DRUGSEWHSHealth

Drugs as Medicines• Purpose of Medicine:

to prevent disease, aid in curing, relieve symptoms, bring wanted effects

• Over the Counter (OTC) – need the right one, do not overuse, maybe masking serious illness

• Prescription – can be easily abused & misused, based on body weight, age etc.

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STIMULANTS

• INCREASES THE RATE OF THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM (CNS), THE HEART AND OTHER ORGANS

EXAMPLES - STIMULANTS• Cocaine/Crack - addictive, restlessness, irritability,

anxiety, loss of appetite, insomnia, increased body temperature

• Amphetamine - used in prescription drugs to reduce fatigue and suppress appetite, diet pills, twitching, irregular heartbeat, heart and blood vessel damage

• Methamphetamine - addictive, club drug, aggression/crime, sores, damage to brain cells, never can achieve initial high

• Ritalin - calms down people with ADHD or ADD• Caffeine –may cause anxiety and insomnia. • Nicotine – very addictive, similar to heroin

Cocaine• Illegal very addictive drug made from the

leaves of the coca tree. Cocaine use can increase irritability, restlessness, panic attacks, and paranoia.

• May cause psychosis, the individual loses touch with reality.

Amphetamines• Abusers may become injured due to erratic

stunts or fights with others because they believe that they are untouchable.

• Delusional feelings of power that can create serious consequences. May lead to psychosis, much like that experienced by schizophrenics. 

Nicotine• One of three widely used psychoactive

drugs.

• Approximately 20% of US adults use tobacco

Caffeine•  The most widely used psychoactive drug in

the world, found in coffee, tea, cocoa, chocolate candy, and soft drinks.

• Increases energy and mental alertness, heavy use can cause symptoms such as anxiety and insomnia.

• Caffeine is addictive, and withdrawal symptoms can include headaches, fatigue, and irritability.

DEPRESSANTS

• SLOWS DOWN THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM, HEART AND OTHER ORGANS

EXAMPLES - DEPRESSANTS

• Tranquilizers (reduce muscular activity, coordination and attention span…prescribed to relieve anxiety and muscle spasms…withdrawal symptoms can cause death)

• Barbiturates (mood changes, sleeping more, coma)

• Alcohol• GHB (date rape drug, floor stripper…no memory)• Rohypnol (“roofies”…date rape drug…now in a

blue pill)

NARCOTICS

• Derived from opium plant…has a sedative effect.

EXAMPLES - NARCOTICS

• Morphine – (used for pain…blocks pain receptors, sedative effect, constipation, slow and shallow breathing, addictive)

• Codeine – (ingredient in cough syrups, similar effects as morphine)

• Heroin - addictive, derived from poppy plant, slow and slurred speech, constipation, respiratory depression, dry and itchy skin, overdose (would need to consume 1 gal of poppy seeds to show up on drug test)

HALLUCINOGENS

• Alter moods, thoughts and sense or perceptions including vision, hearing, and touch

EXAMPLES - HALLUCINOGENS

• PCP - “Angel Dust”, cigarettes or a joint dipped in formaldehyde, violence, inability to feel pain (overdose or accidents)

• LSD - “Acid”, some don’t come out of high, wires in brain crossed, paranoia, distorted perceptions of sound and color, flashbacks

• Ecstasy - hallucinogenic effect…clinching & hyperthermia…studies show a connection with early Alzheimer's…voids in the brain

• Ketamine - “Special K”, horse tranquilizer, used with animals for anesthetic, respiratory failure

INHALENTS

• Goes immediately to the brain, causing brain damage and killing brain cells

• Can cause sudden death by increasing heart rate, resulting in cardiac arrest, or it can cause death by suffocation

STEROIDS

• Synthetic substances similar to the male sex hormone testosterone

• Causes mood swings, paranoia, depression, acne, sterility, liver cancer, aggression

• Males: Testicles shrink, breasts enlarge• Females: Breasts shrink, increase facial

and chest hair

MARIJUANA/HASHISH• Marijuana

- raises levels of brain chemicals called dopamine (causes a pleasure feeling)

- when drug wears off a crash occurs (normal state begins to decline…creating a need for the drug)

- contains more cancer causing agents than tobacco- weakens immune system- impaired memory, reaction time and coordination- decreased ambition- heart and lung damage, lung cancer- infertility in females and lowered sperm count in

males- stronger than marijuana in the 1970’s- current studies showing connection to mental illness www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ASkRp5CLlk

Watch Truth About Drugs Video

Respond to one of the following or come up with your own drug related paragraph:

*The brain does not fully develop until a person’s 20’s. How is a young person’s brain affected by drugs?

* Teenagers are very susceptible to addiction. Why is it so important that teenagers know the facts about drugs?

*Marijuana is legal for adults in the state of Washington. Do you see any problems that this could cause?

Watch Truth About Drugs Video

QUESTIONS

Crossing the Line: ChoicesAnswer on slip of paper –NO NAME

• Hallucinogens

• Narcotics

• Stimulants

• Depressants