Download SUBSTANCE ABUSE: How Drugs Affect the Body

SUBSTANCE ABUSE:
What is Drug Abuse?
Ms. Mai
Lawndale High School
Drug Abuse


Drug abuse is any use of an illegal drug
or the misuse of any legal drug
(prescription, over-the-counter, alcohol)
Remember that psychoactive drugs are
any substance that acts on the brain
affecting someone’s mind and behavior

Depending on the type of drug used, it
may make you feel elated, relaxed,
more energetic, more excited, or simply
different than you normally feel
Categories of Psychoactive Drugs

For these reasons, many people
become addicted to mind-altering drugs

Psychoactive drugs are categories into
5 different categories depending upon
their potential for abuse and addiction
(Category 1  5)
Categories of Psychoactive Drugs
Category
Drugs
Category 1
Cannabis,
heroin, LSD
Category 2
Cocaine,
meth, PCP,
morphine,
Category 3
Narcotics,
barbiturates
Category 4
Tranquilizer
stimulants
Category 5
Some overthe-counter
Characteristics
Highest potential for abuse
No medical use
High potential for abuse
Very restricted medical use
Some potential for abuse
Accepted medical use
Low potential for abuse
Accepted medical use
Lowest potential for abuse
Accepted medical use
Category 1

Highest potential for
abuse and addiction,
no accepted medical
use (cannabis,
heroin, LSD)
Category 2

High potential for
abuse and
addiction, restricted
medical use
(amphetamine,
codeine, cocaine,
methamphetamine,
morphine, opium,
PCP, barbiturates)
Category 3

Some potential for abuse and addition,
accepted medical use (stimulants,
barbiturates, narcotics)
Category 4

Low potential for abuse and addiction,
accepted medical use (sedatives,
tranquilizers, narcotics)
Category 5

Lowest potential for abuse, accepted
medical use (over-the-counter med)
Why Do Young People Use Drugs?

The most common reason teenagers
start using drugs is to be accepted by
their peers and to “fit in”

They are also curious about the effects,
want to relax, relieve boredom, or
escape personal problems
Stages of Drug Abuse

Stage 1 - begin drug abuse with the use
of beer or wine

Stage 2 – start drinking other liquor,
cigarettes, or both

Stage 3 – start using marijuana

Stage 4 – start using illegal drugs
How Does Drug Abuse Develop?

The powerful effects of drugs quickly
lead users from experimentation to
regular use to addiction (strong physical
and psychological craving for substance)

Drug Abuse develops with a few steps
1. Experimentation
2. Tolerance
3. Physical Dependence
4. Psychological Dependence
Steps of Drug Abuse
1. Experimentation – users like the
unusual feelings, and want to try it again
2. Tolerance – start increasing the amounts
of the drug to reduce sensitivity
3. Physical Dependence – body becomes
dependent on it effects (withdrawal if
user stops like depression anxiety,
nausea, vomiting, chills, sweating)
4. Psychological Dependence – users
want mind-altering effects (sometimes
stronger than physical dependence)
Dangers of Drug Abuse

Drug abuse involved 2 major dangers
1. Damaging effects of combining drugs
2. Severe injury or death of overdose

When psychoactive drugs are
combined, their effects can seriously
disrupt heart rate, breathing, and other
body processes (drug most often used
in combination is alcohol)
Overdose
An overdose is a drug dose high
enough to cause serious injury, coma,
or death
 Remember that the purity and strength
of illegal drugs are not controlled, so
users can never be sure of what they
are really taking


By the time the drug or combination of
drugs is taken and it too potent for the
person, it is too late 