Substance Abuse Module

Bolintiam, Lu, Rivera, Sioco, Veloso

INTRODUCTION

Causes of substance abuse

• basically multifactorial - family, genetics, environment/social factors

Physical symptoms and warning signs of drug abuse

• Tobacco products: frequent smell of tobacco, irritability, discolored fingertips, lips or teeth

• Cannabinoids: reddened whites of eyes, sleepiness, excessive hunger, lack of motivation, excessive happiness, paranoia;

• Cold medications: sleepiness, rapid or slowed heart rate;• Inhalants: runny nose, smell of gasoline or other solvent,

confusion or irritability;• Depressants: sleepiness, lowered inhibitions, poor

coordination, slowed heart rate or blood pressure, dizziness, coma, death in overdose;

Physical symptoms and warning signs of drug abuse

• Stimulants: rapid heart rate or blood pressure, irritability, excessive happiness, less need for sleep, paranoia, seizures;

• Narcotics: less experiencing of pain, excessive happiness, sleepiness, slowed or stopped breathing, coma, death in overdose;

• Hallucinogens: trouble sleeping, blurred perceptions, paranoia;

• Physical symptoms could also include symptoms of withdrawal which are roughly the opposite of these symptoms

Behavioral symptoms:

• lying, making excuses, breaking curfew, staying in their room, becoming verbally or physically abusive toward others, having items in their possession that are connected to drug use (paraphernalia), the smell of drugs (for example, solvent smell of inhalants, marijuana smell) on them, mood swings, stealing, and changes in friends

Dangerous effects of drug use in teens

• decreased ability to pay attention• increased risk for having premarital sex,

unprotected sex, sex with strangers• the younger you start using drugs, the more likely

you are to relapse when you attempt to quit– also, younger individuals, particularly teens, are at

greater risk for addiction because their brains are not as developed as the adult brain -- making the teenage brain more impulsive

Dangerous effects of drug use in teens

• drug use can mask other emotional problems like depression, mood swings, anxiety or hallucinations. These emotional problems may cause other problems such as suicide or homicide

• drugs affect all the systems of the body. Drug abuse may cause permanent brain damage (from inhalants - like rugby), heart attack (from stimulants), respiratory arrest (from sedatives), even death

• drug abuse ultimately leads to difficulty in managing one’s life

MOST COMMON ABUSED SUBSTANCES

MARIJUANA

• Marijuana is a dry, shredded green and brown mix of flowers, stems, seeds, and leaves derived from the hemp plant Cannabis sativa. The main active chemical in marijuana is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol; THC for short.

MARIJUANA

Effects of marijuana

• Marijuana influences pleasure, memory, thoughts, concentration, sensory and time perception and coordinated movement.Effects on

Effects of marijuana• Effects on Cognition

– Distorted perceptions– Paranoia– Impaired coordination– Reduced reaction time– Sleepiness– Anxiety– Difficulty in thinking and problem solving– Problems with learning and memory (which usually last for

days and weeks before the effects will wear off)– Reduced ability to do things

Effects of marijuana• Physical effects

– Tremors (shaking)– Nausea– Headache– Heart: Faster heartbeat (increases heart rate by 20-100% immediately after

smoking marijuana which can last up to 3 hours)– Lungs: May also experience the same effects such as those who are smoking

• daily cough and phlegm production• higher risk for infections• longer sick days for diseases affecting the lungs• may also lead to lung cancer (This is because of the carcinogens and the irritants

from smoke from the marijuana. They inhale 50-70% of the carcinogens. Moreover, marijuana users inhale more deeply and hold their breath longer than tobacco smokers thus they have increased lung exposure to carcinogenic smoke.)

Effects of marijuana• Long-term effects– This can lead to addiction: compulsive drug seeking and

abuse despite its known harmful effects– Once addicted, it is more difficult to quit

• Patient will experience irritability, sleeplessness, decreased appetite, anxiety and drug craving

• These withdrawal symptoms will begin within about one day following abstinence and will peak at 2-3 days and subside within 1 or 2 weeks after stopping the drug.

• It will not only lead to physical but it will also lead to effects on our daily lives:– It will make existing problems worse. This will lead to increased absences,

tardiness, decreased productivity, and accidents

Cigarette (nicotine)

Cigarette (nicotine)• Smoking is a practice in which a substance, most commonly tobacco or

cannabis, is burned and the smoke tasted or inhaled. This is primarily practised as a route of administration for recreational drug use, as combustion releases the active substances in drugs such as nicotine and makes them available for absorption through the lungs

• The most common method of smoking today is through cigarettes, primarily industrially manufactured but also hand-rolled from loose tobacco and rolling paper.

