Download Chapter 21: Drug Use - Holy Trinity Diocesan High School

Chapter 21: Drug Use
A. Influence on Teens
1. Family: at risk with when teens have poor family relationships, not
close, supportive or lack guidance
2. Social: at risk when peer pressure, glamorization by role models,
competitive pressure
3. Personal: at risk when looking for an outlet for stress, low self-esteem
4. Protective Factors:
 Families are strong, positive, parental awareness, clear rules that are
enforced
 Friends have strong bond, drug free friends, friends who are
supportive and accepting
 Committed to success in academics, personal belief of drug use is
unacceptable, and take stress and negative feelings as a part of life
B. Types of Drugs
1. OTC: over the counter; medicines that are legally sold
2. Prescription: drug obtained only with written order by a doctor
3. Illegal: street drugs
C. Effects on the Brain


Psychoactive drug: mood altering, create a pleasurable feeling the user
wants to repeat
Addiction: compulsive use of a drug despite any cost to health, family, or
social standing; changes the structure and chemistry of the brain
D. Effects on the Body
1. Side Effect: unwanted physical or mental effect of the drug; nausea,
dizziness, drowsiness
2. Withdrawal: the body’s reaction to not having the drug; can be mild to
life-threatening; nausea or vomiting, headaches or dizziness, fever,
digestion problems, paranoia or panic, tremors, seizures or death
3. Drug Interactions:
a. Antagonist: drug’s effect is cancelled out or reduced by another
drug
b. Synergist: drugs interact to produce a greater effect than they
would alone
4. Health Risks:
 Impurities
 Hepatitis and HIV
 Risk to Fetus and Newborn: dependent
E. Classification of Abused Drugs
1. Depressants: slow body functions, decrease HR, BP and breathing rate
Ex. Sedative, Depressants (Downers), Tranquilizers, Alcohol,
Opiates (Heroin):
 Intense euphoria followed by drowsiness and dreamlike
state
 Causes: liver, kidney, heart problems, infections,
HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, menstrual irregularities
2. Stimulants: increases HR, BP, breathing rate, alertness
Ex. Amphetamines, Nicotine
Methamphetamines: (speed, meth, crystal, crank, ice, uppers)
 Anxiety, euphoria, depression, severe crash after effects
wears off
 Damage to blood vessels, stroke, cardiac arrest
 Signs of use: inability to sleep, sensitivity to noise,
anorexia, tremors
Cocaine/Crack:
 Short-lived high followed by intense feeling of
depression, edginess, craving for more
 Suppresses appetite
 Increases HR, muscle spasms, convulsions, damage to
nasal tissue
 Feeling of paranoia, anger, hostility, anxious
 Heart attack, stroke
 Signs of Use: red, bloodshot eyes, runny nose, frequent
sniffing, withdrawn, depressed, tired
3. Hallucinogens: distorts perceptions, thought and mood
Ex. LSD, Psilocybin (mushrooms), PCP (angel dust)
 Frightening and unpredictable mood swings
 Memory loss and personality changes
 Bad trips
4. Marijuana: “Gateway Drug”
THC: active ingredient
 Distorted perceptions
 Difficulties with thinking and problem solving
 Loss of motor coordination
 Increase HR
 Anxiety or paranoia; increased chance of mental illness
 Bloodshot eyes
 Sleepiness, depression
 Increased appetite “munchies”
Effects:
 Interferes with short-term memory, cancer, respiratory
problems (4x more tar than cigarettes), immune system
problems
 Addiction or dependence (3/10 teens become addicted)
5. Club Drugs, Inhalants
Ex. Ecstasy, Rohypnol, GHB, Ketamine
 Some are stimulants, some are depressants/sedatives
F. Treatment
1. Detoxification
2. Therapeutic communities: residential treatment center for former drug
abusers
G. Legal Risks and Other Costs
1. Long prison terms and heavy fines
2. Difficulty obtaining jobs, going to school or joining military
3. Commit other crimes to support habit
4. Strained relationship
5. Change in personality, unpredictable mood swings
6. Financial costs to society (prevention of trafficking and sale), drug abuse
prevention programs, education, treatment and rehab
7. Cost of incarceration
8. Medical costs due to injury and illness associated with drugs
9. Homicide and premature death
10. Lost work productivity