Drugs: Prevention, Cure, and Risks

1. Pros Medicine- prevent cure disease or disabling condition Taken when needed, as directed, for intended purposes Cons Used in a way not intended. Abused/ Illegal- using in ways not intended Violence Drugs

2. Drug Classes • Stimulants • Depressants • Narcotics • Hallucinogens • Anabolic Steroids

3. stimulants • Drugs that speed up the central nervous system, affecting heart rate & blood pressure. • Caffeine- legal, found in many products…..cola, red bull…. • Cocaine- Illegal cocaine

4. powerfully addictive stimulant that directly affects the brain In the early 1900s, it became the main stimulant drug used in most of the tonics/elixirs that were developed to treat a wide variety of illnesses Powder form- snorted or dissolved in water and injected Crack- rock form, not neutralized by an acid, smoked Short term effects Immediate-last minutes to a few hrs Euphoric, talkative, energetic Long Term Increased heart rate Addiction/ Tolerance Cardiac arrest/ Death CocaineStimulant

5. depressants • Slows down most body functions, like breathing, heart rate, and coordination. • Relax muscles, relieve tension and worry Tranquilizers Valium Alcohol • Mixing can be dangerous and lead to death

6. narcotics • The term "narcotic," derived from the Greek word for stupor, originally referred to a variety of substances that dulled the senses and relieved pain. • Narcotics are used therapeutically to treat pain, and produce a general sense of well-being by reducing tension, anxiety, and aggression

7. Heroin • Ilegal and highly addictive. Most abused and rapidly acting of the opiates • Processed from morphine- brown or white powder • Usually cut with other drugs or products- this can be dangerous and lead to overdose • Intravenous- 7-8 seconds • Sniffed or smoked- 15 minutes

8. hallucinogens • Distort senses, causing you to see and hear things that are not there. • LSD is an example of a hallucinogen drug • LSD is sold on the street in tablets, capsules, and occasionally in liquid form. • ingested orally. It is often added to absorbent paper

9. Anabolic Steroids • Drugs that simulate the male hormone testosterone. • some athletes use steroids to increase weight, strength, and muscle mass. • Risk of contracting HIV

10. Anabolic Steroids • androgenic (promoting masculine characteristics) anabolic (tissue building) steroids (the class of drugs). • Anabolic steroids can be taken orally, injected intramuscularly, or rubbed on the skin when in the form of gels or creams. • These drugs are often used in patterns called cycling • Long Term effects-liver cancer, heart attacks, and elevated cholesterol levels. In addition to this, steroid use among adolescents may prematurely stop the lengthening of bones resulting in stunted growth

11. Before & After

12. Marijuana • The most commonly abused illicit drug in the United States. • Marijuana is a green, brown, or gray mixture of dried, shredded leaves, stems, seeds, and flowers of the hemp plant (Cannabis sativa). • Hallucinogen, stimulant and depressant • The main active chemical in marijuana is THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol). • Short-term effects of marijuana use include problems with memory and learning, distorted perception, difficulty in thinking and problem solving, loss of coordination, increased heart rate, and anxiety. • Marijuana is usually smoked as a cigarette (called a joint) or in a pipe or bong.

13. Methamphetamine • second only to alcohol and marijuana as the drug used most frequently in many Western and Midwestern states. • highly addictive drug with potent central nervous system stimulant properties • synthesized from precursor chemicals using relatively easy production methods that are commonly available on the Internet or in underground publications • As a powerful stimulant, methamphetamine, even in small doses, can increase wakefulness and physical activity and decrease appetite. Oral ingestion or snorting produces a long-lasting high instead of a rush, which reportedly can continue for as long as half a day. • Long-term methamphetamine abuse results in many damaging effects, including addiction, anxiety, insomnia.

14. Crystal Meth