DrugsMs. Monn & Mr. Galati

Medicines

Medicine: Drugs that are used to treat or prevent disease or other conditions.

Drugs: Substances other than food that change the structure or function of the body or mind.

Vaccine: A preparation introduced into the body to stimulate an immune response.

Analgesics: Pain relievers.

Side effects: Reactions to medicine other than the one intended.

Medicines (Cont.)

Additive interaction: When medicines work together in a positive way.

Synergistic effect: An interaction of two or more medicines that results in a greater effect than when the medicines are taken alone.

Antagonistic interaction: The effect of one medicine is canceled or reduced when taken with another medicine.

Roles of MedicinesMedicines that prevent diseases are vaccines.

Medicines that fight pathogens are known as antibiotics (a class of chemical agents that destroy disease causing microorganisms while leaving the patient unharmed).

Medicines that relieve pain (analgesics) range from mild (aspirin) to strong opium based morphine and codeine.

Medicines that promote health: Allergy medications

Body regulating medicines

Anti-depressant and antipsychotic medicines

Cancer treatment medicines

Drugs and Use

Substance abuse: Any unnecessary or improper use of chemical substance for nonmedical purposes.

Illegal drugs: Chemical substances that people of any age may not lawfully manufacture, possess, buy, or sell. Also known as “street drugs”.

Illicit drug use: The use or sale of any substance that is illegal or otherwise not permitted.

Overdose: A strong, sometimes fatal reaction to taking a large amount of a drug.

Drugs (Cont.)

Psychological dependence: A condition in which a person believes that a drug is needed in order to feel good or to function normally.

Physiological dependence: A condition in which the user has a chemical need for the drug.

Addiction: A physiological or psychological dependence on a drug.

Marijuana

Marijuana: A plant whose leaves, buds, and flowers are usually smoked for their intoxicating effects.

Marijuana is the most widely used illegal drug and is also known as: weed, pot, Mary Jane, chronic, grass, dope, herb, and many other names.

The active chemical in marijuana is THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol)

Marijuana Short-term Effects

Brain: Problems with memory and learning, distorted perception, difficulty in thinking and problem solving, loss of coordination, and increased heart rate.

Paranoia: An irrational suspiciousness or distrust of others.

Lungs: Burning and stinging of the mouth and throat- sometimes accompanied by a heavy cough.

Other: Bloodshot eyes, dry mouth, increased appetite, distorted sense of time, females have increased testosterone levels and risk of infertility, and men have lower sperm count and testosterone levels.

Marijuana Long-term Effects

Respiratory System: Chronic bronchitis, Pneumonia, increased risk of lung/oral cancer, more frequent chest colds, phlegm production, and daily cough.

Reproductive System: Using marijuana during pregnancy may result in pre-mature babies and low birth rate.

Men and women may have lower rates of fertility.

Other: Risk of heart-attack quadruples within the first hour of using marijuana.

Decreased motivation.

Inhalants

Inhalants: Substances whose fumes are sniffed and inhaled to achieve a mind-altering effect.

Most inhalants go immediately to the brain, actually killing brain cells that will never be replaced.

Examples: Solvents, aerosols, glues, spray paints, gasoline, and varnishes. Also include nitrates and nitrous oxides.

Cause permanent nervous system and brain damage.

Steroids

Steroids: Synthetic substances that are similar to the male sex hormone testosterone.

Anabolic Steroids: Refers to muscle building.

Androgenic Steroids: Refers to increased male characteristics.

Effects From Steroid Use

Major side effects of steroid abuse: Liver tumors and cancer, jaundice (yellowish pigmentation of skin, tissues, and body fluids), fluid retention, high blood pressure, kidney tumors, severe acne, and trembling. Also, extreme mood swings may occur, including manic like symptoms leading to violence, paranoid jealousy, extreme irritability, delusions, and impaired judgment.

