Download Drugs

6th Grade Health
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Why do people choose to use alcohol,
tobacco and illegal drugs when they
are aware of the detrimental effects.
A drug is any substance that changes how the mind or body works.
Different kinds of
DRUGS
Drugs that are for everyone
Drugs that are legal for adults
Medicines
Illegal Drugs
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Weight- A lighter person needs less of a drug to feel the
same effects that a heavier person feels from a drug.
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Mood- Drugs can intensify your mood.
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Food- Having food in the stomach can decreases the
strength of some drugs.
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Mixing- mixing different drugs can change how they affect
the mind and body.
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Amount– taking more of a drug causes a stronger reaction.
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Allergies– Some people have allergies to certain drugs,
causing unexpected and dangerous reactions to the drug.
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Ingestion
Inhaled
Injected
Absorbed
– swallowed
– breathing in fumes
– through needle
– through the skin
Medicine – is a drug that is used to cure, treat,
or prevent pain, disease, and illness.
Medicine can take the form of pill, liquid,
syrup, cream, or spray.
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Over-the-Counter Medicines are medicines that
can be bought without a doctor’s written order.
Prescription Medicines are medicines that can be
bought only with a written order, or prescription,
from a doctor or other licensed professional.
Side effects - are unexpected changes in the body
or mind that are caused by medicines
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Controlled Substance - drugs that are used illegally without a prescription.
Also know as illicit drugs.
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Drug Addiction – is the uncontrollable use of a drug.
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Dependence – means needing the drug in order to function properly.
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Physical dependence – is the body’s chemical need for a drug.
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Psychological dependence – is a person’s emotional or mental need for a
drug
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Tolerance – is the body’s ability to resist the effects of a drug.
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Withdrawal – is the process that occurs when a addicted person stops taking
a drug.
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Overdose - is taking more of a drug than a person’s body can safely process.
 Stimulants
 Depressants
 Hallucinogens
 Narcotics
 Inhalants
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A Gateway drug is a drug that introduces
people to drug use, increasing the risk that
they will try stronger drugs.
Common Gateway Drugs: are Tobacco,
Alcohol, and Marijuana.
Marijuana – is the dried leaves and flowers of the cannabis (KAN uh BIS)
plant
Marijuana produces a wide range of effects, which can differ from person
to person. Some users experience depressant like effects while others
experience stimulant like effects.
Examples of some of marijuana’s effects:
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Mild euphoria
 Distortion of time and distance
 Reduced energy and coordination
 Increased sensitivity to sights and sounds
 Increased appetite
 Decreased memory
 Reaction time slower
 Can cause user to do poorly in school or work
 Can cause lung cancer, emphysema and circulatory problems
THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is the active chemical substance in marijuana
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Stimulants – are drugs that speed up the
brain and heart.
Some consequences of stimulant use can be
heart attacks, strokes or even Death.
Examples of stimulants: are Caffeine,
Cocaine, and Methamphetamine.
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Depressants – are drugs that slow the body
down.
Some consequences of depressant use are
low breathing and heart rates, breathing
failure, a coma, and in some cases death.
Examples of Depressants: are alcohol,
tranquilizers, barbiturates, rohypnol (date
rape drug)
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Hallucinogens – are strong drugs that make
people see and hear thing that do not exist.
Some Hallucinogens will cause people to do
dangerous things that they otherwise would not
do. They can cause increased blood pressure
and heart rate, violent thinking, psychosis,
memory loss, brain damage, coma, and death
Examples of Hallucinogens: are LSD (acid),
Magic Mushrooms (shrooms),PCP (angel dust),
and Mescaline
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Narcotics - a drug that in moderate doses
dulls the senses and relieves pain.
Narcotics can be very addictive.
Narcotics slow heart rate, breathing, and
brain activity. In large amounts they can be
fatal.
Examples: heroin, morphine, codeine,
oxycodone, opium, methadone.
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Inhalants – are chemical products that have
strong fumes, or odors.
Inhalants may cause lightheadedness,
dizziness, nosebleeds, nausea, headaches,
and in some cases death.
Common Inhalants are household cleaners,
spray paint, some glues, and gasses such as
freon and nitrous oxide.
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Drug Misuse – is the accidental incorrect use
of a drug
Drug Abuse – is the purposeful incorrect use
of drugs or the use of an illegal drug.