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Ch 12 page 284 Illegal drugs
Drugs of abuse • Drug abuse- is the intentional, improper or unsafe use of a drug. Drugs that are used for recreational purposes are called drugs of abuse. Many drugs of abuse are illegal drugs. This means that possessing, using, buying, or selling these drugs is against the law for people of any age.
Why drugs are dangerous? • Illegal drugs can have dangerous and permanent effects on the brain and body. • You can become addicted to almost any one of them. • Illegal drugs are a major factor in many suicides, motor vehicle accidents, and crime. • Some illegal drugs require needles, and there is the risk of getting an infectious disease…..HIV and hepatitis.
Cont. • Illegal drug use can result in overdose. This is the taking of too much of a drug, which causes sickness, loss of consciousness, permanent health damage or death. • Illegal drugs cause a person to lose their ability to make responsible decisions. Having poor judgement, risky sexual behavior, STD’s, car accidents, or other unsafe situations.
Why people begin using? • Desire to experiment • Desire to escape from depression or boredom • Enjoyment of risk taking activities • Belief that drugs solve personal, social, or medical problems • Peer pressure • Glamorization by the media, music, videos
Teens and drugs • The most common reason teens give for trying illegal drugs are: • Just hanging around a group of people who use drugs creates pressure. This might not be a direct pressure, but teens may give in. • When faced with direct pressure “Come on try it” teens who lack good refusal skills may feel intimidated and may give in.
cont • Many teens feel this is a way to escape the feelings of stress, anger, depression, or frustration. The problems are still there when the drug wears off. • Many try out of curiosity. • Many are risk takers, they are seeking the “thrill” to satisfy their desire for new experiences.
Sec. 2 page 287 • Types of illegal drugs- each type has a different effect on the body and brain. Despite this, all drugs have these 3 things in common: • 1- They affect the function of the brain • 2- They are dangerous to your health • 3- They can result in drug dependence and addiction.
4 commonly abused illegal drugs: • MARIJUANA- Also called pot, weed, reefer, or dope. Is the dried flowers and leaves from the plant cannibas sativa. • The active chemical in marijuana is THC. THC can be detected in the urine for up to several weeks after use. Different strengths of THC are in certain plants. • Marijuana is usually smoked, but can be eaten.
Effects of marijuana • The effects of smoked marijuana are felt within minutes and may last up to 2 or 3 hours. The effects of swallowed marijuana are felt within 30 to 60 min. The effects are: • Slowed thinking ability • Difficulty paying attention • Distorted sense of time and distance
cont • Giddiness (laughing) • Loss of short term memory • Loss of balance and coordination • Increased appetite • Anxiety • Panic attacks
Marijuana cont • Smoking marijuana over long periods of time have the same impact as smoking cigs. The smoke has some of the same carcinogens as cig smoke does. • Dependence on marijuana is from the tolerance that one builds up to the drug…just as alcohol does. • They feel tired, unmotivated, and depressed when the drug wears off.
driving • People high on marijuana show the same issues as driving drunk. When you combine both, can be very dangerous. • Hashish, also known as hash,is the dark brown resin collected from the tops of the cannibas plant. It is compressed into balls or sheets. Pieces are then torn apart and smoked in pipes. The effects of hash are the same as marijuana, only stronger.
INHALANTS • Drugs that are inhaled as vapors are called inhalants. Some have medical uses such as nitrous oxide, (laughing gas). Medicines used to treat asthma also come in the form of inhalants. • Some people inhale common household chemicals, such as glue, paint thinner, gasoline, and markers. Also, butane, propane are abused.
Cont. • Inhalants are sniffed or huffed directly from an open container. The effects of inhalants include: hyperactivity, loss of inhibitions, and dizziness. Stronger effects include: loss of coordination, difficulty speaking or thinking, fear, anxiety, and loss of consciousness.
Dangers of inhalants • Inhalants damage many organs- chemicals like solvents cause permanent hearing loss, bone marrow damage, liver damage, kidney damage, and loss of bladder control. • Inhalants kill brain cells- the vapors replace oxygen found in the blood and cause brain cells to die due to no oxygen. Can cause coma or death
cont • Inhalants can cause sudden death- some people’s bodies are sensitive to the solvents in some inhalants. The heart may suddenly stop and they may die. This is called sudden sniffing death syndrome. People usually find out too late that they are sensitive.
Teens and inhalants • The things that are huffed are easy to get, inexpensive, and found in the garage, or in cabinets. Huffing can be the first step on the path to trying other illegal drugs. Drugs that often lead to the abuse of other drugs are called gateway drugs. Inhalants, tobacco and alcohol are all gateway drugs. These are popular with teens.
CLUB DRUGS(DESIGNER) • These are drugs designed to closely resemble common illegal drugs in their chemical structure and effect. Club drugs became popular at parties and clubs but can also be found in other places as well. • Club drugs are made in secret, illegal labs, so their strength and quality are unpredictable. Thus, the drugs have unexpected effects. Overdose from club drugs may be hard to treat because the doctors do not know what exactly was taken.
Examples of club drugs • Ecstasy- The most commonly abused club drug. Also called MDMA, X, ADAM. Ecstasy is both a stimulant/hallucinogenic. Ecstasy can be taken as a pill, or crushed and snorted. The effects include: increased awareness of senses, hallucinations, increased energy, and loss of judgement. Side effects are: muscle tension, teeth clenching, impaired learning, memory loss, nausea, chills, rapid heartbeat, high blood pressure, heart attack, death.
Cont. • Ecstasy decreases the body’s ability to control its temperature. This results in someone being overheated. People dancing all night at night clubs can die from heat stroke while taking ecstasy.
GHB • GHB is a clear liquid or a white powder that causes euphoria, relaxation, dizziness, and loss of inhibitions. Some people high on GHB stop breathing and die. When it is combined with other depressants like alcohol, death is more likely. Some people take GHB with ecstasy thinking it will make the high better or stronger, but it puts you at a higher risk of seizure.
GHB • GHB has been sued in many sexual assaults because it makes the victim incapable of resisting, they pass out. This is also known as date-rape drugs.
KETAMINE • Is another type of club drug. Also known as special K, kit kat,or vitamine K. • The effects are: hallucinations, numbness, inability to move, loss of memory and separation of reality. • Some users hurt themselves because they are unable to feel pain.
PCP • Also called angel dust, can produce effects that can range from mild euphoria to distortions of reality, out of body experiences, and psychoactive behavior. • People on PCP often act very violently towards others and themselves. • The mental disturbances can last from a few hours to a few weeks.
