nausea  vomiting  DEATH - from heart failure or suffocating on plastic bags or vomit.

Long term use of inhalants can cause:  Memory loss  Concentration problems  Visual disturbances; blindness  Motor problems  Peripheral nerve damage  DEATH

Heroine  Gets Converted Into Morphine  Initial Rush  Heavy Arms & Legs  Vomiting  Overdose May Lead To Death  Euphoria  Muscular Weakness

One year after heroin!!! (Charged with 1st degree murder). Does she look like a Heroin addict?

The Effects of Drugs And Prostitution This is a series of arrest photographs of the same individual over the course of 10 years. Some of the photos were taken at closer time intervals than others. The dates are posted under each photo.

Date: November 1979

Date: July 1980

Date: August 1980

Date: March 1981

Date: Sometime in 1982

Date: May 1986

Date: April 1988

Date: Sometime in 1988

Date: June 1988

Date: January 1989

Positive Ways to End Drug Use  Making the best decisions in life (drugs have many negative consequences)  Getting involved in positive activities (Like Civil Air Patrol)  Drug education for parents and teens  Recreational programs  Stricter laws