Dangers of Abusing Rx Drugs

1. Dangers of Abusing Rx Drugs • Increases in blood pressure or heart rate • Damage to brain and other organs • Accidental overdose/poisonings • Physical dependence • Addiction • Disruption in breathing (respiratory depression) • Seizures • Death • Risks associated with mixing multiple drugs or combining with alcohol

2. Why Are Teens Abusing Rx Drugs? • They’re easy to get • Thrill seeking • Friends are doing it • Escape problems or self-medicate • Lack of self-esteem • Seen as safer alternative with fewer side effects • Less stigma associated with Rx drugs • Parents less likely to disapprove

3. Where Do Teens Get These Drugs? Source: SAMHSA, 2008 National Survey on Drug Use and Health

4. Behavioral Warnings Signs • Sudden mood changes, including irritability, negative attitude, personality change. • Extreme changes in groups of friends or hangout locations. • Lying or being deceitful, unaccounted time away from home/missed school days, avoiding eye contact. • Losing interest in personal appearance, extracurricular activities or sports. • Poor performance at school. • Borrowing money or having extra cash. • Visiting and even purchasing from pro-drug abuse (illegal) web sites.

5. Illicit Drugs

6. Synthetic Drugs

7. Synthetic Drugs Mimic Illegal Drugs Synthetic drugs have sent thousands to hospitals. The American Association of Poison Control Centers report at least 2,700 have fallen ill between Jan. – March, 2011, compared to 3,200 cases in all of 2010. “Many users describe extreme paranoia. The recurring theme is monsters, demons and aliens. A lot of them had suicidal thoughts..”

10. JWH-018, JWH-073 JWH-018 and JWH-073 are more potent the THC – less is needed for the user to get high and will last longer. Testing by Professor Huffman found that the intoxicating effects of JWH-018 are 3 to 5 times more potent than THC. Herbal products like K2 , Spice, and other synthetic cannibinoids (incense or potpouri) are not regulated by the FDA. Risks of accidental overdosing with a risk of severe psychiatric complications may be more likely to occur because of the type and amount of cannaboinoid may vary considerably from batch to batch even within the same product. Some researchers believe tolerance to synthetic cannabinoids may develop fairly fast and might be associated with relatively high potential to cause dependence. . 10

11. : Additional Trends in Synthetic Drugs • Synthetic drugs, such “plant food”, are now also being packaged as jewelry cleaner. The latest version is called “Cosmic Blast”. The packaging says to mix with water, add jewelry and shake for 20 seconds. In addition to the presence of stimulant/hallucinogen MDPV, it also contains Naphyrone, which can cause elevated body temperature and psychotic behaviors. Naphyrone can persist in the body for multiple days.

13. Bath Salts - MDPV

14. Bath Salts/Powdered Plant Food • Ivory Wave, Red Dove, Vanilla Sky – marketed at bath salts • Snorted or smoked • These powders contain methylmethcathinone (4-MMC) or methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) – powerful mood altering stimulants similar to effects of cocaine and methamphetamine • 4-MMC is a designer take-off of the plant stimulant found in Africa – Khat • Can be a stand-alone product sold in some brands of foreign made plant food • Users claim they feel more social and interactive

15. MDPV • A more brazen stimulant – can lead to muscle spasm or user may engage in meaningless repetitive motions or behaviors, similar to tweaking • High dose users have experienced hallucinations and profound paranoia. • In combinations (with 4-MMC), the drugs have added stimulant effects

16. Current Legal Status • Banned on domestic and overseas military commands because the potential for abuse has been recognized. • Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Britain, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, Netherlands, and Russia • Kansas was the first state to pass the ban in the U.S. and Missouri passed the law placing K2/Spice under our Schedule I drugs that went into effect on Aug. 28th2010. • A more comprehensive bill was passed in the 2011 session that expanded synthetic cannabinoids to include all synthetic drugs, derivatives and analogs. It went into effect Aug. 28th, 2011.

17. Marijuana Trends • 1-3% THC in 70’s and 80’s to as high as 33% now • Liquid Marijuana – 90% pure

18. Most Popular Illicit Drugs: Marijuana and Heroin Marijuana Marijuana is addictive. Each year more kids enter treatment with a primary diagnosis of marijuana dependence than for all other illicit drugs combined. Among the 220,000 admissions to substance abuse treatment for marijuana in 1999, more than half (57 percent) first used marijuana by the age of 14, and 92 percent by the age of 18. -SAMHSA, October 2001

19. Marijuana Continued Increased potency 70s to 80s – 1-3% THC levels Now - 8-30% THC levels (Sinsemilla) Liquid Marijuana – 90% potency Higher potency/lypopathic - one time use can be detected for up to 4 days Long-term and high usage – detected up to one year!

20. Heroin Black Tar Heroin Potency: 5% in the 70’s – today – 50-80% pure • Higher potency allows for snorting or smoking it to achieve the longer, sustained high – rather than injecting it (as needed with lower potency) • This, mixed with an affordable price of $10 a bag explains the popularity – similar to what crack did to cocaine decades ago. • Availability, cost and potency makes for an easy replacement for Oxycontin/Vicodin/Demerol abuse

22. Substance Abuse and the Adolescent Brain

23. Adolescence is a period of profound brain maturation. • It was believed that brain development was complete during childhood • The maturation process is not complete until about age 24!!!

24. Introduction to the Brain • Brain Stem – controls breathing, blood circulation, and food digestion. Connects to the spinal cord and is responsible for moving muscles and limbs as well as letting the brain know what’s happening to the body. • The Limbic System- controls emotional responses • The Cortex-processes information from our senses, enabling us to see, feel, hear, and taste. • Frontal Cortex or Forebrain-(the thinking center)- It powers our ability to think, plan, solve problems, reason and make decisions. National Institute on Drug Abuse. Addiction: "Drugs, Brains, and Behavior - The Science of Addiction. National Institute on Drug Abuse. NIDA- The Science of Drug Abuse and Addiction. Web. 18 May 2010. <http://www.drugabuse.gov/scienceofaddiction/>.

25. What Does That Mean for the Adolescent Brain? • Anything that interferes with how the brain operates during the developmental period can change the course of a person's mental, emotional, cognitive, and social development—and alter his or her opportunities for success. • In the underdeveloped brain, damage from alcohol can be long-term and irreversible, and will, at a minimum, decrease their overall quality of life . • Short-term or moderate drinking can impair learning and memory far more in youth than in adults.  • Adolescents need only drink half as much as adults to suffer the same negative effects.

26. Major Neurotransmitters

27. Risk of Addiction • Adolescents are particularly vulnerable to becoming addicted to stimulants because of the impulse control and undeveloped “stop” and “go” systems of their brains. • Adolescents have a harder time seeing future consequences and are more likely to be enticed by immediate rewards. – Instant gratification • Addiction research tells us that the younger people start using drugs the more vulnerable they are to addiction. This is a principle that nicotine, energy drink, and alcohol companies have taken full advantage of.

28. Global Havoc Alcohol affects most of the brain, compromising memory, abstract thinking, problem solving, attention and concentration. It also alters motivation, emotions, awareness, thinking, movement, breathing, consciousness andmore…

29. The Results The Results "Teen Drinking, Thinking Don't Work." USA Today. Web. <http://www.usatoday.com/educate/college/firstyear/casestudies/20010831-fy01.pdf>.

31. Questions Alicia Ozenberger aozenberger@actmissouri.org 573-635-6669 www.actmissouri.org