drugs ewhs health. drugs as medicines purpose of medicine: to prevent disease, aid in curing,...
TRANSCRIPT
Drugs as Medicines• Purpose of Medicine:
to prevent disease, aid in curing, relieve symptoms, bring wanted effects
• Over the Counter (OTC) – need the right one, do not overuse, maybe masking serious illness
• Prescription – can be easily abused & misused, based on body weight, age etc.
.
EXAMPLES - STIMULANTS• Cocaine/Crack - addictive, restlessness, irritability,
anxiety, loss of appetite, insomnia, increased body temperature
• Amphetamine - used in prescription drugs to reduce fatigue and suppress appetite, diet pills, twitching, irregular heartbeat, heart and blood vessel damage
• Methamphetamine - addictive, club drug, aggression/crime, sores, damage to brain cells, never can achieve initial high
• Ritalin - calms down people with ADHD or ADD• Caffeine –may cause anxiety and insomnia. • Nicotine – very addictive, similar to heroin
Cocaine• Illegal very addictive drug made from the
leaves of the coca tree. Cocaine use can increase irritability, restlessness, panic attacks, and paranoia.
• May cause psychosis, the individual loses touch with reality.
Amphetamines• Abusers may become injured due to erratic
stunts or fights with others because they believe that they are untouchable.
• Delusional feelings of power that can create serious consequences. May lead to psychosis, much like that experienced by schizophrenics.
Caffeine• The most widely used psychoactive drug in
the world, found in coffee, tea, cocoa, chocolate candy, and soft drinks.
• Increases energy and mental alertness, heavy use can cause symptoms such as anxiety and insomnia.
• Caffeine is addictive, and withdrawal symptoms can include headaches, fatigue, and irritability.
EXAMPLES - DEPRESSANTS
• Tranquilizers (reduce muscular activity, coordination and attention span…prescribed to relieve anxiety and muscle spasms…withdrawal symptoms can cause death)
• Barbiturates (mood changes, sleeping more, coma)
• Alcohol• GHB (date rape drug, floor stripper…no memory)• Rohypnol (“roofies”…date rape drug…now in a
blue pill)
EXAMPLES - NARCOTICS
• Morphine – (used for pain…blocks pain receptors, sedative effect, constipation, slow and shallow breathing, addictive)
• Codeine – (ingredient in cough syrups, similar effects as morphine)
• Heroin - addictive, derived from poppy plant, slow and slurred speech, constipation, respiratory depression, dry and itchy skin, overdose (would need to consume 1 gal of poppy seeds to show up on drug test)
EXAMPLES - HALLUCINOGENS
• PCP - “Angel Dust”, cigarettes or a joint dipped in formaldehyde, violence, inability to feel pain (overdose or accidents)
• LSD - “Acid”, some don’t come out of high, wires in brain crossed, paranoia, distorted perceptions of sound and color, flashbacks
• Ecstasy - hallucinogenic effect…clinching & hyperthermia…studies show a connection with early Alzheimer's…voids in the brain
• Ketamine - “Special K”, horse tranquilizer, used with animals for anesthetic, respiratory failure
INHALENTS
• Goes immediately to the brain, causing brain damage and killing brain cells
• Can cause sudden death by increasing heart rate, resulting in cardiac arrest, or it can cause death by suffocation
STEROIDS
• Synthetic substances similar to the male sex hormone testosterone
• Causes mood swings, paranoia, depression, acne, sterility, liver cancer, aggression
• Males: Testicles shrink, breasts enlarge• Females: Breasts shrink, increase facial
and chest hair
MARIJUANA/HASHISH• Marijuana
- raises levels of brain chemicals called dopamine (causes a pleasure feeling)
- when drug wears off a crash occurs (normal state begins to decline…creating a need for the drug)
- contains more cancer causing agents than tobacco- weakens immune system- impaired memory, reaction time and coordination- decreased ambition- heart and lung damage, lung cancer- infertility in females and lowered sperm count in
males- stronger than marijuana in the 1970’s- current studies showing connection to mental illness www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ASkRp5CLlk
Watch Truth About Drugs Video
Respond to one of the following or come up with your own drug related paragraph:
*The brain does not fully develop until a person’s 20’s. How is a young person’s brain affected by drugs?
* Teenagers are very susceptible to addiction. Why is it so important that teenagers know the facts about drugs?
*Marijuana is legal for adults in the state of Washington. Do you see any problems that this could cause?
Watch Truth About Drugs Video