Steroid Effects on Men and Women

Effects for men: Shrinking of the testicles, reduced sperm count, infertility, baldness, development of breasts, and increased risk of prostate cancer.

Effects for women: Growth of facial hair, male-pattern baldness, changes in or cessation of the menstrual cycle, enlargement of the clitoris, and deepened voice.

Users often feel the effects of depression when they quit using steroids.

Psychoactive Drugs

Psychoactive Drugs: Chemicals that affect the central nervous system and alter activity in the brain.

Stimulants

Stimulants: Drugs that speed up the central nervous system.

Types of Stimulants include:Cocaine

Caffeine

Crack

Amphetamines

Methamphetamines

Crack/Cocaine

Cocaine: A rapid acting, addictive stimulant obtained by the leafs of a coca plant that can be snorted, dissolved in water, or injected.

Cocaine users can experience a surge of self confidence and euphoria.

Euphoria: A feeling of intense well-being or elation.

Crack: An even more dangerous form of cocaine is crack. Also known as crack cocaine, rock, or freebase rock, crack is one of the most deadly drugs available. It is a very pure form of cocaine that reaches the brain seconds after being smoked or injected.

Effects of Crack/Cocaine Use

Physical Effects: Constricted blood vessels, dilated pupils, and increased temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure.

Euphoric Effects: Hyper stimulation, reduced fatigue, and mental alertness.

The faster the absorption, the more intense the high but shorter duration. (Effects usually last 20-30 minutes).

Increased use reduces the duration of the effect.

A tolerance will develop and most users will never reach the same high that they did the first time using the drug.

Ritalin

Ritalin: central nervous system stimulant used to treat ADD and ADHD

Helps with focus

Makes user more awake but then followed by a crash of fatigue

Used for studying

Ritalin

Short-Term Effects: loss of appetite, increased heart rate & blood pressure, disturbed sleep patterns, bizarre behavior, hallucinations, panic, convulsions, & seizures

Long-Term Effects: dpression, disorientation, malnutrition & weight loss, liver, kidney, and lung damage, heart attacks, stroke, death

Amphetamines

Amphetamines: Stimulants used in prescription medicines to reduce fatigue and drowsiness and to suppress appetite

Illegally used to stay awake/alert, improve athletic performance, and to lose weight

Amphetamines

Short-Term Effects:

• Decreased appetite

• Increased energy

• Involuntary bodily movements

• Nausea

• Irregular heart rate

• Sweating

• Anxiety

• Dilated pupils

Amphetamines

Long-Term Effects:

Chronic sleep problems

Mood swings

High blood pressure

Weight loss

Constipation or diarrhea

Nutritional problems

Paranoia

Hallucinations

Methamphetamine

Methamphetamine: (meth) a stimulant used in treating certain diseases- Parkinson’s disease and obesity

White odorless powder easily dissolved in alcohol or water

Methamphetamine (Meth)

Short-Term Effects

Euphoria

Memory loss

Long-Term Effects

Increased tolerance

Addiction

Depression

Paranoia

Death

Bath Salts

One or more manmade chemicals related to cathinone- an amphetamine-like substance found in the khat plant

EffectsSevere intoxication (out of it)

Losing touch with reality

Violent

Euphoria

Increased sociability

Paranoia

Agitation

Depressants

Depressants: or sedatives, are drugs that tend to slow down the central nervous system

Effects: Relax muscles

Relieve feelings of worry

Cause drowsiness

Slow heart rate

Lower blood pressure

Interrupt normal breathing

Barbituates

Barbituates: belong to a family of sedative-hypnotic drugs, or drugs that induce sleepiness

Effects: Mood changes

Fatigue

Confusion

Impaired memory

Reduced respiratory function

Coma

Tranquilizers

Tranquilizers: depressants that reduce muscular activity, coordination, and attention span

