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Illegal Drugs

An illegal drug is a chemical substance that people of any age may not lawfully manufacture, possess, buy, or sell.

The improper use of medicines—either prescription or over-the-counter drugs—is called drug misuse.

Drug Misuse

Examples of drug misuse include

• Taking more than the prescribed amount of a drug

• Not taking a drug for the correct period of time

A mood-altering drug, also called a psychoactive drug, is a chemical that affects brain activity.

Drug Abuse and the Brain

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• The compulsive use of a drug, despite any cost to health, family, or social standing.

• Addiction is a disease that changes the structure and chemistry of the brain.

OTC vs. Prescription

•Prescription drugs must be purchased with a prescription from a doctor.▫Have potential for harm

•Over the Counter- sold legally without the prescription from a doctor.

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Withdrawal• If a person who is dependent on a psychoactive drug stops

taking the drug, that person will experience withdrawal symptoms.

Withdrawal symptoms include

nausea or vomiting

headaches or dizziness

fever

digestion problems

paranoia or panic

tremors, seizures, or death

Many psychoactive drugs trigger activity along a pathway of cells in the brain called the “reward pathway.”

The “Reward Pathway”

Brain cells along the activated reward pathway release a chemical called dopamine (DOH puh meen).

The extra dopamine released during drug use can cause the user to ignore the harmful effects of the drug and want to continue using it.

Flooding the reward pathway with dopamine may lead to intense cravings for the drug.

After a time, drug abuse can dull the brain’s reactions to natural levels of dopamine.

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How Drugs Affect the BrainArea of the brain’s“reward pathway”

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How Drugs Affect the BrainArea of the brain’s“reward pathway”

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Impurities• Many illegal drugs are contaminated with chemicals

that may themselves be harmful or cause dangerous drug interactions.

• Illegal drugs may vary widely from batch to batch in the concentration of psychoactive chemicals they contain.

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Other Health RisksHepatitis and HIV If drug users share needles to inject drugs, contaminated blood left in the needle can carry disease-causing viruses from user to user.

Risks to Fetus and Newborn Drug abuse by a pregnant woman places her baby at risk for a broad range of developmental problems.

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Legal Risks• Penalties for individuals who produce, possess,

transport, or sell illegal drugs include long prison terms and heavy fines.

• A criminal record makes it difficult to get a job or to be admitted into schools and the military.

• Many drug abusers commit other crimes to support their drug addiction.

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Effects on Family and FriendsA drug abuser may:

• have unpredictable mood swings

• become violent

• withdraw from relationships and responsibilities

The interests and activities that helped bind the person with family and friends may no longer exist.

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Costs to Society• The United States government has spent billions of dollars

in efforts to stop illegal drug manufacturing and sales.

• Significant financial resources go toward drug abuseprevention

education

treatment

rehabilitation programs

• The cost of incarcerating thousands of people for drug-related crimes

Exit Questions

•How is an OTC Drug different than a prescription drug

•Define Drug Abuse.•What is a side effect•How can drug dependence lead to

additional health, legal, and societal costs.

Hallucinogens

•Profound distortions in a person’s perception of reality.▫Under the influence of hallucinogens,

people see images, hear sounds, and feel sensations that seem real but are not

•Peyote, LSD, Mushrooms, Psilcybin, PCP

Narcotics

•Pain Relief (Morphine, Oxycodone, Codeine, Heroin)▫Heroin- be injected, inhaled by snorting or

sniffing, or smoked

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Methamphetamine

But, after the rush wears off, the user may become

confused

shaky

anxious

irritable

violent

Methamphetamine is a white, odorless, bitter-tasting crystalline powder that easily dissolves in water or alcohol and is taken orally, by snorting, by needle injection, or by smoking

Marijuana is one of the most frequently abused psychoactive drugs.

Effects of Marijuana

Its main ingredient changes the way information reaches and is acted upon by the brain.

Side effects of marijuana use include

• distorted perceptions

• difficulties with thinking and problem solving

• loss of motor coordination

• increased heart rate

• feelings of anxiety or paranoia

• make it difficult to judge distances and react quickly to signals and sounds on the road.

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A Gateway to Other DrugsMarijuana use is often a gateway to using other “harder” drugs, such as

cocaine.

As marijuana users build up tolerance, they may seek out other drugs to experience the “high” they first got from marijuana.

Other gateway drugs: Alcohol, Smoking, and Inhalants

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Acknowledge the ProblemMany abusers deny their behavior; others deny the underlying problems that led them to drug abuse.

Signs of Possible Drug Abuse

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Explore Treatment OptionsTreatment options for drug abusers include

• detoxification

• therapeutic communities

• supervised medication

Programs exist for family members trying to understand their loved one’s drug problem.

Some drug treatment programs are available at little or no cost.

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Seeking Help• If you decide that the stresses and problems in your life are too much to

manage, find someone to talk to.

parents

teachers

friends

siblings

school counselors

school nurses

members of the clergy

• A second option is to call a national drug-abuse hotline.

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Alternatives to DrugsEngage in physical activity. Physical activity boosts your mood

and relieves the negative effects of stress.

Volunteer. Helping other people can give you a good feeling about yourself, too.

Join a youth group. Participating in a youth group can give you a sense of belonging and a connection to others.

List 10 other alternatives