ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE

Alcohol Abuse: Who becomes Alcoholics?  Interconnected factors, including genetics, how you were raised, your social environment, and your emotional health.  People who have a family history of alcoholism or who associate closely with heavy drinkers are more likely to develop drinking problems.  Finally, those who suffer from a mental health problem such as anxiety, depression, or bipolar disorder are also particularly at risk, because alcohol may be used to self-medicate.

Common signs of Alcohol Abuse  Repeatedly neglecting your responsibilities at home, work, or school because of your drinking.  Using alcohol in situations where it’s physically dangerous.  Experiencing repeated legal problems on account of your drinking.  Continuing to drink even though your alcohol use is causing problems in your relationships.  Drinking as a way to relax or de-stress.

Warning Signs of Alcoholism 1. Tolerance 2. Withdrawal  Anxiety or jumpiness  Shakiness or trembling  Sweating  Nausea and vomiting  Insomnia  Depression  Irritability  Fatigue  Loss of appetite  Headache 1. You’ve lost control over your drinking. 2. You want to quit drinking, but you can’t. 3. You have given up other activities because of alcohol. 4. Alcohol takes up a great deal of your energy and focus. 5. You drink even though you know it’s causing problems.

Long Term Effects  Long-term alcohol use can cause serious health complications, affecting virtually every organ in your body, including your brain.  Problem drinking can also damage your emotional stability, finances, career, and your ability to build and sustain satisfying relationships.  Alcoholism and alcohol abuse can also have an impact on your family, friends and the people you work with.

Activity!

Drugs: Stimulants  Ecstasy  Methamphetam ine  Amphetamine  Cocaine Depressants  GHB  Inhalants  Heroin  Methadone Hallucinogens  LSD  Magic Mushrooms (Psilocybin)  PCP (Phencyclidine)  Ketamine

Stimulants vs Depressants  Stimulants enhance the effects of norepinephrine and dopamine (Chemicals naturally produced in the brain that create feelings of happiness and euphoria.  Depressants effect the body by inhibiting brain activity and producing a calming or drowsy effect.

MDMA (Ecstasy)  Acts as both a stimulant and psychedelic, producing an energizing effect, as well as distortions in time and perception, and enhances enjoyment from tactile experiences.  Long term effects:  Hyperthermia  Arrhythmias  Renal Failure

Methamphetamine  Creates a false sense of happiness and well- being—a rush of confidence, hyperactiveness and energy. One also experiences decreased appetite.  Long term effects:  Cardiovascular problems and stroke  Liver, Kidney, Lung damage  Respiratory problems  Psychosis

Amphetamine  Give user an enhanced feeling of wakefulness and focus, while reducing appetite  Long term effects:  Increased anxiety  Insomnia and restlessness  Some people can develop paranoid psychosis  Hallucinations  Tremors  The individual's behavior may become more aggressive and even violent  ADHD Medications

Cocaine  Cocaine, or coke as it is commonly known, is a stimulant and has a similar effect to amphetamines like speed and ice, but produces a more intense effect and shorter ‘high’ depending upon dosage.  Long term effects:  Cardiovascular problems  Liver, Kidney, and Lung damage  Respiratory failure  Psychosis and Hallucinations

GHB  Date Rape Drug  Used to depress the central nervous system to aid in a calming feeling. Is found in Marijuana.  Long term effects:  Insomnia  anxiety  Tremors  sweating

Inhalants  Inhalants are volatile substances that produce chemical vapors that can be inhaled to induce a psychoactive, or mind-altering, effect.  Volatile Solvents: are liquids that vaporize at room temperature (paint thinners, dry cleaning fluids, glues, sharpies)  Aerosols: are sprays that contain propellants and solvents (spray paint, deodorant, hair spray)  Gases include medical anesthetics as well as gases used in household or commercial products (chloroform, nitrous oxide, halothane)  Nitrates: dilate blood vessels and relax the muscles. Used as sexual enhancers. (amyl, butyl)  Long term effect: Brain damage and IT ONLY TAKES ONE DOSE TO KILL YOU!!!!!

Heroin and Methadone  Heroin is an opioid drug that is synthesized from morphine, a naturally occurring substance extracted from the seed pod of the Asian opium poppy plant.  Can be injected, inhaled by snorting or sniffing, or smoked.  Heroin overdoses frequently involve a suppression of breathing (death)  Long term effects: collapsed veins, infection of the heart lining and valves, pulmonary complications, and liver or kidney disease.  Methadone is used to get people off heroin, has a similar high to heroin but is less addictive. It’s abused by people who don’t want to take heroin.

LSD  LSD is manufactured from lysergic acid, which is found in ergot, a fungus that grows on rye and other grains.  sold in tablets, capsules, and, occasionally, liquid form; thus, it is usually taken orally.  The user may feel several different emotions at once or swing rapidly from one emotion to another. If taken in large enough doses, the drug produces delusions and visual hallucinations.  Long term effects: flashbacks can persist and cause significant distress or impairment in social or occupational functioning, a condition known as hallucinogen-induced persisting perceptual disorder

Magic Mushrooms  is obtained from certain types of mushrooms typically containing less than 0.5 percent psilocybin plus trace amounts of psilocin, another hallucinogenic substance.  Mushrooms containing psilocybin are available fresh or dried and are typically taken orally.  Produces hallucinations, an altered perception of time, and an inability to discern fantasy from reality. Panic reactions and psychosis also may occur, particularly if a user ingests a large dose.  Long-term effects such as flashbacks, risk of psychiatric illness, impaired memory, and tolerance have been described in case reports.

PCP  PCP (phencyclidine) was developed in the 1950s as an intravenous anesthetic. Its use has since been discontinued due to serious adverse effects.  It is a white crystalline powder that is readily soluble in water or alcohol. Can be snorted or smoked when mixed with leafy materials.  distorts perceptions of sight and sound and produces feelings of detachment  Long term effects: memory loss, difficulties with speech and thinking, depression, and weight loss.

Ketamine  Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic, so called because it distorts perceptions of sight and sound and produces feelings of detachment from the environment and self.  Effects:  Dreamlike states  Hallucinations  Delirium  Amnesia.