1. Northampton Prevention Coalition
Hilltown Charter 6th grade presentation on Alcohol and Marijuana

2. Why am I here? I Hilltown! 6th graders are the best!
Myth-busting is FUN!
90% of Americans with a substance abuse problem started smoking, drinking, or using other drugs before the age of 18
I believe that you need to be informed in order to make good decisions

3. Psychoactive drugs
The term 'psychoactive drug' is used to describe any chemical substance that affects mood, perception or consciousness as a result of changes in the functioning of the nervous system (brain and spinal cord).
ALL drugs: alcohol, cocaine, marijuana, amphetamines, kava, heroin, barbiturates, nicotine, and some may argue, sugar, are psychoactive drugs.
What is a drug??

4. Categories of drugs
depressants: they slow down the central nervous system
stimulants: they excite the nervous system
hallucinogens: they distort how things are perceived
Depressants- ; for example: tranquillizers, alcohol, heroin and other opiates, cannabis (in low doses). Stimulants: ; for example: nicotine, amphetamines, cocaine, caffeine. Hallucinogens ; for example: LSD, mescaline, 'magic mushrooms', cannabis (in high doses)

5. addiction
What is addiction? Why are drugs addictive? How do people become addicted?
Addiction is a condition where a person ingests a substance (e.g. alcohol, cocaine, nicotine, etc….) that can be pleasurable, but the continued use of becomes compulsive and interferes with ordinary life responsibilities such as work, school, relationships and/or health. Why? Drugs activate the reward system in your brain which is responsible for your survival. How? Initially they make you feel really good so that you want to continue using them. They are addictive because repeated use changes your brain and causes you to feel awful when you do not get your drug. You begin using to feel good, and continue using to avoid feeling bad.
What puts a person at risk for becoming addicted? Why doesn’t everyone who tries/uses drugs or alcohol become addicted?
Genetics/family history, early trauma, age of first use.
Ask your parents about your family’s history with addiction

6. Drugs 101
What is a ‘drug’?
A drug is any chemical which affects how your body works, or how you behave or feel.
Why do people do them?
To relax, to escape, to feel alert, to feel better, to fit in, for religious purposes, boredom…
What do they do to your digestive tract?
Symptoms depend on the drug, but nausea, constipation, diarrhea, bloating, gas, abdominal pain, reflux, ulcers and vomiting are all digestive upsets that can come with drug and/or alcohol use

7. Different kinds of drugs
Crack is a form of cocaine that has been processed to make a rock crystal that people smoke. It produces an intense but short-lived high/feeling of euphoria
Cocaine is a white powder derived from the coca plant native to South America. It is a stimulant that creates a feeling of excitement and agitation. It can cause heart attacks.
Meth (methamphetamine) is a powerful, highly addictive stimulant made originally for use in nasal decongestants.
Speed is a highly addictive stimulant that people take in order to feel more alert
Acid is a manmade hallucinogenic that distorts a person’s senses

8. Is this a drug?
Toothpaste
Sugar
Caffeine
Chocolate

9. Is it medicinal?
Can drugs like heroin and cocaine be used medicinally?
Believe it or not, many illicit drugs were originally intended for good purposes. Heroin, is a form of opioid which is a pain killer used in surgery and for chronic pain. Cocaine was originally used like caffeine until its side effects (addiction, heart attack, etc.) became known
Are RX drugs bad for you?
There are risks when you take ANY drug, but if you have a drug that is prescribed for you from a doctor to help you with a health problem than it is relatively safe to take under the care and direction of your doctor. But abusing RX drugs is extremely dangerous
Why do they make some drugs?
Some people make drugs just to get high and to make money, but more often than not, people make drugs to fix something ( like nasal congestion) and people realize sometimes by accident that the drug can make them feel high and begin to abuse it.

10. statistics How many people die each year due to drugs?
In the USA, about 570,000 people die each year due to drugs
440,000 from disease related to tobacco, 85,000 due to alcohol, and 20,000 due to illicit drugs

11. ETC. Are people more likely to turn to alcohol or drugs?
It depends on the person. Alcohol is the most abused ‘drug’ in the country mostly due to the fact that it is legal, readily available and it’s use and socially acceptable.
What is your stance on the legalization of marijuana?
I am not is support of it. We have two legal drugs right now: nicotine and alcohol and more people die from their use and/or suffer from their use than any other drug. I think that until we can truly support prevention and treatment we cannot afford to have another easily accessible drug on the market.

12. Etc. What would your blood alcohol level have to be to kill you?
.40, that’s 4 parts alcohol per 1000 parts blood
For comparison, Impairment- difficultly driving, etc. is apparent at a blood alcohol level of .05
If alcohol is consumed in small quantities it can make a person feel relaxed and less inhibited and it is for these effects that most people drink.

13. Etc. Alcohol – How much is okay to consume? For Adults:
Up to 1 drink per day for an adult woman and up to 2 a day for an adult man

14. Etc.
What do you do when everyone is drinking and smoking and exhaling smoke on you while you are driving?
Short answer- kick them out of your car!
Driving with open containers of alcohol is illegal
Smoking marijuana or a cigarette? Driving with combusted marijuana is illegal as well
Either way, get out of the car so that you can be safe

15. Etc. Does getting drunk affect your health badly? Yes
Damages brain cells, slows your rate of respiration ( you can pass out, get hurt, fall down, slip into a coma)
Sometimes the worst effects of being drunk is what happens to you when you are not aware of yourself or your surroundings ( assault, fights, car accidents, etc.)

16. etc What is opioid abuse?
Opioids are depressants that include codeine, fentanyl, hydrocodone, Vicodin, Methasone, and others that are used to manage chronic pain due to end of life illnesses or severe arthritis or injury. They work very well on pain, but when used without pain, create a feeling of well being and peace and is highly addictive and easy to overdose on. Opiod abuse is the misuse of opioids and is a big problem in our country right now.