1. By: Madi, Lexie, Helen, and Danie
Science of Addiction
By: Madi, Lexie, Helen, and Danie

2. Addiction What is Addiction?
Addiction is a compulsive need for a habit-forming substance (such as nicotine, alcohol, heroin etc.)
Addiction to drugs has serious harmful consequences that are treatable, but can last a lifetime if untreated.

3. Marijuana
Marijuana is a product of the hemp plant, and appears as green, brown, or gray mixture of dried, shredded leaves, stems, seeds, and flowers.
Marijuana is the most common illicit drug used in the United States.
If you use marijuana illegally, you could get addicted very easily and it will become a serious problem.
When marijuana is smoked, THC (an ingredient in marijuana) rapidly passes from the lungs into the blood stream, which carries the chemical into the brain and other important organs.

4. Marijuana
Marijuana causes many short term and long term effects. Here are some of them…
Short Term Effects:
Sensory distortion
Panic/Anxiety
Increased heartbeat
Poor coordination of movement
Tired/Depressed
Long Term Effects:
Growth disorders
Lack of motivation
Personality and mood changes
Inability to understand things clearly
Reduced resistance to common illnesses (colds, bronchitis, etc.)

5. Marijuana Interesting Facts:
About 42% of the people in the U.S. have tried marijuana at least once.
Over 800,000 people are arrested for marijuana in the U.S. each year.
George Washington grew marijuana on his farm.
Other names for marijuana are pot, cannabis, grass, and hemp.

6. Cocaine What is Cocaine?
A powerful drug that stimulates the body’s central nervous system.
How is it used?
Snorted- it is absorbed through the nasal tissue
Smoked- it is in form of a rock crystal which is heated to produce vapors that are absorbed into the bloodstream through the lungs
Injected (dissolved in water)- it is injected into the bloodstream

7. Cocaine Long Term Effects Short Term Effects Anxiety
Increased heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing rate
Depression
Seizures
Hallucinations
Disturbed sleep patterns
Anxiety
Long Term Effects
Damage to blood vessels, heart, and the brain
High blood pressure
Tooth Decay

8. Cocaine Interesting Facts:
Cocaine has a medical use as a topical anesthetic.
It takes 500 kilos of coca leaves to produce one kilo of cocaine.
Cocaine was once used in Coca-Cola(which is how it got its name).
Other names for cocaine include snow, lady, flake, gold dust, freebase, and crack.

9. Heroin
What is Heroin?
Heroin is the substance extracted from the seed pod of the Asian opium poppy plant.
How is it used?
Snorting
Injected
Inhaled
Sniffing
All of these ways deliver the heroin to the brain very rapidly.

10. Heroin What are the Health Effects? How it Affects the Brain?
Fatal overdose
Spontaneous diseases (HIV)
Collapsed veins
Heart lining and valves infection
How it Affects the Brain?
The heroin converts into morphine when it enters the brain.
The morphine binds to the molecules on cells known as opioid receptors.
Opioid receptors are located in the brain stem.
The brain stem controls the automatic process critical for life, such as blood pressure, arousal, and respiration.

11. Heroin Interesting Facts:
Heroin was first manufactured in 1898 by the Bayer pharmaceutical company of Germany and marketed as a treatment for tuberculosis as well as a remedy for morphine addiction.
Originally, heroin was marketed as a cough medicine.
Other names for heroin are, black tar, brown sugar, brown crystal, and dope (just to name a few).

12. Pain Killers 7 Myths and Realities
Myth 1: If I need higher doses or have withdrawal symptoms when I quit, I’m addicted.
Reality: That might sound like addiction to you but it’s not how doctors define it.
Myth 2: Everyone gets addicted to painkillers if they take them long enough.
Reality: Only a small amount of people get addicted. Most people use prescribed painkillers correctly.
Myth 3: Because most people don’t get addicted to pain pills, I can use them as I please.
Reality: Use prescription painkillers properly. Don’t “tinker” with them.

13. Pain Killers 7 Myths and Realities Continued…
Myth 4: It’s better to bear the pain than risk getting addicted.
Reality: Don’t deal with needless pain. Talk to a doctor about pain and/or worrisome of addiction.
NOTHING IS NEVER THE ANSWER!!
Myth 5: All that matters is easing my pain.
Reality: Pain relief is the key but it isn’t the only goal.
Myth 6: I am a strong person, I won’t get addicted.
Reality: Addiction isn’t will power, nor is it moral failure. It is a chronic disease. Some are more vulnerable than others.
Myth 7: My doctor will steer me in clear of addiction.
Reality: Doctors don’t want you to get addicted. They might not have much training in addiction.

14. Pain Killers Interesting Facts: Most addictive painkillers- Stadol
Demerol
Fentanyl
Oxycontin
Percocet
Nicodin
Lorcet
People start because there is something different in their brain.
Teen abuse to opioids is only second to marijuana.

15. Preventing Addiction There are many ways to prevent addiction.
Don’t begin using a drug in the first place
Get help if you are addicted
Avoid places where drugs may be sold
Be committed to something that you love to do