Recreational Drugs

Use Misuse Abuse and Dependence

Too Many to Talk About

• Focus on:– Marijuana– Cocaine– Hallucinogens – Ecstasy, LSD, Mushrooms– Heroin

Prevalence

Drug Past Year Last 30 DaysMarijuana 46.2% 15.7%Cocaine 3.6% 1.2%Amphetamines 3.6% 1.5%Heroin .34% .10%LSD 3.7% .95%MDMA 4.7% - 24%47% reported have used marijuana at least once

Marijuana –Effects & Consequences

• Sedation, Euphoria, Increase Appetite, Mild Perceptual Disturbance, Anxiety/Panic

• Dependence– Physiological = No– Tolerance = No– Withdrawal = Equivocal– Abused = Yes

• Health Hazards – Injury, Exacerbates Psychosis, Respiratory/Cancer??????

• Medical Uses – Cancer Tx., AIDS, MS

Cocaine – Effects & Consequences

• Euphoria, Grandiosity, Energy, Stimulation, Increased Craving

• Dependence– Physiological = Yes ---Moderate– Tolerance = Yes and No– Withdrawal = Non-lethal Depression Fatigue– Abused = Yes, easily

• Health Hazards – Injury, Exacerbates Psychosis, Cardio problems

• Medical Uses – Local anesthetic

Hallucinogens – Effects and Consequences

• Altered perception and mood, stimulation• Dependence

– Physiological = No– Tolerance = No– Withdrawal = No, but coming down can suck– Abused = Yes, but difficult

• Health Hazards – Injury, Exacerbates Psychosis, Stroke

• Medical Uses – Parkinsons????

Heroin – Effects and Consequences

• Dependence– Physiological = Yes, severe– Tolerance = Yes, rapid – Withdrawal = Yes, not lethal, but difficult– Abused = Yes, easily

• Health Hazards – Injury, • Medical Uses – Pain killer, but there are

much safer ones

Use Misuse Abuse Dependence

• The line between these relationships can be quite blurry

• Marijuana• Cocaine• Hallucinogens• Heroin

Gateway Theory of Drug Use

• What are the “Gateway Drugs?”– Alcohol & Cigarettes– Marijuana

• Difficult to tell if there are really GDs– Retrospective Studies– 1 in 1000 marjiuana users go on to use heroin– Host Factors – Genetics Psychopathology– Environment Factors – Access, Norms, Policy

In Sum

• Everyone has a relationship w/ETOH & Drugs

• That relationship can be non-use use misuse abuse or dependence

• The line can be difficult if not impossible for some drugs because of the DRUG

• The line can be difficult if not impossible for some drugs because of the PERSON