Download Introduction to Gateway Drugs

DRUG DANGER:
In the Body
Introduction to Gateway
Drugs
Drug Danger: In the Body
Drug Danger: In the Body focuses
on three gateway drugs –
tobacco, marijuana and alcohol
(including beer) - and discusses
their effects on various organs in
the body. Gateway drugs mean
they can lead to the use of other
drugs.
Tobacco
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Tobacco contains nicotine, a powerful and highly
addictive drug.
Nicotine is a poisonous substance that changes
the chemistry of the brain.
Tobacco also contains tar which triggers cancer
growth.
Two other diseases cigarette smokers are more
likely to get than non-smokers are emphysema
and chronic bronchitis.
Cigarette smoke also contains carbon monoxide, a
poisonous gas that can cause heart attacks.
Nicotine: a very powerful
drug.
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May be more addictive than cocaine and heroin.
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Changes the chemistry of the brain so that
smokers crave cigarettes.
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It’s a poison: the amount in 10 packs of cigarettes
at one time is fatal.
Tar: another poison found in
tobacco
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Coats the lungs and damages the delicate lining.
Paralyzes the millions of tiny hairs in the nose,
throat and lungs – hairs that would otherwise
sweep germs out of the body.
Also triggers cancer growth. Thousands of
smokers die yearly from lung cancer.
When tar builds up in the lungs it cause
emphysema making it difficult to breath.
Causes airways to get smaller and clogged with
mucus causing chronic bronchitis. Breathing can
be painful and difficult.
Carbon Monoxide: poisonous
gas
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Gets into the brain, heart and blood vessels doing
lots of damage.
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Takes the place of oxygen causing the heart to
work harder – can beat out of control & stop.
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Builds up a fatty substance called cholesterol on
blood vessel walls blocking the flow of blood
causing a heart attack or stroke.
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Affects a person’s eyesight. Makes it more
difficult to see at night.
Major Health Concerns
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Tobacco is a dangerous drug to everyone’s health.
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Statistics show 88% of lung cancer in males & 74%
in females could be prevented if people did not
smoke tobacco.
Marijuana
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Marijuana smoke contains the same dangerous
chemicals as cigarette, but in larger amounts.
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In addition marijuana contains THC, a poison
that destroys white blood cells, an important
part of a person’s ability to fight disease.
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Marijuana also affects the brain. Frequent users
have trouble focusing their thoughts, and the
ability to use their muscles is hampered.
Tar
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5 times more than tobacco
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Main carcinogen (cancer)
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More likely to get lung cancer, emphysema and
bronchitis
THC
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A poisonous chemical.
10 – 15 time more in marijuana today vs. the 60s.
Stored in various organs including the lungs &
kidneys
Destroys white blood cells, an important part of
a person to fight diseases.
Affects the brain, causing people to have panic
attacks.
Long term use can cause a person to have trouble
focusing their thoughts.
Causes burnout and depression.
Conflicting Views
Legalization of marijuana vs. tobacco becoming
illegal
While demonizing tobacco as the worse drug in
America through the media, there has been a
movement to legalize marijuana for decades.
Although there is some negative media towards
drug use in general, there has been a lot of
coverage to legalize marijuana on the radio & TV
talk shows.
Why marijuana should not be
legalized:
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Alcohol: Legal over 21 years of age, is the most
abused drug in the USA – 20 million alcoholics
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Tobacco: Legal over the age of 18 years old, may be
the most addictive drug and dangerous health
wise.
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Marijuana: Has 5 times more tar than tobacco –
THC destroys white blood cells which can only up
the cost in health care.
Legal in What State?
Contrary to popular belief, marijuana is not legal
in California or Arizona. To say its legal would be
like saying heroine is legal in Texas. Some doctors
do prescribe marijuana use to cancer patients
whom or using chemo-therapy, but even that is in
violation of Federal Law. The United States
government has been cracking down on this
practice in California.
Is marijuana helpful to cancer
patients?
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Although THC settles the stomach & gives you an
appetite, which can be helpful to those going
through chemo-therapy, it also destroys white
blood cells. Cancer patients need to keep their
immune system healthy. There are other drugs
available (antiemetic treatments) that do not
destroy white blood cells.
Alcohol
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Alcohol affects a person in similar ways. In
addition, alcohol may causer stomach ulcers, and,
and can play a role in the development of stomach
cancer.
Heavy drinkers generally have higher blood
pressure than non-drinkers, and a higher
incidence of heart attacks.
Alcohol also can destroy the liver, the organ that
removes poisonous substances from the body.
Hard Liquor:
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There is no such thing as ‘Hard Liquor’. Alcohol is
alcohol – a 12 oz. can of beer or wine cooler, 4oz
glass of wine or a shot of liquor all have the same
amount of alcohol - .05 oz.
Alcohol Kills
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30,000 people every year in drunk driving
accidents.
10 teen’s everyday, making it the number 1 killer
of adolescents.
100,000 deaths annually (preventable)
Destructive in other ways
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Stomach - ulcers & cancer
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Heart - high blood pressure causing heart attacks.
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Liver – hepatitis and cirrhosis.
Alcohol Plays a Part in
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60% of all traffic accidents and 37% of all traffic
fatalities
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68% of all drowning
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85% of all murders
Alcohol and the dangers to
Young People
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A young person’s brain is still developing and
organizing.
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The younger someone starts drinking alcohol the
higher the risk of alcoholism.
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#1 killer of adolescents – 10 teenagers die every
day from alcohol related incidents.
Crime Cost
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Crime Cost associated with alcohol and drug use
cost Texas taxpayers over 2 billion dollars per/yr.
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That is approximately $1000 per/person every
year.
Summary
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Nobody ever intends to become a drug addict –
it’s just too terrible. Everyone who starts on a
gateway drug thinks they can stop anytime they
want. Too often, however, they are fooling
themselves.
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As you have seen, they can be very harmful to the
brain, the heart and blood vessels, blood cells
that fight disease, the liver, the lungs and the
stomach.
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Every time a person smokes tobacco or marijuana
– or drinks alcohol – they are putting their body
in danger. As time passes that danger becomes
greater & greater.