Medical use: relieve anxiety, muscle spasms, sleeplessness, nervousness

Effects:Depression

Unusual excetiement

Fever

Irritability

Dizziness

Dependence

Depressants

Rohypnol: ten times stronger than tranquilizers & known as a date rape drug (roofies)

Small white tablet with no taste or odor

Effects: Inability to remember what happened

Confusion

Drowsiness

Decreased blood pressure

Loss of muscle control

Loss of consciousness

Depressants

GHB: gammahydroxy butyric acid

Date rape drug

Clear liquid, white powder, tablets, & capsules

Effects:Drowsiness

Nausea

Vomiting

Loss of consciousness

Impaired breathing

coma

death

NarcoticsNarcotics: specific drugs that are obtainable only by prescription & are used to relieve pain

Examples: Morphine, OxyContin, codein

Block pain messengers to the brain

EffectsEuphoria

Drowsiness

Constipation

Slow & shallow breathing

Convulsions

Addiction

Coma

Death

HeroinHeroin: highly addictive narcotic, processed form of morphine

Injected, snorted, or smoked

Effects:Confusion

Increased tolerance

Sedation

Slow breathing

Infection of the heart lining and valves

Liver disease

Collapsed veins

Coma

Death

Fentanyl

Fentanyl: used as part of anesthesia to help prevent pain after surgery

Known as China White

Used as IV, tablets, lozenges, nasal spray, and “lollipop” form

EffectsBlurred vision

Chest pain

Confusion

Difficult breathing

Dizziness

Fainting

Mood changes

Opium

Opium: highly addictive narcotic drug from the opium poppy

EffectsAnxiety

Chest pain or discomfort

Confusion

Depression

Hallucination

Difficulty breathing

Dizziness

Mood changes

Hallucinogens

Hallucinogens: drugs that alter moods, thoughts, and sense perceptions, including vision, hearing, smell, and touch

No medical use

Overload the sensory controls in the brain

Brain confuses and intensifies sensations- hallucinates

Can last for several hours or several days

LSD

LSD: most potent hallucinogenic substance known to man

Affects the brain’s emotional center and distorts reality

User may experience anywhere from euphoria to depression

LSDLSD Effects: user feels effects 30-90 minutes after using

EffectsDilated pupils

Higher body temperature

Increased heart rate & blood pressure

Sweating

Loss of appetite

Sleeplessness

Dry mouth

Tremors

Delusions

Visual hallucinations

Fear of insanity and death

Injuries (sometimes fatal)

PCP

PCP: considered one of the most dangerous drugs

Many same effects of LSD but much more dangerous

Seen as white crystalline powder, tablet, or liquid

PCP deaths- usually from destructive behavior the drug produces, not from the drug itself

Effects:Distorted sense of time and space

Increased muscle strength

Inability to feel pain

Ketamine

Ketamine: anesthetic used for medical purposes- mostly animals

White powder- snorted or injected

Causes hallucinations & dream-like states

Effects:Nausea

High blood pressure

Memory loss

Numbness

Respiratory failure

Ecstacy

Ecstacy (MDMA): illegally manufactured variation of mescaline and amphetamine

Designer drug: synthetic substances meant to imitate the effects of hallucinogens and other dangerous drugs

“Feel good drug”- produces positive feelings, extreme relaxation, empathy for others, & eliminates anxiety

Ecstacy

Short-Term EffectsIncreased heart rate, blood pressure, & body temperature

Jaw & teeth clenching/ muscle tension

Dehydration

Chills and/or sweating

Nausea

Blurred vision

Faintness

Dizziness

Confusion

Insomnia

Paranoia

Ecstacy

Long-Term EffectsDepression

Sleep disorders

Paranoia

Drug craving

Elevated anxiety

Liver damage

Brain damage

Paralysis

Muscle breakdown

Hyperthermia

Kidney failure

Cardiovascular system failure

Shrooms

Shrooms: dangerous because of the many different varieties

Some are poisonous

EffectsEuphoria

Hallucinations

Dilated pupils

Empathy

Visual/auditory distortions

“Feelings of love”

