Illegal Drugs

Illegal Drugs Target: I will be able to Identify the terminology associated with illegal drugs and list/give examples of the 5 types of psychoactive drugs Substance Abuse: unnecessary or improper use of chemical substances for non-medical purposes   Pg. 85

Categories of Drugs: 1. Natural Drugs- drugs which come from plants, or plant/animal extracts 2. Synthetic Drugs: drugs which are produced artificially 3. Illicit Drugs: the use or sale of any drug that is illegal, which includes the use or selling of prescription drugs 4. Gateway Drugs- drugs that open the door for other serious and dangerous drug use 5. Psychoactive Drugs- a drug which changes brain function and results in alterations in perception, mood, or consciousness

Types of Psychoactive Drugs: 1. Stimulants: Drugs that speed up the CNS Ex 1: Amphetamines: have similar effect to that of the sympathetic nervous system- they prepares the body for activity. Medically used to treat ADHD, Narcolepsy, and Obesity Used illegally to: stay awake, lose weight, improve athletic performance, offset use of depressants, euphoria- “high”- excitement and happiness

Ex 2: Methamphetamines: “crank, speed, ice” Taken orally, smoked, snorted, or dissolved in water or alcohol and injected. Ex 3: Cocaine High lasts 20 min to hours with feelings of confidence to depression Ex: 4: Crack- a smoked form of cocaine (aka freebase cocaine)- pure lumps/rocks Effects are felt in seconds

2. Depressants: Drugs which slow down the CNS, relax muscles, relieve feelings of tension/worry, cause drowsiness, and lower blood pressure. Ex 1: Barbiturates: Sedatives which can range from mild sedation to total anesthesia. Medically used as: anxiolytics (for anxiety), hypnotics (for sleep), and anticonvulsants (for epilepsy- seizures Illegally used for similar feeling of intoxication and counteract stimulant use.  

Ex 2: Tranquilizers: Drug used to induce tranquility (calmness) in an individual. Used legally to treat anxiety (diazepam), muscle spasms, sleeplessness, and nervousness   Ex 3: Methaqualone (Quaalude): Used to treat anxiety and insomnia but is no longer prescribed in the US

Ex: 1: Morphine: IV drug used to treat severe pain 3. Narcotics: drugs that come from the opium plant and are medically used to treat pain Ex: 1: Morphine: IV drug used to treat severe pain Ex: 2: Codeine: Used in mild pain relievers and cough suppressants Pg. 87

Ex: 3: Heroin: No medical uses. A user quickly develops a tolerance, and there is a high potential for overdose. Pg. 87

4. Hallucinogens: drugs which distort perceptions of the world around you causing changes in moods, thoughts and senses. Users see and hear things that are not there

Ex: 1: PCP (Phencyclidine)- aka Angel Dust

Ex: 2: LSD (Lysergic Acid Diethylamide)- a colorless, tasteless, and odorless drug which comes in tablets, liquid, and capsules. Provides uses with a false sense of security and confidence, and hallucinations can become so “real” that they may cause panic, anxiety, or accidental suicide.

Ex 3: Mescaline (Peyote Cactus) Ex 4: Psilocybin Mushrooms- “Psychedelic mushrooms”

5. Inhalants (volatiles): fumes that are inhaled to produce a hallucinogenic high Ex: glue, paint thinner, spray paints, aerosols, gas, nitrous oxide

Other Drugs: 1. Anabolic Steroids: Synthetic male testosterone 2. Marijuana: “Weed”- a natural drug with the active ingredient THC. Used for pain relief, as an appetite stimulant, and euphoria (both legally and illegally) Hashish: resin from the plant which is solid an smoked in a pipe or boiled and mixed with tobacco

3. Designer Drugs: drugs made with synthetic substances meant to imitate the effects of narcotics and hallucinogens Ex: Ecstasy, MDMA, Molly  

4. Look-alike Drugs: drugs which are made to resemble a specific illegal drug, but you never know what's in them They may have similar effects to the drugs they are supposed to represent Hard to treat overdose because doctor has no idea what the drug is   Summary:

Dangerous Drugs Draw an example for each of the 5 types of psychoactive drugs and write the name of the example you chose to draw *Use a minimum of 4 colors Pg. 84

Analyzing Drugs Choose a clock question from your IAN- Choices include: #2, 4, 5, 7, or 8 *Use good grammar and/or minimum of 4 colors* Pg. 86