Download Commonly Misused Drugs

Commonly Abused
Drugs
Health 10
Ms. Meade
Drug Categories
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Stimulants: increases brain activity
Depressants: slows systems down
Hallucinogens: acts upon the mind
Analgesics: pain killing effects
Most commonly abused Drug:
Alcohol
Most commonly abused Illegal
Drug: Marijuana
Marijuana
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It is a hallucinogen; the chemical THC causes
the distortion
Few young people use other drugs without first
trying marijuana
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User will turn to stronger drugs if not getting the
high they want
Short Term Effects: increased heart rate, sensory
distortion, panic/anxiety, poor coordination,
decreased reaction time, problems with memory
and learning
Long Term Effects: decreased immunity, mood
changes, growth disorders, respiratory problems,
decreased ability to learn and maintain focus
Marijuana
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Marijuana smoke does contain carcinogens that will
irritate the lungs
Contains 50-70 percent more carcinogenic
hydrocarbons than tobacco smoke.
Marijuana users usually inhale more deeply and hold
their breath longer than tobacco smokers do, which
further increases lungs' exposure to carcinogenic
smoke
Marijuana smokers show dysregulated growth of
epithelial cells in their lung tissue which could lead to
cancer
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Source: National Institute of Drug Abuse, National
Institute of Health
More on Marijuana
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Medical marijuana may be useful in
promoting appetite for people with HIV
related anorexia, can manage nausea and
help relieve pain
A synthetic form of the active ingredient in
marijuana is approved by the FDA for
treating HIV-related weight loss and for
managing nausea associated with the use
of chemotherapy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2Vz7D
GcCy8&feature=player_embedded#!
Offers to the debate; should it be legalized?
It is in CO and WA state.
Is Marijuana Addictive?
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Most people who smoke marijuana smoke it only
occasionally. A small minority of Americans - less
than 1 percent - smoke marijuana on a daily
basis. An even smaller minority develop a
dependence on marijuana. Some people who
smoke marijuana heavily and frequently stop
without difficulty. Others seek help from drug
treatment professionals.
Marijuana does not cause physical dependence. If
people experience withdrawal symptoms at all,
they are remarkably mild.
It can lead to addictive behaviors, like compulsive
drug seeking and abuse despite its known harmful
effects.
Alcohol
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Depressant; slows vital functions
Alcohol is more harmful to teens because
brains are still developing; drinking alcohol
during this critical development can lead to
lifelong damage in brain function (memory,
motor skills, and coordination)
When mixed with other drug use:
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increased effect on CNS of both drugs because both
are competing for enzymes to be metabolized
drug is in system longer
Increased risk of harmful side effects,
unpredictability
Alcohol
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Short Term Effects
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Slurred speech
Vomiting
Headaches
Drowsiness
Vision, hearing
impaired
Balance and
coordination
Impaired judgment
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Long Term Effects
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Unintentional
injuries
Increased blood
pressure
Nerve, brain and
liver damage
(disease)
Increased family
problems
Addiction
Ecstasy
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Synthetic, psychoactive drug, chemically similar
to the stimulant methamphetamine and a
hallucinogen
Because it is manufactured, ecstasy can
contain other drugs, such as LSD or cocaine,
user never really knows what he is taking
Classified as a Schedule I drug (a description
reserved for a dangerous substance with no
recognized medical use)
Can be deadly if mixed with other drugs b/c its so
unpure and unknown what’s in it.
Ecstasy
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Short Term
Effects:
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increased energy
euphoria
emotional warmth
distortions in time,
perception, and
tactile experiences
False sense of
affection, paranoia
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Long Term Effects:
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Cardiovascular
collapse
Kidney Failure
Depression
Memory loss
Death
Cocaine/Crack Cocaine
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Extremely heightened euphoria; once
begin taking, its impossible to
become free of it grip physically and
mentally
Therefore right away, only increased
doses and more frequent doses can bring
the same effect.
Coming down from a high: depression SO
severe; person will do almost anything to
get the drug, even commit serious
crimes, murder or suicide
Cocaine/Crack Cocaine
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Short Term effects:
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Loss of appetite,
Nausea
Increased heart rate,
edginess
Convulsions,
paranoia
Short-lived intense
high, immediately
followed by opposite,
intense depression &
crave more drug
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Long Term Effects:
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Permanent heart
and brain damage
Malnutrition and
weight loss
Crystal Meth and Methamphetamine
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Extremely dangerous because it
is highly addictive and
systematically destroys the
body
Can become addicted on first use
b/c of the highly concentrated effect
It is a powerful and extremely
addictive man-made stimulant. Its
use can lead to severe physiological
and psychological dependence.
Crystal Meth and Methamphetamine
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Short-Term Effects:
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The drug’s effects are
similar to those of
cocaine but longer
lasting.
Can cause erratic,
violent behavior
among its users.
Effects include
suppressed appetite,
interference with
sleeping behavior,
mood swings and
unpredictability,
tremors and
convulsions,
increased blood
pressure, irregular
heart rate.
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Long Term Effects:
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brain damage, coma,
stroke or death
distinct physical
symptoms
include weight loss,
tooth decay and
cracked teeth (“Meth
Mouth”), psychosis and
hallucinations, sores on
the body from picking
at skin, and formication
http://www.facesofm
eth.us/main.htm
Inhalants
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Slows down body functions
Can damage heart, kidney, brain,
liver and bone marrow
Starves body of oxygen
Forces heart to beat irregularly
and more rapidly.
Inhalants
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Short Term
Effects:
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Dizziness
Dazed
appearance
Headache
Rash around nose
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Long Term
Effects:
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Muscle weakness
Disorientation,
decreased
coordination
Irreversible
physical and
mental damage
Heart, liver,
kidney and lung
damage
Heroin
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As soon as heroin enters the brain,
there is a surge of sensation- a rush,
warm feeling of skin (may be itchy or
even vomit)
If abuser doesn’t get another fix,
withdrawal symptoms are extreme
Other problems from heroin use:
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Death, AIDS, hepatitis C2, tuberculosis,
arthritis
Heroin
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Short Term
Effects:
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Rush, slowed
breathing
Clouded mental
function
Nausea,
drowsiness
Decreased body
temperature
Coma, death
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Long Term
Effects:
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Death, coma
Infections
Bad teeth
Decreased
immunity
Respiratory
illness
Constipation
Mental
disturbances
LSD (Acid)
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Manufactured from lysergic acid
found in fungus that grows on
rye
Unpredictable
Effects from LSD, a “trip” could last
up to 12 hours; serious
disconnection from reality
LSD (Acid)
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Short Term
Effects:
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Dilated pupils
Increase or
decrease body
temp; sweat or
chills
Panic attack,
tremors
Delusions,
hallucinations,
distortion
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Long Term
Effects:
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Psychosis
Severe
depression
Severe mental
damage
Amnesia
Panic disorder
Death, coma
Prescription Drugs
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Heroin affects the body in the same way as the
painkiller Oxycontin
Depressants Effects: slowed body function,
decreased BP & tension, dizziness, confusion,
nausea
Valium, Xanax
Painkillers Effects: decreased respirations,
unconsciousness, numbness, coma, death,
increased risk of heart attack
 Oxycontin, viacatin, opiods
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Prescription Drugs
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Antidepressants Effects: insomnia,
irritability, nervousness, anxiety,
violence, suicidal thoughts
 Paxil, Prozac, Zoloft
Stimulants Effects: increased energy
and alertness, increased BP, HR, and
breathing, then a crash: exhaustion,
depression, apathy
 Ritalin, aderall, ADHD treatments