Emotional distress

Nausea

Vomiting

Diarrhea

Mescaline (Peyote)

Mescaline: hallucinogen obtained from a small cactus- Peyote

Disc shaped buttons cut and dried from the root then chewed or soaked in water

Causes visual hallucinations, euphoria, dream-like state, laughter, and a psychadelic experience

Effects: anxiety, racing heart beat, dizziness, diarrhea, vomiting, headache

DXM

DXM: common ingredient in cough medicine

Huge amounts of cough syrup to get high (5-10 times normal dose)

Common in the teenage age group

EffectsImpaired vision

Sweating & fever

Rapid breathing

Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea

Slurred speech

Impaired judgment

Memory loss

Hallucinations

LEAN

Lean: soda, candy, and prescription cough syrup

“Sizzurp”

Very dangerous & potentially deadly

EffectsEuphoria

Raspy voice

Slurred speech

Drowsiness

Lack of coordination

Seizures

Slowed and/or stopped breathing

Hookah

Hookah: water pipes that are used to smoke specially made tobacco that comes in different flavors

Many of the same health risks as smoking

K2

K2: Synthetic marijuana, incense or other leafy materials are sprayed with chemicals to mimic the effect of THC

People think it’s safe compared to marijuana

EffectsHigh blood pressure

Nausea

Vomiting

Agitation

Seizures

Vocabulary Review

Medicines: drugs that are used to treat or prevent disease or other conditions

Drugs: substances other than food that change the structure or function of the body or mind

Vaccine: a preparation introduced into the body to stimulate an immune response

Analgesics: pain relievers

Side effects: reactions to medicine other than the one intended

Vocabulary Review (cont.)

Additive interaction: medicines work together in a positive way

Synergistic effect: interaction of two or more medicines that results in a greater effect than when the medicines are taken alone

Antagonistic interaction: the effect of one medicine is canceled or reduced when taken with another medicine

Vocabulary Review (cont.)

Substance abuse: any unnecessary or improper use of chemical substances for nonmedical purposes

Illegal drugs: chemical substances that people of any age may not lawfully manufacture, possess, buy, or sell

Illicit drug use: the use or sale of any substance that is illegal or otherwise not permitted

Vocabulary Review (cont.)

Overdose: a strong, sometimes fatal reaction to taking a large amount of a drug

Psychological dependence: a condition in which a person believes that a drug is needed in order to feel good or to function

Physiological dependence: a condition in which the user has a chemical need for the drug

Addiction: a physiological or psychological dependence on a drug

Vocabulary Review (cont.)

Marijuana: a plant whose leaves, buds, and flowers are usually smoked for their intoxicating effects

Paranoia: an irrational suspiciousness or distrust of others

Inhalants: substances whose fumes are sniffed and inhaled to achieve a mind-altering effect

Anabolic-androgenic steroids: synthetic substances that are similar to the male sex hormone testosterone

Vocabulary Review (cont.)

Psychoactive drugs: chemicals that affect the central nervous system and alter activity in the brain

Stimulants: drugs that speed up the central nervous system

Euphoria: a feeling of intense well-being or elation

Depressants: drugs that tend to slow down the central nervous system

Vocabulary Review (cont.)

Narcotics: specific drugs that are obtainable only by prescription and are used to relieve pain

Hallucinogens: drugs that alter moods, thoughts, and sense perceptions including vision, hearing, smell, and touch

Designer drugs: synthetic substances meant to imitate the effects of hallucinogens and other dangerous drugs

Vocabulary Review (cont.)

Drug-free school zones: areas within 1,000 feet of schools and designated by signs, within which people caught selling drugs receive especially severe penalties

Drug watches: organized community efforts by neighborhood residents to patrol, monitor, report, and otherwise try to stop drug deals and drug abuse