1. Introduction to Drugs
Health 4
TIP
Don’t use drugs!

2. What is a drug? Meaning of the word depends on who is asked
Positive view:
Webster’s Dictionary “a substance used by itself or in a mixture in the treatment or diagnosis of disease.”
Drugs are used to:
fight infection;
reverse a disease process;
relieve symptoms of illness;
restore normal functioning of human organs;
aid in diagnosing sickness …
maintain health.
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3. What is a drug? Neutral view:
“any substance that causes or creates significant psychological and/or physiological changes in the body”
“any absorbed substance that changes or enhances any physical or psychological function in the body”
Coffee in the morning?
Tea in the afternoon?
Cigarettes when drinking at a bar?
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4. What is a drug? Negative view:
“something (and often an illegal substance) that causes addiction, habituation, or a marked change in consciousness”
against illegal forms of drug use and the activities which permit it (manufacturing, growing, distributing, selling, possessing)
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5. What do drugs do?
All drugs, whether legal or illegal affect the brain by interacting with naturally occurring brain chemicals known as neurotransmitters
This alters people’s behavior.
Every drug (including a legal drug such as aspirin) is potentially harmful.
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6. Effects of drugs Effects of any drug depend on: type of drug used
amount of drug used
drug potency
method of ingestion
frequency of use (tolerance)
setting of ingestion
mood of the user
biological & psychological make-up of user (e.g., genetics, brain chemistry)
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7. Drug Use v. Abuse
Drug use is ANY consumption of a drug (i.e., recreational or occasional use)
e.g., Former president Bill Clinton “experimented with marijuana a time or two” … “didn’t like it” … “didn’t inhale” … “never tried it again”
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8. Is Drug Use normal? (adaptive) How do you use (legal) drugs?
“Happy Hour”
Parties with friends
“Pick up” girls/guys
Relieve boredom
Alter your mood
Inspire creativity
Medicinal purposes
Religious purposes
(adaptive)
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9. Drug Use v. Abuse
Drug use: drugs taken the proper way according to directions
Drug abuse: is drug use that results in social, economic, psychological or legal problems for the drug user
Drug Misuse: accidentally taking a drug the wrong way.
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10. Drug Use v. Abuse
e.g., Former president George W. Bush is an alcoholic
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11. Drug Use v. Abuse Oh yeah, and then there are college students …
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12. Outcomes of Drug Abuse
Physical dependence – growing tolerance of a drug’s effects so that increased amounts of the drug necessitate the continued presence of the drug in order to prevent withdrawal symptoms
Psychological dependence – craving for or compulsive need to use drugs because they provide the user with a feeling of well-being and satisfaction
Tolerance – continued regular use of a drug leading to progressively larger doses to attain the desired effect, thereby reinforcing the compulsive behavior known as drug dependence
Withdrawal – physical reaction of bodily functions that, when a body is deprived of an addictive drug, causes increased excitability of the bodily functions that have been depressed by the drug’s habitual use
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13. Drug Use v. Abuse
It is possible to use illegal drugs without engaging in abuse of them …
Only a small portion of drug users actually become drug abusers
According to ONDCP, 7 million people meet diagnostic criteria for drug abuse (out of 20 million users)
Percentage of drug abusers seems to remain relatively stable over time, even as number of drug users changes
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14. Major Types of Drugs
Drugs are categorized according to their major effects on brain function and human behavior
stimulants
depressants
hallucinogens / disssociative anesthetics
narcotics/opiates
Others add inhalants, analgesics, sedatives, and hypnotics
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15. Major Types of Drugs
Stimulants – stimulate central nervous system (CNS) / increase activity of the brain and spinal chord
Depressants – lessen activity of the CNS / decrease or stop vital functions
Hallucinogens – produce mood and perceptual changes varying from sensory illusions to hallucinations
Narcotics – opium and opium derivatives, and their synthetic versions, used mostly as pain killers
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16. Stimulants – Nicotine, Cocaine, Amphetamines, Methamphetamine
Some examples …
Stimulants – Nicotine, Cocaine, Amphetamines, Methamphetamine
Depressants – Alcohol, Barbiturates, Benzodiazepines
Hallucinogens – LSD, PCP, Marijuana, Shrooms, Peyote
Narcotics – Heroin, Codeine, Morphine, Oxycodone
Some “club drugs” …
Methylenedioxymethamphetamine or MDMA aka ecstasy (stimulant)
Gamma-hydroxybutyrate or GHB aka grievous bodily harm (depressant)
flunitrazepam / Rohypnol aka roofies (depressant)
Ketamine aka special K (hallucinogen)
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