• Other smoking tools include pipes, cigars, bidis, hookahs and bongs. It has been suggested that smoking related disease kills one half of all long term smokers but these diseases may also be contracted by non-smokers. A 2007 report states that about 4.9 million people worldwide each year die as a result of smoking

Effects of smoking

– highly addictive– tar in cigarettes increases a smoker's risk of lung cancer, emphysema,

and bronchial disorders– carbon monoxide in smoke increases chance of cardiovascular

diseases– pregnant smokers- higher chance of miscarriage or low birthweight

babies – second hand smoke- lung cancer in adults and risk of respiratory

illnesses in children– increases risk for TB– block blood vessels which leads to heart attack

Effects of smoking

– cataracts– wrinkling– hearing loss– osteoporosis– stomach ulcers– cervical cancer– discolored fingers– buerger’s disease– psoriasis

Effects of smoking

Shabu

Shabu

• Shabu (or Methamphetamine) is a kind of stimulant which is a white, odorless, bitter-tasting crystalline powder that easily dissolves in water or alcohol and is taken orally, intranasally (snorting the powder), by needle injection, or by smoking. Since it is a stimulant, it will produce feelings of tremendous joy, increased wakefulness and decreased appetite among its users. They become more talkative and energetic.

Effects of shabu• What are the short term effects of shabu?

– Increased body temperature– Dilated pupils– Nausea– Blurred vision– Muscle spasms– Confusion– Increased blood pressure– Faster heart rate

• Since stimulant can cause blood vessels to constrict, the flow of blood will be impeded. Thus, there is a need for the heart to work harder to pump blood through the body. However, this may cause temporary loss of its natural rhythm. This is dangerous because it can stop the flow of blood through the body.

Effects of shabu

• Chronic Effects of Shabu useExtreme weight loss– Severe dental problems (“meth mouth”)– Anxiety and confusion– Violent behavior– psychotic behavior– hallucinations– Delusions

Effects of shabu– Paranoia and Homicidal thoughts– Brain damage - Alzheimer’s disease, stroke and epilepsy– Since this can alter judgement and inhibition, this can lead

people to engage in unsafe behaviors including risky sexual behavior. This will result to increased transmission of HIV and hepatitis B and C

– Among abusers who inject the drug, HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases can be spread through contaminated needles, syringes, and other injection equipment that is used by more than one person. Methamphetamine abuse may also worsen the progression of HIV/AIDS and its consequences.

Effects of shabu

Rugby

Rugby

• In the Philippines, the most popular inhalant drug abused is “rugby”, the brand of contact cement and glue.It is very cheap and is inhaled through a plastic bag. The vapor of the chemical is sniffed in order to achieve a euphoric state or decrease hunger pangs. The chemical toluene gives the aromatic smell of contact cement/glue which is the culprit behind the addiction. This drug is not under The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 (Republic Act 9165) that is why it is easy to obtain the substance thus its rampant abuse

Effects of rugby

Signs of Inhalant abuse are• Drunk or disoriented appearance• Paint or other stains on face, hands, or clothing• Hidden empty spray paint or solvent containers and

chemical-soaked rags or clothing• Slurred speech• Strong chemical odors on breath or clothing• Nausea or loss of appetite• Red or runny nose• Sores or rash around the nose or mouth

Effects of rugbySide Effects of Rugby Abuse• Confusion• Delirium• Disorientation• Memory Loss• Hallucination• Nausea • Vomiting• Cramps and Weakness• Abdominal Pain• Liver and Kidney Damage• “Sudden Sniffing Death”

Alcohol

Alcohol

Alcohol can have good effects to the health if taken in low levels but chronic alcohol abuse can be dangerous. Long term alcohol abuse can damage nearly every organ and system in the body. An adolescent’s brain is especially vulnerable to the damaging effects of alcohol.

Effects of alcohol

• Chronic high level consumption of alcohol are correlated with increased risk:addiction

• violence• heart disease such as hypertension • Intestinal indigestion/malabsorption• chronic pancreatitis• alcoholic liver disease • cancer• fetal damage

Effects of alcohol