Download drugs and their effects

DRUGS AND THEIR
EFFECTS
What is a Drug?
• A drug is any substance—solid, liquid or gas—
that brings about physical and/or
psychological changes in the body.
• What drugs do you think are most commonly
used by secondary school students?
2008 Australian Secondary Students’ Alcohol &
Drug Survey
• Analgesics (painkillers) were the most commonly
used substance, with 95% of students having used
them in their lifetime, 68% using them in the past
month, and 38% having used them in the past week.
• 3% of students aged 12 to 17 years reported having
ever used amphetamines (speed)– a low rate
compared to use of alcohol (84%) and tobacco
(29%).
• 19% of students reported they had deliberately
sniffed inhalants at least once in their lifetime, 8%
reported use in the past month.
2008 Australian Secondary Students’ Alcohol &
Drug Survey
• Across all 12- to 17-year-olds, 12% stated they
had used cannabis in their lifetime.
• 4% of 12- to 17-year-old students reported
having ever used ecstasy in their lifetime.
• 3% of all 12- to 17-year-old students reported
having ever used hallucinogens in their lifetime.
• Overall, 2% of 12- to 17-year-old students
reported having ever used cocaine in their
lifetime.
• Did any of these results from the 2008
Australian Secondary Students’ Alcohol and
Drug Survey surprise you?
Types of Drugs
1. Stimulants
2. Depressants
3. Hallucinogens
Stimulants
• Make you feel more awake and alert.
• Increase your heart rate, body temperature
and blood pressure.
• May make you feel agitated, keep you awake,
decrease your appetite and dilate your pupils.
• If you take a large amount of a stimulant drug
you can become anxious, paranoid, aggressive
and get stomach cramps.
Stimulants
• tobacco
• caffeine
• amphetamines (eg speed or
methamphetamine, ICE)
• ephedrine (Sudafed)
• cocaine
• ecstasy (MDMA)
Depressants
• Slow down your reaction to things.
• Taken in small amounts they may make you
feel more relaxed.
• Taken in large amounts they may cause you to
pass out as they slow down your breathing
and heart rate or may cause nausea, vomiting
and even death.
• Mixing depressant drugs may be dangerous
and increases the likelihood of overdose.
Depressants
• alcohol
• GHB (Gamma hydroxybutyrate)
• opiates and opioids, including drugs like heroin,
opium, morphine, codeine and methadone
• cannabis (marijuana, hashish, hash oil)
• sedatives and hypnotics (including valium and
rohypnol)
• barbiturates
• some solvents and inhalants, like petrol, glue,
lighter fluids and paint thinners
Hallucinogens
• Hallucinogens may change people's perceptions of
reality. During this time, people may experience visual
or auditory hallucinations.
• It is impossible to predict whether your hallucinations
are likely to be positive or unpleasant. It is not
uncommon to experience anxiety, panic or paranoia
during an hallucination.
• It is also difficult to predict the length and frequency of
the hallucinations. You may still be having them for up
to 24 hours or for periods after this time.
• Losing contact with reality may cause people to have
accidents and take risks they wouldn't normally take.
Hallucinogens
• LSD (acid, trips)
• Magic mushrooms
• Cannabis may have hallucinogenic effects
when taken in large amounts as well as
depressant effects.
Role Play in Pairs
• Aim: To develop refusal strategies
Bec is 15, she is at an 18th birthday party with her
best friend Sally.
Bec’s parents have let her attend provided
she does not drink and is ready to be picked up at
12.00. This is the first party with alcohol that they
have let her attend without them.
At 10.30pm Sally offers Bec a drink. Sally has
already drunk a couple.
Refusal tactics
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Making an excuse
Changing the topic
Saying you’re not allowed
Making a joke of it
Saying you will let them know later
Walking away
Look like you’re drinking
Getting others on your side
Asserting your own opinion