Live A Life Above The Influence!

Categories of Drugs1) Inhalants

2) Stimulants

3) Depressants

4) Hallucinogens

5) Narcotics

6) Marijuana

INHALANT

Any substance that is inhaled glue, gas, paint thinner, Pam, white out, . . . Effects: nausea, dizziness, headaches,

nosebleeds, lack of coordination and control Dangers: unconsciousness, suffocation,

brain damage, & sudden death

STIMULANTS Drugs which increase (speed up) functions of the CNS Examples: speed, uppers, amphetamines, caffeine, nicotine,

cocaine, crack, crank, Ritalin, meth Effects: alertness, increased heart rate & blood pressure, feel

more energetic, loss of appetite, dilated pupils, dry mouth Increased energy followed by HUGE let-down (“crash”) Dangers: fatigue leading to exhaustion, chronic sleep

problems, paranoia, depression, possible hallucinations, psychological dependence, overdose

Symptoms of Overdose: cardiac arrhythmias, convulsions, coma, death

Meth – Not Even Once Montana Meth Project http://www.montanameth.org/View_Ads/index.php

Extracted from leaves of Coca plant of South America

White powder that is snorted

through nose; can be mixed

with a liquid & injected Freebasing = smoking cocaine in a pipe

Cocaine

Crack = stronger form of cocaine that is smoked

Crack can cause addiction after only 1 or 2 uses

Street cocaine ranges in purity from 5-80% (you don’t know what you are getting!)

Effects are a very brief EUPHORIA (3-20 min.) followed by depression (“crash”)

Cocaine Dangers: extremely addictive!

Rise in BP, HR, breathing, & Body Temp. Dilated pupils, insomnia, loss of appetite,

paranoia Heart Attack, Stroke, Seizures, Lung Damage,

Severe Depression, Suicide, Death Pregnant women using cocaine currently causing

epidemic levels of infants with birth defects.

DEPRESSANTS Drugs which slow down the functions

of the CNS Examples: alcohol, downers, barbiturates,

valium, ludes, tranquilizers Effects: depressed breathing & heart rate,

intoxication, drowsiness, produce a calming effect or sleep, uncoordinated movements

DEPRESSANTS DANGERS:

Possible overdose (especially in combo with alcohol)

Highly addictive (physical dependence) Hypotension, Coma, Possible Death

Withdrawal symptoms can be extremely severe: anxiety, fever, hallucinations, tremors, delirium, shakes, convulsions, possible death

HALLUCINOGENS

Latin meaning “to dream” Drugs which cause you to see, hear,

& feel things that do not exist Examples: LSD (acid), PCP (angel dust), MDMA,

Ecstasy, Psilocybin Mushrooms, Peyote Cactus Used by ancient Indians for religious

ceremonies / “spirit visitations”

HALLUCINOGENS

Today made illegally from lab chemicals Effects: altered mood & perceptions, trips, paranoia Dangers: unpredictable behavior, emotional

instability, violent behavior (PCP), flashback reactions (weeks or even years after use), bad trips

May go on a “bad trip” producing bizarre, unpredictable behavior

Using PCP is like playing “Hallucinogenic Russian Roulette.”

NARCOTICS / OPIATES Greek for “to numb” Opiates from opium poppy plant Strong painkillers which cause sleepiness Similar in effect to endorphins produced

during exercise (“runner’s high”) Legal Use: prescription for pain, cough

suppressants (codeine)

Narcotics Effects: euphoria, drowsiness, insensitivity to pain,

nausea, vomiting “shoot up & throw up,” watery eyes, runny nose, constricted pupils

Tolerance grows quickly

causing fast addiction,

quick dependence,

intense withdrawal

Narcotics Opium – smoked Morphine – pain killer; used extensively by

Civil War soldiers – became addicted quickly Codeine – pain relief (Tylenol 3);

cough suppressant

Narcotics Heroine – even medical use of this drug is illegal!

Users spend $100 day to maintain the habit “shoot up & throw up;” high lasts about 4 hrs. One of easiest drugs to get hooked on;

1 or 2 uses Withdrawal Symptoms – nausea,

shaking, chills, abdominal pains

(begin 4-6 hours after taking)

Heroine Heroine can lead to death in several ways

Mixed with alcohol, sleeping pills Needle infections (AIDS, hepatitis) Violence Overdose (unknown purity)

Methadone – lab-made drug used medically to treat heroine addicts; less intense withdrawal

Marijuana Marijuana has characteristics of stimulants, depressants, &

hallucinogens Comes from CANNIBUS SATIVA plant # 3 most abused drug in US Gateway Drug – often leads to use of stronger

drugs BE SMART . . . NEVER START!

Marijuana THC is main psychoactive ingredient; THC is

fat soluble; remains in body up to 24 months Effects: altered perceptions, red eyes, dry

mouth, reduced concentration, reduced coordination, euphoria, laughing, hunger

Dangers: panic reaction, impaired short term memory, lungs affected similar to tobacco (but more intense), addiction (psychological)

Marijuana Amotivational Syndrome – users become

apethetic, lethargic, & withdraw from activities ABOVE THE INFLUENCE

Symptoms of overdose – paranoia, delusions, hallucinations, possible psychosis (lose touch with reality)

Highly cultivated forms of marijuana now emerging with 300% greater toxicity than the weed of yesteryear

Marijuana Hash – comes from same plant

as marijuana Stronger (more THC)

Possible medical uses of marijuana Treat nausea accompanying cancer chemo Stimulate appetite in AIDS patients Treating glaucoma

Designer & Look-Alike Drugs Synthetic substances meant to imitate the

effects of narcotics & hallucinogens. Ecstasy (MDMA)

Look-alike drugs made to physically resemble specific illegal drugs. User never knows exactly what he or she is getting.

Drug Abuse . . .

A sure way to flush your dreams down the toilet!

Steroids There’s no glory in cheating! Steroids are synthetic derivatives of male

hormone testosterone.

Steroids

Steroids

Don’t be a victim to drugs!

Textbook AssignmentRead Illegal Drug Chapter 22

Answer the following questions: P. 618-620 # 1-36 – Even #’s only