What is a Drug???What is a Drug??? A drug is any chemical substance that changes A drug is any chemical substance that changes

the physical, mental or emotional state of the the physical, mental or emotional state of the body.body.

Drugs are separated into two main categories:Drugs are separated into two main categories:1.1. Illicit (illegal)- e.g., cannabis, narcotics, Illicit (illegal)- e.g., cannabis, narcotics,

hallucinogens, stimulants, cocaine and hallucinogens, stimulants, cocaine and amphetamines.amphetamines.

2.2. Licit (legal)- e.g., Prescription drugs- only Licit (legal)- e.g., Prescription drugs- only allowed to use when prescribed by a doctor e.g. allowed to use when prescribed by a doctor e.g. penicillin, antibiotics.penicillin, antibiotics.Non-prescription drugs- substances that you Non-prescription drugs- substances that you can use in recommended amount- e.g. cough can use in recommended amount- e.g. cough medicines, panadol, tea, coffee, tobacco and medicines, panadol, tea, coffee, tobacco and alcohol. alcohol.

Why do people take Why do people take Drugs???Drugs???

Many people take drugs on a weekly basis Many people take drugs on a weekly basis and take drugs for a variety of reasons:and take drugs for a variety of reasons:

•To prevent illness

•To cure disease

•To feel better

•To improve sporting performance

•To escape reality

•To cover up poor communication skills

•To join the peer group

•To satisfy curiosity

•To seek thrills

•To escape boredom, loneliness, poverty or insecurity

•Because advertisers tell them to

•Because their parents take drugs

Why do people Use Drugs?Why do people Use Drugs?

Five reasons behind useFive reasons behind use 1.Recreational use1.Recreational use 2.Therapeutic use2.Therapeutic use 3.Escapism3.Escapism 4.Spiritual or psychological use4.Spiritual or psychological use 5.Conform to group and social 5.Conform to group and social

standardsstandards

Use and AbuseUse and Abuse

The distinction between using a drug The distinction between using a drug from abusing a drugfrom abusing a drug

1.Use that goes against accepted 1.Use that goes against accepted medical practicesmedical practices

2. Effect of the drug2. Effect of the drugMental harmMental harmPhysical harmPhysical harmSocial harmSocial harm

Addiction and DependencyAddiction and Dependency

Addiction – a physical or psychological Addiction – a physical or psychological craving for a drugcraving for a drug

Withdrawal symptomsWithdrawal symptomsComplexComplex

Dependency – a state in which a Dependency – a state in which a person’s body has adjusted to regular person’s body has adjusted to regular use of a druguse of a drug

Need for the drug to feel Need for the drug to feel normalnormal

Drugs and Other Social Drugs and Other Social ProblemsProblems

HealthHealth Many people die from the use of illegal Many people die from the use of illegal

and legal drugsand legal drugs Effects physical and psychological well Effects physical and psychological well

beingbeing Prenatal exposurePrenatal exposure

Premature deliveryPremature delivery Low birth weightLow birth weight Birth defectsBirth defects

Drugs and Other Social Drugs and Other Social ProblemsProblems

HealthHealth Sharing needles and HIVSharing needles and HIV U.S. Center for Disease Control and U.S. Center for Disease Control and

PreventionPreventionNeedle exchange program Needle exchange program and the reduction in the and the reduction in the spread of HIVspread of HIV

Educational information on the Educational information on the sterilization of needles sterilization of needles

Drugs and Other Social Drugs and Other Social ProblemsProblems

CrimeCrime Drug use and crimeDrug use and crime

Violent offenders and drug useViolent offenders and drug use Drug enforcement policies cause Drug enforcement policies cause

crime crime Drug trafficking and violenceDrug trafficking and violence Crime to support a drug habitCrime to support a drug habit

What is Alcohol???What is Alcohol???

Alcohol is a colourless chemical liquid Alcohol is a colourless chemical liquid which is produced when the sugars which is produced when the sugars in fruits or grain ferment. Alcohol is in fruits or grain ferment. Alcohol is also a drug. Remember that the also a drug. Remember that the definition of a drug is ‘any chemical definition of a drug is ‘any chemical substance which affects the normal substance which affects the normal way that a person’s mind of body way that a person’s mind of body functions.’ functions.’

What Alcohol does to What Alcohol does to your body!your body!

Regular consumption of too much Regular consumption of too much alcohol for both women and men can alcohol for both women and men can suffer serious physical and mental suffer serious physical and mental damage.damage.

Alcohol affects the:Alcohol affects the:

Pancreas, Skin, Weight, Kidneys, Pancreas, Skin, Weight, Kidneys, Liver, Mental Health, Blood Liver, Mental Health, Blood pressure, Heart, Digestive system pressure, Heart, Digestive system and Fertility. and Fertility.

How alcohol leaves the How alcohol leaves the body.body.

Ninety one percent of alcohol is Ninety one percent of alcohol is broken down by the liver. The liver broken down by the liver. The liver breaks down between 7 and 10 breaks down between 7 and 10 grams of alcohol an hour, depending grams of alcohol an hour, depending on the person.on the person.

Nine percent of alcohol leaves via, Nine percent of alcohol leaves via, breath 3%, sweat 3% and urine the breath 3%, sweat 3% and urine the kidneys 3%.kidneys 3%.

Alcohol and Young PeopleAlcohol and Young People Social cost of alcohol to the Australian Social cost of alcohol to the Australian

community is estimated at $7.5 billion per community is estimated at $7.5 billion per annum (22%)annum (22%)

Most alcohol consumed by 14 to 17 year-Most alcohol consumed by 14 to 17 year-olds is at risky or high risk levels which olds is at risky or high risk levels which increases risk of injury and violenceincreases risk of injury and violence

National Alcohol Campaign found an National Alcohol Campaign found an increase in the proportion of females who increase in the proportion of females who reported consuming at risky (5-6 drinks) reported consuming at risky (5-6 drinks) and high risk levels (7 or more drinks)and high risk levels (7 or more drinks)

What Happens When Alcohol is What Happens When Alcohol is Ingested?Ingested?

Alcohol is absorbed into blood in the stomach and small Alcohol is absorbed into blood in the stomach and small intestine.intestine.

Some alcohol mat be destroyed by an enzyme in the stomach.Some alcohol mat be destroyed by an enzyme in the stomach. Men tend to have more of this enzyme than women.Men tend to have more of this enzyme than women.

Alcohol is NOT absorbed by fat.Alcohol is NOT absorbed by fat. Given two people of the same total weight and drinking the Given two people of the same total weight and drinking the

same amount, the one with more body fat will be affected same amount, the one with more body fat will be affected more by the alcohol because the same amount of alcohol more by the alcohol because the same amount of alcohol will be absorbed by a smaller amount of lean tissue.will be absorbed by a smaller amount of lean tissue.

On average, .3oz of alcohol per hour will be metabolized by the On average, .3oz of alcohol per hour will be metabolized by the liver. If more than this amount is consumed, then the level of liver. If more than this amount is consumed, then the level of alcohol in the blood will rise.alcohol in the blood will rise.

Between 2 and 10 percent of the alcohol consumed is Between 2 and 10 percent of the alcohol consumed is excretedexcreted in the breath and urine.in the breath and urine. This means that no amount of breath mints, mouthwash, or This means that no amount of breath mints, mouthwash, or

similar things will fool a breathalyzer test.similar things will fool a breathalyzer test.